Twenty-three attorneys from the northern New England law firm Downs Rachlin Martin PLLC (DRM) have been recognized in the 2027 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. Two of the firm’s lawyers were recognized as “Lawyer of the Year” honorees, and an additional thirteen were named to the 2027 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 two DRM lawyers recognized as Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” honorees for 2027 are Burlington, Vermont based lawyers Christopher D. Roy (litigation – land use and zoning), and Timothy S. Sampson (land use and zoning law). “Lawyer of the Year” honors are awarded annually to only one lawyer per practice area in each region based upon 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 2027 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;
Alexis L. Peters Corseri, land use and zoning law; real estate law;
Gina M. Puls, commercial litigation and litigation – intellectual property; 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 (now based in Burlington, VT.)
The Best Lawyers in America® for 2027 includes:
Brattleboro, VT lawyers:
Timothy E. Copeland, employment law – management; labor law – management; and litigation – labor and employment; and
Craig Miskovich, commercial finance law.
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;
F. David Harlow, litigation – labor and employment;
R. Prescott Jaunich, land use and zoning law; and real estate law;
Walter E. Judge, Jr., commercial litigation;
Peter B. Kunin, advertising law; 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, VT lawyers:
Kimberly M. Butler, business organizations (including LLCs and partnerships); and commercial transactions/UCC law;
Mary K. Parent, business organizations (including LLCs and partnerships), commercial transactions/UCC law; corporate law; and mergers and acquisitions law; and
James G. Wheeler, corporate law; real estate law; and trusts and estates.
Lebanon, NH lawyers:
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.
