The law firm of McLane Middleton, Professional Association is pleased to announce that the firm has been recognized with five firm rankings and 23 distinct individual attorney rankings in 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 ranks law firms in bands 1 (highest) – 6 (lowest). Chambers USA selected McLane Middleton’s offices in New Hampshire (Manchester, Concord and Portsmouth) as top-ranked (Band 1) in the state for Corporate/Commercial, Environment, and Litigation: General Commercial. The firm received the second highest tier ranking (Band 2) in Labor & Employment and Real Estate.
The list of outstanding McLane Middleton attorneys who were recognized individually in Chambers USA include:
- Steven M. Burke (Corporate/Commercial and 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 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 and Litigation: General Commercial)
- Michael J. Quinn (Environment)
- John E. Rich, Jr. (Employee Benefits & Compensation)
- Mark C. Rouvalis (Environment & Litigation: General Commercial)
- Richard A. Samuels (Corporate/Commercial)
- Gregory H. Smith (Environment)
- Charla Bizios Stevens (Labor & Employment)
- Michael B. Tule (Corporate/Commercial)
- Jeremy T. Walker (Litigation: General Commercial)
- Mark A. Wright (Intellectual Property)
Now in its 18th 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
According to market sources, McLane Middleton is a “go-to firm” with a “very high-quality practice.”
“This is one of the top law firms that corporate clients will go to,” reports another source.
“It’s an excellent team,” states a client. “They’re very smart and responsive, and very collaborative.”
Notable practitioners
Daniel Norris is “an excellent lawyer,” states a peer. “He’s very thoughtful and practical, and really enjoyable to work with, whether side by side or across the table.” He acts on a range of high-value transactions, including acquisitions, LBOs and financings, and is regularly retained on matters across the region.
Michael Tule is a fine choice of counsel for corporate transactions such as capital stock acquisitions and mergers, and frequently acts on cross-border deals. Interviewees note that he “does a good job of representing his clients’ interests.”
Patrick Closson is an impressive corporate attorney with experience in transactions arising from regulated industries such as financial services, as well as real estate matters. He is held in high regard by peers, one of whom states they’ve “always been very impressed with his practice and knowledge base.”
Richard Samuels is well versed in transactional mandates such as fund formations and private placements, drawing on wider strength in corporate governance and cross-border mandates. “He’s one of the top corporate practitioners in the state,” confirms a source.
Steven Burke holds an excellent reputation for his wide-ranging corporate practice, complementing his transactional experience with notable tax strength. “He’s a top-notch business attorney,” states one source, while another describes him as “very talented.”
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
Sources describe this as a “very strong litigation group.”
Another peer regards this as “the largest and most established litigation practice in New Hampshire.”
Clients say the team is “excellent,” adding that it is “very smart, responsive and collaborative.”
Work highlights
Represented New Hampshire Motor Speedway in a dispute in which the right to hold a concert on Speedway ground was challenged following local planning board approval.
Notable practitioners
Bruce Felmly is a “top-drawer litigator” with an impressive track record in complex civil disputes, including medical malpractice, IP and antitrust mandates. Interviewees describe him as “one of the most skilled trial lawyers in the state.”
Jack Middleton is “a real lion of the New Hampshire Bar,” according to one peer, while another describes him as “widely known and widely respected.” He draws on longstanding experience as a trial lawyer and former judge to advise on complex litigation and ADR proceedings.
Jennifer Parent is “widely respected among the Bar,” state commentators. She is highlighted for her broad civil litigation practice, which includes employment disputes and unfair competition claims.
Jeremy Walker attracts a broad client base with his strong trial practice, while also handling arbitrations. His commercial litigation expertise is complemented by wider strength in IP and real estate disputes.
Mark Rouvalis comes recommended as a “tremendous litigator and advocate.” He is a fine choice of counsel for disputes arising from the environmental and construction fields, drawing on both litigation and ADR expertise.
Michael Delaney is recognized for expert defense of clients facing white-collar criminal defense trial proceedings and investigations. His experience extends to civil disputes such as labor and employment concerns as well as crisis management.
Wilbur Glahn ‘s litigation practice covers a range of commercial claims, including contract disputes, tax issues and shareholder actions. “He is one of the best in the business for handling sensitive, sophisticated matters,” according to impressed sources.
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
“They are dedicated to securing a positive result for their clients, and are extremely knowledgeable in the areas of law that they practice in,” says a source.
Notable practitioners
Charla Stevens is “on the cutting edge of labor law,” states a source, adding: “She’s who you want to be when you grow up!” She is also recognized for her handling of major disputes facing employers, including wage and hour actions and harassment suits.
Jennifer Parent offers impressive strength in employment law disputes such as discrimination and retaliation suits, as well as providing expert risk management counsel. Clients describe her as “very dedicated and knowledgeable,” highlighting her “excellent command of legal theories.”
Linda Johnson is “a terrific education lawyer,” according to interviewees. She advises both educational institutions and other corporates on employment law compliance, policy development and risk management issues.
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.
Work highlights
Acted for Alamo Group on the acquisition of an industrial facility, which included handling related environmental issues.
Notable practitioners
Rolf Goodwin maintains a broad transactional practice, which sees him advise on property acquisitions on a regional and national scale. He is also noted for his strength in real estate financing.
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 enforcement 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
Peers praise the firm’s “very good environmental lawyers.”
Work highlights
Represented Waste Management of New Hampshire, in connection with an appeal by the Conservation Law Foundation of a previously obtained solid waste permit for expansion of the state’s largest landfill from 2021 to 2039.
Notable practitioners
Barry Needleman is a go-to attorney for a wide range of matters including compliance, litigation and permit defense. He is particularly commended for his work facilitating siting approvals for conventional and renewable power generation projects. Sources say: “He’s a top-notch lawyer and a very good guy,” and “he’s one of the top environmental lawyers in New Hampshire.”
The group chairman, the “phenomenal” Gregory Smith , has extensive experience managing the environmental permitting and siting process for clients engaged in energy projects. He also handles enforcement proceedings and civil litigation.
Mark Rouvalis is “a tremendous litigator,” noted for his skillful representation of clients in all manner of environmental disputes. He appears before state and federal courts as well as in enforcement agency proceedings.
Michael Quinn is a litigator noted for his expertise in environmental law cases. He is particularly knowledgeable of wetlands concerns and issues arising under the CWA. He also tackles Superfund-related litigation.