NH Bar Association leadership set for 2016-17

Harris to serve as president after Ruoff’s appointment to Superior Court

The NH Bar Association has announced the election of new officers and members of the NHBA Board of Governors for 2016-17.

Scott Harris, a shareholder/director at McLane Middleton, current vice president of the NH Bar Association and president-elect of the association’s board of governors, will take the reins of Bar leadership early due to the appointment of Manchester attorney David Ruoff, former NHBA president-elect, to the NH Superior Court and his subsequent resignation from the board.

Harris will fulfill the duties of bar president for 2016-17, with the assistance of current NHBA President Mary Tenn, partner at Tenn and Tenn in Manchester, who will remain on the board as immediate past president.

In addition, David McGrath, president and managing director at Sheehan Phinney Bass + Green, was elected NHBA vice president. He served as the Hillsborough County North governor from 2014 to 2016. The position of Vice President puts McGrath on the leadership track to becoming president after two years as an officer.

Four newcomers were elected to two-year terms as county governors on the board of governors: Kristin Fields of Martin, Lord & Osman, Belknap County; Jim Cowles of Walker & Varney, Carroll County; Dan Will of Devine Millimet, Hillsborough North; and Sarah Lavoie of Burns Bryant, Strafford County.

Cathy Shanelaris of Shanelaris & Schirch was re-elected to the Hillsborough County South seat. Because there were no nomination petitions submitted, and no write-in candidates received the required number of votes in accordance with the NHBA constitution and bylaws, the board of governors will appoint a Sullivan County governor.

Also elected were John Curran of Curtin, Murphy & O’Reilly, as governor-at-large, and Jennifer Parent of McLane Middleton, to the position of ABA Association delegate.