Twenty-four attorneys from the northern New England law firm Downs Rachlin Martin PLLC (DRM) have been recognized in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. Three of the firm’s lawyers were recognized as “Lawyer of the Year” honorees, and an additional fifteen were named to the 2026 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America list. Lawyers are neither required nor allowed to pay a fee to be listed; therefore, recognition by Best Lawyers® is considered a singular honor.
The three DRM lawyers recognized as Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” honorees for 2026 are Burlington, Vermont based lawyers Christopher D. Roy (litigation – real estate), Peter B. Kunin (litigation – intellectual property), and Timothy S. Sampson (real estate law). “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.
Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America are recognitions given to attorneys who are early in their careers for outstanding professional excellence in private practice. Included in Best Lawyers Ones to Watch® in America for 2026 are:
Brattleboro, VT lawyer:
Krista A. Gay, labor and employment law – employee and management; and litigation – labor and employment.
Burlington, VT lawyers:
Sarah Butson, labor and employment law – management and litigation – labor and employment;
Christian Chorba, litigation – environmental, labor and employment and real estate;
Jennifer Drake, intellectual property law and litigation – intellectual property;
Emily Garrett, energy law; land use and zoning law; and real estate law;
Jeremy Grant, commercial litigation; labor and employment law – management; litigation – intellectual property, and labor and employment;
Taylor Hallowell, litigation – intellectual property and labor and employment;
Evan O’Brien, commercial litigation;
Alexis L. Peters, land use and zoning law; real estate law;
Gina M. Puls, commercial litigation and litigation – intellectual property;
Emily Samet, corporate law; and
Kelsey Schweitzer, criminal defense – white collar, land use and zoning law; and litigation – real estate.
St. Johnsbury, VT lawyer:
Shannon K. Lenzini, corporate law; and tax law.
Lebanon, NH lawyers:
Ellen Miller, trusts and estates; and
Alison M. Sherman, trusts and estates.
The Best Lawyers in America® for 2026 includes:
Brattleboro, VT lawyer:
Timothy E. Copeland, employment law – management; labor law – management; and litigation -labor and employment.
Burlington, VT lawyers:
Andre D. Bouffard, bankruptcy and creditor debtor rights / insolvency and reorganization law; and litigation – bankruptcy; and commercial litigation;
Tristram J. Coffin, antitrust law; criminal defense – white collar; and medical malpractice law – defendants;
Kathleen H. Davis, corporate law;
William J. Dodge, land use and zoning law; and real estate law;
Marc B. Heath, litigation – commercial and construction;
R. Prescott Jaunich, land use and zoning law; and real estate law;
Walter E. Judge, Jr., commercial litigation;
Peter B. Kunin, copyright law; litigation – intellectual property; 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, appellate practice – litigation; commercial litigation; litigation – construction and insurance; personal injury – defendants; and medical malpractice law – defendants;
Paul H. Ode, Jr., 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 real estate;
Timothy S. Sampson, construction law; land use and zoning law; and real estate law; and
David J. Sylvester, corporate law; and mergers and acquisitions law.
St. Johnsbury lawyers:
Kimberly M. Butler, business organizations (including LLCs and partnerships); and 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.
Lebanon, NH attorneys:
Willemien Dingemans Miller, trusts and estates; and
Elizabeth K. Rattigan, employment law – management; and litigation – labor and employment.
Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers in America® has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Best Lawyers® recognitions are compiled based on its exhaustive Purely Peer Review® evaluation. More than 116,000 industry leading lawyers are eligible to vote (from around the world), and it has received more than 17 million evaluations on the legal abilities of other lawyers based on their specific practice areas around the world.
