Gravel & Shea PC

Gravel & Shea Promotes New Partners

admin — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 18:49:26 +0000

Gravel & Shea proudly announces the promotion of two attorneys to the position of shareholder, effective January 1, 2013. Jeanne Blackmore practices in the areas of Tax and Estate Planning. Leslie Cadwell practices in the areas of Energy, Telecommunications, Public Utilities and Government Affairs. Leslie and Jeanne are excited about their new roles in the firm.

Gravel & Shea Litigation Team Secures Dismissal with Prejudice of Securities Fraud Claims

admin — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 17:44:44 +0000

A litigation team led by Bob Hemley and Matt Byrne scored a decisive victory for a CEO and CFO of a publicly-traded company in a proposed securities class action. After Gravel & Shea won a motion to dismiss before the United States District Court of Vermont in January 2012, the lead plaintiffs filed a second amended complaint with additional allegations. On March 20, 2013, Judge William Sessions dismissed the claims brought against both the CEO and CFO with prejudice.

Gravel & Shea Participates in the 4th Annual Howard Center Curling Challenge

admin — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 20:38:29 +0000

On March 17, 2013, Gravel & Shea once again sponsored a team at the Howard Center’s 4th Annual Curling Challenge. “Gravel on Ice” consisted of Bill Post, Maureen Post, Emily Sanders and George Mench. They won their first two matches and made it to the quarterfinals. Gravel & Shea is pleased to have supported the Howard Center and its mission to improve the well-being of children, adults, families and communities.

Young Lawyer Admitted to the Bar in Style!

admin — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 17:27:47 +0000

Pauline Law is the most recent Gravel & Shea attorney to be admitted to the Vermont bar, and the first attorney in the state of Vermont to be sworn in by Judge Susan L. Fowler of the Probate Division of the Superior Court. Pauline joins Gravel & Shea associates David A. Boyd, Navah C. Spero and Matthew S. Stern, who were all recently admitted to the Vermont bar.

Andrew Manitsky Obtains Two Appellate Victories

admin — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 17:47:57 +0000

Andrew Manitsky, a litigation partner at Gravel & Shea PC, recently obtained victories on appeal in two separate cases. In both, other law firms were lead counsel at the trial level, and Andrew was hired to handle the appeal.

In the first case, a consumer class action against a bank alleging bait-and-switch tactics was proceeding in arbitration when the bank sought and obtained a ruling from the Vermont Superior Court dismissing the entire case. Andrew briefed and argued the appeal before the Vermont Supreme Court, arguing that the lower court had no right to interfere in the arbitration since the bank, in seeking the court’s help, had failed to follow the proper procedure. The Vermont Supreme Court agreed, and reversed and remanded.

In the second case, a designer and manufacturer of protective eyewear sued another manufacturer for patent infringement in federal court in Vermont and filed a motion for a preliminary injunction seeking to stop further sales. After the court denied the motion, Andrew briefed and argued the appeal before the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington, D.C., arguing that the lower court applied the wrong legal standard for preliminary injunctions in patent cases. The Federal Circuit Court agreed, and vacated and remanded.

Gravel & Shea Announces “Best Lawyers”

admin — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 16:47:53 +0000

Gravel & Shea has been ranked in Tier 1 in Burlington, Vermont for 26 major legal practice areas according to the 2012-2013 U.S. News Media Group – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” rankings. In addition, 14 of the firm’s attorneys were specifically selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers®, which is based on an exhaustive and rigorous peer-review survey comprised of more than 4 million confidential evaluations by top attorneys in the country. Gravel & Shea attorneys who were specifically recognized by Best Lawyers® are:

Heather Briggs – Employment Law – Management; Labor Law – Management; Litigation – Labor & Employment
Peter S. Erly – Corporate Law; Mergers & Acquisitions Law; Securities / Capital Markets Law; Securities Regulation
Timothy M. Eustace – Litigation – Real Estate
Michelle N. Farkas – Real Estate Law
Robert B. Hemley – Bet-the-Company Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Criminal Defense: Non-White-Collar; Criminal Defense: White-Collar; First Amendment Law; Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs; Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs; Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
Andrew D. Manitsky – Commercial Litigation; Copyright Law; Litigation – Intellectual Property; Trademark Law
William A. Mason – Corporate Governance Law; Corporate Law
Stewart H. McConaughy – Corporate Law; Mergers & Acquisitions Law
Margaret L. Montgomery – Corporate Law; Mergers & Acquisitions Law
Robert F. O’Neill – Commercial Litigation; Criminal Defense: Non-White-Collar; Criminal Defense: White-Collar
John R. Ponsetto – Environmental Law
William G. Post , Jr. – Trusts and Estates
Robert H. Rushford – Real Estate Law
Norman Williams – Appellate Practice; Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs

Gravel & Shea Announces “Super Lawyers”

admin — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 16:46:31 +0000

Gravel & Shea is proud to announce that four of its attorneys were selected for inclusion in the 2012 edition of New England Super Lawyers. Selection is based on a rigorous process of evaluation by peers in a number of categories of professional achievement. Our attorneys and their areas of recognition are as follows:

Michelle N. Farkas – Real Estate; Land Use/Zoning (“Rising Star”)
Robert B. Hemley – General Litigation; First Amendment/Media/Advertising; Personal Injury Plaintiff: General.
Andrew D. Manitsky – General Litigation; Intellectual Property Litigation; Intellectual Property
Robert F. O’Neill – Personal Injury Plaintiff: Medical Malpractice; Family Law; Criminal Defense

Attorney Shows Creative Side and Pens Children’s Book!

admin — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 15:00:45 +0000

Tax and estate planner, Jeanne Blackmore, reveals her creative side with the recent publication of her children’s book, How Does Sleep Come?, released by Sourcebooks. For more on Jeanne’s book, visit the Publishers Weekly blog written by local bookstore owner Josie Leavitt of The Flying Pig Bookstore: http://blogs.publishersweekly.com/blogs/shelftalker/?p=8952

G&S Supports Blue Heron Hydro Transaction

admin — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 17:34:48 +0000

Gravel & Shea’s energy group represented Lori Barg, owner of Blue Heron Hydro, LLC, in the development and sale of two hydroelectric projects participating in Vermont’s Sustainably Priced Energy Development (SPEED) program. The projects are slated for commissioning before the end of 2013, and will generate over 10,000 MWh of clean renewable energy per year using water already flowing through existing Army Corps dams. Gravel & Shea attorneys Jeanne Blackmore and Ethan McLaughlin, who specialize in tax and corporate matters related to renewable energy, are proud to support projects that are an important component of Vermont’s renewable energy infrastructure. Click here to read the Market Watch story on this transaction.

CRL Solar, LLC: Full Steam Ahead To Commissioning

admin — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 17:32:59 +0000

Gravel & Shea’s energy group is providing continued legal support to CRL Solar, LLC in its development of a 2.2 MW solar project located in Hartford, Vermont and participating in Vermont’s Sustainably Priced Energy Development (SPEED) program. Headed by experienced real estate developer Bob Grant, CRL Solar, LLC secured Treasury Grant funding, state and local permits, site control, vendor contracts, and construction financing in record time by successfully leveraging each and every member of Gravel & Shea’s energy team. Project commissioning is slated for Fall 2012. Gravel & Shea is proud to support projects that are an important component of Vermont’s renewable energy infrastructure. Click here for the latest news on CRL Solar.