The Fitch Briefs

LISA GOODHEART AND THREE COLLEAGUES JOIN FITCH

We are very pleased to report that Lisa C. Goodheart, Andrea Studley Knowles, Alessandra W. Wingerter and Srish Khakurel have joined Fitch’s preeminent team of lawyers dedicated to the mission of excellence in complex litigation. Attorneys Goodheart, Knowles, Wingerter and Khakurel previously practiced together at Sugarman, Rogers, Barshak & Cohen, P.C.

The highly acclaimed Lisa C. Goodheart, a partner at Fitch, is among the best trial lawyers in the United States. Her litigation practice spans a broad range of complex environmental, energy, land use, real estate, insurance, business and government disputes. She is a Fellow of both the American College of Trial Lawyers and the American College of Environmental Lawyers and has been consistently recognized by The Best Lawyers in America, Chambers USA, Who’s Who Legal and Massachusetts Super Lawyers (listed as a Top 10 Massachusetts Super Lawyer, 2007-2023). She has also been named as one of the 2023 Lawdragon Green 500: Leaders in Environmental Law. Lisa is a past President of the Boston Bar Association and has served in a number of other leadership positions in the legal community. She is a member of the Massachusetts Access to Justice Commission, and the immediate past chair of the Massachusetts Court Management Advisory Board, a statutory body to which she was appointed by the Supreme Judicial Court. She also served, for four consecutive one-year terms, as the chair of the Massachusetts Judicial Nominating Commission by appointment of Governor Deval Patrick. Lisa holds degrees from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, J.D., cum laude, and Williams College, B.A., cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa.

Andrea Studley Knowles, a partner of the firm, focuses her practice on business disputes, product liability defense and employment matters. She is listed by The Best Lawyers in America in the area of Product Liability Litigation – Defendants and is regularly recognized as a Massachusetts Super Lawyer. Andrea counsels and represents businesses and business owners in matters involving contract disputes and alleged violations of consumer protection statutes, including consumer class actions. She defends manufacturers and retailers in litigation involving the design and manufacture of consumer goods, including power tools, electrical equipment, lawn-and-garden equipment and automotive components. In her employment practice, Andrea serves both as adviser and advocate. She provides training and counsels business clients on developing robust workplace policies and practices to minimize risk of litigation. When litigation arises, she defends clients, in court and before administrative boards, against allegations of discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, and other related wrongs. Andrea is a graduate of New York University School of Law, J.D., and Boston College, B.A., magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa.

Alessandra W. Wingerter, an associate lawyer at Fitch, litigates environmental, land use, real estate, and administrative disputes. Her experience on behalf of public and private clients encompasses the areas of zoning, permitting and land use litigation, including litigation under the state hazardous-waste laws (Chapter 21E and the Massachusetts Contingency Plan), local environmental laws, and other environmental statutes and regulations. Alle served as a law clerk for the Honorable Paul A. Suttell, Chief Justice of the Rhode Island State Supreme Court and the Honorable Gordon H. Piper, Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Land Court. She holds degrees from Vermont Law School, J.D., cum laude, Yale School of the Environment, M.E.M., and St. Lawrence University, B.A., cum laude.

Srish Khakurel, an associate lawyer at Fitch has gained experience in a variety of business disputes and real estate litigation matters. He has worked as a Fellow at Lawyers for Civil Rights and as an associate in the Boston office of a global law firm handling a range of litigation and enforcement matters. Srish was also a Judicial Intern for the Honorable George O’Toole, Jr., in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. He is a graduate of Boston College Law School, J.D., magna cum laude, Order of the Coif, where he was a senior editor of the Boston College Law Review. Srish completed undergraduate studies at Trinity College, B.A., with honors in International Studies, Phi Beta Kappa and was named the President’s Fellow of International Studies. He is fluent in Nepali and proficient in Hindi.

Steven E. Gurdin and Carlos A. Maycotte will be Conference Co-Chairs at the 26th Annual MCLE Family Law Conference on May 19, 2023. During the conference Mr. Gurdin will moderate a discussion about cryptocurrency forensics and Mr. Maycotte will moderate a discussion regarding the interplay between child support and alimony as a result of the recent SJC opinion Cavanagh v. Cavanagh.

On May 9, 2023, Mr. Gurdin moderated the MCLE Family Court Judicial Forum. This marked Mr. Gurdin’s 20th consecutive year as the moderator. Judges from the Middlesex, Norfolk and Essex Counties Probate and Family Courts sat on the panel and delivered their opinions and legal analysis on hypothetical fact patterns prepared by Mr. Gurdin and his colleagues at FITCH.

FITCH is a proud Corporate sponsor of the 25th Annual Nancy King Memorial Golf Tournament to support the MetroWest Legal Services offices which is committed to protecting rights and improving lives by offering pro bono legal services to persons in need.

Fitch Law Partners LLP is pleased to announce the two winners of the 2022-2023 Fitch Law Partners Scholarships. The Fitch Law Partners Scholarships are awarded annually and are based upon an applicant’s essay and academic achievements.

Future Law Student

Haleigh Hoskins: Haleigh Hoskins is native of Peoria, Illinois. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Spelman College and a Master of Arts from Northwestern University. This fall, Haleigh will be attending Washington University in St. Louis School of Law where she plans to focus on civil rights litigation. She plans to use her upbringing and past experiences as a Black, first generation student to enrich the law school experience and legal profession, for herself and others.

