Excellence in the Law 2014

in the law

PRESENTS

in the law 2014

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GOLD SPONSOR SILVER SPONSORS B2 • Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly • April 2014

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Up & Coming Lawyers Audrey H. O’Shaughnessy ...... B14 Excellence: Paralegal Sarah M. Allen...... B4 Damien C. Powell...... B14 Jennifer Collins...... B23 Theresa A. Barbadoro...... B4 Todd C. Ratner...... B15 Excellence: Firm Administration Jessica C. Berry ...... B5 Soraya Sadeghi...... B16 Joanne McBride ...... B24 Brian P. Bialas...... B6 Victoria M. Santoro ...... B16 Debora A. Kennedy...... B24 Benton B. Bodamer...... B6 Courtney C. Shea...... B17 Asya Calixto...... B8 David H. Travers...... B18 Excellence: Marketing Julia E. Devanthéry ...... B8 Anjali S. Waikar...... B18 Liz B. Cerasuolo...... B25 Carline M. Durocher...... B9 Ruthanne D. Withers...... B19 Beth M. Cuzzone...... B26 Lydia M. Edwards...... B10 Excellence: Pro Bono Michael A. Fenton...... B10 Daniel F. Toomey Judicial Excellence Julie S. Ferraro...... B11 Weil, Gotshal & Manges, Boston...... B20 Judge Suzanne V. DelVecchio (ret.)...... B26 Kanasha S. Herbert...... B11 Susan L. Abbott...... B20 Sofia S. Lingos...... B12 Lennox C. Chase Jr...... B21 Excellence: Legal Journalism Christopher B. Logue...... B12 Sander A. Rikleen...... B22 Carl Stevens...... B26 Melissa A. Murphy-Rodrigues...... B13 Tara A.T. Shuman ...... B22 Benjamin R. Novotny...... B13 Katy E. Ward ...... B23 Profiles by Amy E. Burroughs SAVE THE DATE

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1 9 1 1 THE PREEMINENT VOICE OF THE LEGAL PROFESSION™ H40589 Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly • April 2014 • B3

LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER

Dear readers,

We hope you enjoy this special Excellence in the Law section, which recognizes various achievements in the legal community.

Our Up & Coming Lawyers are rising stars in the legal community — Massachusetts attorneys who have been members of the bar for 10 years or less, but who have already distinguished themselves and appear poised for even greater accomplishments.

Those selected for awards in Excellence in Pro Bono are role models for their work in giving back to the community. In addition, we are honoring the often unsung heroes who keep law offices running smoothly with our Excellence in Firm Administration, Marketing and Paralegal awards.

The honorees for Judicial Excellence and Excellence in Legal Journalism, chosen by our partner in this event, the Massachusetts Bar Association, are also featured in this section. The MBA this year is celebrating retired Superior Court Judge Suzanne V. DelVecchio and Carl Stevens of WBZ News Radio.

The pages that follow offer insights into the slate of 2014 honorees. Please join me in congratulating them.

Susan A. Bocamazo, Esq. Publisher, Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly

Middlesex Sheriff’s Office SAVE Civil Process Division THE DATE A Team Of Experienced Professionals Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian

When Results Matter, Hire A Team Of Experienced Professionals.

Capias Arrests Levies on Real Estate Summonses/Comp laints Seizures on Executions Witness Subpoenas Evictions

Southern District Main Office Northern District 188 Concord Street 271 Cambridge Street 321 Central Street PO Box 827 PO Box 410180 PO Box 7135 Framingham, MA 01701 Cambridge, MA 02141 Lowell, MA 01852 508-872-3110 617-547-1171 978-452-3221 B4 • Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly • April 2014

SERVING AS THE CO-MANAGER of her firm’s estate planning department allows Sarah Sarah Allen M. Allen to showcase both her sophisticated tax expertise and strong litigation skills. In addition to handling complex estates, she dedicates significant time to representing POSITION: PARTNER, PABIAN & RUSSELL, BOSTON | AGE: 34 LAW SCHOOL: BOSTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW | BAR ADMISSION: 2004 families of children with special needs. Allen also contributes volunteer education and MCLE training to raise awareness of elder abuse. This year, she will earn her LL.M. in taxation from Boston University.

Q. What do you consider your biggest litigation. Ultimately, we were able to get the on an estate for someone who passed away achievement as a lawyer to date? grandchildren everything we felt the decedent unexpectedly or very young, the toughest part A. I am most proud of the book of clients I’ve intended to leave them. is helping the family deal with the grief as developed and the level of service I’ve given well as the financial and legal ramifications of Q. them. I have the privilege of talking to clients What is the best piece of professional advice someone’s death when they’re going through about the things that matter most to them you ever received? such a stressful time. — their families and their finances. I get the A. The best advice was on a plaque that used Q. What is the trait you most dislike in yourself? opportunity to help them plan their legacy to be in my mother’s office and is now in my and outline their wishes in a way that their office. It’s a quote from Vince Lombardi: “The A. It’s probably one of the traits I also like family, friends or whoever is benefiting quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion the most, in that I always speak my mind. I from their estate has an appreciation for to their commitment to excellence.” sometimes will say something before I have how much thought and care they put into thought through whether it’s something I that estate plan. Q. What advice would you give to students just should verbalize at that time or not. But I also graduating from law school? find that’s part of being honest and upfront. Q. What’s the most satisfying case or A. Spend as much time as necessary finding matter you’ve worked on so far? which area of the law resonates the most, so Q. What’s one thing about you that might surprise people? A. This is not the biggest case I’ve they are practicing in an area where they are worked on, nor is it the easiest, committed and enjoy what they’re doing. A. I love country music. but it is the most gratifying: The practice of law is a business more now Q. I represented beneficiaries than it ever has been, and it’s important to What is your greatest fear? who were contesting the way understand the connection between the A. Not doing something now that I’ll regret later. two provisions in a will were practice of law and the business of being interpreted by the executor. I a lawyer. Q. What was your very first job? represented the grandchildren A. I was a waitress at a breakfast restaurant Q. If you hadn’t become a lawyer, what field of the decedent, who were in Georgetown. It involved me serving would you have entered? intended to receive the bulk coffee and eggs at 5 a.m. on Saturday and of her estate. Because of A. I would have been a news anchor/ Sunday mornings. poor drafting and a will broadcast journalist. that was done in a hasty Q. Describe yourself in one word. Q. What’s the toughest part of your job? manner, we spent more than A. Driven. four years working through A. When I am working on an estate plan for the estate and the ensuing somebody who is terminally ill, or working PHOTO BY MERRILL SHEA

THERESA A. BARBADORO’S well-rounded background has included practicing in Theresa Barbadoro London, in-house experience at Red Bull North America, and now a wide-ranging corporate law practice in Quincy. When Barbadoro learned the Quincy Chamber of POSITION: ASSOCIATE, BAKER, BRAVERMAN & BARBADORO, QUINCY | AGE: 34 LAW SCHOOL: AMERICAN UNIVERSITY WASHINGTON COLLEGE OF LAW Commerce was creating a Center for Innovation, she volunteered to provide legal BAR ADMISSION: MASSACHUSETTS, 2005; NEW YORK, 2006; CALIFORNIA, 2009 office hours to aspiring entrepreneurs. She initiated firm sponsorship of a “Quick Pick Competition” for new startups, and she leads the firm’s clothing drive for a domestic violence shelter.

Q. What do you consider your biggest just getting the results, but providing the right transactions is unfortunately not something achievement as a lawyer to date? relationship so clients feel comfortable with you can do in a week. There’s a lot of A. I think it’s finding out what you like about you, trust you, and want to do repeat business management of expectation of timelines. the law and finding a job that allows you to with you. enjoy the aspects of the law that you like, with Q. What is the trait you most dislike in yourself? Q. the people you like — finding that spot where What is the best piece of professional advice A. Trying to please everybody. you’re really happy with your career. For me, you ever received? that took a long time. A. If you develop your own client base, you Q. What’s one thing about you that might always have job security and you always have surprise people? Q. What’s the most satisfying case or matter relationships you can rely on. A. I’m a certified wine professional. I took a you’ve worked on so far? break from law for about six months and had A. It’s more a matter of establishing the Q. What advice would you give to students just graduating from law school? the opportunity to study wine at the Culinary relationships. My preference is to be Institute in NapA. That was tremendous. A. I would advise them to explore different a general counsel for businesses — Someday in the distant future, I want to start somebody they can call, no matter what areas of the law. I did a multitude of things a wine bar. the issue is, and I can help be a part of before ending up where I am, and I don’t the solution. think I would be as happy as I am if I hadn’t Q. What was your very first job? had the opportunity to explore other types of Q. Who was your most important law, in terms of both practice area and size of A. I hosted kids’ birthday parties at mentor, and how has that person practice. I think a lot of people think the first Discovery Zone. impacted your career? thing they go into, they have to stay there. It’s Q. Do you see yourself striking out on your own A. Probably my dad, who is a important to explore what you like so you can one day? partner at my firm, although we figure out what really is the best fit for you. do very different things. He has A. No. I like practicing in a collaborative been instrumental in helping me Q. What’s the toughest part of your job? environment like the one we have here. understand the importance of A. In a lot of transactions, people want things There are so many advantages to having an client relationships. It’s not about done very quickly, and the nature of those established group setting. PHOTO BY MERRILL SHEA Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly • April 2014 • B5

SINCE SHE WAS A TEENAGER, Jessica C. Berry has been drawn to volunteer and professional Jessica Berry activities that serve young people, especially those who are vulnerable and at risk. As an advocate for low-income children in welfare cases, Berry brings compassion, creativity, POSITION: SUPERVISING STAFF ATTORNEY, CHILDREN’S LAW CENTER OF MASSACHUSETTS, LYNN | AGE: 36 | LAW SCHOOL: UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN dedication and initiative to her work. She is often selected by the court to take on the most LAW SCHOOL | BAR ADMISSION: CALIFORNIA, 2008; MASSACHUSETTS, 2009 challenging cases, and she continues to provide mentorship to former clients. Berry is the vice chair of the Massachusetts Bar Association’s Juvenile and Child Welfare Section Council.

Q. What do you consider your biggest Q. What is the best piece of professional advice Q. What is the trait you most dislike in yourself? achievement as a lawyer to date? you ever received? A. The irony is that some of the traits I used A. I have a few clients where I was proud and A. Early on I got the message that you have to be to not like really serve me well in the law, like happy with the outcome in terms of getting flexible. Things don’t always work out the way stubbornness and argumentativeness. them into different school placements, services you expect, so you have to be flexible and adapt. or home placements that seemed to enable Q. What’s one thing about you that might them to succeed in a way they had not before. Q. What advice would you give to students just surprise people? graduating from law school? Those are the accomplishments I get the most A. I do odd activities. Last year, I had all my excited about. A. Get as much practical experience as family and friends do trampoline dodgeball you can in the areas you’re interested in with me. I like to climb trees and play laser Q. What’s the most satisfying case or matter practicing, because it’s difficult to understand tag. I think that’s surprising because I am a you’ve worked on so far? what the job can be like unless you have serious person. A. I had one client who was living with his worked in that environment. Think about mom, and his school, from my perspective, what might make you happy and figure out Q. What is your dream vacation? had given up on him. I helped his aunt get what steps you can take to get there. A. I went to surf camp in Mexico, and that was custody and helped him with a change pretty close to my dream vacation. in school services. Right before I Q. If you could meet any famous lawyer in closed his case, he had made honor history, who would it be? Q. Describe yourself in one word. roll and his aunt reported he was A. Thurgood Marshall. doing fabulously at home. A. Independent. Q. What’s the toughest part of your job? Q. What do you do to blow off steam? Q. Who was your most important A. It is frustrating when the law is not mentor, and how has that person adequate to handle the situation. With a lot A. I play sports. impacted your career? of family matters, the law just doesn’t fit the A. The three supervising attorneys when situation, so that can be extremely frustrating. Q. Do you see yourself striking out on your own I started at the Children’s Law Center The other piece would be systemic failures one day? have all been extraordinary mentors. All — institutions or systems that don’t operate A. Not really. I like the nonprofit world and three have different personalities and styles properly to help kids. I do work with a lot of solo practitioners, around advocating, so it was fabulous to but I think it would be hard. There’s a lot of have an opportunity to ask all three the same Q. What talent would you most like to have? frustration, so it’s nice to have other people questions and see the breadth of responses. A. Being able to do a back flip or tumbling. around to vent and brainstorm with. PHOTO BY MERRILL SHEA

is honored to congratulate Congratulations to Boston University Sarah M. Allen School of Law alumnae and Excellence in the Law honorees: for her “Excellence in Law”. Sarah M. Allen (J.D. ‘04) Up & Coming Lawyer You make us Katy E. Ward (J.D. ‘09) very proud! Excellence in Pro Bono

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ALONG WITH DEVELOPING a successful business and employment litigation practice, Brian P. Bialas has Brian Bialas dedicated significant time since graduating law school to professional and community organizations. His leadership in the Massachusetts Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division includes serving as this POSITION: ASSOCIATE, FOLEY HOAG, BOSTON | AGE: 31 LAW SCHOOL: BOSTON COLLEGE LAW SCHOOL year’s chairman. He is an active member of the Frank J. Murray American Inn of Court, Catholic Lawyers’ BAR ADMISSION: 2008 Guild, Cooperative for Human Services, Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance and other organizations. Bialas also makes time for a wide variety of pro bono work, advocating for young people, military veterans, victims of racial discrimination and other clients.

