Legal Briefs: News From Around NH

Hall tapped for next State Police director

Mark B. Hall of Dunbarton has been nominated by Gov. Chris Sununu to be the director of the New Hampshire Department of Safety, Division of State Police.

If confirmed, he will fill the unexpired term of outgoing Col. Nathan A. Noyes through March 2026.

Hall, a graduate of NH Police Standards and Training in 1999, began as a patrol officer in Milton, Vt. and was a Vermont State Trooper until 2012 before becoming a NH State Police sergeant that year.

He currently serves as a Major and Field Operations Bureau commander, responsible for oversight of all uniformed personnel.

Sheehan Phinney attorneys named to Best Lawyers list

Some 42 Sheehan Phinney attorneys have been selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America 2023, and seven of them were selected as 2024 Lawyers of the Year in their respective practice areas.

Named Lawyers of the Year from the firm’s New Hampshire offices were:

• Concord: Robert P. Cheney, Energy and Environmental Law
• Manchester: Elizabeth A. Bailey, Litigation/Labor and Employment, Employment Law/Management; Peter T. Beach, Litigation & Controversy/Tax, Mergers & Acquisitions, Tax Law; Matthew H. Benson, Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Corporate Law, Technology Law, Venture Capital Law; Judith L. Bomster, Elder Law, Trusts & Estates; Thomas S. Burack, Environmental Law; Ann N. Butenhof, Elder Law; Christopher M. Candon, Corporate Law, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/ Insolvency and Reorganization Law; Megan C. Carrier, Commercial Litigation, Litigation/Insurance, Litigation/Labor & Employment, Litigation/Land Use and Zoning; Andrea G. Chatfield, Employment Law/Management; Bradford E. Cook, Non-Profit/Charities Law, Trusts & Estates; Peter S. Cowan, Commercial Litigation; Joseph A. DiBrigida, Corporate Law; Andrew B. Eills, Healthcare Law; Scott W. Ellison, Business Organizations (including LLCs and partnerships), Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Commercial Transactions/UCC Law, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Tax Law; Jason D. Gregoire, Health Care Law; Katherine M. Hanna, Health Care Law; James P. Harris, Commercial Litigation; Courtney H.G. Herz, Commercial Litigation; James S. LaMontagne, Commercial Litigation; Robert R. Lucic, Commercial Litigation; Colleen Lyons, Corporate Law, Business Organizations, Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Mergers and Acquisitions; Susan A. Manchester, Real Estate Law; David W. McGrath, Mediation, Commercial Litigation, Employment Law/Management, Labor Law/Management, Employment Law/Individuals; Robert H. Miller, Commercial Litigation, Litigation/Land Use and Zoning; Jennifer Shea Moeckel, Employment Law/Management; Margaret E. Probish, Commercial Finance Law, Real Estate Law; James P. Reidy, Employment Law-Management, Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Labor Law-Management; James Q. Shirley, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation; Douglas G. Verge, Litigation/Intellectual Property, Trademark Law; and Kenneth A. Viscarello, Corporate Law, Real Estate Law.

      •  Portsmouth office: Christopher Cole, Labor Law/Management, Commercial Litigation, Employment Law/Individuals & Management, Litigation: Intellectual Property, Labor & Employment and Land Use & Zoning.

     •  Boston office: Bruce H. Bagdasarian, Real Estate Law, Commercial Finance Law; Jeff D. Bernarducci, Litigation/Construction; Kathleen O’Neill Burgener, Real Estate Law; Alexander Pyle, Corporate Law; Mark J. Ventola, Employment Law-Management; and Karen A. Whitley, Litigation, Labor and Employment.

In addition, three Sheehan Phinney attorneys were selected as “Ones to Watch”: Brian J. Bouchard, Commercial Litigation, Labor and Employment Law/Management, Litigation/Construction, Litigation/Labor and Employment; Gregory A. Chakmakas, Real Estate Law; Emily B. Penaskovic, Business Organizations (including LLCs and partnerships), Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Securities/Capital Markets Law.

Pierce Atwood partners named Best Lawyers

Some 61 attorneys with Pierce Atwood LLP have been recognized in the Best Lawyers in America publication, including three partners based in New Hampshire:  Jan Myskowski, Trusts and Estates Law; •    Denis O. Robinson:  Real Estate Law; and Scott E. Pueschel: Corporate Law, M&A Law, Securities/Capital Markets Law.

In addition, Jan Myskowski, in the firm’s Concord office, was named a Lawyer of the Year for Elder Law and Baxter has been included in the “Ones to Watch” category for Intellectual Property Law and Patent Law.

McLane attorneys named Lawyer of the Year

Ten McLane Middleton attorneys have been named Lawyers of the Year in their field for 2024: Steven M. Burke, Tax Law; Patrick C., Mergers & Acquisitions; Michael A. Delaney, Education Law; Viggo C. Fish, Environmental Law; Joseph A. Foster, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law; Thomas B. Getz, Energy Law; Wilbur A. Glahn III, Appellate Practice; Ralph F. Holmes, Litigation, Trusts and Estates; Michael J. Quinn, Environmental Law); and Mark A. Wright, Trademark Law.

Samantha Heuring

Shaheen & Gordon adds to Personal Injury team

Attorney Samantha Heuring has joined the Personal Injury Practice Group at Shaheen & Gordon as we well as its YDC Victim Compensation Group.

Heuring, who will be based in the firm’s Dover office, previously worked with more than a dozen victims of physical and sexual assault at the Youth Development Center through the state’s YDC Settlement Fund. Her work was key in attaining the first maximum settlement of $1.5 million through the fund. She subsequently obtained a $1.48 million settlement and a second $1.5 million settlement through the fund.

Liquor Commission Enforcement Division receives accreditation

The NH Liquor Commission’s Division of Enforcement was recently recognized by the Commission of Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), joining 18 other New Hampshire law enforcement agencies in achieving the standard.

To receive the accreditation, agencies must perform a self-assessment that reviews policies, practices and processes against internationally accepted public safety standards, followed by an assessment by independent assessors with significant public safety experience.

Securities Bureau official completes Toll program

Eric A. Forcier, deputy secretary of the NH Bureau of Securities Regulation, has completed the Toll Fellowship, a leadership program through the Council of State Governments.

Each year, 48 officials from the legislative, executive and judicial branches of state governments around the country are inducted into the program.

Forcier, who began his career with the state as an attorney for the Securities Bureau in 2010, was promoted to deputy secretary in July 2021. He has also led several key projects for the Secretary of State’s Elections Division, including a public ballot-counting device demonstration that took place earlier this month.

Secretary of State David Scanlan and Deputy Secretary of State Erin Hennessey are also alumni Toll Fellowship program; Scanlan in 1996 and Hennessey in 2019.