Legal Briefs: News from Around NH

Kathleen Mahan

Hinckley Allen’s Kathleen Mahan becomes 125th president of NH Bar Association

This June, Business Litigator and IP Partner at Hinckley Allen Kathleen M. Mahan became the 125th president of the New Hampshire Bar Association (NHBA), a nonprofit, court-mandated organization of nearly 9,000 lawyers and judges established in 1873.

As president, Kathleen will continue to focus on programs providing practical and valuable support for all members, including initiatives aimed at broadening the scope of mental health and wellness benefits to members both professionally and personally.

Kathleen’s practice focuses on handling complex cases involving organizational restructuring, corporate governance, non-compete conflicts, contracts, trade secrets and property disputes.

Recognized as a leader in intellectual property, she played a key role in a landmark trade secret case in New Hampshire. Since 2020, Chambers & Partners USA has ranked her as a leading lawyer for business in general commercial litigation.

Patrick Closson

Patrick Closson appointed to McLane Middleton’s Management Committee

The law firm of McLane Middleton announced that Patrick C. Closson has been appointed to the firm’s Management Committee – the executive committee of the board of directors; overseeing strategy and business operations. Pat previously served on the firm’s Management Committee from 2016 to 2020.

Pat is a corporate and transactional lawyer.  Pat has served in leadership positions for several organizations throughout the State of New Hampshire including serving on the Executive Board of the New Hampshire Business and Industry Association and President of the University of New Hampshire Alumni Association.

Pat can be reached in the firm’s Manchester and Portsmouth offices at (603) 628-1457 or patrick.closson@mclane.com.

Alexandra Cote

Alexandra Cote elected Member at Large for NH Women’s Bar Association’s Board of Directors

Alexandra “Lexi” S. Cote — director in McLane Middleton’s litigation department and chair of the Probate Litigation Group — has been elected a Member at Large for the New Hampshire Women’s Bar Association’s (NHWBA) board of directors. Lexi has served as the Membership Committee Chair for the past five years.

The NHWBA was established in 1998 to promote and support the advancement and interests of women in the legal community through leadership, professional interaction, education and the exchange of ideas between our members and the community.  The organization offers its members opportunities for personal and professional growth through networking and professional development forums, continuing legal education seminars, and public service initiatives that focus on improving the lives of women in New Hampshire.  Its membership is comprised of attorneys in all areas of law, judges, educators, government officials and law students from across the state.

In her role at McLane, Lexi assists clients with various civil litigation matters, primarily focusing on probate litigation, as well as land use, real estate, and environmental litigation. A large portion of Lexi’s practice is representing clients in partition actions, complex will and trust contests, capacity challenges, guardianship and conservatorship disputes, accounting actions, and other actions by and against fiduciaries.  Lexi also assists corporate and individual clients in a wide array of property issues, including nuisance, trespass, tax abatements, municipal permitting, and other real estate and land use matters.

Prior to joining McLane Middleton, Lexi worked as a law clerk for Senior Associate Justice Gary E. Hicks at the New Hampshire Supreme Court.  Before her time at the Supreme Court, Lexi worked for two years as a law clerk for the New Hampshire Superior Court, primarily supporting judges in Strafford and Carroll Counties. Lexi received her J.D. from the University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law (2014), where she was a member of the Daniel Webster Scholar Honors Program.  She received her B.A. in Philosophy from Vassar College (2009).

Lexi can be reached in the firm’s Manchester office at (603) 628-1255 or alexandra.cote@mclane.com.

Robert Lucic

Lucic named VP of NH Bar Board of Governors

Sheehan Phinney shareholder Robert R. Lucic has been named as vice president to the board of governors for the New Hampshire Bar Association. The Board is the governing body of the New Hampshire Bar Association, authorized by the NH Supreme Court.

Lucic has over 30 years of extensive complex commercial litigation experience throughout the United States including administrative agency proceedings, arbitrations, jury trials and appellate practice involving both multi-national corporations and small businesses. His practice focus includes patent and trade secret litigation; environmental litigation; stockholder and partnership disputes; and investor disputes. He also provides strategic counseling to industrial clients and small businesses.

Lucic has been recognized by Chambers USA, Best Lawyers in America and New England Super Lawyers for his work in Business Litigation and Environmental Law. He is admitted to practice in New Hampshire and Massachusetts and received his J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School and his B.A. from Dartmouth College.

Sheehan Phinney earns top rankings by Chambers USA for 2024

Sheehan Phinney has once again received the highest rankings in New Hampshire and Massachusetts for 2024 by Chambers USA, a directory of the country’s top law firms. The eight Sheehan Phinney practice areas ranked among the best are Bankruptcy/Restructuring, Corporate/Commercial, Environment, Healthcare, Labor & Employment, Intellectual Property, Litigation, and Real Estate.

In addition, 28 Sheehan Phinney attorneys were recognized as among the nation’s top lawyers in their respective fields:

Bankruptcy/Restructuring
Christopher Candon
James LaMontagne

Corporate/Commercial
Matthew Benson
James Cook
Scott Ellison
Jon Liland
Curtis Little
Colleen Lyons

Environment
Thomas Burack
Robert Cheney
Robert Lucic
Lynn Preston

Health care
Andrew Eills
Jason Gregoire
Katherine Hanna

Intellectual Property
Douglas Verge

Labor & Employment
Elizabeth Bailey
Andrea Chatfield
David McGrath
Jennifer Moeckel
James Reidy

Litigation: General Commercial
Christopher Cole
James Harris
James Shirley

Litigation: Mediators
David McGrath

Real Estate
Susan Manchester
Margaret Probish
Kenneth Viscarello

Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use
Susan Manchester

Tax
Peter Beach