Q. What do you consider your biggest the job — how to carry yourself as a lawyer or I would have become a priest. I might also achievement as a lawyer to date? and how you’re supposed to act in servicing have become a country singer. A. Getting my clerkship with Judge Paul clients, not only on a particular case but in Kelly on the 10th Circuit. I was one of only all facets of the business. They’ve all acted as Q. If you could meet any famous lawyer in two people in my graduating class to get very good models for how I should conduct history, who would it be? a clerkship at the circuit level right out myself, eventually, as a partner. A. Abraham Lincoln. of law school, so I consider that to be a great achievement. Q. What is the best piece of professional advice Q. What’s the toughest part of your job? you ever received? A. Doing what the client wants even though Q. What’s the most satisfying case or matter A. Go with your gut. It was my father who told it’s not what you think they should do, you’ve worked on so far? me that. You can analyze things to no end, because that’s what they want you to do even A. I did a discrimination case for a but when you know something is right, that’s after you’ve tried to convince them otherwise. community bank. Because it was a smaller usually what you should do. I think that has case, I was able to handle everything for it a lot to do with your conscience and the way Q. What’s one thing about you that might with very loose partner supervision, and I you’re brought up. You just know what you surprise people? should do and what is right. won summary judgment. This was a couple of A. I got really bad grades in high school. years ago, so I was still a very new lawyer, and Q. What advice would you give to students just I was really satisfied to be able to handle the Q. What is your greatest fear? whole thing, to argue in front of a judge, graduating from law school? A. That I won’t live up to my own expectations. and to win. A. Mother Teresa said, “We are called to faithfulness, not success.” I define faithfulness Q. What was your very first job? Q. Who was your most important broadly to mean faithful to your principles, mentor, and how has whether they be religious, moral or A. I was a groundskeeper for my local church. that person impacted professional, but following them is really what your career? you’re supposed to do. It won’t always lead Q. Describe yourself in one word. A. Three partners you to immediate success, but in the long run A. Loyal. at Foley have been you’ll be happier. mentors to me: Q. Do you see yourself striking out on your own Brandon White, Mike Q. If you hadn’t become a lawyer, what field one day? Rosen and Ken Leonetti. would you have entered? A. Possibly someday, but I would much rather They have taught me how A. I probably would have gotten involved in be at a firm that’s established with partners to be a lawyer, more than just doing politics and gone to work in Washington, D.C., that I like. But it’s a possibility. PHOTO BY MERRILL SHEA

BENTON B. BODAMER’S commitment to pro bono work has enabled several non- Benton Bodamer profit organizations to reap the benefits of his legal expertise. Among others, he advised the United Way of Massachusetts Bay & Merrimack Valley in negotiating POSITION: SENIOR ASSOCIATE, WEIL, GOTSHAL & MANGES, BOSTON | AGE: 34 | LAW SCHOOL: OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY MORITZ COLLEGE OF LAW | BAR ADMISSION: TEXAS, social innovation financing with the state on a project to address chronic 2006; MASSACHUSETTS, 2008 homelessness. Bodamer co-chairs his firm’s Boston Pro Bono Committee and serves on its Global Pro Bono Committee. He also co-chairs the Boston Bar Association’s Public Service Committee for the Business Transactions Section.

Q. What do you consider your biggest The level of respect you give to other people in real estate and cigars. achievement as a lawyer to date? should be the same no matter who they are or Q. A. I’m proud of all of the work with different what they’re offering. What’s the toughest part of your job? clients, and all of the sophisticated high- A. Finding the right balance between profile transactions are rewarding. Some Q. What advice would you give to students just demanding high-profile work and a personal of the most personally rewarding matters graduating from law school? life, and always pushing to make sure you tend to be the pro bono engagements, where A. Keep an open mind about where they maintain the right balance. instead of a client paying for your services, might end up as an attorney. Sometimes you are paying the community for what it’s the area of the law that will be the most Q. What is the trait you most dislike in yourself? done for you. interesting to you isn’t something you might A. Impatience. have thought of in law school. Instead, Q. What’s the most satisfying case or matter it shows up as an unexpected wrinkle in Q. What is your most treasured possession? you’ve worked on so far? a transaction or an unexpected level of A. My cufflink collection. I have pairs from A. The most satisfying was a contested enjoyment in something you never thought my great-grandfathers, my grandfather, my removal proceeding, where we represented you’d find yourself doing. Uncle Howard, who recently passed away, an unaccompanied minor for his and my father and my wife have given me asylum application. We managed Q. If you hadn’t become a lawyer, what field several pairs. to keep him from returning to El would you have entered? Salvador, where he had a very A. I would be an archaeologist. We live in a Q. What’s one thing about you that might well-founded fear for his life. 300-year-old house, and I feel like the desire surprise people? Hopefully, we gave him an to renovate has a lot to do with a desire to A. My undergrad senior thesis was about the opportunity to create a life reconnect with the past and bring the past use of hallucinogenic toads in pre-Colombian that he might not otherwise into the present. Mesoamerican shamanic ritual. have had. Q. If you could meet any famous lawyer in Q. Do you see yourself striking out on your own Q. What is the best piece history, who would it be? one day? of professional advice you A. Since this is a fantasy question, I’d like to A. Absolutely. It will be located in the Cayman ever received? meet young attorney Fidel Castro, circa 1950, Islands, and we will accept payment in fruity A. Be nice to everyone. and convince him that the real revolution is blended ice drinks. PHOTO BY MERRILL SHEA We are proud to sponsor the 2014 Excellence in the Law and congratulate Benton B. Bodamer on receiving the Up & Coming Lawyer Award and the Boston ofﬁce of Weil, Gotshal & Manges on receiving the Pro Bono Award

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weil.com Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP B8 • Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly • April 2014

AS A MEMBER of her firm’s media and intellectual property group, Asya Calixto has a reputation Asya Calixto for solving problems with intelligence and common sense, engaging effectively with clients, and tackling her practice with a strong work ethic. She has shared her expertise through seminars for the POSITION: ASSOCIATE, PRINCE, LOBEL, TYE, BOSTON | AGE: 27 LAW SCHOOL: NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW New England Newspaper and Press Association, American Society of Magazine Editors, New England BAR ADMISSION: 2011 Scholastic Press Association and Design Exchange Boston. She also represents diverse pro bono clients, from a Boston Marathon bombing survivor to a documentary film producer. Calixto chairs the Boston Bar Association’s International Intellectual Property Law Committee.

Q. What do you consider your biggest A. I’m especially fortunate to have Rob regardless of what side the law is on. achievement as a lawyer to date? Bertsche as my direct boss and mentor. … It’s A. A lot of my work entails working been a privilege to be able to learn from him. Q. What talent would you most like to have? with magazines, so seeing a publication A. I would love to have a great voice Q. come together is something I see as an What is the best piece of professional advice for karaoke. achievement, especially when we’re dealing you ever received? with sensitive issues. Even if I’ve seen a A. To always stay curious and to never lose the Q. What is the trait you most dislike in yourself? photo or a story dozens of times, there’s hunger for knowledge. A. I’ve been working on dropping in at the something about opening up a magazine top of a steep ski trail. I’d like to lower my and seeing it there. I love being a part of Q. What advice would you give to students just response time for jumping into an inherently that process. graduating from law school? risky situation. A. I’d tell them to follow their passions and Q. What’s the most satisfying case or find a way to do what they want to do in the matter you’ve worked on so far? Q. What’s one thing about you that might legal field, rather than settling for a job and surprise people? A. Having spent the first years of my perhaps burning out from practicing a type of A. I used to be into pottery and made a lot life in Russia, where freedom of speech law that might not be as interesting to them. was not highly regarded, it’s satisfying of masks. to work on access matters where we Q. If you hadn’t become a lawyer, what field Q. help reporters get access to public would you have entered? What was your very first job? records or open meetings. We run A. A. As a media lawyer, I get to work with My first job was with my mom’s a media law hotline at the firm, so amazing writers, editors and reporters. I adoption agency. getting the chance to help local news admire what they do, and I think it’d be outlets exercise the rights we have and Q. Describe yourself in one word. get government transparency, I find interesting to try my hand in that. A. Enthusiastic. that very satisfying. Q. What’s the toughest part of your job? Q. Q. Who was your most important mentor, A. Dealing with external factors that aren’t What do you do to blow off steam? and how has that person impacted particularly legal but can impact a case, A. I love to run, but cooking plays as much of your career? and knowing that a decision might be made a role as running. PHOTO BY MERRILL SHEA

USING HER LEGAL EXPERTISE on behalf of public service has been a consistent theme in Julia Devanthéry Julia E. Devanthéry’s career. She was a clinical law fellow at Northeastern School of Law’s Domestic Violence Institute, represented low-income tenants facing homelessness at POSITION: STAFF ATTORNEY FOR MATTAPAN INITIATIVE, LEGAL SERVICES CENTER OF HARVARD LAW SCHOOL, JAMAICA PLAIN | AGE: 31 HomeStart, Inc., and now represents tenants in post-foreclosure eviction defense. She LAW SCHOOL: NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW also participated in the Boston Bar Association’s Public Interest Leadership Program. BAR ADMISSION: 2010 Devanthéry was recently elected board president of RESPOND, a domestic violence shelter and services agency.

Q. What do you consider your biggest She absolutely believes her students can to be an effective advocate for clients in crisis. achievement as a lawyer to date? make an impact on people in the Boston But I struggle with balancing that with the A. The work I’m doing now is something I’m community. She was endlessly inspiring in need to step back from work in my downtime incredibly proud of. We’re providing legal pushing you to do your best work. It instilled to recharge and be ready for the next day. services to anybody facing eviction from a deep-seated commitment for me to try to a foreclosed home in Mattapan, so we’re live up to the expectations she set for us. Q. What is the trait you most dislike in yourself? trying to flood that area with access to legal A. I am not a morning person. services. And we’ve been able to build some Q. What is the best piece of professional advice exciting coalitions. you ever received? Q. What’s one thing about you that might A. The relationships you build with people in surprise people? Q. What’s the most satisfying case or matter your practice community and across the aisle A. I was a Division I track and field athlete you’ve worked on so far? are really important. Even if you’re fighting in college. A. One of my clients was facing eviction by zealously in the courtroom, being able to a bank that foreclosed on him. We were speak to them respectfully and thoughtfully Q. What is your greatest fear? able to make some persuasive arguments outside the courtroom really benefits your A. While we have made enormous progress convincing the bank they hadn’t complied client at the end of the day. toward addressing domestic violence in with the required regulations, so they the past several years, I believe it remains agreed to rescind the foreclosure. That Q. What advice would you give to students just the most pressing human rights and public client has gotten a successful loan graduating from law school? health crisis facing our communities. I am modification and is back on track A. The demand for civil legal services from concerned that, in spite of all we have learned to stabilize his housing and the low-income and underrepresented about making families safe, the cycle of maintain ownership of his home. community is huge, and it’s our responsibility violence persists and we continue to witness as members of this profession to do tragedies in our families and neighborhoods. something to try to meet that need. It doesn’t Q. Who was your most important require that everybody devote their lives to Q. Do you see yourself striking out on your own mentor, and how has that person legal service, but it requires that everybody one day? impacted your career? do something to increase access to justice. A. A group of law school friends and I have A. Lois Kantor, who was my fantasized about staring our own legal professor in the Domestic Q. What’s the toughest part of your job? services advocacy agency. But I would say it’s Violence Institute at Northeastern. A. You have to have a radical sense of empathy still in the early planning stages. PHOTO BY MERRILL SHEA Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly • April 2014 • B9

CARLINE M. DUROCHER has been involved in community service since high school, Carline Durocher when she belonged to the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative. Today, she devotes time and energy to pro bono service and to several nonprofits. Durocher is especially POSITION: ASSOCIATE, BINGHAM MCCUTCHEN, BOSTON | AGE: 38 LAW SCHOOL: BOSTON COLLEGE LAW SCHOOL | BAR ADMISSION: 2007 committed to Boston’s Haitian community, providing business workshops and serving on the Boston Foundation’s Haiti Fund Advisory Council.

Q. What do you consider your biggest A. One is Sue Finegan, a partner at Mintz A. Foreign policy development work. achievement as a lawyer to date? Levin. Sue and I met when I was 13. She was A. Before I was a lawyer, I had a career as a a student at Boston College Law and came to Q. What’s the toughest part of your job? research analyst. When I decided to go to our parish to tutor. She stayed involved [with A. The billable hour. If you’re not careful, you law school, one of the drivers was that me]. She’s a source of support and inspiration. start to focus more on that and less on the I enjoy working with companies that The other person who has been instrumental bigger picture. were on the cutting-edge. I’m very is Wayne Budd, of counsel at Goodwin fortunate to have part of my practice [Procter]. He’s been phenomenal. He always Q. What talent would you most like to have? focus on emerging companies. It’s makes the time to talk to me. A. I would love to be an Alvin Ailey dancer. an opportunity to work with the same type of individuals — smart, Q. What is the best piece of professional advice Q. What’s one thing about you that might engaging, excited about their projects you ever received? surprise people? and ideas. A. You’re your own CEO. As a service provider, A. I’d like to think I could sing. you’re selling your services to partners Q. What’s the most satisfying case or internally and you’re selling yourself to your Q. What is your greatest fear? matter you’ve worked on so far? peers every time you interact with them. A. To think that you’re living life and to wake Having that mindset allows you to focus in A. There are a lot of great little up one day and realize you haven’t been living terms of how you market yourself. It also companies out there that at all. I constantly remind myself I need to frees you to be guided by your own goals are still pushing uphill to stay in the present. get the idea out, market instead of other people’s expectations. it and get seed capital. Q. Describe yourself in one word. It’s very satisfying to Q. What advice would you give to students just A. Energy. work with people who graduating from law school? A. are completely into their Approach your first work environment like Q. Do you see yourself striking out on your own idea and to watch them an apprenticeship. Find someone who wants to one day? realize something that’s take you on and train you, and learn as much as A. so important. you can. Your first three years are your defining If opportunity were to take you there and years, because a lot of habits are set then. it makes sense, then sure. If it doesn’t make Q. Who was your most important sense, then probably not. It would have to be mentor, and how has that person Q. If you hadn’t become a lawyer, what field a practice that’s completely thinking outside impacted your career? would you have entered? the box. PHOTO BY MERRILL SHEA B10 • Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly • April 2014

LYDIA M. EDWARDS had been volunteering at the Brazilian Immigrant Center for two years Lydia Edwards when she saw a need to enhance services to some of its most vulnerable clients. Today, she leads the Domestic Worker Law and Policy Clinic, representing clients, advocating in POSITION: DIRECTOR OF LEGAL SERVICES, BRAZILIAN IMMIGRANT CENTER, ALLSTON | AGE: 33 | LAW SCHOOL: AMERICAN UNIVERSITY WASHINGTON government, and educating workers about their rights and resources. She also created and COLLEGE OF LAW | BAR ADMISSION: 2006 leads the Domestic Worker Mediation Project. As part of her Equal Justice Works Fellowship, Edwards is advocating for domestic workers who are also victims of trafficking.