Current Law Student

Kevin Corkran: Kevin Corkran is a rising 3L at Boston College Law School. During his time in law school he has worked on legislation designed to eliminate the usage of cash bail, change the state income tax rate, and expand voting on college campuses. This past spring, Kevin participated in BC Law’s Parole Clinic working on decarceration in Massachusetts. After law school, Kevin hopes to practice election law in order to guarantee voting rights are enforced across the country.

All at Fitch Law Partners LLP wish Ms. Hoskins and Mr. Corkran luck as they as they pursue their legal educations.

AFCC 59th Annual Conference Chicago

Jeffrey A. Soilson will be presenting a seminar entitled Substance Use and Family Court Litigation at the annual national AFCC (Association of Family and Conciliation Courts) conference in Chicago on May 13, 2022. This year’s conference is focused on the use, misuse and abuse of technology in family law.

For more information: https://www.afccnet.org/Conferences-Training/AFCC-Conferences/ctl/ViewConference/ConferenceID/249/mid/615

Fitch Law Partners LLP is pleased to announce the two winners of the 2020-2021 Fitch Law Partners Scholarships. The Fitch Law Partners Scholarships are awarded annually and are based upon an applicant’s essay and academic achievements.

Future Law Student

Brea Childs: Brea is a graduate, cum laude, of New York University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in History, with minors in Africana Studies and Spanish. Brea will be attending Boston University School of Law in the fall. A dual citizen of the United States and United Kingdom, Brea was inspired to pursue a career as a lawyer by her Nigerian maternal grandfather, whose law experience allowed him to save the family’s London home from a program of government takings in the 1980s. Currently working for Earthjustice in Los Angeles, Brea works to combat environmental racism by improving the air quality and decreasing pollution in communities of color. Brea plans to use her law degree to address global racial injustices through international human rights law.

Current Law Student

Alexis Kallen: Alexis will be attending Yale Law School in the fall. She graduated from Stanford University in 2018, earning a Bachelor of Arts, with distinction, in Political Science with minors in Spanish and Human Rights. This July, Alexis completed an M.Phil. in Development Studies at the University of Oxford with funding from the Rhodes Scholarship, and she received academic honors in her degree program. Born with cerebral palsy, Alexis has overcome years of hardship, including intense economic struggles that led to years of housing insecurity. Despite these obstacles, Alexis excelled in school and experienced firsthand how legal rights and protections can allow people to succeed and flourish. Alexis plans to use her legal education to become an advocate for the marginalized.

All at Fitch Law Partners LLP wish Ms. Childs and Ms. Kallen luck as they embark on their legal educations.

Steven E. Gurdin will be Conference Co-Chair at the 23rd Annual MCLE Family Law Conference on May 29, 2020. During the conference, Mr. Gurdin will moderate the Family Court Judicial Forum. This marks Mr. Gurdin’s 17th consecutive year as the moderator. Judges from the Suffolk, Plymouth and Essex Counties Probate and Family Courts will sit on the panel and deliver their opinions and legal analysis on hypothetical fact patterns prepared by Mr. Gurdin and his colleagues at FITCH.

Jonathan W. Fitch Appointed Fellow of the College of Commercial Arbitrators

Jonathan W. Fitch, managing partner of Fitch Law Partners LLP has been invited to join the College of Commercial Arbitrators as a Fellow.

As described on its website, “The College of Commercial Arbitrators (CCA), established in 2001, celebrates and advocates excellence in the field of commercial arbitration– in the US and internationally. As the world’s most prestigious alternative dispute resolution professional organization, CCA both defines and promotes the highest standards of arbitrator ethics, standards of conduct, and best practices in alternative dispute resolution.

CCA is an invitation-only organization that provides meaningful contribution to the profession, the public, the legal sector and to the businesses that implement commercial arbitration as a means of dispute resolution.

The Fellows of CCA are the elite within the profession. They have the professional training, judgment and years of experience to undertake the most complex and difficult commercial arbitration assignments.”

Mr. Fitch is an arbitrator in international and domestic arbitrations involving technology, life sciences, and complex commercial matters. He says, “I am honored to be appointed a Fellow of CCA. I look forward to working with a superb group of colleagues, many of whom I know well and highly respect, in advancing CCA’s mission.”

FITCH Wins Settlement for Client in a Multi-Million Dollar International Arbitration Against Fortune 500 Company

Fitch Law Partners recently concluded a multi-million-dollar arbitration on behalf of Ya YA Foods Corp. (“Ya YA”) against Core Nutrition LLC (“Core”), a subsidiary of Fortune 500 member Keurig Dr. Pepper Inc. (“KDP”). Ya YA is a Canadian company that provides co-packing services to drinks manufacturers and had signed a long-term co-packing agreement with Core in 2016. Core was acquired by KDP in 2018, and in July 2019 informed Ya YA that it would not longer be ordering production from Ya YA under the agreement.

Ya YA engaged FITCH to pursue its rights under the agreement, which included a minimum order requirement. FITCH’s experienced team of international arbitration practitioners, including partners Jonathan Fitch, Jared Hubbard and associate Malgorzata Mrozek, immediately jumped into action, initiating an expedited international arbitration against Core under the JAMS rules, seeking more than $2.3 million in damages.

