The law firm of McLane Middleton, Professional Association is pleased to announce that the firm has been recognized with five firm rankings and 19 distinct individual attorney rankings in the Chambers USA: A Guide to America’s Leading Lawyers.
Conducted by Chambers and Partners, Chambers USA: A Guide to America’s Leading Lawyers recognizes America’s top business attorneys and leading law firms. Chambers USA selected McLane Middleton’s offices in New Hampshire (Manchester, Concord and Portsmouth) as top-ranked in the state for Corporate/Commercial, Environment, Litigation: General Commercial, and Real Estate. The firm was ranked second tier in Labor & Employment.
Among the outstanding McLane Middleton attorneys who were recognized individually in Chambers USA were: Steven M. Burke (Corporate/Commercial and Corporate/Commercial: Tax), Patrick C. Closson (Corporate/Commercial), Michael A. Delaney (Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations), Bruce W. Felmly (Litigation: General Commercial), Wilbur A. Glahn III (Litigation: General Commercial), Rolf E. Goodwin (Real Estate), Linda S. Johnson (Labor & Employment), Jack B. Middleton (Litigation: General Commercial), Barry Needleman (Environment), Daniel J. Norris (Corporate/Commercial), Jennifer L. Parent (Labor & Employment), Peter B. Rotch (Real Estate), Mark C. Rouvalis (Environment), Richard A. Samuels (Corporate/Commercial), Gregory H. Smith (Environment), Charla B. Stevens (Labor & Employment), Jeremy T. Walker (Litigation: General Commercial), David Wolowitz (Litigation: General Commercial), and William V.A. Zorn (Corporate/Commercial: Tax).
Now in its 16th edition, the list ranks top U.S. law firms and individual attorneys in various practice areas. The relative weight of client feedback in their rankings makes the Chambers guides among the most respected of all law firm reference publications available.
Corporate/Commercial
Chambers’ USA Assessment:
What the team is known for.
Esteemed team of skilled attorneys with expertise spanning diverse areas of corporate law, including M&A, executive compensation and business formation. Offers notable capabilities in securities law work, frequently advising on public and private offerings, regulatory compliance and litigation matters. Wider areas of strength include corporate investigations, bankruptcy and restructuring work.
Strengths
Clients say: “They get to know the customer and understand our business.”
Interviewees also cite the team’s “quality of advice, judgment and professionalism” as notable strengths.
Work highlights
Represented Basware in connection with its $36 million acquisition of Verian Technologies.
Notable practitioners
Steven Burke is highly regarded for his in-depth expertise in taxation matters, alongside his broader corporate transactional practice. Clients say: “He understands the business goals of his clients and he works hard to craft solutions.”
Richard Samuels is held in high regard for his wealth of experience in corporate law, particularly in M&A and corporate financing transactions. Commentators esteem him as “one of the preeminent corporate lawyers in the state,” with clients labeling him “a great business partner.”
Patrick Closson’s broad corporate practice encompasses M&A transactions, contractual issues and general corporate law matters. He also serves as chair of the firm’s healthcare practice and offers niche strengths in healthcare transactional work.
Clients describe Daniel Norris as “a very good negotiator” and highlight his “invaluable counsel” as a key strength. His practice encompasses transactional work and general business advice, often advising clients in the manufacturing and renewable energy sectors.
The “extremely smart” William Zorn is singled out for his representation of clients in a broad range of tax and estate planning matters, where he acts for high net worth individuals, families and business owners. He leads the firm’s trusts and estates department. Sources describe him as “a technical expert” and commend his “very calm demeanor.”
Litigation: General Commercial
Chambers’ USA Assessment:
What the team is known for.
Remains a leader in commercial litigation in New Hampshire, calling upon a strong roster of leading trial lawyers to handle complex disputes work. Offers litigation services in a wide range of areas, such as intellectual property, insurance coverage and personal injury. Represents clients across a variety of industry sectors, including education, energy and consumer product manufacturing.
Strengths
Clients say: “The firm is staffed with outstanding attorneys and support staff, so they are well prepared to expeditiously handle whatever legal matter is presented to them.”
Interviewees also laud the firm’s “top-notch lawyers” and its “extensive” areas of expertise.
Work highlights
Successfully defended AECOM Technical Services against breach of contract and negligence claims brought by the City of Rochester, concerning a water tank leak which caused damage and the evacuation of parts of the town.
Advised Granite Healthcare Network on its role as a key witness for the United States in federal antitrust litigation opposing the $55 billion merger between Anthem and Cigna.
Notable practitioners
Seasoned litigator Jack Middleton is noted for his vast experience in the courtroom, with clients benefiting from his deep knowledge of business and wider civil litigation matters. He is also held in high esteem for his expertise in arbitration and mediation proceedings.
Bruce Felmly has attained a stellar reputation for his litigation skills, acting for a range of leading corporate clients in matters concerning employment, antitrust, environmental law and wider business disputes. Sources describe him as “a fantastic trial lawyer,” who is able to “reduce complex issues into understandable forms and connect with the judge and the jury.”