Q. What’s the most satisfying case or matter Q. What advice would you give to students just the dire straits that some people are in. But, you’ve worked on so far? graduating from law school? you can decide to do some cases really well or A. I worked on a domestic worker case A. Within their means and their capacity, I all cases not as well. That’s a hard balance to where I represented four house cleaners. would say take an opportunity to be young strike, and I’m still learning that. They worked with one family as part house and to pursue a passion, and when you Q. cleaners, part personal help. They didn’t get pursue the passion, the money will come. What is the trait you most dislike in yourself? paid, and the husband threatened them with A. I’m a little insecure. deportation if they spoke up. We went to Q. If you hadn’t become a lawyer, what field court, and we settled at the court. would you have entered? Q. What’s one thing about you that might A. surprise people? Q. I might have been an investigative reporter. Who was your most important mentor, and A. A lot of people are surprised to learn I’ve how has that person impacted your career? Q. If you could meet any famous lawyer in been practicing capoeira, the Afro-Brazilian A. I’ve had several along the way. They have history, who would it be? martial art, for eight years. helped me with the nitty-gritty of “this is A. Charles Hamilton Houston. He is the father the law and this is how it can work,” as well Q. What was your very first job? of breaking down “separate but equal” and as other aspects. I had great advice from segregation laws. He mastered it, and he A. At Larry’s Family Foods. I was a bag girl someone when I was overwhelmed with a and stocked the shelves. case and the other lawyer had ridiculous mentored Thurgood Marshall in how to do it. He was a genius and fundamentally changed amounts of discovery. He said, “You need to Q. Describe yourself in one word. pull back and see it for what it is, see it for the U.S. legal system. My life and that of any A. the game he’s trying to play, and don’t take person of color, to this day, is directly affected Trustworthy. it personally.” The mentors I’ve been lucky by him. Q. What do you do to blow off steam? to have have been able to not only tell me how to help, but also to empathize and Q. What’s the toughest part of your job? A. I love to play capoeira. I just started to learn say, “I’ve been there, too.” A. The hardest part of the job is knowing when how to snowboard. to say “no.” When you work in legal services, Q. What is the best piece of especially, you really have to manage the Q. Do you see yourself striking out on your own professional advice you resources you have available to you, not just one day? ever received? financially and physically, but emotionally. A. I see myself being a clinical law professor. A. When you do what you Sometimes it does require you to say “no,” I don’t see myself doing my own practice love, the money will come. and that’s hard to do because you understand anytime soon. PHOTO BY MERRILL SHEA

FOR MANY YOUNG PROFESSIONALS, earning an MBA and a law degree at the same Michael Fenton time would be plenty. Michael A. Fenton, however, in 2009 became the youngest member of the City Council in Springfield’s history and authored a historic foreclosure POSITION: ASSOCIATE, SHATZ, SCHWARTZ & FENTIN, SPRINGFIELD | AGE: 27 LAW SCHOOL: WESTERN NEW ENGLAND UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW ordinance that was the first of its kind. This year, he became council president. BAR ADMISSION: 2012 Meanwhile, Fenton has developed a successful practice in estate planning, land use and business law.

Q. What do you consider your biggest Q. What is the best piece of professional advice Q. What’s the toughest part of your job? achievement as a lawyer to date? you ever received? A. Finding time for myself, my family and A. My biggest achievement has been my A. The best piece of advice I’ve been given was my friends. ability to successfully multi-task in the never give up — not ever. Those are words last three years, in terms of completing to live by for the personal relationships that Q. What is the trait you most dislike in yourself? law school, my MBA, developing a matter to you, for the professional causes that A. It’s a trait that I dislike in myself, but also successful legal practice and becoming an define who you are, and for the moments in one that I think has provided me with a lot elected official. That required a great deal life that require an ability to persevere. of opportunity, and that is my willingness to of commitment. I’m extremely passionate take on a variety of challenges at once. about being an attorney, and I’m really Q. What advice would you give to students just happy to have found such a great practice graduating from law school? Q. What’s one thing about you that might in Springfield to help me realize A. Don’t be afraid to explore a variety of areas surprise people? that dream. of law. While your passion should guide A. I really enjoy Tyler Perry’s “Madea” series. I your practice, you should also recognize love those movies. Q. What’s the most satisfying case or that circumstances outside your control will matter you’ve worked on so far? sometimes dictate the path you pursue, and Q. What was your very first job? A. The most satisfying case was the that’s a normal and healthy progression for a A. Working at the Basketball Hall of Fame in sale of a large closely held family successful attorney. Seize the opportunities Springfield as a guest services representative. business that helped a longtime that are in front of you. client achieve their dreams Q. Describe yourself in one word. in retirement. Q. If you hadn’t become a lawyer, what field A. would you have entered? Passionate. Q. Who was your most important A. I have my MBA, so I probably would Q. What do you do to blow off steam? mentor, and how has that person have ended up in the corporate world in A. I play ice hockey. impacted your career? some respect. A. Steve Grossman, our current state Q. Do you see yourself striking out on your own Q. If you could meet any famous lawyer in treasurer. He’s been a friend to me one day? both personally and professionally history, who would it be? A. I don’t think any attorney can rule that out, and has provided me with a great A. Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. example of how to lead and how to but it’s certainly not in my immediate future foster longstanding relationships. plans. PHOTO BY MERRILL SHEA Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly • April 2014 • B11

AS A PLAINTIFFS’ ATTORNEY who handles pharmaceutical mass tort and complex civil litigation, Julie Ferraro Julie S. Ferraro is often her clients’ best hope for justice against large corporations. She has represented parties in numerous high-profile cases, including Vioxx, Avandia, Paxil, the BP oil spill POSITION: ASSOCIATE, KREINDLER & KREINDLER, BOSTON AGE: 35 | LAW SCHOOL: NEW ENGLAND SCHOOL OF LAW and hormone replacement therapy litigation. In keeping with her desire to give a voice to those BAR ADMISSION: 2006 who are most vulnerable, Ferraro is a volunteer with On the Rise, which helps battered women who are trying to become independent. She also is an adjunct professor of U.S. history at Middlesex Community College.

Q. What do you consider your biggest Steven Rotman, Paula Bliss and now Anthony events, and this is how we can learn from achievement as a lawyer to date? Tarricone. I have learned a tremendous those mistakes.” A. Making sure that I am the best attorney for amount from all of them. They all have Q. my clients, that I give them their day in court, different litigation styles, so it’s been very If you could meet any famous lawyer in that I allow them a voice against the big rewarding for me to work with them, as history, who would it be? companies, and that I am able to get them I’m still trying to better myself and better A. Sandra Day O’Connor. my skills. justice for how they’ve been wronged. At the end of the day, I’m proud of that. Q. What is the trait you most dislike in yourself? Q. What advice would you give to students just A. I can be emotional when it comes to cases graduating from law school? Q. What’s the most satisfying case or matter and clients. you’ve worked on so far? A. Try to take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way, whether it’s in a A. I worked on the hormone therapy Q. What’s one thing about you that might different area of the law that you’ve never surprise people? litigation, representing women who been exposed to or working with someone A. I love April Fools’ Day. I love playing took hormone therapy during different. The more experiences you have pranks on people and practical jokes. I will menopause and got breast cancer as as an attorney, the more you become a plan weeks in advance for April Fools’ for my a result. That was personal because successful and well-rounded attorney. I had an aunt who had breast family and friends. cancer when I was growing up. It Q. If you hadn’t become a lawyer, what field Q. What was your very first job? was a very personal case because would you have entered? A. you’re dealing with women’s issues, A. I would have stayed with teaching. I love I was a lifeguard for six years. so I found that was most rewarding. working with kids. It’s fun to be able to Q. Describe yourself in one word. share with students the connections that are Q. Who was your most important mentor, happening currently with historical events A. Loyal. and how has that person impacted and to show them that history constantly does your career? repeat itself. I love being able to explain that Q. Do you see yourself striking out on your own A. I’ve had the opportunity to work to students and have them have a moment one day? with many great litigation attorneys in where they say, “I get that! I understand how A. I’ve thought about it. I just don’t have any my career, specifically Gregory Bubalo, we’ve gotten where we are because of past plans to do that in the immediate future. PHOTO BY MERRILL SHEA

KANASHA S. HERBERT started her career as an electrical engineer but always had her Kanasha Herbert mind set on becoming a lawyer. Both fields require their practitioners to be expert problem-solvers, and that’s how Herbert views her service to her clients. Working POSITION: ASSOCIATE, MINTZ, LEVIN, COHN, FERRIS, GLOVSKY & POPEO, BOSTON AGE: DECLINED TO ANSWER | LAW SCHOOL: BOSTON COLLEGE LAW SCHOOL with public companies and early-stage enterprises, she thrives on the opportunity to BAR ADMISSION: 2007 help clients grow, flourish and achieve their goals. Herbert makes a point of investing the time to listen and to help, whether in her day-to-day practice or in the informal mentorship she extends to law students.

Q. What do you consider your biggest can’t be fixed by paper” — meaning that if Q. What is the trait you most dislike in yourself? achievement as a lawyer to date? you mess something up, you can always fix A. Being a lawyer makes you critical of A. I would say when I left the engineering it. It may be painful or embarrassing, but no everything, and that can creep into your world. I had always wanted to be a lawyer. one’s going to die based on the work you do. life. When I look at documents [outside of I remember telling [my colleagues This helps me to keep perspective of my role work], I probably look at them with the eye that] I was going to be a lawyer, and I in the process and to not be hard on myself of a lawyer. You’re trained to look for what’s remember they all had this reaction: when I make a mistake. wrong, and I think that’s probably annoying “What are you talking about?” There was to other people. not an easy model in front of me to go Q. What advice would you give to students just from engineering to quit my job and go graduating from law school? Q. What’s one thing about you that might to law school. But I said, “I’m going to go A. The profession of law has changed surprise people? ahead and do it.” dramatically. As a lawyer, now, you are A. I’m a pretty good rapper. expected to not only be a good practitioner, Q. What’s the most satisfying case or matter but to also develop business. Whether you’re Q. What is your dream vacation? you’ve worked on so far? a solo practitioner or you’re working for a A. Because I’m from an island, I love traveling A. I really enjoy helping people get large firm, there are fundamental business to islands and being around nature, so I to whatever their goal is. For some concepts you need to be aware of. Learning would love to go to a South Pacific island. clients, it takes a long time for them how to develop yourself as a business to be successful. So just saying, “I generator will be helpful in the future. Q. What is your greatest fear? have an idea and I want to start a A. I am deathly afraid of mice to the point company,” and seeing that I take Q. What’s the toughest part of your job? that if there was a mouse in my house, I them seriously, it really means a A. The law firm structure is not a corporate would relocate. lot to them. structure in which you have a boss that you report to. We all work for multiple people Q. What was your very first job? Q. What is the best piece of and multiple clients, so what one client A. My mom worked for a distributor of liquor, professional advice you or one partner likes may be very different spirits and perfumes. When I was a kid, I ever received? from what someone else likes. You’re always used to go to her office [and would] fill these A. The first day I started as a trying to figure out what this person wants, teeny-tiny Oscar de la Renta perfume sample lawyer, my secretary told me, while at the same time working on seven bottles. I made $200; Oscar de la Renta wrote PHOTO BY MERRILL SHEA “There’s nothing you do here that different things. me the check himself. B12 • Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly • April 2014

SOFIA S. LINGOS established her practice as a way to provide affordable representation to entrepreneurs, Sofia recognizing an unmet need for legal advice within that community. Lingos’ mission to increase access to justice also led her to establish a practice serving Greek-Americans, here and overseas, who need transparent, Lingos accessible representation. Lingos is a 2014 American Bar Association Law Practice fellow and a member of the Lenny Zakim Fund executive board, among other organizations. POSITION: PRINCIPAL AND FOUNDING ATTORNEY, LINGOS LAW, BOSTON | AGE: 30 LAW SCHOOL: NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY Q. What do you consider your biggest A. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. One of Q. What is the trait you most dislike in yourself? SCHOOL OF LAW | BAR ADMISSION: 2009 achievement as a lawyer to date? the fears of going out on your own is that A. Being too busy. A. Creating a practice that allows me to you don’t know everything, until you realize focus on the access to justice mission for that each matter is new and different to even Q. What is your most treasured possession? the most experienced practitioners. The best the two populations I’ve selected to serve — A. My camera. I like to see the world and I like way to not make mistakes is to reach out to entrepreneurs/business owners and Greek- to remember things. I probably take a picture your network. Americans. The tools that I am trying to a day. employ for those populations are hopefully Q. What advice would you give to students just tools that other people could utilize in the Q. What’s one thing about you that might graduating from law school? practice areas they’re passionate about. surprise people? A. Remember why you went to law school. I A. I’m from Utah. People are incredibly Q. What’s the most satisfying case or matter find people at that stage are just excited to get surprised. I talk at the speed of a New Yorker. you’ve worked on so far? a job, and there are so many opportunities that it’s important to reflect on what you A. Most satisfying is working with small Q. What is your greatest fear? businesses and entrepreneurs, when each wanted to do. Obviously, that evolves as you A. Failure. When you take on the company starts from an idea through gain experience, but make sure you’re not responsibility of having your own practice formation to opening. They’re all different, just taking a job to be a lawyer. Make sure and you’re the boss, you have no one to blame but being able to see them fulfill this idea all you’re practicing in an area that’s going to but yourself. So if anything goes wrong, I the way through is incredibly fulfilling. be fulfilling. take it personally. It’s a great driving force to Q. Who was your most important mentor, and Q. What’s the toughest part of your job? be successful. how has that person impacted your career? A. Time management. I am privileged that I Q. What was your very first job? A. I was privileged to start teaching at enjoy what people refer to as networking, so A. Babysitting and working as a counter girl at Northeastern with professor James I don’t think of it as part of the job, but it gets Baxter’s on Cape Cod. Rowan. He has the experience, the to the point where you have to balance the vision, the excitement, the passion. amount of time you can be available to clients. Q. Describe yourself in one word. I learn many things from him about how to run my practice and Q. What talent would you most like to have? A. Motivated. how to teach. A. When I was younger, I was a hopeful professional ski racer. I wish I had had Q. What do you do to blow off steam? Q. What is the best piece of the opportunity to have succeeded as a A. I love to be in the mountains, so if skiing is professional advice you ever received? professional athlete. an opportunity, that’s ideal. PHOTO BY MERRILL SHEA

