Manchester, N.H., Woburn, Mass. (August 19, 2024) – The law firm of McLane Middleton is proud to announce that 50 of its attorneys have been listed in The Best Lawyers in America© 2025 with an additional 10 attorneys included in the “Ones to Watch” category. In addition, two attorneys, Barry Needleman (Environmental Law), and Gregory H. Smith (Environmental Law) were named a 2025 Lawyer of the Year in their respective field.
Best Lawyers is the oldest and most respected peer review publication in the legal profession. Recognition in Best Lawyers is widely regarded by both clients and legal professionals as a significant honor, conferred on a lawyer by his or her peers. For more than three decades, its publications have earned the respect of the profession, the media, and the public, as the most reliable, unbiased source of legal referrals anywhere.
Lawyer of the Year
Barry Needleman is the firm’s Managing Director and has over 30 years of experience handling environmental and energy matters for regional and national clients. He does a substantial amount of energy facility siting work, primarily before the New Hampshire Site Evaluation Committee, on numerous types of projects ranging from fossil and renewable generation, to electric and gas transmission. He has experience litigating a variety of environmental cases in state and federal courts such as insurance and third-party cost recovery claims at former manufactured gas plants and the defense of State-wide MTBE contamination claims. He also litigates administrative matters before state appellate councils regarding permit appeals under various environmental programs. He regularly represents clients in environmental matters involving permitting, compliance counseling, and defense of administrative and judicial enforcement actions. Barry chairs McLane Middleton’s Energy Practice Group. He can be reached at the firm’s Manchester office at (603) 230-4407 or barry.needleman@mclane.com.
Gregory Smith is chairman of the firm’s Administrative Law Department and Environmental Practice Group. He has over 40 years’ experience in environmental and regulatory law and litigation involving the State, federal and local governments. He was the New Hampshire Attorney General following service as a homicide prosecutor in that office. He has led the firm’s environmental, regulatory and government relations practice since leaving the position of Attorney General. His practice involves representation of our clients in permitting, enforcement and litigation matters arising under all the major federal and State environmental laws. He can be reached at the firm’s Concord office at (603) 230-4401 or gregory.smith@mclane.com.
The full list of McLane Middleton attorneys selected by their peers for inclusion in Best Lawyers, the year they were first included, and their fields of inclusion is as follows:
Manchester Office
Peter D. Anderson (2005)
– Criminal Defense: White-Collar
John Bentas (2020)
– Corporate Law
Steven M. Burke (2003)
– Corporate Law
– Tax Law
Patrick C. Closson (2014)
– Corporate Law
– Healthcare Law
– Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Alexandra S. Cote
– Litigation – Trusts and Estates
Michael A. Delaney (2015)
– Appellate Practice
– Commercial Litigation
– Corporate Compliance Law
– Education Law
– Government Relations Practice
Laura B. Dodge (2024)
– Real Estate Law
Christopher M. Dube (2021)
– Banking and Finance Law
– Corporate Law
Steven J. Dutton (2020)
– Commercial Litigation
Bruce W. Felmly (1993)
– Appellate Practice
– Bet-the-Company Litigation
– Commercial Litigation
– Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
Joseph A. Foster (2003)
– Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law
– Corporate Law
Beth L. Fowler (2024)
– Tax Law
Wilbur A. Glahn III (2006)
– Appellate Practice
– Bet-the-Company Litigation
– Commercial Litigation
Dennis J. Haley, Jr. (2020)