According to clients, Wilbur Glahn is “a skilled oral advocate” who offers “excellent litigation judgment.” He is highly regarded for his broad corporate litigation practice, with extensive skills in contract disputes, trade secret matters and shareholder litigation.
Michael Delaney leverages his prior experience serving as the Attorney General of New Hampshire to defend clients facing a broad range of white-collar criminal proceedings and investigations. He offers expertise in areas including environmental litigation, antitrust disputes and fraud matters.
Jeremy Walker is recognized for expertise in contentious intellectual property and construction matters, as part of his broader business litigation practice. He acts for a range of small companies and large corporate clients in state and federal courts, alongside strengths in arbitration proceedings.
David Wolowitz is valued for his considerable trial experience in state and federal courts, with particular expertise in advising independent schools on risk management and disputes work. Wider areas of expertise include employment, tort and fiduciary duty cases.
Labor and Employment
Chambers’ USA Assessment:
What the team is known for.
Highly regarded for its expertise in areas such as discrimination and harassment, retaliation, wage and hour issues and wrongful termination. Also calls upon wider skills in internal investigations, data privacy and data security. Its clients include a number of high-profile employers in industries including education, technology, healthcare and manufacturing.
Strengths (Quotes mainly from clients)
Clients say: “They are very smart, practical and personable.”
Sources reveal: “They are very skilled attorneys.”
Work highlights
Successfully defended Phillips Exeter Academy at the New Hampshire Supreme Court, following a constructive discharge claim brought by a former employee who was denied unemployment compensation after her resignation.
Representing ONEighty C Technologies and Plexius Consulting in a consolidated suit filed by a former employee, alleging misclassification as an independent contractor and failure to pay wages.
Notable practitioners
Jennifer Parent handles a broad spectrum of employment litigation, arbitration and mediation matters, with strengths in discrimination, trade secret, defamation and retaliation claims. Clients commend her ability to “consistently provides exceptional legal advice and representation.”
Charla Stevens is noted for her “formidable” skills in employment litigation, with strengths in issues concerning discrimination, employee classification and wage and hour claims. Clients say: “She stands out for having the right mix of knowledge, practicality and strategy.”
Linda Johnson acts for a range of New Hampshire and Massachusetts companies on labor law matters, with particular expertise in the education sector. One client reports: “I greatly appreciate that she explains the law and then works with me as a partner to develop the best solution. I always feels supported.”
Real Estate
Chambers’ USA Assessment:
What the team is known for.
Esteemed practice with a distinguished reputation for its high-quality real estate work. Particular expertise in complex financing matters and related tax issues, with wider strength in ancillary areas such as insurance, conservation and environmental law. Experienced in representing clients in the banking, technology, and telecommunications sectors, among others.
Strengths
Clients report: “They are prompt, responsive and they provide straightforward advice.”
Notable practitioners
Peter Rotch is a respected real estate practitioner with wide-ranging expertise in transactional and leasing work, alongside significant strengths in financing transactions. He also acts for clients in distressed property matters, with experience handling workouts and mortgage foreclosures.
Rolf Goodwin handles a broad range of real estate transactional and financing work, alongside notable strengths in land use and zoning issues. His clients include lenders, borrowers, insurers and landowners, alongside niche expertise in acting for nonprofits.
Environment
Chambers’ USA Assessment:
What the team is known for.
Market-leading environment team that acts on behalf of clients across numerous commercial and industrial sectors. Areas of expertise include Superfund matters, environmental permitting and insurance coverage litigation, alongside notable strengths representing clients before local, state and federal governmental agencies. Prominent New Hampshire presence, but active on work across the wider region.
Strengths
Sources reveal: “They are very responsive to any concerns and we are treated as a priority.”
One client reports: “They are good to deal with and very professional.”
Work highlights
Secured approval for Eversource Energy and National Grid to construct and operate 18 miles of new electric transmission line through four towns in southern New Hampshire.
Acted for Keyspan, now National Grid, to defend allegations of property damage, personal injury and related claims arising out of its ownership of a manufactured gas plant in Bay Shore, New York.
Notable practitioners
Barry Needleman handles a wide variety of contentious and non-contentious environmental law matters, particularly in the energy sector. Clients point out his skills as “a spectacular trial attorney” and praise his ability to “achieve successful results,” adding that he is “patient, persistent, and practical.”
Gregory Smith leads the environmental practice group and is experienced in matters involving regulatory compliance, permitting appeals and litigation claims. Clients cite his “exceptional service and advice” as a key strength, describing him as “everything you can ask for.”
Mark Rouvalis impresses sources with his experience in environmental disputes work, offering notable expertise in litigation to prosecute and defend contamination claims, insurance issues and defending regulatory enforcement. He also regularly assists clients with non-contentious work, including regulatory compliance, permitting matters and liabilities arising out of real estate transactions.