On February 18, 2014, The McLane Law Firm celebrated its 95th anniversary. Founded in New Hampshire by “Judge” John R. McLane in 1919, McLane has grown to be the largest and most diverse law firm in the state. In 2008, McLane expanded into the highly-competitive Greater Boston market and now, just six years later, ranks in the top 80 largest law firms in Massachusetts. With 91 top-notch attorneys and more than 25 paralegals and 80 support staff, the firm is expanding its attorney ranks to meet growing client demand in the healthcare, education, intellectual property, advanced manufacturing, biotech, life sciences and energy sectors.
Managing Director Richard Samuels credits McLane’s longevity and vitality to its people, who maintain the highest standards of professionalism and contribute in significant ways to the communities in which they live and work.
“McLane’s success is a product of exceeding the expectations of those we serve – whether in a business deal, a dispute, a community partnership, or helping our citizens gain access to the justice system,” says Samuels. “Our success is measured by our ability to effect positive results for our clients and positive change for our communities.”
As an example, in addition to holding leadership positions within the leading business and law associations in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, every McLane attorney is encouraged to perform 30 to 50 hours of pro bono service each year helping individual citizens in need.
McLane’s attorneys are regularly singled out each year as leaders in their fields of law. The most recent edition of The Best Lawyers in America® recognizes 36 McLane Directors, most of who have been listed in past years. McLane is also recognized as one of America’s leading law firms in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Business Lawyers. The firm carries the highest legal ability rating in Martindale-Hubbell, as do many of the firm’s individual attorneys.
Cathy Schmidt, McLane’s Executive Director and CEO who joined the firm in 2013 from her position as president and CEO of Citizens Bank in New Hampshire and Vermont, says of the firm’s ability to attract and retain such top talent, “A law firm succeeds and grows in much the same way any business does. It hires the best people, gives them every opportunity to grow and do their best work, respects relationships, values integrity, and acts on its core value of giving back every day.” She added, “By providing an environment that supports professional and personal excellence at every turn, we can promise a very rewarding career to the high caliber attorneys that today’s client demands.”
If that is truly the formula for building a long and prosperous enterprise, then one might fully expect the McLane Law Firm to continue to lead the pack for the next 95 years.
About the McLane Law Firm
Founded in 1919, McLane, Graf, Raulerson & Middleton, Professional Association is the largest full-service law firm in the state of New Hampshire, with offices in Manchester, Concord and Portsmouth, as well as Woburn, Massachusetts. Driven by the firm’s depth of sophisticated legal expertise and an unwavering commitment to client service, McLane has built collaborative and lasting relationships with a broad spectrum of domestic and international clients. www.mclane.com