August, 2009

Stewart McConaughy has been named the Best Lawyers' 2010 Vermont Lawyer of the Year in the specialties of Corporate Law and Mergers & Acquisitions Law

Special congratulations to Stewart for being one of a distinguished group of attorneys who have now been listed in Best Lawyers for 20 years or longer.

Best Lawyers compiles its lists of outstanding attorneys by conducting exhaustive peer-review surveys in which thousands of leading lawyers confidentially evaluate their professional peers. The current, 16th edition of The Best Lawyers in America (2010), is based on more than 2.8 million detailed evaluations of lawyers by other lawyers.

The lawyers being honored as "Lawyers of the Year" have received particularly high ratings in Best Lawyers' surveys by earning a high level of respect among their peers for their abilities, professionalism, and integrity.

Matthew B. Byrne, Robert B. Hemley, and Megan J. Shafritz recognized as a "Litigation Stars"

Matthew B. Byrne, Robert B. Hemley, and Megan J. Shafritz have been named as Vermont "litigation stars" in Benchmark's "Guide to America's Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys" for 2010. The Legal Media Group compiled comments from clients and peers in an attempt to identify attorneys best suited for litigating complex disputes. The recognition of litigation star is reserved for those "who were consistently recommended as incontrovertible stars by clients and peers." In addition to their recognition, Gravel and Shea is identified as one of the "highly recommended" firms in Vermont.

Michelle Farkas and Ross Feldmann Selected As New England Rising Stars For Super Lawyers' 2009 Listing

Super Lawyers, a listing of outstanding attorneys who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement, has selected Gravel and Shea member Michelle Farkas and associate Ross Feldmann for its listing of New England Rising Stars 2009. This annual listing recognizes top up-and-coming attorneys in the region who are 40 years old or younger or who have been practicing for 10 years or less. Rising Stars are selected through a process of nominations and evaluation through twelve indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement. The final published list of Rising Stars represents no more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in the region.

Megan J. Shafritz Elected to CCBA Board of Directors

Gravel and Shea shareholder Megan J. Shafritz has been elected to serve as Vice President of the Chittenden County Bar Association. The CCBA serves the attorneys of Chittenden County by representing their interests and acting as a liaison with such groups as the Vermont Commission on Judicial Operations, presenting CLE seminars, coordinating opportunities for pro bono service, and by facilitating professional and social interaction among its members. Ms. Shafritz's practice focuses on complex commercial litigation and general business disputes. She also provides counseling to media clients on First Amendment issues and public records law.