June, 2009

Gravel and Shea Ranked #1 in Chambers USA

Gravel and Shea has once again been ranked as a "leading firm" in Chambers USA, an independent publication that ranks lawyers based on opinions gathered from clients, colleagues and competitors. The Firm is ranked Number One in Corporate/Commercial, Litigation: General Commercial and Real Estate. In addition, eleven of the firm's lawyers are specifically recognized, as follows:

Stewart H. McConaughy - Corporate/Commercial
Peter S. Erly - Corporate/Commercial
Robert B. Hemley - Litigation: General Commercial
Robert H. Rushford - Real Estate
Margaret L. Montgomery - Corporate/Commercial
Andrew D. Manitsky - Litigation: General Commercial
Robert F. O'Neill - Litigation: General Commercial
Michelle N. Farkas - Real Estate
Timothy M. Eustace - Real Estate and Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use
William A. Mason, IV - Corporate/Commercial
Karen K. O'Neill - Labor & Employment

William G. Post honored at the Best Lawyers 25th Anniversary Event in Atlanta, Georgia, April 23 - April 25, 2009

William G. Post has been listed in Best Lawyers since the publication's inception 25 years ago. The event was intended to honor their work and dedication to the profession and their communities. Click here for the complete press release.

Successful Foreclosure Outcomes for Gravel and Shea Clients

In a very contentious foreclosure action involving an Inn on Caspian Lake in Greensboro, Vermont, Gravel and Shea succeeded in having the bank's action to recover a deficiency dismissed as to the personal guarantors. The bank had pursued strict foreclosure, and became the owner of the Inn as a result in September. When the bank later sold the Inn at substantially less than the amount of the mortgage indebtedness, it sought to recover the deficiency from the guarantors. Craig Weatherly argued that the bank could not recover a deficiency in a strict foreclosure action, and the court agreed. It dismissed the deficiency claim, declared the foreclosure action to be at a conclusion, and dissolved the attachements that had been approved as to the guarantors' residence properties.

In an earlier foreclosure case in which Gravel and Shea represented the creditor, Mr. Weatherly successfully argued that the pro se defendant's protracted filing of motions and requests for reconsideration entitled Gravel and Shea's client to attorneys' fees in excess of what would otherwise be allowed by statute. The court granted Gravel and Shea's motion and allowed recovery of the full amount of fees and costs incurred in prosecuting the foreclosure and responding to the defendant's motions.