(4/26/2019, Manchester, NH) – The firm of Sheehan Phinney Bass & Green PA has once again received the highest rankings in New Hampshire for 2019 by Chambers USA, a prestigious directory of the country’s top law firms. Sheehan Phinney is also ranked Band 1 (highest ranking) in the state for Corporate/Commercial (including Tax and Bankruptcy), Environment, Healthcare, Labor & Employment, and Real Estate (including Land Use).
In addition, 21 Sheehan Phinney attorneys were recognized as among the nation’s top lawyers in their respective fields:
Elizabeth A. Bailey – Labor & Employment
Peter T. Beach – Corporate/Commercial: Tax
Thomas S. Burack – Environment
Christopher M. Candon – Corporate/Commercial: Bankruptcy
Robert P. Cheney – Environment
Christopher Cole – Litigation: General Commercial
Peter S. Cowan – Litigation: General Commercial
Joseph A. DiBrigida – Corporate/Commercial
Michael J. Drooff – Corporate/Commercial
Jason D. Gregoire – Healthcare
Katherine M. Hanna – Healthcare
James P. Harris – Litigation: General Commercial
Robert R. Lucic – Environment
Colleen Lyons – Corporate/Commercial
Susan A. Manchester – Real Estate; Land Use
David W. McGrath – Labor & Employment
Peter A. Nieves – Intellectual Property
Margaret A. Probish – Real Estate
James P. Reidy – Labor & Employment
Alan L. Reische – Corporate/Commercial
Kenneth A. Viscarello – Real Estate
Chambers USA comments:
Corporate/Commercial
What the team is known for
Distinguished for its high-quality offering for regional, state and national clients. Regularly handles complex matters across the full spectrum of business law, including midmarket M&A, bankruptcy, debt financing and fund formation matters. Calls upon wider resources in its tax, employment and intellectual property practices to offer a full service in corporate transactional work.
Strengths
A client says: “Every member of the team is accessible, responsive and provides the highest-quality representation. They are extremely professional and respectful of the challenges that we face.” “The firm is highly professional and provides high-quality legal work at reasonable prices.” The firm is further described as “excellent, customer-focused and very attentive.”
Notable practitioners
Alan Reische is a distinguished member of the New Hampshire corporate law Bar. According to a source: “He really epitomizes what it is to practice law in the community of New Hampshire. He’s a great lawyer and I have the utmost respect for him.” Other interviewees describe him as “a bastion of corporate law knowledge” and as someone with “deep experience and tremendous judgment.”
According to a commentator, Christopher Candon “has a real breadth of knowledge about bankruptcy law. He writes very well; his legal documents are always well drafted. He has a very calm demeanor, which, in legal controversies, can often serve one well. I have also found his legal judgment to be excellent.” Candon is further described as “one of the go-to people” and a “very smart, strategic and perceptive person.” He is adept at handling transactional and litigation matters for financially distressed companies.
Colleen Lyons is commended for her broad corporate practice and industry-specific expertise in manufacturing, renewable energy and technology. A client states: “She has a huge wealth of experience in transactions and restructurings and capitalizations, she’s top drawer.” Lyons is lauded for being “very prompt, responsive, customer-focused, a delight to work with” and “just really diligent and smart.”
Joseph DiBrigida represents entities from family-owned businesses to nonprofits to large corporations in a broad array of matters. A client reports: “I cannot say enough good things about him. He brings a great combination of attention to detail and being focused on the finish line, and not getting involved in infinitesimally small risks. It’s a great balance.”
Michael Drooff is described as “very intellectual and thoughtful in his approach to working with clients” and as a “very careful and insightful lawyer.” His practice is focused on M&A and equity finance transactions but he also offers a range of expertise on employment, intellectual property, tax and other areas.
Peter Beach is a highly respected tax specialist with esteemed prowess across the board on tax-related issues. According to a client: “He’s a got a wealth of experience on many fronts on tax, partnership and structuring issues. He’s very thoughtful and can explain tax issues in a way I can understand.” Another source says: “Beach is just an almost scary-smart tax lawyer. He is able to converse very understandably with clients and colleagues, and he’s a good problem solver.”
Environmental
What the team is known for Preeminent team of highly regarded practitioners with a wealth of expertise in appearing before energy and environmental agencies at both state and federal levels. Particularly noted for its deep knowledge of redevelopment, permitting and cleanup matters, with significant recent experience in Superfund issues. Offers additional strengths in areas such as air and water quality and shoreland protection.
Strengths Clients describe the team as “thorough and very detail-oriented,” noting its attorneys’ “critical savvy and understanding.”
Notable practitioners
Robert Cheney is a “very knowledgeable, careful, thorough environmental lawyer, “reports a source. He is particularly well regarded for his Clean Water Act regulatory and compliance work.
Robert Lucic regularly represents local governments and companies in negotiations involving Superfund sites. A source notes: “He has a tremendous amount of experience. He’s extensively involved in dealing with regulators and he does that very well.”
Thomas Burack is known across New Hampshire as an “outstanding environmental practitioner” with a market-leading reputation for regulatory work. A client says: “He’s excellent. He used to be the commissioner for the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services so has a good understanding of how regulatory agencies work.”
Labor & Employment
What the team is known for
Recommended for its representation of clients across New England in labor and employment law, with considerable experience working in both an advisory capacity on compliance matters and in defending clients in the courtroom. Expertise covers areas such as employment discrimination, sexual harassment and wrongful discharge, alongside strengths in compensation and employee benefits issues. Also well versed in immigration law issues.