After proceeding through several months of arbitration, the parties resolved their dispute in a confidential settlement which met our client’s expectations. As managing partner Jonathan Fitch explained: “FITCH prides itself on providing sophisticated representation in complex international commercial arbitration. Our capable team delivered an excellent outcome to our Canadian client after just a few months of carefully focused activities.”

Hasbro, Inc. Settles Misappropriation Case with Client of FITCH

Boston, MA., March 27, 2020. In advance of a federal jury trial scheduled for April, Marisa Pawelko, an inventor in arts and crafts products, and Hasbro, Inc. have reached a settlement of Pawelko’s case for misappropriation of trade secrets and breach of a confidentiality agreement relating to Pawelko’s “Liquid Mosaic” invention, Marisa Pawelko, D/B/A The Modern Surrealist v. Hasbro, Inc. C.A. No. 16-201-M (District of Rhode Island). The terms of the settlement are confidential.

Pawelko was represented in the lawsuit by a team of lawyers from Fitch Law Partners LLP.

On winning the settlement, Pawelko says, “Jonathan W. Fitch, Nathalie K. Salomon, Ryan M. Cunningham and Terrance D. Lanier successfully represented me in the misappropriation of trade secret and breach of contract lawsuit that I brought against Hasbro. The issues of the case were very nuanced and complex. The FITCH team had the focus and intelligence to understand and remember everything from top to bottom. Throughout the entire process they were always well prepared, professional, sensitive to my concerns, and had all the right answers. Seeing that I was in such good hands, I trusted their strategic advice every step of the way, and I could not have been happier with my team. In addition to being a total class act in their work, they were an absolute pleasure to collaborate with. The process of working with them was so enjoyable, that once the case was settled, I actually felt sad that our work together had come to an end.”

Mrózek Wins Relief for Client in Housing Court

Malgorzata Mrózek recently achieved a successful result for a pro bono client in the Eastern Division of the Housing Court. For years the client’s apartment building and unit, owned and maintained by a housing authority, have been in violation of the state sanitary code. Ms. Mrózek, with assistance from the Volunteer Lawyers Project, filed a complaint against the housing authority and moved for a temporary restraining order compelling the housing authority to make repairs in the apartment unit and building. After mediation with a Housing Court Specialist, the housing authority entered into an agreement to make all the repairs sought in the motion for temporary restraining order. The mediated agreement included a timeline that was agreeable to client, allowing her to be present in her apartment when the repairs are made. A status conference is scheduled in May to ensure the housing authority is complying with the agreement.

Jonathan W. Fitch Recognized as a Leading Technology Arbitrator

The Silicon Valley Arbitration & Mediation Center has named Jonathan W. Fitch to its 2020 SVAMC Tech List of the World’s Leading Technology Arbitrators. SVAMC reports that the 51 neutrals appointed to the peer-vetted list are exceptionally qualified arbitrators and mediators also known for their skill in crafting business-practical solutions in the global technology sector. Mr. Fitch says, “I am honored to be appointed again to the SVAMC’s Tech List and to join an outstanding group of colleagues serving SVAMC’s mission.” As a leading arbitrator in technology disputes, Mr. Fitch is appointed to the AAA-ICDR®’s Life Sciences panel of arbitrators, and he has served as arbitrator for pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device arbitrations. He is also a member of the steering committee of the Boston Chapter of Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (“CIArb”), the world’s leading professional body for dispute avoidance and dispute management.

FITCH Helps Organize Inaugural Boston International Arbitration Day

FITCH Law Partners helped to organize and coordinate the inaugural Boston International Arbitration Day, which was hosted by Ropes & Gray LLP on Friday, February 28, 2020 with more than 100 attendees. FITCH partner Jared Hubbard serves as the President, and Jonathan Fitch is a Founding Director of the Boston International Arbitration Council (“BIAC”), which organized the event. Mr. Hubbard says, “The Inaugural Boston International Arbitration Day was a tremendous success and goes to show the strong international arbitration community and practice here in Boston. We look forward to building on this success as we continue to promote Boston as a leading hub for international arbitration.”

The event featured an introduction from Professor William W. Park, one of the world’s leading arbitrators, and a keynote address on how best to control your arbitration from Professor Christopher Gibson of Suffolk University, who also serves as a distinguished international arbitrator, particularly for intellectual property disputes. It included a panel discussion of “Why Boston?” explaining all of the benefits of Boston as a preferred seat for international arbitration, including speakers from the Massachusetts Office of International Trade and Investment, the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council, as well as local and national practitioners and experts. A second panel focused on the in-house experience, with speakers from some of the most prominent Boston companies—General Electric, Raytheon, Iron Mountain, and Takeda Pharmaceuticals—discussing their own practice and experience with international arbitration.

Looking to the future, Mr. Hubbard explains, “Following on its success, BIAC will be making this an annual event, paired with the already excellent and well-established Harvard International Arbitration Conference the following day, for a truly phenomenal opportunity to hear from many of the most prominent practitioners and arbitrators in the field.”

Andrea Peraner-Sweet Co-Authors Article Published in the Winter Edition of the Boston Bar Journal

Ms. Peraner-Sweet and her co-author discuss the First Circuit’s ruling in Capron v. Attorney General of Massachusetts that Massachusetts wage and hour laws apply to au pairs and are not preempted by federal law. To continue reading please click on the below link. Massachusetts Wage and Hour Laws Apply to Au Pairs.