CHRISTOPHER B. LOGUE chose law school as a path to activism, particularly as an advocate for feminism. Christopher Now, representing victims of domestic violence at Casa Myrna Vazquez, Logue serves clients who primarily are female, providing them with a voice, empowerment and ultimately the freedom to Logue transform their lives. As an Equal Justice Works fellow, Logue designed and implemented a partnership between Casa Myrna and two local hospitals that was so successful he was able to obtain funding POSITION: STAFF ATTORNEY, CASA MYRNA to continue the program. Logue volunteers with Greater Boston Legal Services and the Women’s Bar VAZQUEZ, BOSTON | AGE: 32 LAW SCHOOL: NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY Foundation’s Family Law Project for Battered Women. SCHOOL OF LAW | BAR ADMISSION: 2011 Q. What do you consider your biggest Q. What is the best piece of professional advice A. Gandhi. achievement as a lawyer to date? you ever received? Q. A. A lot of the achievements I feel that I have A. When I was a law student, I had a What’s the toughest part of your job? attained come in much smaller forms in the work supervisor at Greater Boston Legal Services A. The most difficult aspect is standing in I do with clients. It’s the occasional— sometimes who told me all of life’s problems can be the shoes of your client when your client is frequent— small victories that I have with clients solved at the office supply store. It’s a joke, but involved in incredibly high-stakes and high- inside and outside the courtroom that feel like it’s true that it’s easy to underestimate how conflict legal issues. Oftentimes, in being the real achievements to me. important organization is in every facet of face and the voice of one side of that conflict, being a lawyer. it is a challenge for that to not feel like you are Q. What’s the most satisfying case or matter personally part of it. you’ve worked on so far? Q. What advice would you give to students just Q. What is the trait you most dislike in yourself? A. I have had a couple of clients with whom graduating from law school? I worked for extended periods of time. I’ve A. Try not to underestimate the importance A. The quality that is the biggest challenge for followed them for a long time through these of quality of life and finding meaning in your me is my inclination to avoid conflict and to incredible periods in their lives, so I’ve seen work. Often, the prospect of high-paying jobs have conflict create anxiety in me. personal progressions and transformations. is alluring, especially given the vast amount of Q. Those events are particularly rewarding. debt law students have, but getting paid less What’s one thing about you that might money to do work that feels important and surprise people? Q. Who was your most important meaningful can make you happy and help A. The thing people in the legal field are most mentor, and how has that person you sleep at night. I think that’s sometimes a surprised to learn about me, which you would impacted your career? difficult decision to make, but it’s worth it. not know from looking at me, is that I’m A. Without a doubt, that has been covered in tattoos. In my lawyer costume, my supervisor, Janet Donovan. Q. If you hadn’t become a lawyer, what field you’d never know. One of the things I feel would you have entered? Q. What is your dream vacation? luckiest about is having been A. I imagined I would have a career in trained as a lawyer by Janet academia, getting a Ph.D. in political theory A. I’m a serious meditator, so occasionally and by my mentor in law and teaching. I also love working with my I’ll go on vacation where I’ll do a silent school, Lois Kanter. I’ve hands, so I almost stuck with construction meditation retreat, which is a nice contrast to been lucky to have these and carpentry. the rest of my life. brilliant and inspiring Q. What is your greatest fear? leaders around me. Q. If you could meet any famous lawyer in A. PHOTO BY MERRILL SHEA history, who would it be? Snakes. Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly • April 2014 • B13

MELISSA A. MURPHY-RODRIGUES grew up in Everett, which makes it especially Melissa rewarding for her to serve as the city’s chief of staff. She joined City Hall fresh out of law school, knowing she wanted to give back to her hometown. Today, Murphy-Rodrigues she is the mayor’s chief advisor and legal counsel on policy issues, oversees city operations, and manages 400 employees, including department heads and POSITION: CHIEF OF STAFF, CITY OF EVERETT | AGE: 31 employees from seven unions. Whether she is negotiating contracts or working LAW SCHOOL: NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW | BAR ADMISSION: 2008 with citizens, Murphy-Rodrigues loves knowing that her work has a direct community impact.

Q. What do you consider your biggest for my neighbors, teachers that taught me A. Sometimes you have to make tough achievement as a lawyer to date? in elementary school, family members, and decisions that aren’t always going to be A. When I first graduated from law school, people I went to school with. I live in the popular, like advising the mayor on the tax I came on to the city as city solicitor and community, so I go to the grocery store or a rate or making a decision about funding for worked on a lot of housing cases. Often we local restaurant and people come up to me schools. Sometimes you have to make the were helping poor or immigrant residents and talk about the job I’m doing. It means a decision that’s going to be best for the city, who didn’t know they were being taken lot to have that positive feedback. but isn’t going to be the most popular, and advantage of by landlords, and we helped that’s difficult. them to get safe housing. When I first started Q. Who was your most important mentor, and here, people were living in situations that how has that person impacted your career? Q. What is the trait you most dislike in yourself? were unimaginable. One of the nice things A. My uncle, Richard. I had two uncles who A. I think any attorney probably deals with about working in local government is that were both local attorneys. They had an office this: We’re such perfectionists, we like things everything you do affects people in their across from my high school, so I went to their done in a certain way, and we have trouble day-to-day. Whether it’s regulations about office after school and saw them practicing. delegating things to other people and trusting trash removal or marijuana dispensaries My mom has always been a strong female role them to do the work. or zoning, it’s something that affects model in taking care of my family. how people live every day. Q. What’s one thing about you that might Q. What advice would you give to students just surprise people? Q. What’s the most satisfying graduating from law school? A. When I was 18, I went skydiving. I’m a case or matter you’ve worked A. I would tell them to keep their eye on their pretty safe person — feet on the ground. on so far? goals. It’s easy to get distracted and to get off A. The most satisfying your life path, but what we’re doing here is Q. What was your very first job? thing is seeing how so important as attorneys — the impact we I’m making a positive can make on people’s lives — that sometimes A. I worked at the Everett library. impact not only on those sacrifices are worth it. the community I Q. Describe yourself in one word. grew up in, but Q. What’s the toughest part of your job? A. Friendly. PHOTO BY MERRILL SHEA

AS A CIVIL LITIGATOR and medical-malpractice attorney, Benjamin R. Novotny Benjamin has secured nearly $25 million in settlements and verdicts on behalf of clients who have suffered life-changing injuries. As lead counsel in McCollins v. Judge Rotenberg Novotny Center, Novotny brought to light the use of electroshock treatment on autistic children. The case led to responses from the United Nations and the U.S. Food and POSITION: PARTNER, LUBIN & MEYER, BOSTON | AGE: 34 Drug Administration, along with new Massachusetts legislation setting standards LAW SCHOOL: SUFFOLK UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL | BAR ADMISSION: 2006 for electroshock therapy.

Q. What do you consider your biggest person impacted your career? A. The toughest part is when you’re not achievement as a lawyer to date? A. I get to work with a great group of trial successful. The family still has a loss, so A. The most memorable, certainly, is the attorneys here. As corny as it sounds, we pick regardless of whether you win or lose, that first time you win a case. It’s not the biggest up things from one another. They took me out doesn’t take away from what happened. The verdict, and it’s not the most well-known when I was in law school and let me watch alternative, though, when you are successful, one, but it’s probably the one you’ll always and learn from them. So it’s really been a means that someone was negligent and remember because you’re really not expecting team effort here. it caused harm. Everything we deal with to win. When you do things early on, they’re involves catastrophic injury to someone’s not exactly slam-dunks. Q. What is the best piece of professional advice loved one or to themselves. you ever received? Q. What is the trait you most dislike in yourself? Q. What’s the most satisfying case or matter A. Preparation is key to any trial. That you’ve worked on so far? includes reading everything you can read A. I’m a perfectionist. When you expect A. The McCollins case, which has less to do on the subject, going to seminars, doing perfection out of yourself, it has the potential with the international attention than the everything you can. to weigh on you, especially when things don’t fact that, for decades, these things were go perfectly, because court and trials can be happening to children and no one Q. What advice would you give to students just so unpredictable. knew about it. It’s one case, but graduating from law school? Q. What was your very first job? I feel like it has affected scores A. Be creative in the ways that you can use of children, not only presently your skill set to … get your foot in the door. A. My grandfather owned a trash business, but going forward. What was You need to play to all your strengths, not just so when I was 7 and 8, he let me ride on the happening there was really grades and GPA. back of the trash truck. It was awesome to brought to light. No one had ride on the back of the truck and lift bags and known, until we finally got Q. If you hadn’t become a lawyer, what field crush them. that video released, exactly would you have entered? Q. Describe yourself in one word. what was happening A. I might have been a ski bum. I also always behind closed doors. loved environmental biology. That’s one of the A. Driven. fun things about medical practice — you get Q. Who was your most to teach a jury about science. Q. Do you see yourself striking out on your own important mentor, one day? and how has that Q. What’s the toughest part of your job? A. No. I’m completely happy where I am. PHOTO BY MERRILL SHEA B14 • Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly • April 2014

WHEN AUDREY H. O’SHAUGHNESSY opened her practice fresh out of law school, she found Audrey few resources for new graduates setting up their own shop. She and two colleagues decided to create one: Starting Out Solo, now an incorporated bar association that provides training, O’Shaughnessy education and networking. A dedicated elder law attorney, O’Shaughnessy is an active member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys’ Massachusetts chapter, serving on POSITION: PRINCIPAL, LAW OFFICE OF AUDREY H. O’SHAUGHNESSY, WALTHAM | AGE: 32 the board and helping to grow the Young Attorneys Section. She volunteers frequently with LAW SCHOOL: NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY pro bono and community service organizations. SCHOOL OF LAW | BAR ADMISSION: 2006

Q. What do you consider your biggest A. My mother and father, both of whom are Q. What talent would you most like to have? achievement as a lawyer to date? successful attorneys. There’s nothing like A. I would love to be able to be so confident A. Having a successful law practice while being able to call a parent before you go into on my motorcycle that I could do a track day, staying true to my own morals. I have been the courtroom and ask questions. One of racing my bike on a closed track. able to do good in the world, to give reduced the reasons I started SOS is that I had that fees when I want to, to practice law in an resource and other people didn’t. Q. What is the trait you most dislike in yourself? ethical way that makes a difference, and to A. I’m actively working on being more flexible: Q. still be profitable and recognized. What is the best piece of professional advice setting a plan but being OK with changing it. you ever received? Q. What’s the most satisfying case or matter A. From my parents: Be the best lawyer you Q. What’s one thing about you that might you’ve worked on so far? can be and the business will follow. surprise people? A. I had a Medicaid hearing for a client who A. I am an intellectual geek. I love nerding out had been caring for an ill mother for 14 years. Q. What advice would you give to students just about the law. I love it when I have a problem The family couldn’t afford to stay in their graduating from law school? that comes in that’s really thorny and I just mother’s house, so they sold it to move to a A. A lot of new graduates don’t have enough sit there and pore through my law books to less expensive house. However, there is an experience to understand the business of the figure out how to fix it. exception to Medicaid that allows for law practice, so they have all these questions the transfer of a house to a child who about professionalism. The answer is to be the Q. What is your greatest fear? is caring for a parent. We appealed, best lawyer you can be — help other lawyers A. Accidentally being a bad person. I see recognizing that the purpose of the when you can, and the recognition and the people all the time who are being jerky and law is to help children care for their business follow from that. they don’t see it in themselves. My big fear parents. This was a case that turned is finding out at the end of my life that I’ve on the technical application of law Q. What’s the toughest part of your job? been doing something all those years that was versus the point of the law. The harmful to other people and I never knew it. family got to keep the house, so it A. Having to tell clients when they are was a great win for them, and I suffering from Alzheimer’s or dementia and Q. What was your very first job? felt like I had righted an injustice. they need to talk to their doctor. Often I notice it, and the clients will tell me they’re A. Babysitting and working in an auto parts store. Q. Who was your most important forgetting more things and feeling confused. mentor, and how has that Yet family members can be reluctant to talk Q. Describe yourself in one word. person impacted your career? to them, so it often falls to me. A. Eclectic. PHOTO BY MERRILL SHEA

