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Thomas E. Peisch was invited to participate as a guest legal commentator on WBZ Radio's "Nightside" program, which is hosted by long-time Boston newsman, Dan Rea. The program related to the disbarment of a Massachusetts political figure. Mr. Peisch is a former member and Vice-Chair of the Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers, which regulates and disciplines lawyers. |
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Conn Kavanaugh attorneys and staff raised almost $6,000 in donations during the firm's annual campaign for United Way. The proceeds go to community service organizations that aid members of the Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley communities. |
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Conn Kavanaugh is deeply saddened to announce that Elizabeth 'Liz' Ounanian has passed away. She joined the firm as Administrator in 1997 and served as President of the Association of Legal Administrators, Boston Chapter, in 2001-02. In 2008, Liz was selected and celebrated as the Best Firm Administrator at the Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly Unsung Heroes award luncheon. Unsung Heroes are administrative personnel who demonstrate outstanding qualities in the workplace; they go above and beyond the call of duty to build pride among coworkers and in a firm. Her loyalty, devotion and professionalism will not be forgotten. Her ideals will serve as inspiration. Her friendship, compassion, and memory will remain with us forever. We will miss her. |
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DRI published an article written by Thomas E. Peisch concerning prosecution deals with cooperating witnesses entitled "Prosecutorial Decisions And Deals - The Case For A New Rule Of Professional Conduct". The article suggested amendments to lawyers' Rules of Professional Conduct in order to improve the justice system. DRI is the international organization of attorneys defending the interests of business and individuals in civil litigation. |
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Carol A. Starkey spoke on a moderated panel at the Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers (LCL) Women's Leadership Conference at Suffolk University Law School. The Conference discussed issues pertinent to women lawyers in 2009, such as building leadership and networking skills to advance a career, and developing business. |
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Thomas E. Peisch was quoted in a New York Times article entitled " 2 Bear Stearns Fund Leaders Are Acquitted. " The article reports that two former Bear Stearns hedge fund managers were found not guilty of securities fraud. The managers were accused of lying to their investors about the precarious state of the funds they oversaw. Investors lost $1.6 billion when the funds, heavily invested in mortgage securities, collapsed in the summer of 2007. Mr. Peisch commented, “They tried to make these guys the poster children for the recession. The lesson is that the government has to be pretty careful in the future about the cases it selects to prosecute because they obviously didn’t even come close to selling it here.” |
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The publishers of Law & Politics have selected nine Conn Kavanaugh attorneys as “Massachusetts Super Lawyers” for 2009: Russell F. Conn, George M. Ford, Thomas J. Gallitano, Erin K. Higgins, James F. Kavanaugh, Jr., Thomas E. Peisch, James B. Peloquin, Bob B. Rosenthal and Carol A. Starkey . In addition, Russell F. Conn, Thomas J. Gallitano, and Thomas E. Peisch were selected as within the top 100 Massachusetts Lawyers and top 100 New England Lawyers. Erin K. Higgins was selected as within the top 50 New England Women Lawyers and top 50 Massachusetts Women Lawyers. The following four attorneys were selected as "Massachusetts Rising Stars” for 2009: Michael R. Bernardo, Johanna L. Matloff, Amy C. Stewart, and Erin D. Wolf . |
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Erin K. Higgins recently was selected for membership in the International Association of Defense Counsel ("IADC"). The IADC is composed of prominent lawyers from corporate law departments, firms, and insurance companies, and membership is offered only to those attorneys nominated by existing members and approved by the IADC's membership committee and board of directors. Ms. Higgins joins three other partners of the firm Russell F. Conn, Thomas E. Peisch, and James B. Peloquin as members of the organization. |
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James F. Kavanaugh, Jr. was quoted in a Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly article entitled “Developers who tried to back out of deal hit with $2.5M verdict.” The article describes a recent Barnstable County Superior Court decision awarding $2.5 million to a Falmouth couple, former clients of a Connecticut-based real estate developer that the court determined engaged in unfair and deceptive acts violating Mass. General Laws Chapter 93A. Treble damages were requested by the couple’s attorney at the Chapter 93A damages hearing, but the judge instead doubled the award. Mr. Kavanaugh commented about the discretionary decision, saying that judges “award double damages where they think there has been the necessary showing of a knowing and willful violation, but that it is just not extreme enough to warrant the ultimate penalty." |
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Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly published an article written by Thomas E. Peisch concerning prosecution deals with cooperating witnesses entitled "Prosecutorial Deals Suggest New Conduct Rule in Order." The article suggested amendments to lawyers' Rules of Professional Conduct in order to improve the justice system. |
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Michael T. Sullivan successfully obtained a Superior Court summary judgment ruling on behalf of a commercial landlord against a tenant who vacated the property before the lease ended. The tenant unsuccessfully claimed that the landlord had agreed to terminate the lease. The landlord was awarded the unpaid rent for the remainder of the lease, as well as the attorney's fees incurred in having to pursue litigation. |
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Lurleen A. Gannon testified before Massachusetts legislators on behalf of the Massachusetts Women's Bar Association in favor of the Asset Development bill, an act removing barriers to financial stability and asset development for low-to-moderate income families.
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Thomas E. Peisch has been re-appointed to the Massachusetts State Committee of the American College of Trial Lawyers by the College's President. The State Committee coordinates the College's activities in Massachusetts. The American College of Trial Lawyers, founded in 1950, is composed of the best of the trial bar from the United States and Canada. Fellowship in the College is extended by invitation only, after careful investigation, to those trial lawyers with at least 15 years experience who have mastered the art of advocacy and whose careers have been marked by the highest standards of ethical conduct and professionalism. Membership in the College cannot exceed more than 1% of the total lawyer population in any state or province. Mr. Peisch's term on the State Committee will run until the fall of 2010. |
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A Massachusetts Superior Court judge handed a victory to our firm's client in a partnership dispute with a family member. The Court denied the opposing family member's request for a preliminary injunction to appoint a property manager and dissolve the partnership. The matter was handled by Thomas E. Peisch and Lurleen A. Gannon. |
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Chambers USA, America's Leading Lawyers for Business Directory, has named Russell F. Conn as a Leading Practitioner in Massachusetts Labor and Employment Law. |
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George M. Ford was recognized as one of Boston's Best family lawyers in the 2009 Boston Globe insert of the Best Lawyers. This recognition is a result of Mr. Ford's having been included in the national publication Best Lawyers in America, in which he has appeared since its inception in 1983. |
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Carol A. Starkey was appointed to the Boston Bar Association (BBA) Criminal Law Section Steering Committee by BBA President, Kathy Weinman, and BBA Criminal Law Section Chair, Diana Lloyd. Ms. Starkey's term will begin in the fall of 2009.
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Erin K. Higgins received the 2009 Shining Star Award from the Victim Rights Law Center in honor of her longtime pro bono work for the Center. The Victim Rights Law Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing free legal representation to victims of domestic and sexual violence. |
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Thomas E. Peisch was selected as President-elect of the Dartmouth College Alumni Council at the Council’s 198th meeting in Hanover, NH. The Council consists of 125 members who are chosen by various classes and alumni groups. It is the primary voice of alumni sentiment and selects nominees for Dartmouth’s Board of Trustees. Mr. Peisch’s term as Council President will begin on May 1, 2010. |
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The Massachusetts Land Court handed victories to the firm's client in two companion cases. After trial, the Land Court ruled that a challenged development was too large for the lot and that the lot itself is currently unbuildable. The successful project opponent was represented by James Gray Wagner. Mr. Wagner also was involved in a related Supreme Judicial Court challenge to the subject zoning by-law, representing a successful amicus.
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