Steven E. Gurdin will be Conference Co-chair and Carlos A. Maycotte will be a panelist at the Divorce Law: MCLE BasicsPlus

Divorce Law: MCLE BasicsPlus will be held on February 27 and 28, 2020 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the MCLE Conference Center, Ten Winter Place, Boston. This is a comprehensive two-day course that provides the family law practitioner with the fundamental skills and approaches necessary to effectively represent clients in divorce. Through a variety of lectures, demonstrations, and ‘hands-on’ workshops, conference attendees gain the tools to become a proficient divorce law practitioner.

For online registration

Steven E. Gurdin and Kelly A. Schwartz Author Article Published in the Boston Bar Journal

After Goodridge: the Potential of Equal Protection Challenges Under the Massachusetts Constitution Involving Non-Economic, Personal Interests by Steven E. Gurdin and Kelly A. Schwartz was recently published in the Boston Bar Journal.

Mr. Gurdin and Ms. Schwartz analyze how, pursuant to an enhanced rational basis standard of review, the Commonwealth’s statutes related to grandparent visitation and custody of children born out of wedlock potentially violate the right to equal protection under the Massachusetts Constitution.

Steven E. Gurdin as a guest lecturer at New England Law – Boston

Steven E. Gurdin was a guest lecturer at New England Law – Boston in the Family Law Course. Mr. Gurdin spoke on various constitutional law issues involving grandparent visitation rights, unwed father’s rights and constitutional limits on family definitions.

Steven E. Gurdin chairs MCLE’s 50th Anniversary Series program on Family Law

Steven E. Gurdin chairs MCLE’s “Major Developments and Traps for the Unwary” Family Law Program as part of MCLE’s 50th Anniversary celebration. Mr. Gurdin discussed how the Probate and Family Court has evolved and changed in recent years and significant changes in the law relating to children, alimony and property division.

“Supervised Parenting Time: When, How and Why Appropriate?”

Jeffrey A. Soilson was a panelist at the BBA’s program, “Supervised Parenting Time: When, How and Why Appropriate?” where he, along with two Probate and Family Court judges and a parenting supervisor expert, examined difficult issues surrounding supervised parenting and offered insights, strategies and practical advice for practitioners representing parents involved in supervised parenting situations.

Steven E. Gurdin as a panelist at the 29th Annual Massachusetts Bar Association Family Law Conference at Chatham Bars Inn

Steven E. Gurdin was a panelist at the 29th Annual Massachusetts Bar Association Family Law Conference. Mr. Gurdin spoke on various trial practice techniques and evidentiary issues. He also conducted a trial witness examination of the Wife and a professional trustee in a mock trial setting with two Associate Justices of the Probate and Family Court presiding over the trial.

Steven E. Gurdin as a guest lecturer at New England Law – Boston

Steven E. Gurdin was a guest lecturer at New England Law – Boston in the Law Practice Management Course. Mr. Gurdin spoke on various aspects of law practice management including ethical considerations, law firm finances and professional development.

Steven E. Gurdin, a panelist at annual MCLE program “Trying a Divorce Case”

Steven E. Gurdin was a panelist at the annual MCLE program “Trying a Divorce Case”. Mr. Gurdin spoke on business valuation issues at trial and participated in a mock trial where he cross examined a business valuation expert. Mr. Gurdin also presented on the use of Supplemental Probate Court Rule 401 Financial statements at trial.

Jeffrey A. Soilson moderates consultation group: “Dealing with Difficult Clients: Whose side are you on anyways?”

Jeffrey A. Soilson, President of the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (“AAML”) moderated a consultation group called “Dealing with Difficult Clients: Whose side are you on anyways?” at the 2019 Conference on Advanced Issues in Child Custody: Evaluation, Litigation and Settlement in San Diego, California. The conference is a bi-annual advanced-level training opportunity sponsored by two premier family law organizations, the AAML (comprised of dedicated and professional family lawyers recognized and respected by the bench and bar as leaders in the field) and the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (“AFCC”) (an international and interdisciplinary group of family law and mental health professionals working to improve the lives of children and families through the resolution of family conflict).

Terrance D. Lanier named as a Fellow of the Massachusetts Bar Association 2019 – 2020 Leadership Academy

Associate Terrance D. Lanier has been named as a Fellow of the Massachusetts Bar Association 2019 – 2020 Leadership Academy Terrance joins a group of 22 attorneys statewide who will spend the next year working alongside bar leaders; developing and enhancing leadership skills; and getting an insider’s look at the important role the MBA plays within our legal system.

FITCH Elects Jared Hubbard as Partner

FITCH Law Partners is pleased to announce the election of Jared Hubbard to its partnership, effective September 1, 2019.

“We are extremely proud to welcome Jared into our partnership this year,” said Managing Partner Jonathan Fitch. “His election is recognition of his vital role in the future of our law firm. As the president of the Boston International Arbitration Council, he has demonstrated to a large, sophisticated community of interested persons—academics, lawyers, consultants, and corporate users—authoritative knowledge and skill advancing Boston as a center of international arbitration. Jared’s sky-high personal and professional attributes contribute immensely to FITCH’s mission of practicing excellence in complex litigation.”