IN THE SEVEN YEARS he’s been at his firm, Damien C. Powell has established a strong track record for his Damien clients and earned a reputation for leadership, insight and exceptional case management. Practicing in complex business litigation and white-collar criminal defense, he is a skilled advocate for clients in crisis. Powell Powell also has handled several pro bono cases, including a federal civil rights lawsuit on behalf of a disabled prisoner, and served as a guardian ad litem in Suffolk Juvenile Court. He is active in professional and POSITION: ASSOCIATE, DONOGHUE, BARRETT & community organizations. SINGAL, BOSTON | AGE: 36 LAW SCHOOL: SUFFOLK UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL BAR ADMISSION: 2005 Q. What do you consider your biggest imparted to me. I’d have to say my dad as David Boies. achievement as a lawyer to date? well. My father was a minister, so there are A. I think having the opportunity to represent a number of things he did in his job I find Q. What is the trait you most dislike in yourself? a diverse group of clients, from big businesses particularly interesting. I think there are a lot A. It’s tough to admit this, but I have a to individuals, in both the civil litigation and of similarities in helping to assist people who terrible sense of direction when it comes are in crisis and counseling them through it. criminal contexts, is what I’ve found to be the to driving. Thankfully, GPS has saved me most rewarding. Q. What is the best piece of professional advice and ensures that I always end up at the right courthouse. Q. What’s the most satisfying case or matter you ever received? A. you’ve worked on so far? To be a successful attorney, the client Q. What’s one thing about you that might has to come first. Having open lines of A. A recent case that I found particularly surprise people? satisfying was a young woman who was communication with the client is one of A. I’ve officiated two wedding ceremonies. indicted for Medicaid fraud in connection the most important things — keeping with alleged conduct that took place at her them updated about what’s going on, Q. What was your very first job? workplace. After a couple of years of pretrial understanding their goal in the litigation, and discovery and motions, on the eve of trial mapping out a clear plan so you can achieve A. I worked packing macaroon cookies for I was able to negotiate what I think their goal. a cookie company. I can’t stand the smell of was a pretty benign disposition for macaroons to this day. Q. her. I found that to be satisfying What advice would you give to students just because this was a criminal graduating from law school? Q. Describe yourself in one word. A. case, so her liberty was at stake. Find a place to work where there are A. Competitive. attorneys who are committed to helping Q. Who was your most you develop professionally and giving you Q. What do you do to blow off steam? important mentor, and how the types of opportunities that help you A. has that person impacted get experience. In addition to spending time with my your career? family, I’m a big skier, both snow and Q. water skiing. A. My boss Bruce Singal If you hadn’t become a lawyer, what field has helped me in a would you have entered? Q. Do you see yourself striking out on your own number of ways. He’s A. I’d probably be in some facet of business. one day? a very successful trial attorney with a Q. If you could meet any famous lawyer in A. Possibly, but I enjoy the team atmosphere wealth of knowledge history, who would it be? that my firm has, where everybody is willing to and experience he’s A. If historical, Abraham Lincoln. If current, pitch in when there’s a challenge or a need. PHOTO BY MERRILL SHEA Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly • April 2014 • B15

TODD C. RATNER is on his second successful career, following six years in senior business and Todd Ratner managerial consulting positions for a Fortune 100 company. With an MBA and a J.D., Ratner now practices estate planning, real estate and business law. He has conducted numerous seminars in POSITION: ATTORNEY, BACON WILSON, SPRINGFIELD estate planning, elder law and planning for families with special needs children. Ratner also is active AGE: 43 | LAW SCHOOL: PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY DICKINSON SCHOOL OF LAW | BAR ADMISSION: 2004 in many professional and community organizations, including serving as chairman of the Alzheimer’s Association Tri-County Partnership.

Q. What do you consider your biggest Q. What advice would you give to students just company, Anheuser-Busch. At Anheuser- achievement as a lawyer to date? graduating from law school? Busch, either you relocate every two years or A. Being able to take complex situations, A. I would let them know that the law practice so or you stay in St. Louis, and in speaking identify the options, and communicate those does not solely encompass private practice, with senior vice presidents I learned that their options in such a way that clients can make so they should explore all facets of the legal 15-year-old children had been in four or five informed decisions. world and all opportunities. different school systems. That did not strike me as conducive to raising the family that I Q. What’s the most satisfying case or Q. If you hadn’t become a lawyer, what field envisioned. That’s when I made the decision to matter you’ve worked on so far? would you have entered? enroll in Boston University’s MBA program. A. Most satisfying is any case where I can A. I’m still waiting to be drafted by the Red Q. What was your very first job? rightfully protect assets from both tax Sox. In the event the Red Sox don’t come to A. My first job was working at a beach stand at and long-term care obligations. their senses, I would have remained in the the age of 15. I was not quite honest about my business world in managerial consulting. Q. Who was your most important mentor, age with the employer so I could get the job. and how has that person impacted Q. What’s the toughest part of your job? your career? Q. Describe yourself in one word. A. The balance between work and family life. A. Attorney Hyman Darling at A. Ambitious. my firm has a practice that I Q. What talent would you most like to have? respect and one that I am Q. What do you do to blow off steam? A. modeling my practice after. I would like to continue to improve as A. Anything athletic. I’ve played in just about a triathlete. every over-30 and over-40 sport program Q. What is the best piece and am now heavily involved in competing Q. of professional advice you What is the trait you most dislike in yourself? in triathlons. I’m up at 5:30 most days ever received? A. A lack of patience. for workouts. A. The best advice I Q. have received is to not What’s one thing about you that might Q. Do you see yourself striking out on your own look at a client as a surprise people? one day? one-time transaction, A. I think a lot of people don’t know that I A. I really enjoy working in a team but to look at a client as a had a prior career in the business world. I environment, although I do prefer to be the lifelong relationship. was the youngest manager in a Fortune 100 one with the ball. PHOTO BY MERRILL SHEA

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Since 1989, Donoghue Barrett & Singal has built a reputation %RVWRQ 3URYLGHQFH as trusted advisors to a growing list of clients ranging from individuals to Fortune 500 Companies. We focus on legal and One Beacon Street 10 Weybosset Street strategic counsel across health law, litigation and government Boston, MA 02108 Providence, RI 02903 relations. We combine deep industry knowledge, dynamic thinking and a collaborative approach to help clients achieve 617.720.5090 401.454.0400 their most important objectives. GEVODZƪUPFRP B16 • Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly • April 2014

AS A SOLO PRACTITIONER, Soraya Sadeghi is dedicated to providing exceptional family law representation. Soraya She is equally committed to her pro bono work with the Lawyer for the Day program at Suffolk Probate & Family Court. For the last three years, she has represented clients and provided training and mentorship to Sadeghi other attorneys. Sadeghi also volunteers with the Federal Bar Association’s CARE/RESTART programs and is a fundraiser for Bike for World Health. POSITION: FOUNDING ATTORNEY, SORAYA LAW, BOSTON | AGE: 31 | LAW SCHOOL: SUFFOLK UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL | BAR ADMISSION: 2006 Q. What do you consider your biggest A. My siblings. I’m one of five children, and sometimes have some bumps in the road, achievement as a lawyer to date? and we grew up in a very challenging but he continued on with his work, even after A. I would say the big accomplishment would environment, so they have been the biggest his downfall. be the completion of more than 37 federal influences in my life. District Court cases. In one case in particular, Q. What’s the toughest part of your job? Chief Judge Patti B. Saris ordered the U.S. Q. What is the best piece of professional advice A. Not being able to help every client that Attorney’s Office to pay my office legal fees in you ever received? walks through the door. Specifically at the connection with a habeas corpus action for A. It can take a lifetime to build a reputation, Lawyer for the Day program, there are just a post-deportee action. The court found that but it can be destroyed in one instant. so many people who need help and there is he should be released. So I thought justice not enough time. So it’s frustrating when you was served. Q. What advice would you give to students just have to turn people away from help that you graduating from law school? know you can give them. Q. What’s the most satisfying case or matter A. To work hard, and if they’re dealing with Q. What is the trait you most dislike in yourself? you’ve worked on so far? clients — because not all students are going A. An asylum case for a client who was to have jobs where they interact with clients A. I take my stress from my work into my Eritrean. He escaped national military service — to always keep an open mind and to not personal life. by going to refugee camps in Ethiopia and pass judgment on your clients when they Q. Sudan until he got enough money to go to come in to see you. What is your most treasured possession? Dubai, Moscow, Cuba and then the U.S. A. My running shoes. border in Texas, where he submitted to Q. If you hadn’t become a lawyer, what field immigration [authorities] and claimed would you have entered? Q. What’s one thing about you that might asylum. The case was transferred to A. I think I would be a medical doctor. It’s surprise people? Boston. We had an immigration another professional career where you can A. I played violin for 15 years. judge grant him asylum. It was help people. My two sisters are doctors, and very satisfying and rewarding that Q. What was your very first job? someone could go on such a my baby brother is in medical school. I might A. I was an information tech consultant at long journey and then make even still go. Who knows? Accenture in Manhattan when I was 20. it here to the United States. Q. If you could meet any famous lawyer in Q. Describe yourself in one word. Q. Who was your most history, who would it be? important mentor, and A. [Former N.Y. Gov.] Eliot Spitzer. He was a A. Resilient. how has that person great lawyer who had a rise and a downfall, impacted your career? but he still keeps going and working hard, Q. What do you do to blow off steam? and I look up to that. People have weaknesses A. Run, bike, swim and yoga — any sports. PHOTO BY MERRILL SHEA

VICTORIA M. SANTORO has built a successful practice in plaintiffs’ civil litigation, but that’s only part of what Victoria she has achieved since finishing law school. Santoro also has established herself as a speaker, panelist, author and blogger, educating other professionals on the use of social media, trial preparation and other topics. Santoro Santoro serves on the board of the Massachusetts Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division. Before joining her firm, she held internships in the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office. POSITION: ASSOCIATE, MEEHAN, BOYLE, BLACK & BOGDANOW, BOSTON | AGE: 28 Q. What do you consider your biggest Q. What is the best piece of professional advice was ultimately successful in. LAW SCHOOL: BOSTON COLLEGE LAW SCHOOL achievement as a lawyer to date? you ever received? BAR ADMISSION: 2010 Q. What’s the toughest part of your job? A. I find nothing more rewarding than A. When you start, you’re sitting in a room hearing from our clients at the end of the with these intelligent, accomplished people, A. Knowing that no matter what you do, you case that they’re happy, satisfied and grateful and you’re thinking, “Do I pipe up and give can’t ever completely fix the terrible injustice for our representation. My firm generally my opinion? I’ve only been practicing law that has happened to your client or to a focuses on representing single plaintiffs, so for three months.” I was told that you should client’s family. We have the civil justice system we have, and I believe in it deeply, but it only it provides a unique opportunity to get very never censor yourself. They hired you because goes so far when somebody has passed away. close to one person and that person’s family. they think you’re intelligent, and they want your perspective. Q. What’s one thing about you that might Q. What’s the most satisfying case or matter Q. surprise people? you’ve worked on so far? What advice would you give to students just graduating from law school? A. I’m vegan. A. As a woman, some of my most meaningful A. Being prepared is unbelievably important. cases have been representing victims of Q. If you are flawless in your presentation, you’re What is your greatest fear? sexual assault. Because you’re forming a deep putting forward the best version of yourself A. Not achieving the things I’d like to achieve. bond with a woman who has been through an and people sense it. experience that has shaken her entire world, Q. What was your very first job? it’s very rewarding to be able to effect Q. If you hadn’t become a lawyer, what field A. Teaching tennis. change or, to the extent that you can, would you have entered? help somebody feel like they’ve been A. I would have pursued written journalism or Q. Describe yourself in one word. made whole again. broadcast journalism. I also do triathlons and A. Passionate. half-marathons, so I think a small part of me Q. Who was your most important would have liked to become a personal trainer. Q. What do you do to blow off steam? mentor, and how has that person A. I love to run. That really is helpful for me impacted your career? Q. If you could meet any famous lawyer in for managing stress. I also like to walk with A. I work with a small firm, so I often tell history, who would it be? my dog. people that they not only hired me, they also A. Robert Morris, one of the first black lawyers adopted me. Michael Bogdanow is probably in the United States. I think he would have Q. Do you see yourself striking out on your own the most supportive individual I have ever had incredible insight and wisdom to pass on one day? come across. All the attorneys at my firm to lawyers today, given the hardships he faced A. Right now, no. I can’t imagine leaving have filled different roles for me. and the type of world he lived, practiced and my firm. PHOTO BY MERRILL SHEA Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly • April 2014 • B17

WHILE DEVELOPING HER COMMERCIAL LITIGATION and malpractice/liability defense practice, Courtney C. Courtney Shea has contributed strong leadership to the Massachusetts Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division. This fall, she will become its first female chair. Recognizing the challenging legal market facing new graduates, Shea is Shea committed to ensuring the MBA provides meaningful opportunities for education, networking and support. She also promotes MBA charitable drives among her peers and volunteers with the Dial-A-Lawyer program. POSITION: ASSOCIATE, LOONEY & GROSSMAN, BOSTON | AGE: 31 | LAW SCHOOL: SUFFOLK Q. What do you consider your biggest Q. What is the best piece of professional advice independence. One of the neatest things I found UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL | BAR ADMISSION: 2008 achievement as a lawyer to date? you ever received? when I was sworn in in Faneuil Hall is that it’s the A. Becoming the first female chair-elect of A. This comes from a judge that I clerked for, same place where John Adams was sworn in as a the Massachusetts Bar Association’s Young Judge Robin Pavia. She stressed that when lawyer. That really hit home to me. Lawyers Division was a big accomplishment you’re looking for a job, it’s important to find for me. I think it’s an important group, something you really enjoy doing, because if Q. What’s the toughest part of your job? and it influences a lot of young attorneys, you enjoy doing it, you’re going to succeed at it. A. The amount of time that you have to put so being able to be the head of that is a into it. It’s hard finding a good work-life big accomplishment. Q. What advice would you give to students just balance, but it is possible. graduating from law school? Q. What’s the most satisfying case or matter A. Even though it’s a tough job market right Q. What is the trait you most dislike in yourself? you’ve worked on so far? now, they should stick with the legal field A. I don’t give myself enough time to rest. A. Last year I worked on two cases that were if they really enjoy it. They should look for I’m always going. I wish I could be better at tried in tandem in federal court. I second- mentors, bar associations and places that relaxing ad taking it easy sometimes. chaired those trials, which were bench trials, can assist them in growing their career. It’s and they went to a successful outcome for important to have resources like that that you Q. What is your most treasured possession? can rely upon as you move forward. my clients. A. I’d say my Boston College football tailgate spot. Q. If you hadn’t become a lawyer, what field Q. Who was your most important mentor, and Q. What’s one thing about you that might would you have entered? how has that person impacted your career? surprise people? A. A. I would have been an event planner. I have two mentors, both from Barron & A. I was a studio art minor in college. I Stadfeld, where I worked after my clerkship: When I was in college and law school, I was always involved in extracurricular activities used to spend hours and hours oil painting Kevin Scanlon and Kerry Choi. They during college. were instrumental in teaching me the where I had to plan events. Today, with the Massachusetts Bar Association, I still get a basics of how to be lawyer, because Q. What do you do to blow off steam? it’s a lot different when you’re piece of that. A. actually out in the field. They’re I play softball. still always willing to answer Q. If you could meet any famous lawyer in Q. Do you see yourself striking out on your own questions for me. It’s really good history, who would it be? one day? having people who take the time A. John Adams. Working in Massachusetts as an to look out for younger lawyers attorney, he’s definitely someone to look up to A. Not at this point. I really enjoy working and give them advice. as one of the founding fathers of the nation and with a firm and being able to collaborate [someone who was] instrumental in our country’s with others. PHOTO BY MERRILL SHEA

