Attorney Marc Heath has been elected to membership in the American Board of Trial Advocates.
(Burlington, Vt.) Attorney Marc B. Heath of the northern New England law firm Downs Rachlin Martin PLLC has been elected to membership in the American Board of Trial Advocates, a national organization that recognizes the virtues of civility, integrity and professionalism in the courtroom. Membership in the organization is by invitation only, and new members undergo a rigorous review of their case history before election by the full membership.
“Election to membership in ABOTA is a real honor,” explained colleague Walter E. Judge, who was the firm’s first elected member in 2018. “The review process is rigorous. They look at both your experience in trial work and your demeanor in the courtroom. It is a thorough analysis.”
The organization admits an equivalent number of both plaintiff’s attorneys and defense attorneys and also includes judges. Candidates must have at least five years of active experience as trial attorneys, have tried at least 10 civil jury trials to conclusion and possess additional litigation experience. Members must also exhibit the virtues articulated in ABOTA’s Code of Professionalism and Principles of Civility.
Since 1981, Heath has represented a diverse group of clients in more than 65 jury and bench trials in both federal and state courts. As a director at DRM, he has successfully tried multimillion dollar lawsuits involving damages from defective explosives at a slate quarry, landslide damage to shopping centers, and breach of co-packing agreements for retail food manufactures. Heath’s high-profile jury trial successes allow him to resolve most disputes without the need for a trial, as his opponents know that he has proven track record in the courtroom.
The general purpose of ABOTA is to foster improvement in the ethical and technical standards of practice in the field of legal advocacy so that individual litigants may receive more effective representation. For the public, this leads to a more efficient administration of justice consistent with the time-tested and traditional principles of litigation, according to ABOTA’s mission statement.
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 firm provides legal services in bankruptcy and business restructuring, general business, venture capital financing, captive insurance, energy and telecommunications, intellectual property law, labor and employment, litigation, real estate and land use, environmental and tax law, and trust and estate planning, plus legislative and regulatory services through the firm’s Government and Public Affairs group.