Mr. Hubbard represents clients in complex litigation matters, with a particular focus on helping clients navigate international disputes. Mr. Hubbard also has extensive appellate experience, and frequently represents parties and amicus curiae before the United States Courts of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. Mr. Hubbard joined FITCH after spending seven years in Washington, DC, with the firms of Williams & Connolly LLP and White & Case LLP, and serving as an appellate law clerk to the Honorable Edith Brown Clement on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Before entering law school, Mr. Hubbard served as a research assistant to Nobel Prize winner Richard Smalley and is a co-author on four published scientific papers.

Mr. Hubbard is the current President of the Boston International Arbitration Council, and a leader among the bar on issues of complex and international disputes. Named by the National Law Journal as a 2017 ADR Champion, Mr. Hubbard also regularly receives awards for his strong legal writing, including the Thompson & Knight International Note Award, the W.A. Wilson Prize, and the International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution’s (CPR) 2017 Y-ADR Writing Award. He is regularly called upon to speak on issues of complex litigation and international disputes.

Andrea Peraner-Sweet Named to BBJ Board of Editors

Partner Andrea Peraner-Sweet has been named to a three-year position on the BBJ Board of Editors, which is responsible for publishing the BBJ’s flagship publication, the Boston Bar Journal.

Best Lawyers in America® 2020 Recognizes 10 FITCH Lawyers

Fitch Law Partners is pleased to announce that Best Lawyers in America® have recognized 10 of its lawyers for the high caliber of their work in its 2020 edition. Those listed as Best Lawyers include Peter E. Ball, Jonathan W. Fitch, Steven E. Gurdin, Kurt S. Kusiak, Carlos Maycotte, Andrea Peraner-Sweet, James B. Re, Stephen C. Reilly, Kelly A. Schwartz, and Jeffrey A. Soilson.

Attorneys Soilson and Schwartz Attend Hearings at the Massachusetts State House on Probate and Family Law Matters

Attorneys Jeff Soilson and Kelly A. Schwartz of Fitch Law Partners LLP attended hearings at the Massachusetts State House on July 23, 2019 before the Joint Committee on the Judiciary concerning almost 60 bills related to probate and family law being considered by the committee as future legislation.

Jeff Soilson, as president of the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (“AAML”), attended in support of the endorsement by the Massachusetts Chapter of the AAML of three specific bills.

The first is H.3701 (An Act relative to the collateral consequences of alimony), which is intended to replace the 30% to 35% range of presumptively reasonable alimony under the alimony reform statute with a range of 23% to 28% to take into account the loss of the alimony deduction under recent changes in the federal tax laws.

The second is H.3324 (An Act to adopt the Uniform Family Law Arbitration Act), which is intended to codify the function of arbitration in the context of Family Law disputes.

The third is S.886 (An Act relative to the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act), which seeks to place Massachusetts in a position similar to all of the other states in the nation with respect to child custody jurisdiction.

Here is a link to all of the bills under consideration. Many of these bills could have a tremendous impact on our practice and on the lives of our clients. The family law attorneys at Fitch Law Partners will continue to monitor developing legislation.

2019-2020 Scholarship Announcement

Fitch Law Partners is pleased to announce the two winners of the 2019-2020 Fitch Law Partners Scholarship. The Fitch Law Partners Scholarships are awarded annually, and are based upon an applicant’s essay and academic achievement.

Future Law Student

Liliana Anderson: Liliana is a student at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and will be entering Marquette University Law School in the fall. In her essay, Liliana described the challenges of being raised as one of five children by a teen mother who moved her young family from Milwaukee to New York City to pursue her law degree. Liliana also developed a passion for the law when participating in Red Hook Youth Court as a high schooler. But when Liliana married and became pregnant in high school she feared her dream of becoming an attorney would go unrealized. While raising her four children, Liliana pursued her education, first at Milwaukee Area Technical College and then UW-Milwaukee. In addition to being a student and mother, Liliana, along with her husband, started a process serving company to ensure the people in her community are given due process and treated fairly. Liliana plans to use her law degree to be an advocate for the disenfranchised in her community and ensure all are afforded their civil rights.

Current Law Student (incoming 1L)

Andrew Henderson: Andrew will be attending the University of Southern California Gould School of Law in the Fall of 2019. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. Andrew’s interest in engineering was sparked by his father, who built houses and built every house Andrew has ever lived in. While Andrew was at UK, his father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. To defray the costs of university attendance, Andrew worked at a job on campus while taking an elevated case load and slept on his friend’s couch to save on housing. On weekends Andrew would travel to take care of his dad. Currently an engineer at Toyota, Andrew plans on becoming an intellectual property attorney in order to apply his engineering knowledge to help safeguard inventor’s rights and promote innovation.

All at Fitch Law Partners wish Ms. Anderson and Mr. Henderson luck as they as they embark on their legal educations.

July 2019

Jeffrey A. Soilson Appointed President AAML, MA Chapter

Fitch Law Partners LLP is proud to announce that Jeffrey A. Soilson has been appointed President of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) – Massachusetts Chapter. Mr. Soilson is a Fellow of the AAML and previously held treasurer and president-elect positions within the organization.