Strengths
An impressed client remarks: “They have an excellent reputation in New England and have earned it by providing top-notch legal services. The team’s strengths include superior service for their clients, and well-rounded lawyers with diverse skills.”
Market sources highlight the firm’s “very, very high-quality attorneys.”
“Every attorney I’ve worked with has been very capable and efficient. When I’ve had a new matter, they quickly identify a firm member who is experienced in that matter and able to start quickly,” reports one interviewee.
Notable practitioners
David McGrath has a diverse employment practice that includes recognized expertise in alternative dispute resolution proceedings. “He’s an excellent mediator. He likes to get to a reasonable resolution, whether mediating for you or in litigation, and he has a practical approach,” confirm interviewees.
Elizabeth Bailey draws praise for her “real expertise in labor matters,” in which she acts for a range of public sector clients. She is also noted for her experience as an employment litigator. Sources note that she “produces top-quality work and is very reliable.”
James Reidy is a go-to employment expert for management-side clients, and provides experienced counsel on a range of matters. “He is a very talented employment counselor,” reports one source, while another states: “He is, without a doubt, the best employment lawyer I know,” explaining: “He is incredibly knowledgeable in his field and has always given me excellent counsel.”
Healthcare
What the team is known for
Respected practice, noted for its work with clients on a comprehensive spread of healthcare matters. Known for its representation of hospitals, healthcare facilities and nursing homes.
Strengths
Clients remark on the lawyers’ “expertise and breadth and depth of knowledge; the firm is able to cover all aspects of what we need.”
Others declare that “every member of the team is accessible, responsive and provides the highest-quality representation.”
Notable practitioners
Jason Gregoire is admired for his wide expertise in corporate, employment and regulatory compliance issues in the healthcare sector. Clients observe that he is “thorough, supportive, available and very knowledgeable.”
Katherine Hanna is highly experienced in advising clients on corporate, contracting, regulatory and patient care issues. Clients highlight that she is “responsive and knowledgeable in all aspects of healthcare.”
Intellectual Property
Notable practitioners
Peter Nieves is noted for his expertise in intellectual property, with sources hailing him as “a really good lawyer.” He receives particular acclaim for his in-depth knowledge of patents, as well for his experience in trademark prosecution.
Litigation
What the team is known for
Highly respected commercial litigation practice in New Hampshire which also maintains a strong reputation for its skills in mediation and arbitration matters. Offers considerable expertise in a wide array of business litigation and appeals, with strengths in areas including patent disputes, intellectual property matters and antitrust issues. Acts for individuals and organizations in industries including education, insurance and construction.
Strengths
A client states: “My impression is that Sheehan Phinney is a top-shelf firm.” “It’s a very approachable firm and I very much like dealing with them,” confirms an interviewee.
Notable practitioners
Christopher Cole is an experienced litigator whose broad commercial practice is complemented by notable strength in IP disputes. “He’s very creative, and knows when to be forceful and when to step back,” reports one source, while another remarks that he’s “always well prepared and knowledgeable in his field.”
J.P. Harris is considered “a rising star in the state” with an increasingly recognized civil disputes practice. He is particularly noted for his expertise in litigation involving complex data privacy and e-discovery concerns.
Peter Cowan is held in high regard by clients, one of whom describes him as “extremely professional, approachable, thorough and effective.” His civil litigation practice includes a range of commercial cases, including trade secret and breach of contract claims.
Real Estate
What the team is known for An acknowledged market leader in complex real estate mandates, with noted expertise in acquisitions, lease negotiations and bond financing. Represents a broad range of landlords, tenants and developers, alongside niche strengths acting for assisted living facilities, condominium and affordable housing developers on transactional, financing and zoning matters.
Notable practitioners
Susan Manchester is a “fantastic practitioner” with a renowned commercial real estate practice that includes considerable expertise in leasing, financing and land use matters on behalf of landlords, developers, lenders and tenants. Manchester comes recommended by sources, who describe her as “very rigorous, very practical at solving problems,” and “a pleasure to work with.” She is also well-versed in condominium law.
Kenneth Viscarello is described as an “authority on tax credit matters” and is highly respected for his work financing and negotiating acquisitions for affordable housing developers. A source comments: “I have a very high regard for Viscarello. He’s the guy in the affordable housing world in New Hampshire.”
The “very sophisticated, very knowledgeable” Margaret Probish practices in the areas of financing, leasing and affordable housing development on behalf of lenders and developers.
About Chambers USA
Each year Chambers USA researchers conduct thousands of interviews with attorneys and clients across the United States in order to rank attorneys based on their reputation in the market. The rankings are based on qualities such as technical legal ability, professional conduct, client service, commercial astuteness, diligence and commitment. For each firm referenced in the directory, Chambers USA: A Guide to America’s Leading Lawyers, provides detailed quotations from clients and peers, a list of practice strengths, an overview of recent work and a client listing. The guide is available on-line at www.chambersandpartners.com.
About the Firm
Sheehan Phinney is a full service business law firm representing local, national and international clients with innovative approaches and practical solutions. Founded in 1937, Sheehan Phinney has grown to over 60 attorneys with four offices throughout New Hampshire and Massachusetts and is known for professional excellence, practical counsel and commitment to both its clients and the communities it serves. Sheehan Phinney is the exclusive member in New Hampshire of Lex Mundi, the world’s leading association of premier independent law firms.