Congratulations 2014 Excellence in the Law Honorees including our outstanding Northeastern University School of Law graduates: Up & Coming Ruthanne Withers ’05 Anjali Waikar ’05 Audrey Heidt O’Shaughnessy ’06 Melissa Murphy ’07 Christopher Logue ’11 3OlA,INGOS *ULIA$EVANTHERY Asya Calixto ’11 ProBono ,ENNOX#HASE

northeastern.edu/law B18 • Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly • April 2014

DAVID H. TRAVERS takes every opportunity to show new attorneys, law students and high David Travers school kids that while the law is demanding, its potential for positive impact is great. Travers coordinates his firm’s internal mentoring program and serves on the hiring and marketing POSITION: ASSOCIATE, TODD & WELD, BOSTON | AGE: 33 LAW SCHOOL: SUFFOLK UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL | BAR ADMISSION: 2006 committees. In his construction and business litigation practice, he embraces technological tools such as e-discovery to ensure he provides the most effective representation possible. Travers is a founding member of the USA 500 Club, which brings together legal, accounting and financial professionals with civic and nonprofit leaders to address community issues.

Q. What do you consider your biggest Q. Who was your most important mentor, and in activities that require you to sign an “If you achievement as a lawyer to date? how has that person impacted your career? die, it’s not our fault” waiver. I scuba dive, I A. For me, the achievement is that A. I’ve been able to get great advice from my skydive, I go skiing. I like to try to overcome opportunity you get to solve your client’s parents throughout my life. Professionally, obstacles or fear. I don’t particularly like problem, whether it’s affirmatively to I’ve worked at two firms and at both I’ve heights and speed, so I try to do activities that right the wrong when they’re a plaintiff, been fortunate to have partners who took an expose me to both of those things. or to defend them against someone who interest in what I was doing and took the time is coming after them. In the business of to coach me and point out those things that Q. What is your dream vacation? litigation, you get presented with a client only come with experience. A. I had the privilege of going on my dream who has an issue, and when you get to solve vacation for my honeymoon. I went on a that issue for them and bring them a good Q. What is the best piece of professional advice safari in Tanzania. That had been my dream resolution, that’s a great achievement. you ever received? vacation for many years, and it was exactly as A. Do the right thing. jaw-dropping as I had hoped. Q. What’s the most satisfying case or matter you’ve worked on so far? Q. What advice would you give to students just Q. What was your very first job? A. There are two significant graduating from law school? A. I was a sales clerk at CVS in my hometown. construction cases that ran over A. Recognize that there’s an enormous amount a number of years and were that you don’t know about practicing law, and Q. Describe yourself in one word. factually intense. In both, I that’s OK. In knowing that you need to learn A. Happy. worked on the contractor side, more, you’re going to buckle down and do the and the litigation was against a hard work, whereas if you come out thinking Q. Do you see yourself striking out on your own public entity. Public projects can you know everything, that’s a tough position one day? be enormous; getting into that to take when you’re new to practice. A. I really don’t. One of the things I enjoy level of factual detail and dealing about my practice is the ability to interact with the very fine legal points that Q. What’s one thing about you that might with my colleagues and brainstorm an issue, get raised in high-stakes litigation surprise people? and that would be much more difficult if I is incredibly satisfying. A. In my free time, I often am found engaging was off on my own. PHOTO BY MERRILL SHEA

A STRONG BELIEF IN PUBLIC SERVICE led Anjali S. Waikar to law school and remains one of her Anjali Waikar most important values. Waikar first saw the potential for lawyers’ service to the community as a paralegal at South Brooklyn Legal Services, where she worked with low-income HIV-infected POSITION: ASSOCIATE, KROKIDAS & BLUESTEIN, BOSTON AGE: 36 | LAW SCHOOL: NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL clients. Post-law school, she joined the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts and was OF LAW | BAR ADMISSION: 2007 selected for an Equal Justice Works fellowship in racial profiling and immigrants’ rights. Today, Waikar represents nonprofit, social services and health care organizations, supporting their front- line efforts with a professional expertise and personal commitment.

Q. What do you consider your biggest touch with those clients, and it’s certainly work that it’s really a pleasure to be able learning how to improve my juggling skills. achievement as a lawyer to date? something I feel very proud of to serve so many different organizations A. I would say the two that stand out that those individuals are still doing such a tremendous amount of good Q. What talent would you most like to have? the most for me are my very first in the United States with in Massachusetts. A. Deep intuition. clients. They were undocumented their families. immigrants who were stopped by Q. What is the best piece of professional advice Q. What is the trait you most dislike in yourself? Q. the police for a pretextual traffic What’s the most you ever received? A. I need hard and fast deadlines. stop and transferred to federal satisfying case or A. My mother always told me that it’s better immigration authorities to matter you’ve worked to be very specialized in your field, whatever Q. What’s one thing about you that might face removal from the United on so far? field it is, so that you become the go-to person surprise people? States. After close to six years A. It’s hard for me in that area. I’m not sure my legal career has A. I love public speaking. I literally get a high of litigation, the government to single out one taken on that advice, but I do think there’s a from it. agreed not to prosecute case, but generally lot of value in becoming an expert in a certain their cases. I’m still in speaking my clients area so that your name becomes synonymous Q. What is your greatest fear? do such incredible with that issue. The other piece of advice is A. I have a phobia of raccoons. to do what you love and what you’re truly passionate about, because then you won’t see Q. What was your very first job? it as work. A. I was a server at Dairy Queen. Q. If you hadn’t become a lawyer, what field would you have entered? Q. Describe yourself in one word. A. I probably would have gone into A. I’ve been told I’m disarming. international development. Q. What do you do to blow off steam? Q. If you could meet any famous lawyer in A. I’m a wannabe gym junkie. history, who would it be? Q. A. Gandhi. Do you see yourself striking out on your own one day? Q. What’s the toughest part of your job? A. No. One of the things I appreciate about A. Managing the expectations of so many my firm is the collaborative atmosphere. different people at once, including clients, I appreciate being able to draw upon the partners, colleagues, potential clients, etc. various expertise of the different people in my That can be challenging. I’m continually firm. PHOTO BY MERRILL SHEA Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly • April 2014 • B19

RUTHANNE D. WITHERS has dedicated her family law expertise to helping people facing domestic violence, Ruthanne divorce, custody disputes and other challenging issues. After eight years as a staff attorney at Community Legal Aid, she joined a firm where she could serve moderate-income clients who do not qualify for legal Withers services. Withers provides pro bono representation, mentors attorneys who are new to domestic violence cases, and trains attorneys through the Women’s Bar Association Family Law Project for Battered Women. POSITION: ASSOCIATE, COOGAN, SMITH, MCGAHAN, She is a board member for New Hope, Inc., a domestic violence and sexual assault agency. LORINCZ, JACOBI & SHANLEY, ATTLEBORO AGE: 36 | LAW SCHOOL: NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW Q. What do you consider your biggest is a great trial attorney, so I learned a lot to people our role in the process: I’m an BAR ADMISSION: 2005 achievement as a lawyer to date? about trying cases in the courtroom. Judge attorney, not a therapist or a social worker. A. The Morales v. Morales case, representing Ginsburg had such a unique perspective Q. a woman seeking a modification of her from the bench, and he forced me to think What is the trait you most dislike in yourself? child support order. Ultimately, we argued of things from a judge’s point of view. Here, A. I can advocate very well on behalf of others, before the full panel of the [Supreme I’m learning a lot from Paul Lorincz. Being in but sometimes I feel like I can’t advocate as Judicial Court]. The whole process was private practice is quite different, and he has well for myself, whether it’s buying a car or in incredibly challenging, and when we been very supportive. everyday life. ended up with a favorable decision at the SJC, it was very exciting. Q. What is the best piece of professional advice Q. What’s one thing about you that might you ever received? surprise people? Q. What’s the most satisfying case or A. When you’re in Family Court, it’s important A. I once attended a state arrival for King Juan matter you’ve worked on so far? to work well with all the players involved — Carlos of Spain. The White House asked if any A. The first trial I ever did was an the judge, clerks, court officers, everyone in George Washington students [with] upper- interesting case of arranged marriage the system. level Spanish could help to welcome guests, out of Pakistan, and I represented so I got to hang out there. I met Whoopi the wife in an annulment Q. What advice would you give to students just Goldberg and Sammy Sosa. and divorce. That was graduating from law school? Q. exciting because I had been A. Family law cases tend to be dramatic What is your greatest fear? practicing for less than a and emotional, so I would advise people to A. I’m afraid of flying. year, but I was handling separate their professional and personal lives the whole trial myself and as much as they can. Also, try to foster cordial Q. What was your very first job? getting experience. relationships with your opposing counsel. It’s A. I worked in a movie theater, taking tickets, a small legal community in Massachusetts, and I worked my way up to concessions. Q. Who was your most so you’re going to be working with the same important mentor, and people over and over again. Q. Describe yourself in one word. how has that person A. Fun-loving. impacted your career? Q. What’s the toughest part of your job? A. Tina Paradiso and A. You’re dealing with people who are going Q. What do you do to blow off steam? retired Judge Edward through a tough time, so there are a lot of A. I love to exercise. Right now I’m on an Ginsburg. Tina emotions involved. It’s tough to explain Ultimate Frisbee team. PHOTO BY MERRILL SHEA B20 • Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly • April 2014

Weil, Gotshal & Manges

TWO FEATURES of the pro bono program at Weil, Gotshal & Manges are especially notable. First, attorneys serve a diverse set of organizations, from the Political Asylum/Immigration Representation Project to the Longwood Symphony Orchestra. Second, attorneys do more than strictly provide legal expertise. Along with staff, they give their time to sort food donations at the Greater Boston Food Bank; organize donated clothing for Room to Grow, which supports babies and toddlers in low- income families; and prepare meals for homeless women at On the Rise. “Our pro bono service challenges each member of our firm to identify some organization, program or issue that they are truly passionate about and to come up with ways to be of service,” says Patrick O’Toole, Jr., a partner and Pro Bono Committee member. “When someone identifies a cause … we pride ourselves on PHOTO BY MERRILL SHEA supporting their commitment.” The Weil Gotshal team, from left: (seated) Mariel Dator, Shayla Harlev and Andrew Burke; (standing) Patrick J. O’Toole, Corey Brown, Bryan Settelen and The firm aspires to have every attorney Benton B. Bodamer give at least 50 hours of service each year. Partners are expected to take on a pro bono had,” he says. injunction, families had the opportunity to the Northeast Wilderness Trust and the project annually, and each new attorney is In 2013, the firm’s work on behalf of locate alternative housing. Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office required to do so. Over the last decade, that Hurricane Sandy victims earned it the Among its many pro bono relationships, 209A Pro Bono Program. commitment has represented more than Legal Aid Society’s Pro Bono Publico Weil is outside counsel for the United Way O’Toole attributes the success of Weil’s 800,000 hours. Award. More than 80 attorneys helped of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack pro bono program, in part, to the fact that According to O’Toole, the firm’s view people obtain relief from the Federal Valley, the Massachusetts Legal Assistance the firm encourages attorneys to pursue is that practicing law is a privilege that Emergency Management Agency. In Corp. and the John F. Kennedy Library causes that are meaningful to them. carries responsibility. partnership with the Legal Aid Society, Foundation. The firm also has a “If they feel there is something they can “As lawyers, we are very fortunate they also filed a class action suit to stop longstanding relationship with PAIR and be of service to, and it makes sense for that to have been given the unique skills to New York City from discontinuing a rental has obtained asylum for numerous clients. organization, our firm and our partners provide organizations and individuals assistance program for those left homeless Other pro bono clients include Edesia will support them,” he says. “I think that with access to legal services and the justice by the storm. Thanks to a temporary Global Nutrition Solutions, Kids in Need really does distinguish us as a culture, as a system, which they may not have otherwise restraining order and a preliminary of Defense, PALS Animal Life Savers, firm and as a pro bono program.”