Mr. Soilson will continue to serve on the AAML/AFCC Joint Committee, which is responsible for creating and producing the joint national conference with the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) on custody and child-related issues, and the AAML Webinar Committee, which is responsible for producing continuing education programs on a wide range of divorce and family law topics, including divorce taxation, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, dividing pensions and business valuations.

The AAML was founded in 1962 by highly regarded divorce and family law attorneys “To provide leadership that promotes the highest degree of professionalism and excellence in the practice of family law.” There are currently more than 1,650 Fellows in 50 states, who are recognized by judges and attorneys as preeminent family law practitioners with a high level of knowledge, skill and integrity.

June 2019

Tech List Members Present on Arbitrating Life Science Disputes

On May 1st, Tech List Members Angela (‘Anji’) Foster and Jonathan Fitch were panelists at an AAA-ICDR program hosted by Reed Smith in Philadelphia: “AAA-ICDR Arbitrating Domestic and International Life Science Disputes (including Pharmaceutical, Medical Device and Biotechnology).”

Anji Foster spoke on a range of topics including the suitability of arbitration for use in life science disputes, for example, with respect to license agreements and such issues as whether a drug, molecule or medical device does or does not fall within the purview of the agreement. She cited the main advantages of arbitrating life science disputes: the ability to select arbitrators with special expertise; the flexibility of the procedure; limitations on discovery; and, the confidentiality of intellectual property. Anji discussed the challenges of scheduling the phases of life science arbitrations and management of the time limitations with the parties and their counsel. Anji also said she has also observed problems in the presentation of expert testimony in life science arbitrations and that counsel need to be skilled in presenting the complexity of technologies to arbitral panels.

Jonathan Fitch addressed considerations for picking counsel, arbitrators and experts in technology-intensive life science disputes. Where the arbitrators’ industry expertise may be a factor, Jonathan suggested that parties consider using arbitrator interviews – either by parties or their counsel – within the parameters established by Canon III of The Code of Ethics for Arbitrators in Commercial Disputes. He also discussed alternatives for the presentation of expert testimony in international arbitrations of life science cases. The Parties’ direct examinations of experts in the form of lengthy, detailed and highly technical expert witness statements create a risk that the arbitration will begin without the arbitrators fully understanding the technologies at issue. Possible remedial approaches include beginning the arbitration with a joint presentation by the parties’ experts on the industry technologies and science involved in the case. As an alternative to an upfront “technology and science day”, the parties may agree that the testimony of respondent’s expert will directly follow the testimony of claimant’s expert for each expert issue, thereby enabling different options for expert conferencing, including the possibility that the arbitrators may address questions simultaneously to each expert and that the experts may question each other. At the event, the arbitrators, institutional representatives and in-house counsel present fully aired and addressed both the benefits and risks for different models of expert witness testimony.

May 2019

The 22nd MCLE Annual Family Conference

Steven E. Gurdin will be Conference Co-chair, and Jeffrey A. Soilson will be on the Alimony Update panel, at the 22nd MCLE Annual Family Law Conference on May 3, 2019 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the MCLE Conference Center, Ten Winter Place, Boston.

For online registration: https://www.mcle.org/product/catalog/code/2190286P01

This year’s Family Law Conference offers workshops on parenting time resistance problems, dividing premarital and inherited assets, cryptocurrency in divorce, an alimony, case and legislative update, and an in-depth judicial forum. There will also be update on the state of the Probate and Family Court from Chief Justice Casey.

We look forward to seeing you there.

May 2019

Steven E. Gurdin will be Conference Co-chair at the Divorce Law: MCLE BasicsPlus on April 24 and 25, 2019 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the MCLE Conference Center, Ten Winter Place, Boston. Carlos A. Maycotte will be a panelist at the program.

For online registration: https://www.mcle.org/product/catalog/code/2190155P01

Divorce Law: MCLE BasicsPlus is a comprehensive two-day course that provides the family law practitioner with the fundamental skills and approaches necessary to effectively represent clients in divorce. Through a variety of lectures, demonstrations, and ‘hands-on’ workshops, conference attendees gain the tools to become a proficient divorce law practitioner.

April 2019

Applicants are required to have a current cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher. The application includes a 500 word essay on one of several topics regarding his/her aspirations as a lawyer. For more information.

The winners of the 2018-2019 competition were Tristen Sharp, a freshmen at Illinois State University and Tiffany Light, a first year student at Saint Louis University Law School.

January 2019

The case of our client Marisa Pawelko, an artist and inventor, against Hasbro, Inc. is headed for trial in the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island. Ms. Pawelko is the inventor of “Liquid Mosaic”, an arts and crafts product concept that was shown to Hasbro and offered for acquisition under a confidentiality agreement. Pawelko claims that Hasbro misappropriated her trade secrets regarding Liquid Mosaic and breached the confidentiality agreement in developing the DohVinci arts and crafts products. In denying Hasbro’s motion for summary judgment on those claims, Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. stated, “While summary judgment is a valid mechanism for parties to use to dismiss legally deficient claims, it cannot substitute for a party’s right to have their legitimate disputes resolved by a jury.” Pawelko’s trial team includes Jonathan Fitch, Ryan Cunningham, Nathalie Salomon and Terrance Lanier.

January 2019

U.S. News and Best Lawyers® recognized FITCH as a 2019 Best Law Firm®. The firm was honored to best listed as Tier 1-Boston in Commercial Litigation, Family Law and Litigation – Trusts and Estates.