– Corporate Law
– Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Scott H. Harris (2013)
– Commercial Litigation
– Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
Thomas W. Hildreth (2008)
– Immigration Law
– Land Use and Zoning Law
– Real Estate Law
John E. Hughes (2006)
– Trusts and Estates
Linda S. Johnson (2005)
– Education Law
– Employment Law – Management
Caitlin G. McCurdy (2023)
– Trusts & Estates
Jack B. Middleton (1987)
– Bet-the-Company Litigation
– Commercial Litigation
– Litigation – Labor and Employment
– Litigation – Land Use and Zoning
– Litigation and Controversy – Tax
– Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
Barry Needleman (2003)
– Energy Law
– Environmental Law
Margaret “Peg” O’Brien (2019)
– Employment Law – Management
Jennifer L. Parent (2013)
– Commercial Litigation
– Employment Law – Management
– Labor Law – Management
– Litigation – Labor and Employment
– Litigation – Land Use and Zoning
– Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
Christopher R. Paul (2021)
– Tax Law
– Trusts and Estates
John E. Rich, Jr. (2003)
– Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
Mark C. Rouvalis (2016)
– Commercial Litigation
– Government Relations Practice
Richard A. Samuels (1993)
– Corporate Law
– Energy Law
– Financial Services Regulation Law
– Mergers and Acquisitions Law
– Securities/Capital Markets Law
– Securities Regulation
Cameron G. Shilling (2013)
– Litigation – Labor and Employment
– Privacy and Data Security Law
Ramey D. Sylvester
– Immigration Law
Michael B. Tule (2018)
– Corporate Law
– Mergers and Acquisition Law
Jeremy T. Walker (2016)
– Bet-the-Company Litigation
– Commercial Litigation
– Construction Law
– Litigation – Banking and Finance
– Litigation – Construction
– Litigation – Intellectual Property
Robert A. Wells (1991)
– Non-Profit/Charities Law
– Trusts and Estates
Mark A. Wright (2003)
– Litigation – Intellectual Property
– Trademark Law
William V. A. Zorn (1989)
– Tax Law
– Trusts and Estates
Concord Office
Sabrina C. Beavens (2022)
– Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
– Business Organizations (including LLC’s and Partnerships)
– Litigation – Bankruptcy
Viggo C. Fish (2024)
– Administrative/Regulatory Law
– Environmental Law
– Litigation – Environmental
Thomas B. Getz (2015)
– Energy Law
– Energy Regulation Law
Gregory H. Smith (1995)
– Administrative/Regulatory Law
– Environmental Law
– Government Relations Practice
Portsmouth Office
Patrick O. Collins (2024)
– Trusts & Estates
Anthony Delyani (2021)
– Corporate Law
Denis P. Dillon (2009)
– Trusts and Estates
Mary Susan Leahy (1997)
– Corporate Law
– Trusts and Estates
Michael J. Quinn (2003)
– Environmental Law
– Litigation – Environmental
David Wolowitz (1999)
– Commercial Litigation
– Education Law
– Employment Law – Management
– First Amendment Law
– Litigation – Labor and Employment
– Litigation – Trusts and Estates
Woburn Office
George L. Cushing (1993)
– Litigation – Trusts and Estates
– Trusts and Estates
Adam M. Hamel (2023)
– Litigation – Labor and Employment
David K. Moynihan (2018)
– Real Estate Law
Ryan J. Swartz (2023)
– Trusts and Estates
Boston Office
Shiva Karimi (2024)
– Immigration Law
Jon E. Steffensen (1995)
– Trusts and Estates
Ones to Watch
Jacqueline A. Botchman (Manchester – 2022)
– Criminal Defense: General Practice
– Family Law
Kolbie R. Deamon (Manchester -2023)
– Tax Law
John DeWispelaere (Manchester – 2024)
– Entertainment & Sports Law
Amanda E. Quinlan (Manchester – 2022)
– Commercial Litigation
Joshua D. Sandler (Manchester – 2025)
– Tax Law
Vineesha S. Sow (Boston – 2025)
– Education Law
– Labor and Employment Law – Management
Graham W. Steadman (Manchester – 2023)
– Commercial Litigation
Philip L. Tizzano (Boston – 2025)
– Trusts & Estates
Eleanor M. Walker (Woburn – 2025)
– Mergers & Acquisitions Law
Catherine S. Yao (Manchester – 2021)
– Corporate Law
– Intellectual Property Law