Susan Abbott POSITION: PARTNER, GOODWIN PROCTER, BOSTON pledged $1 million to the fund and asked “The way that [One Fund Boston] that worked very well as a public-private LAW SCHOOL: DUKE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW Goodwin Procter for legal assistance. As partnership that brought a lot of sectors chair of the firm’s Exempt Organization qualified as a 501(c)(3) is, I think, a of the community together in a very ONE FUND BOSTON, the charitable Group, Abbott was asked to take the lead. new approach to how disaster relief effective way.” fund for victims of the Boston Marathon “It’s something that meant so much to organizations have qualified. Overall, In her 14 years with the firm, Abbott has bombing, depended on many the city and to all of us who have been dedicated considerable pro bono service people in the Boston involved,” she says. “It was a huge honor it’s something that worked very well to nonprofit organizations, particularly community. Susan L. and a privilege to be a part of it, as a public-private partnership that the Lawyers Clearinghouse and the Arts Abbott is honored and the level of support was both brought a lot of sectors of the community & Business Council of Greater Boston. to have been one inspiring and humbling.” For 10 years, she and her colleagues have of them. While Abbott’s expertise together in a very effective way.” offered seminars for people who seek to Less than 24 played a special role in establish nonprofits. hours after the organizing the fund, the firm Working with tax-exempt organizations April 15, 2013, contributed “a huge team is particularly rewarding, she says, because attack, John effort,” she says. “There were 501(c)(3) status from the Internal Revenue they often have a great need for assistance Hancock had a lot of people here who Service — not an easy task. and it is a meaningful way to support were involved.” “There were challenges on two fronts,” the community. Within 48 hours, the Abbott says. “I’ve found it to be a wonderful fund had more than $10 One was timing. The IRS typically experience, in terms of the kinds of groups million in donations. takes a year or longer to approve new and people that I’ve had the chance to work The next challenge was applications. The second involved the with over the years,” she says. to incorporate and rules that the IRS applies to disaster In 2005, Abbott received her firm’s obtain expedited relief charities. Robert B. Fraser Pro Bono Award. “Ultimately, we were able to work with She serves on the Charitable Planning the IRS to get the organization approved Committee of the American College of based on its very close ties with the city of Trust and Estate Counsel and MCLE’s Boston,” Abbott says. Estate Planning Curriculum Advisory She hopes to see One Fund Boston serve Committee. She is a former co-chair of the as a model for other cities. Boston Bar Association’s Trusts and Estates “The way that this qualified as a 501(c) Section Estate Planning Committee, and (3) is, I think, a new approach to how a member of the Boston Public Library’s disaster relief organizations have qualified,” Collections Committee and the advisory Abbott says. “Overall, it’s something board of Teach Plus.

PHOTO BY MERRILL SHEA Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly • April 2014 • B21

Lennox Chase Jr.

POSITION: FOUNDER, CHASE LEGAL SERVICES, IF LENNOX C. CHASE JR. has a motto, “Seeing the challenge of people trying human spirit and of being tenacious and WALPOLE | LAW SCHOOL: NORTHEASTERN it might well be: “Pay it forward.” to elevate themselves and looking for a determined and focused — not letting UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW Noting that he benefitted from the help others or bad situations hold you back,” of others as a young person, Chase says he hand up has always inspired me. Now he says. is now motivated and inspired to extend I’m grateful to be in a position to pay it Chase’s work with the Hale Reservation the same helping hand to others. is especially meaningful to him. Each year, As a result, he provides pro bono forward.” the organization enables 4,000 children from representation and board member the inner city to experience nature at camps participation to a wide range of and other programs. Chase, a Dorchester organizations, including Casa Myrna “Seeing the challenge of people trying to native, says he appreciates the importance Vazquez, South Shore Habitat for elevate themselves and looking for a hand of that exposure for children who rarely see Humanity, Top Banana Education Board, up has always inspired me,” Chase says. green spaces. the Hale Reservation and Needham Bank. “Now I’m grateful to be in a position to pay “It changes your worldview,” he says. “It He is an advisor to the Urban League of it for ward .” shows you there’s a world beyond what you Eastern Massachusetts and a trustee for As a first-generation college student, knew, so it’s a very powerful process for a The Angel Fund. Chase went on to law school and young child to experience.” Chase says he started from “humble established his own practice in real estate Chase’s membership on the board of beginnings.” As a boy, he participated and banking law. He also runs MyBarPrep, Needham Bank fits the theme of providing in the Head Start program which provides online tutoring for law opportunities for people to empower and the Metco busing students studying for the bar exam. That, themselves. By financing small business program, which enabled too, reflects his desire to help people owners, they, too, can be allowed to move him to attend better- pursue their goals — in this case, to forward to achieve goals that once may funded schools become attorneys. have seemed impossible. from kindergarten “Helping someone achieve a lifelong Reflecting on the path he has traveled, through high school. goal and empowering someone to face Chase says he feels gratitude daily for the That experience down a hurdle, you get inspired by that opportunity to be an attorney, a husband broadened his process,” Chase says. and a father. He especially values the horizons and He also finds inspiration in his work opportunity to contribute his time, energy planted the with Casa Myrna, where victims of and expertise to nonprofit organizations. early seeds of a domestic violence work to rebuild “I’m most proud of being able to help desire to help their lives. people — who are down and out — to others succeed. “That shows you the power of the elevate themselves,” he says.

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Goodwin Procter is proud to support MASSACHUSETTS LAWYERS WEEKLY EXCELLENCE IN THE LAW EVENT Congratulations to our partner and pro bono advocate, SUSAN ABBOTT, and the other Excellence in the Law honorees.

Sander Rikleen

“What’s somewhat unusual about POSITION: PARTNER, SHERIN & LODGEN, BOSTON | solution was to streamline ownership of the He also worked with JCAM and this is that, in many ways, we LAW SCHOOL: BOSTON COLLEGE LAW SCHOOL properties, some of which were adjacent yet colleagues from his firm to create a new belonged to different organizations. With Jewish cemetery that is notable because it are the keepers of the WHEN SANDER A. RIKLEEN first got his real estate expertise, Rikleen was well- accepts interfaith families for burial. That history of the Jewish involved with the Jewish Cemetery suited to help JCAM track down records presented challenges in the form of land Association of Massachusetts, and handle related transactions. acquisition, financing, permitting and community.” he simply signed on as a board In light of JCAM’s limited budget, negotiating with community members. member. But then one thing led Rikleen’s ability to help with numerous legal Today, JCAM oversees 110 cemeteries, to another. issues, from zoning to contracts to lawsuits, most of which are no longer used for Twelve years later, Rikleen has was extremely valuable. burials but still require facility and provided JCAM with substantial “I knew how to do those things, so I landscaping care. It has also become a pro bono services, initiated an began helping them,” he says. model for other cities facing the problem of ambitious documentary project and, He also started to get interested in the abandoned cemeteries. along the way, discovered fascinating history behind the cemeteries. Meanwhile, Rikleen saw another history. He has served as board “I started by asking, ‘Why are there so opportunity, this time related to his son’s president since 2006. many Jewish cemeteries?’” he says. “The high school crew team, the Wayland- “These aren’t just Jewish more I asked, the more interesting it got. Weston Rowing Association. Realizing the issues,” Rikleen says. … There was this whole network of Jewish students badly needed a new boathouse, “They’re history issues organizations, some of them no longer Rikleen and other parents raised money, and they’re cultural in existence.” partnered with the parks department and issues, so I find the Realizing there was no resource for built a new one. whole thing really people to learn about the cemeteries, “I hope it will serve as an example interesting. I had the Rikleen decided JCAM ought to create of other ways that towns and local expertise they could one. That led to a guidebook and the organizations can partner together to use, so I got deeper Cemeteries Are for the Living program, achieve what neither could achieve on their and deeper.” in which JCAM leads historical tours. In own,” he says. The Boston Jewish addition, JCAM now has a website for Rikleen says he is most proud of being Federation started genealogical research. able to use his knowledge to help others. JCAM to care for “What’s somewhat unusual about this “If you have valuable expertise and you abandoned and is that, in many ways, we are the keepers donate it, you can help create an interesting, neglected Jewish of the history of the Jewish community,” meaningful project that others will benefit cemeteries. One Rikleen says. from for a long time,” he says.

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Tara Shuman

POSITION: COUNSEL, VERRILL DANA, BOSTON WHEN SETTLING ON AN AREA “It’s very tangible work when you know happened to coincide with Shuman’s first LAW SCHOOL: SUFFOLK UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL in which to develop her pro bono day back at work, and ultimately she was expertise, Tara A.T. Shuman felt drawn to you’re affecting a hospital organization able to obtain asylum for her client. Now, immigration and political asylum cases that will then treat patients.” she is pursuing derivative asylum for the because of their potential to provide woman’s husband and daughter. substantive help to clients. Effective representation of asylum cases, “When they have fled their country Shuman says, starts with genuine caring and gone through what they’ve gone Shuman has obtained a favorable and a desire to help people. A streak of through, this is often their last outcome in four affirmative asylum cases, stubbornness can be useful, too. hope,” she says. “They really have among them an El Salvadoran family whose “The government can be a tricky thing a chance at a new beginning, and political opinions made them a target for to navigate. Often, it really is just a matter a new beginning for their family, if gangs. She also represented a young father of being very patient and persistent.” they are able to stay here. I just find from Iraq whose wife was killed and son Most recently, Shuman has been it so rewarding to be able to help severely injured during Operation Iraqi working with an attorney who is new to them do that.” Freedom. In addition, she has counseled asylum cases, assisting his representation In 2013, Political Asylum/ clients at the Dorchester House Multi- of a physically disabled woman from the Immigration Representation Service Center through the Medical-Legal Democratic Republic of Congo. Project honored Partnership Boston. Serving in an educational and Shuman as its Pro In 2012, Shuman was representing a mentoring role is familiar to Shuman, Bono Asylum Ugandan woman who had been persecuted who was a high school teacher for five Attorney of for her political beliefs. That summer, years before becoming a lawyer. She now the Year. Shuman’s own life took a sharp turn when concentrates her practice on health law, she was diagnosed with an aggressive form advising hospitals, health systems and of breast cancer. During her six-month medical schools on issues related to health medical leave, Shuman continued to work care reform, corporate transactions, with her client, determined to complete the conflicts of interest, regulatory guidance, process they had started. and academic and clinical research. “I had been working with this client for a “To me, it’s very tangible work when year and a half, and she had been through you know you’re affecting a hospital a lot,” Shuman says. “For her to have a organization that will then treat patients,” consistent supporter in me, no matter she says. “It’s very rewarding. Our clients what was going on in my life, that was not have great missions, and that’s always something I was willing to give up.” nice to be able to help them forward their The client’s Immigration Court hearing mission.”

PHOTO BY MERRILL SHEA Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly • April 2014 • B23

Katy Ward

POSITION: ASSOCIATE, MINTZ, LEVIN, COHN, KATY E. WARD has a simple yet As co-director of her firm’s Housing Women’s Bar Association and Women’s FERRIS, GLOVSKY & POPEO, BOSTON powerful reason for her extensive Court program, Katy Ward coordinates Bar Foundation in 2012. Mintz Levin LAW SCHOOL: BOSTON commitment to pro bono service: “As partnered with the organizations to create UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW lawyers, we have an obligation to do this participation with the Lawyer for the a nine-month program designed to educate work because there are people who Day program at Boston Housing Court by leaders of nonprofits serving low-income are less fortunate, and we have an women and children about legal issues and ability that’s different from other staffing cases, recruiting attorneys and resources to enhance their client services. fields to help people.” training them. A small commitment from “The feedback has been great,” Ward Ward, who joined her firm’s an attorney, she says, can provide major says. “It highlighted the issues they need to Pro Bono Committee in 2012, focus on and be aware of.” notes that Mintz Levin’s benefits to clients. The program earned the National support has made it possible Conference of Women’s Bar Associations’ for her to pursue so many Public Service Award. Now, organizers pro bono opportunities. are planning the 2014 program with As co-director of “By just giving them advice, you can the Massachusetts Bar Association the firm’s Housing really make a difference in someone’s life,” and South Asian Bar Association. Court program, Ward she says. They also are creating webinars and coordinates As a result of her Housing Court work, toolkits, Ward reports, with the hope participation with Ward was asked to co-chair the Boston Bar that the program will be a model for bar the Lawyer for the Association’s Real Estate Public Service associations nationwide. Day program at Committee in 2012. Ward’s work was recognized by the Boston Housing She also participates in her firm’s Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Court by staffing domestic violence program and appealed Under Law in 2011, and in 2013 she cases, recruiting one of the first harassment protective order was asked to join the Massachusetts attorneys cases to be heard by the Appeals Court. Bar Association’s Individual Rights & and training She advises nonprofit organizations, and Responsibilities Section. them. A small she co-leads Mintz Levin’s participation She serves on the Jimmy Fund Council commitment from in the corporate pro bono program of the of Greater Boston and has volunteered an attorney, she Association of Corporate Counsel. at the Children’s Hospital’s oncology says, can provide One of Ward’s biggest achievements floor monthly since 2006. She received major benefits is her work on the inaugural Know the Jimmy Fund’s Bob Cheyne Lifetime to clients. Your Rights program, developed by the Commitment Award in 2013.

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Jennifer Collins

POSITION: PARALEGAL, BOVE & LANGA, BOSTON When the new Massachusetts Uniform and annual accountings and working with nonprofit foundation clients in their grant- JENNIFER COLLINS had been a Probate Code took effect, that “changed making activities. paralegal at Bove & Langa for several Initially drawn to the structure of the years when she decided to obtain everything we do with Probate Court,” her certificate in paralegal Jennifer Collins says. In response, she law, Collins says she still finds the “behind the scenes” work interesting. The ability studies. The additional developed an office-wide system to training and study weren’t to prioritize a heavy and ever-changing required, but going the deal with the new forms, timelines and workload is critical to performing well extra mile to continue requirements. in her position, adds Collins, a top-notch her education was just organizer who pays close attention to detail. something she wanted to do. “There are a lot of timing and deadline That decision is a issues, so being on top of deadlines and good example of Collins’ reputation for being willing to do whatever scheduling” is key, she says. determination to set high it takes to get the job done, without stopping When needed, Collins also takes the standards for herself and to to worry about whether it’s “her job” or initiative to design new procedures in meet them, day after day. not. As a result, she has earned her firm’s order to accommodate new legislation and In her 12 years with the respect for her work ethic, her excellent changes in the law. For instance, when the firm, Collins has earned a performance, and her commitment to being new Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code a team player. took effect, that “changed everything we do “I’m happy that I found a job that I enjoy with Probate Court,” she says. In response, doing and that I feel like I excel at,” she says. she developed an office-wide system “It’s just my thing — being able to do good to deal with the new forms, timelines work, with filings or a client or an estate and requirements. — knowing that I’m doing a good job and Outside the firm, Collins participates in making the client happy.” athletic events to raise money for charity, As one of two paralegals supporting five participating in two or three each year. She attorneys, Collins stays busy with matters is a frequent participant in the Lawyers related to the firm’s trusts and estates work. Have Heart 5K, which her firm supports She handles a significant amount of trust annually, Spin for Hope and Walk for administration, managing financial records Hunger.