Eight FITCH lawyers were recognized as 2019 Best Lawyers in America®. The lawyers receiving the honor of this recognition include:

Peter Ball (Bet-the-Company Litigation and Commercial Litigation)
Jonathan Fitch (Arbitration, Commercial Litigation and Litigation -Trusts and Estates)
Steven Gurdin (Family Law and Litigation – Trusts and Estates)
Kurt Kusiak (Litigation – Trusts and Estates)
Andrea Peraner-Sweet (Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants)
James Re (Commercial Litigation)
Stephen Reilly (Commercial Litigation)
Jeffrey Soilson (Family Law and Litigation – Trusts and Estates)
.

November 2018

In a case argued by Andrea Peraner-Sweet, the Appeals Court affirmed the Juvenile Court’s ruling granting sole legal and physical custody of our client’s daughter to him.

June 2018

Associate Lacey L. Brantley attended the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers program for associate lawyers in Chicago.

June 2018

Our partners, Heather V. Baer and Andrea Peraner-Sweet participated in the Boston Bar Association’s Law Day in the Schools. This year’s theme was, “Liberty Under Law: Empowering Youth, Assuring Democracy.” Heather and Andrea taught a second grade class at the Josiah Quincy Elementary School in Boston, where they engaged in a lively discussion with the students about how young people can affect change.

May 2018

Tristen Sharp was awarded the Fitch Future Law Student Scholarship of $1,000 for the 2018-2019 academic year. Ms. Sharp, a freshman at Illinois State University, has overcome traumatic brain injuries to excel inside and outside of the classroom. Her experience has motivated her to pursue a career in law after her undergraduate studies. Ms. Sharp’s perseverance and sense of focus during her physical recovery impressed the Scholarship Committee. While still a teenager, Ms. Sharp has already demonstrated the type of grit and hard work necessary for a successful career as a lawyer.

May 2018

Tiffany Light was awarded the Fitch Law Student Scholarship of $1,500 for the 2018-2019 academic year. Ms. Light is on her way to Saint Louis University Law School in the Fall of 2018. A first generation college student, Ms. Light balanced full-time work along with her undergraduate studies. Her professional experience includes clerking in her hometown court house, working as a legal assistant at a law firm, and completing an internship with a local legal services organization. We wish Ms. Light a successful 1L year as she embarks on her legal education.

May 2018

Jared L. Hubbard was a panelist at a Boston Bar Association program on Third-Party Funding in International Arbitration. The event was co-sponsored by the International Centre for Dispute Resolution Young & International.

May 2018

Jeffrey A. Soilson presented an American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers webinar entitled, “Across the Borderline – Prenups and the Migratory Couple.”

May 2018

Steve Reilly and Ryan Cunningham won a Rule 12(b)(6) motion for dismissal of wrongful foreclosure claims brought against our client, a large national bank.

April 2018

Steven E. Gurdin co-chaired the 21st Annual MCLE Family Law conference. During the conference, Mr. Gurdin moderated the Family Court Judicial Forum. This marked Mr. Gurdin’s 15th consecutive year as the moderator. Judges from the Middlesex, Norfolk and Essex Counties Probate and Family Courts sat on the panel and delivered their opinions and legal analysis on hypothetical fact patterns prepared by Mr. Gurdin and his colleagues at FITCH.

April 2018

Steven E. Gurdin has been named to the Brookline Community Foundation Professional Advisors Committee.

March 2018

Steven E. Gurdin co-chaired the 2-day MCLE Divorce Law Basics program. The program is a comprehensive course that provides family law practitioners with the fundamental skills and approaches necessary to effectively represent clients in divorce. Mr. Gurdin has chaired the program for the past fourteen years.

March 2018

February 2018

Steve Reilly and Ryan Cunningham win the Rule 12(b)(6) dismissal of “wrongful foreclosure” claims brought against our client, a large national bank.

February 2018

Andrea Peraner-Sweet has been appointed as a Hearing Officer of the Board of Bar Overseers for a three year term. The Board of Bar Overseers is an independent administrative body established by the Supreme Judicial Court to investigate and evaluate complaints against attorneys. This is Andrea’s second time being appointed as a Hearing Officer.

January 2018

Jonathan W. Fitch moderated a panel discussion titled “Insider Views on International Dispute Resolution” at the Boston Bar Association. The program featured Secretary General Alexander Fessas of the ICC International Court of Arbitration; Mark T. Beaudouin, General Counsel and Secretary of Waters Corporation; Andrea DiFabio, Chief Legal Officer of Bioverativ Inc.; Roland Schroeder, Global Executive Counsel – Corporate Litigation and Legal Policy for General Electric Company; and Philip D. O’Neill, Jr., Arbitrator and Professor at Boston College Law School and Boston University Law School.

January 2018

Jonathan W. Fitch was moderator of a panel discussion, “The Golden Age of International Arbitration,” at the Boston Bar Association.

September 2017

Lacey L. Brantley joined FITCH as an Associate. Lacey graduated from Boston University School of Law, magna cum laude, in 2016. She completed a clerkship with the Probate and Family Court Department of the Trial Court of Massachusetts prior to joining the firm.

