How has your practice evolved from when you started out?

Unlike some people, my practice has actually diversified over time.  I started out at a big law firm just working on insurance litigation and False Claims Act investigations.  Since moving back to NH, I have continued to work on those types of matters, but also began representing clients in a variety of complex commercial litigation matters (primarily construction firms and financial institutions) and before various state agencies.

What skills, talents, or methods do you think help you excel in this field?

If you are calling me, it means something bad has happened.  My job is to help you come up with a solution to the problem.  Sometimes that will involve a negotiated resolution, but sometimes it means that we are going to have engage in full blown litigation and take the case all the way to trial.  I endeavor to provide my clients with a menu of options and provide practical advice (including the potential costs or exposure) about how we can solve their problem(s).  

Where are you most active or visible within your practice area? Is there a specific niche you’re known for?

In the last few years, I have been involved with several pieces of litigation arising from development projects with different municipalities in NH.  These types of matters generally draw a great deal of media interest and one ongoing dispute involved two separate trips to the NH Supreme Court (where my client prevailed in both). 

How would your clients describe you?

Dedicated, responsive, calm, sometimes funny, but always looking out for their best interests in trying to come up with a resolution to their issues.

What do you like best about your practice area?

Learning new things about a particular business or industry or a part of the state or country that I have not yet explored.  A new litigation matter, even if it involves the same legal issues, always involves a new cast of characters, problems, and potential avenues for resolution that makes life interesting.

How do you start your day?

Waking up to the screech of my oldest son’s door and his heavy footsteps on the stairs (sometimes the alarm goes off first).  This is followed by either a 45-minute walk or short workout.  Then breakfast and a quick scan of the newspaper before the morning rush begins. 

When you’re able to sneak in a break during the day, where could you be found?

Playing pickup hoops at the YMCA (pre-COVID), in the middle of the first fairway at the golf course, or coaching one of my three boys in baseball or basketball. 

When it comes to reviewing your own peers, what criteria are important? What makes an attorney stand out?

The lawyers I most admire can distill a complex 200-page complaint or 100-page expert report into a simple digestible explanation of the problem or issue.  It is a skill that I strive to improve on every single day.