PHOTO BY MERRILL SHEA B24 • Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly • April 2014

Joanne McBride

“I have my finger on the pulse of POSITION: OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR, SEYFARTH “I have my finger on the pulse of pretty a down-to-earth personality and an SHAW, BOSTON much everything that’s going on around unflappable willingness to “be in the pretty much everything that’s going here,” she says. “My managing partners weeds” with co-workers. on around here. My managing THERE’S A PHRASE that’s become point everybody to me: ‘Talk to Joanne and “You need to understand where they’re commonplace in Seyfarth Shaw’s Boston partners point everybody to me: make sure she knows what’s going on.’ Then coming from. You can’t just listen to them office, and it speaks volumes about the they expect me to solve it as much as I can.” and push it off. You need to be nice,” she ‘Talk to Joanne and make sure she importance of its office administrator: McBride started out as a legal secretary says. “That’s one thing I think people knows what’s going on.’ Then “Talk to Joanne.” and a training coordinator. At first, she would say about me. … That’s how I was A 15-year veteran of the wasn’t sure she wanted the responsibility of brought up: to treat people how you want they expect me to solve it firm, Joanne McBride running an office. She quickly found that to be treated.” as much as I can.” has helped to the job suits her well. With everything that has changed in the grow the Boston “I like being able to remove roadblocks legal field during her tenure, McBride says office from the and seeing things come to a finish, and I the most challenging part of her job has ground up like being involved in the success of the been helping attorneys to recognize and since it opened office,” she says. embrace new ways of doing business. in 1999 with McBride oversees all of the office’s “People have to think differently about seven attorneys. administrative departments, including how they’re going to get the same work The team day-to-day operational matters, human done, whether you’re doing more with less now includes resources and information technology. She or asking people to do different things,” more than also works on several of the firm’s national she says. “It’s really getting people to think 150 employees. efforts, including the Global Mobility about the way the workforce has changed, Department and the Labor & Employment the way we do our work, and the way we Department budget. serve the client.” “I like to know what’s going on in case McBride is the firm’s liaison with Best there’s anything I need to do to jump in Buddies of Massachusetts, which provides and help, or to solve issues between us leadership and employment opportunities and the main office,” says McBride, a past for people with disabilities. With the help president of Boston’s Association of Legal of McBride’s leadership, the firm now HR Managers employs two Best Buddies clients, supports As the firm’s longest-serving office the annual bike ride fundraiser, provides administrator, McBride serves as a office space to Best Buddies International, resource and a mentor for her counterparts and has encouraged other Seyfarth Shaw in other offices. offices to connect with chapters in their Excelling in her role, she says, requires own cities.

PHOTO BY MERRILL SHEA

Debora Kennedy

POSITION: OFFICE MANAGER/PARALEGAL, BRICK & “I never thought I’d be part of something meetings to making sure the printer SUGARMAN, CAMBRIDGE so incredible as watching a law firm start isn’t jammed. From her perspective, one of the most THIRTEEN YEARS AGO, when Debora out so small and grow so big. I’m glad important parts of her job is supporting the A. Kennedy came on board as a paralegal to be part of it and part of the decision- attorneys in a way that allows them to focus for solo practitioner James L. Brick, she on serving clients. That means that when had no clue just how much her role would making and trying to figure out the best the firm needs to move forward on critical grow and evolve. Today, Kennedy still way for this firm to run smoothly.” decisions, Kennedy often is the one who handles paralegal work, but she also is gathers the information and facilitates the responsible for all office management at evaluation process. Brick & Sugarman, a firm that now has “I will do my homework and get the five attorneys. information for them, and then we will sit Brick’s practice took its first step down and make an educated decision for toward growth in 2010, when he procedures, and Kennedy played a key role the firm,” she says. partnered with Thalia H. Sugarman. in developing them. Kennedy credits her success at the Twice the attorneys meant twice the “We’ve grown from one person to seven firm with her willingness to jump in and accounting, and Kennedy was asked [staff], and we’re still growing,” she says. overcome a challenge in order to learn to step in. She had never been a “I never thought I’d be part of something new skills. bookkeeper before, but she embraced so incredible as watching a law firm start “It’s pushed me to do things I never the challenge, learning QuickBooks and out so small and grow so big. I’m glad to be thought I would do,” she says. the accounting principles she would part of it and part of the decision-making Kennedy’s employers describe her as need to keep the business on track. and trying to figure out the best way for this the backbone of the office, noting that they “I panic a little inside, and then firm to run smoothly.” have entrusted her to handle every aspect of I get it done,” Kennedy says. “I Kennedy handles a significant portion their professional practice. just do it.” of the firm’s business operations, including Kennedy believes she was fortunate to Her contributions didn’t health insurance, liability insurance, office have taken that paralegal job, back when it end there. As the firm leasing, accounts payable and other matters. was still a one-attorney office. took on more attorneys, it On a typical day, she might go from trial “I got lucky,” she says. “I didn’t just find a needed more established preparation to accounting to scheduling job; I found a career.”

PHOTO BY MERRILL SHEA

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Liz Cerasuolo

POSITION: DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS, FISH & LIZ B. CERASUOLO has an eye for “I think we’ve only scratched the surface points with clients and taking advantage of RICHARDSON, BOSTON detail that is almost unmatched. Case in emerging opportunities in the field. point: When Fish & Richardson relocated of what we can do for legal marketing. “I think we’ve only scratched the surface its Boston offices, she made sure that the There’s a lot still that we’re digging into.” of what we can do for legal marketing,” last four digits of the new ZIP code were she says. “There’s a lot still that we’re “1878,” the year the firm was founded. digging into.” “We’re so strategic and thoughtful in Cerasuolo is vice president of the Legal everything we do, which is how I feel we an ambitious search engine optimization Marketing Association’s New England are with our marketing, too. Little things program. Their work paid off, increasing Region and she co-chaired the 2013 like that may seem insignificant, and you organic traffic to the firm’s website by regional conference. She also worked might not notice it right away, but it’s 250 percent. with the LMA to launch “Future Leaders,” always going to be there,” she says of the “When we started to dig through our a program that provides mentorship ZIP code. numbers to set goals [for this year], to younger colleagues. This year, she That’s not to say Cerasuolo doesn’t we were pretty excited about that,” will be a featured speaker at the LMA also have her eye on the big picture. As Cerasuolo says. national conference. director of communications since 2007, She also collaborates with the firm’s Cerasuolo is her firm’s coordinator of she has guided the firm’s response to a attorneys to help them engage social and the Boston Debate League, a nonprofit significant shift in the way attorneys mobile media to network and build their organization that supports academic communicate with clients and practices. She starts by learning about each debate teams in Boston public high potential clients. One of her lawyer’s practice, goals and clients, and schools. In 2013, the firm became a team’s biggest initiatives then researches options that would be a sponsor of City Championships, a debate was to launch a social good match. competition for more than 300 students; media campaign in “We talk a lot about putting yourself Cerasuolo worked closely with the league 2009, together with in your clients’ shoes and taking a look to coordinate the tournament. Most at what are your clients doing, and [the recently, the league invited her to join its attorneys] have gotten on board with development committee. that,” Cerasuolo says. “If your client is “I love the idea of being able to provide communicating in a certain way, that’s how a service to someone else, teeing things up you need to communicate, too.” and sending them out the door,” she says. “I The accomplishment she is most proud love making our clients shine and, beyond of is successfully increasing the firm’s touch that, the attorneys.”

PHOTO BY MERRILL SHEA Settlements Opinions Judicial Evaluations WHITE PAPERS Practice Tips PRINT Seyfarth Shaw LLP’s Boston ofﬁce is proud to congratulate Joanne McBride, SPECIAL REPORTS SPECIAL

VERDICTS Excellence in the Law honoree digital for Firm Administration. EWS Archives N B Courts AR -D EGAL L ISCIPLINE Case Digests Case

on the GO FODVVLÀHGV Seyfarth Shaw LLP has more than 800 attorneys and provides a broad range of legal services in the areas of labor and employment, employee benefits, litigation, corporate and real estate. Our clients include over 300 of the Fortune 500 companies and reflect virtually every industry and segment of the economy. The firm is a recognized leader in ...that’s Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly! delivering value and innovation for legal services, and our acclaimed SeyfarthLean client service model has earned numerous accolades from a variety of highly respected third parties, including industry associations, consulting firms and media.

Beth Cuzzone

POSITION: DIRECTOR OF CLIENT SERVICE AND TO BETH M. CUZZONE, having the “You have to be incredibly persistent has not embraced that approach. BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, GOULSTON & STORRS, right skills is only half the equation of because you’re trying to get people to do “You have to be incredibly persistent BOSTON successful legal marketing and business because you’re trying to get people to do development; the second half is finding things that they didn’t go to law school things that they didn’t go to law school the right chemistry with the right firm. to do. Marketing and sales is not always to do,” she says. “Marketing and sales is Cuzzone certainly has the skills, and she intuitive and a hot priority for lawyers.” not always intuitive and a hot priority found the chemistry at Goulston & Storrs. for lawyers.” Since Cuzzone came on board in 2001, Her strategy is to speak their language: she and her team have won more than 20 “We can switch the conversation awards for legal marketing. from sales to solving problems and “I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have Cuzzone’s business development work creating solutions.” the kind of … colleagues that I’ve had, includes in-house sales training, client Cuzzone, a past president of the Legal because that’s the secret sauce: having a relationship support, firm branding Marketing Association’s New England bunch of people on the team who have and external communications. She also chapter, is a fellow of the College of leadership and great ideas,” she says. partners with attorneys to gather client Law Practice Management, a member The firm’s willingness to take a feedback, learning what’s working well and of Suffolk University Law School’s Law chance on creative ideas, Cuzzone where they see room for improvement. Practice Technology Institute advisory says, has paid off with innovation and “It’s all about client service — keeping board and co-founder of the Legal Sales distinctive strategies. those clients and growing those clients,” and Service Organization. “Every morning there’s a new she says. “We have a mantra: ‘Every one of “I’ve been truly fortunate to have landed challenge,” she says. “Let’s try some our clients is another law firm’s prospect.’ at Goulston & Storrs when I did, when the things that other firms haven’t It’s our role and responsibility to think marketing function at law firms began necessarily tried, or let’s try about how we are constantly adding value to shift. To some people, it was a luxury, something new and different to clients.” and then when it became a necessity, the for clients or for our brand or Cuzzone has been instrumental in industry started looking at marketing and for market awareness. That helping the firm’s attorneys appreciate the everything that goes with it,” she says. “I makes it very exciting to importance of a sales culture, sometimes a just came to the right firm at the right come to work.” challenge in a profession that, historically, time, and it’s been one terrific ride.”

Judge Suzanne DelVecchio (ret.)

JUDGE SUZANNE V. DELVECCHIO corporate counsel for the City of Boston Association, and the Jurist of the Year is a former Superior Court judge who and as a staff attorney for the Boston Legal Award from the Justinian Law Society. retired in 2006 after a 21-year career on Aid Society. DelVecchio is a former member of the bench. A graduate of Wheaton College and Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly’s Board In 1999, DelVecchio became the state’s Boston College Law School, DelVecchio of Editors. first-ever female chief justice of the has served as an adjunct professor at Since her retirement from the bench, Superior Court, implementing the court’s Boston University School of Law and DelVecchio has worked as a senior Business Litigation Session during her received honorary degrees from Suffolk mediator and arbitrator at Commonwealth tenure. DelVecchio also previously University Law School and New England Mediation & Conciliation, Inc. served as the regional administrative School of Law. She is the recipient She currently sits on the Massachusetts justice in Plymouth County. of the Judicial Merit Award from the Bar Association’s Blue Ribbon Commission Before her appointment to the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Lawyers, on Criminal Justice Compensation, which bench in 1985, DelVecchio was a the Distinguished Jurist Award from the examines the impact of low prosecutor partner at Boorstein & DelVecchio Massachusetts Association of Women and public defender salaries on the state’s in Boston. She also worked as Lawyers and the Essex County Bar criminal justice system.

Carl Stevens CARL STEVENS is an award-winning Stevens was part of the news team worked at WEEI Radio in Boston; general assignment reporter for WBZ that received the 1995 Edward R. WENH-TV Channel 11, the public NewsRadio 1030, who also uses a Murrow Award for Best Breaking television station in Durham, N.H.; and video camera to report on unique and News for its coverage of the John Salvi WOKQ Radio in Dover, N.H. enterprising stories for RadioVision on abortion clinic shootings, and the In addition to his work in radio, wbz.com. Murrow award for feature reporting in Stevens has performed a variety of 1996 for a story entitled “Blue M&M’s.” other jobs including baling hay, playing He went on to receive the first-ever drums, roofing and teaching English to Edward R. Murrow National Award for junior high school students. Writing, presented in 1999. Born in Goshen, Ind., Stevens Stevens was also named “Best Radio received a bachelor’s degree in English Reporter” by Boston Magazine in its from Goshen College and a master’s August 1997 “Best of Boston” issue. in English from the University of New Prior to joining WBZ in 1990, Stevens Hampshire. With pride we congratulate our colleague “Commonwealth Mediation & Conciliation, Inc., Beth M. Cuzzone congratulates our friend and colleague, the Hon. Suzanne V. Del Vecchio, on receiving the Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly Daniel F. Toomey Judicial Excellence award 2014 Excellence in the Law from the Massachusetts Bar Association Award Winner for Marketing and Lawyer’s Weekly.”

- Paul, Brian, Jon, Sherry & Donna. Thank you for your dedication to our firm and for your tremendous contributions to the profession of legal marketing and business development

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