Twenty-five attorneys from the northern New England law firm Downs Rachlin Martin PLLC have been included in the 2024 editions of Best Lawyers® in America. Four of the firm’s lawyers were recognized as “Lawyer of the Year,” and three were named to the Ones to Watch® list. Lawyers are not required nor allowed to pay a fee to be listed; therefore, inclusion in Best Lawyers is considered a singular honor.
Four Downs Rachlin Martin lawyers were recognized as “Lawyer of the Year”. These include Burlington, Vermont-based attorneys: Robert B. Luce, personal injury litigation – plaintiff; Christopher D. Roy, litigation – real estate; and David J. Sylvester, mergers and acquisitions law. James C. Gallagher, in the firm’s St. Johnsbury office, is recognized in the category of personal injury litigation – defendants. “Lawyer of the Year” honors are awarded annually to only one lawyer per practice area in each region with extremely high overall feedback from their peers, making it an exceptional distinction.
Burlington-based attorneys recognized in Best Lawyers are: Andre D. Bouffard, bankruptcy and creditor debtor rights / insolvency and reorganization law, commercial litigation, and litigation – bankruptcy; Tristram J. Coffin, criminal defense: white collar; Kathleen H. Davis, corporate law; William J. Dodge, real estate law, and land use and zoning law; Timothy C. Doherty Jr., criminal defense: white collar; Marc B. Heath, commercial litigation, and litigation – construction; R. Prescott Jaunich, land use and zoning law, and real estate law; Walter E. Judge, Jr., commercial litigation; Peter B. Kunin, litigation – intellectual property, copyright law, and trademark law; Robert B. Luce, commercial litigation, and personal injury litigation – plaintiffs; Johan W. E. Maitland, employment law – management, and labor law – management; Jennifer E. McDonald, litigation – insurance; Paul H. Ode, corporate law and mergers and acquisitions law; Wm. Roger Prescott, litigation and controversy – tax, and tax law; Christopher D. Roy, litigation – land use and zoning, and litigations – real estate; Timothy Sampson, real estate law; and David J. Sylvester, corporate law, and mergers and acquisitions law.
Best Lawyers also recognizes Brattleboro attorney Timothy E. Copeland, employment law – management, labor law – management, and litigation – labor and employment.
In the Lebanon office, the peer review organization recognizes Willemien Dingemans Miller, trusts and estates law; and Elizabeth K. Rattigan, employment law – management, and litigation – labor and employment.
Five St. Johnsbury attorneys are also recognized: Kimberly M. Butler, commercial transactions/UCC law; James C. Gallagher, personal injury litigation – defendants; John H. Marshall, energy law and environmental law; Mary K. Parent, Business Organizations (including LLCs and partnerships), commercial transactions/UCC law, and corporate law; and James G. Wheeler, corporate law, real estate law, and trusts and estates.
Included on the Ones to Watch® list are Burlington lawyers: Joshua D. Leckey, communications law; and Evan J. O’Brien, commercial litigation. Shannon K. Lenzini, of the firm’s St. Johnsbury office, is recognized in the corporate law category.
Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers® has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Best Lawyers recognitions are compiled based on an exhaustive Purely Peer Review® evaluation. More than 116,000 industry leading lawyers are eligible to vote (from around the world), and we have received more than 17 million evaluations on the legal abilities of other lawyers based on their specific practice areas around the world.
From offices located in Vermont and New Hampshire, more than 55 DRM attorneys represent regional, national and international entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, technology businesses and Fortune 100 companies. The legal services provided by Downs Rachlin Martin attorneys include bankruptcy and business restructuring, general business, captive insurance, renewable energy, telecommunications, health law, intellectual property, labor and employment, litigation, white collar defense and government enforcement, real estate and land use, environmental, tax, and trusts and estates, plus legislative and regulatory services through the firm’s Government and Public Affairs group.
