1. How do you define your legal practice and typical clients?
I really don’t have a typical client. I’ve represented large public and small private businesses and individuals in commercial and IP litigation and arbitration over the years. I’ve appeared in state and federal courts around the country, but principally in Massachusetts and Connecticut. The nature of the cases vary and often come in waves, as the clients evolve in a changing economy. Over the last five years, much of my work has been in the construction industry. Before that – financial services, hospitality, and biotechnology. The diverse nature of disputes, areas of law, and client industries make business litigation work challenging, interesting, and rewarding.
2. Tell us about your legal career journey. What made you become a lawyer and how did you land at Practus?
I worked in my father’s law office from a young age—from delivering mail, filing court papers, and landscaping to paralegal-type work with discovery and depositions. I’ve enjoyed the intellectual, competitive, and adversarial nature of litigation in service to clients seeking justice. I served as federal law clerk after law school and thereafter as an attorney at a number of firms, including my father’s, before he retired. Then I met John Lively and Practus LLP . . . and here I am.
Wait – you did landscaping?
Lawn, bushes, mulching, flower beds, painting—nothing too involved. The only way to mow is to master the cross-cut. IYKYK.
That sounds kind of involved …
I don’t do electrical, plumbing, or carpentry. Not in my union contract!
Noted.
3. What about the Practus model serves you as a legal professional, and as a person?
The Practus model in many ways puts the client at the center of the engagement. It fosters teamwork in every aspect of the matter—from staffing, to expert witnesses, to funding. Practus is nimble, flexible, and client focused, and we have a deep bench. Our distributed, hybrid model also allows me seamlessly to work in my office or from home and to build, with the client, as large or as small a team as the matter demands.
4. What is the one thing you wish people about to hire a lawyer with your expertise knew?
I wish someone about to hire a litigator knew that litigation requires active and regular collaboration to achieve the best outcomes. Just like I need to be responsive and communicative with my clients, they need to be responsive and communicative to me. I demand as much from the client as I do of myself and colleagues working on the matter.
5. When you’re not working at Practus, what’s keeping you busy? Any cool hobbies or hidden talents we don’t know about?
I enjoy being active outside the office—we lawyers sit a good deal of the time. My wife Lisa and I love the outdoors—hiking, camping, and canoeing—with our Chihuahua mix, Nugget. We also like traveling, mostly to see our family, and with the ABA Business Law Section as well. On a regular basis, we hit Orangetheory Fitness together and participate in a few 5 or 10K runs each year. We are active in our local church and theater. I read regularly and widely, but, over the last eight years, I’ve taken to the Scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments. It’s no wonder the Bible is the bestselling book of all time!
6. What would your colleagues be totally shocked (or mildly surprised) to find out about you? Do you kill at karaoke? Write political thrillers? Watch Star Trek (original) reruns?
I’ve got game at the ice hockey rink and on the soccer field because I played both sports in college. Into my forties, I also played in a competitive senior hockey league in Greater Boston on the “Ice Meisters.”
Bonus Questions 1: Picture yourself walking down the street. The world is your oyster, and your theme song is …?
I’d say Gene Kelly’s “Singin’ in the Rain” is a good theme song. Litigation and dispute resolution is taxing. There are sunny and cloudy days, and there is also occasionally heavy rain. You need thick skin, a good constitution, and a positive outlook
Maybe some dance moves?
Couldn’t hurt
Bonus Question 2: What would you do if you weren’t an attorney?
I had two majors in college: Government and Economics. I was interested academically in law and foreign affairs and policy, so, in addition to law school, I seriously considered intelligence, foreign service, and the USMC. So something in those fields, likely. When raising my kids, I also enjoyed coaching for many years, so I think that I also would have enjoyed teaching and coaching—particularly the summers off!
So, you wanted to be a spy.
Our intelligence services broadly separate across operations and analysis divisions. I was interested in both.
So you wanted to be a spy.
I’m not authorized to divulge that information.
