December, 2009

Gravel and Shea announces "Super Lawyers"

Gravel and Shea is proud to announce that six of its attorneys were selected for inclusion in the 2009 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: Robert B. Hemley - General Litigation, First Amendment/Media, and Personal Injury: Plaintiff categories; Stewart H. McConaughy - Mergers and Acquisitions; and Securities and Corporate Finance categories; William G. Post - Estate Planning and Probate category; Peter S. Erly - Business/Corporate; Mergers and Acquisitions; and Securities and Corporate Finance categories; Michelle N. Farkas - Real Estate category ("Rising Star"); and Ross A. Feldmann - Business Litigation; Criminal Defense; and Family Law categories ("Rising Star"). Mr. Hemley was also named in the list of the Top 100 New England attorneys achieving the highest evaluative scores.

Gravel and Shea's Clients Are Among Recipients of Smart Growth Vermont Award

For the second time in three years, Gravel and Shea has represented the winner of the Smart Growth Vermont Award. Established in 2006, the Smart Growth Award program recognizes and celebrates development projects that are dedicated to economic and community development while preserving the historic and natural surroundings. The 2009 award recognized The Snyder Taft Corners LLC and JCST, LLC for their Finney Crossing development plan. Finney Crossing is a mixed-use development project located at the heart of Taft Corners in Williston, Vermont featuring 356 units of housing in various housing types, as well as commercial, retail and open spaces. According to the nominating committee, Finney Crossing provides an example of "how best to retrofit suburbia" with people at the center of the design. Robert Rushford represents The Snyder Taft Corners LLC and JCST, LLC in land use permitting and real estate matters relating to the Finney Crossing project.

Gravel and Shea's Real Estate Lawyers Proud to Represent Land Trusts

Robert Rushford recently assisted Lake Champlain Land Trust, Inc. in its acquisition of a conservation easement on a 79-acre parcel located near Lake Champlain's shore in the Town of Colchester. Through this acquisition, Lake Champlain Land Trust, Inc. will conserve the wildlife, habitats and natural communities associated with the forested Lake Champlain natural area and will maintain the scenic beauty of the ridgeline overlooking Lake Champlain.

Michelle Farkas with the assistance of Roman Sidortsov recently represented Richmond Land Trust, Inc. in its acquisition of an eleven-acre parcel nestled between the Winooski and Huntington rivers in the Town of Richmond. Both Vermont Housing and Conservation Board (VHCB) and the Town of Richmond helped to fund this purchase. Through its acquisition, Richmond Land Trust, Inc. will ensure that this unique parcel of land continues to serve as a habitat for the local wild flora and fauna, as well as a resource open to the public for low-impact, non-motorized recreational use. According to VCHB and the Richmond Land Trust, the site will provide excellent access to the Winooski and Huntington rivers to paddlers and fishing enthusiasts as well as to all Vermonters and out of state visitors looking to enjoy Vermont's great outdoors. In addition to its ecological and recreational value, the acquired parcel hosts two archeological sites which provide important information about the life of Native American people prior to the European exploration of North America. Archeologists and historians consider the larger of the two sites a rival of the famous Round Church in Richmond in terms of its historic significance.

Gravel and Shea's Lawyers Attend Financing Renewable Energy Conference in Washington D.C.

Michelle Farkas, Jeanne Blackmore and Roman Sidortsov attended the Financing Renewable Energy Conference in Washington D.C. sponsored by Novogradac & Company LLP on November 11-12, 2009. In addition to active public policy discussions, the conference, whose attendees included developers, lawyers and accountants, focused on investment structures for solar and wind transactions given the current availability of treasury grants, investment and production tax credits and federal loan guarantees.

Settlement of Medical Malpractice Case

Robert Hemley successfully resolved a wrongful death claim which arose out of a failure to diagnose colon cancer. The decedent, who was given a clean bill of health following her colonoscopy, was diagnosed with colon cancer one year later. She died one year following the diagnosis, after undergoing an operation, chemotherapy, and radiation treatment, and was survived by her husband and two adult children. The terms of the settlement are confidential.

Robert B. Hemley Wins Matthew Lyon Award

Burlington lawyer Robert B. Hemley has been selected to receive the Matthew Lyon Award for his lifetime commitment to the First Amendment and the public's right to know the truth in Vermont.

The Vermont Press Association is scheduled to present the award to Hemley during its annual awards banquet at noon Thursday (Dec. 3, 2009) at the Capitol Plaza in Montpelier.

VPA President Bethany Dunbar, editor of the Chronicle in Barton, said Hemley has been a First Amendment leader in the fight against sealed public records, closed courtrooms and improper attempts to force reporters to testify in violation of the First Amendment. Hemley also has successfully defended the media against defamation and invasion-of-privacy lawsuits and other false claims.

The VPA created the award to honor people who have an unwavering devotion to the five freedoms within the First Amendment and to the belief that the public's right to know the truth is essential in a self-governed democracy.

The First Amendment award is named for the former Vermont congressman, who was jailed in 1798 under the Alien and Sedition Act for sending a letter to the editor criticizing President John Adams. While Lyon was serving his federal sentence in a Vergennes jail, Vermonters re-elected him to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Hemley has been recruited to write the Vermont section of the national guides on libel, privacy, and access for both the Media Libel Resource Center and the Reporters' Committee for Freedom of the Press for more than 20 years.

He has shared his expertise and participated in various training sessions for judges, lawyers, the media and the public. He helped create the Vermont Coalition for Open Government and has been invited through the years by the Vermont Legislature to offer testimony on several First Amendment issues.

Hemley has represented: The Burlington Free Press, Rutland Herald, Times Argus, Valley News, St. Albans Messenger, Bennington Banner, the Associated Press, United Press International, USA Today, New York Times, New York Daily News, along with WCAX-TV, Vermont Public Radio and several weekly newspapers, including in Randolph, Stowe, Waitsfield and Burlington.