September 2017

In a case argued by Steve Reilly, the Bankruptcy Appellate Panel of the First Circuit issued an opinion affirming the dismissal of claims brought in an adversary proceeding against Fitch Law Partners’ client, a large national bank.

August 2017

In a case involving convoluted allegations of defamation and unfair credit reporting, a Norfolk Superior Court judge granted a motion dismissing claims against our clients, a local community bank and certain of its employees.

August 2017

Steven E. Gurdin was a guest speaker at the Senior Partners for Justice monthly luncheon. Steve spoke about “CORI” – Criminal Offender Record Information and “CARI” – Court Activity Record Information in the context of family law cases in the Massachusetts Probate and Family Courts. Senior Partners for Justice was established in 2002 when the Honorable Edward M. Ginsburg, a retired Associate Justice of the Massachusetts Probate and Family Court established this innovative new pro bono program. Senior Partners for Justice asks lawyers from all legal backgrounds to use their talents to serve those who would otherwise go unrepresented in court.

August 2017

Jeffrey A. Soilson was a panelist at MCLE’s Child Support Update 2017. Mr. Soilson spoke on the topic of the new child support guidelines and special issues that arise in child support cases.

July 2017

Jeffrey A. Soilson was elected President-Elect of the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Attorneys (AAML), a national organization that promotes the highest degree of professionalism and excellence in the practice of family law.

June 2017

Steven E. Gurdin co-chaired the 20th Annual MCLE Family Law conference. During the conference, Mr. Gurdin moderated the Family Court Judicial Forum. This marked Mr. Gurdin’s 14th consecutive year as the moderator. Judges from the Middlesex, Norfolk and Plymouth Counties Probate and Family Courts sat on the panel and delivered their opinions and legal analysis on hypothetical fact patterns prepared by Mr. Gurdin and his colleagues at FITCH.

May 2017

Steven E. Gurdin and Jeffrey A. Soilson attended the 54th Annual Conference of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (“AFCC”). This 4-day conference is intended to carry out the mission of the AFCC which is an interdisciplinary and international association of professionals dedicated to improving the lives of children and families through the resolution of family conflict.

May 2017

Jonathan W. Fitch was moderator of a panel discussion, “ESI Discovery in Arbitration,” at the Annual Dispute Resolution Symposium of the Massachusetts Bar Association.

May 2017

Steven E. Gurdin co-chaired the 2- day MCLE Divorce Law Basics program. The program is a comprehensive course that provides family law practitioners with the fundamental skills and approaches necessary to effectively represent clients in divorce. Mr. Gurdin has chaired the program for the past thirteen years.

April 2017

Jonathan W. Fitch was moderator of a panel discussion, “Spotlight on Evidence in Arbitration,” sponsored by the Dispute Resolution Section of the Massachusetts Bar Association.

April 2017

Fitch Law Partners announces that the recipients of the annual Fitch Law Partners Scholarship have been selected for the 2017-2018 academic year. Read the Press Release here.

April 2017

Steven E. Gurdin was a guest speaker at “Jane Does Well” – a divorce support group serving Wellesley, Needham, Newton and the greater Boston area. Steve spoke on various topics including recent developments in Massachusetts law on issues relating to alimony and gifted/inherited property.

March 2017

Andrea Peraner-Sweet published The New Transgender Anti-Discrimination Law and Guidance Issued by the Attorney General’s Office and the MCAD in the Boston Bar Journal.

January 2017

An article by Jonathan W. Fitch, Arbitration: Spotlight on the Preliminary Hearing was published in the MBA Lawyers Journal.

January 2017

Jonathan W. Fitch was elected as a Fellow of The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, the leading scholarly organization for international arbitrators based in London.

January 2017

The Appeals Court affirmed summary judgment on behalf of our client, a community-based hospital, affirming that the hospital had not engaged in racial, religious or national origin discrimination or retaliation when it terminated its employee for poor performance. Partner Andrea Peraner-Sweet argued the case.

December 2016

Andrea Peraner-Sweet was elected Chair of the Board of Selectmen for the Town of Westford.

October 2016

Jonathan W. Fitch was a panelist at a program at Harvard Law School on recent developments in international arbitration. The program was sponsored by the Harvard International Arbitration Law Students Association and by ICDR Young & International.

October 2016

Michele E. Connolly joins Fitch Law Partners LLP as an Associate.

October 2016

Jonathan W. Fitch was a panelist at MCLE’s 8th Annual New England ADR and the Law 2016. Mr. Fitch spoke on the topic of “Basic Planning for International Arbitration and Emerging Practices.”

September 2016

Jonathan W. Fitch was a guest lecturer at Suffolk Law School for a new course, “Positive Psychology For Lawyers,” taught by Professor Lisle Baker.

September 2016

Steven E. Gurdin was a guest lecturer at New England Law Boston in the Law Practice Management Course. Mr. Gurdin lectured on various aspects of law firm management.

September 2016

Winners of Fitch Law Partners LLP 2016-2017 scholarships have been announced. Read the Press Release here.

September 2016

Peter Ball was reappointed to his second three-year term as a member of the Board of Editors of the Boston Bar Journal, which is published quarterly by the Boston Bar Association.

August 2016

Nathalie K. Salomon joins Fitch Law Partners LLP as an Associate.

July 2016

In a U.S. District Court case involving allegations of breach of a mortgage contract, Steve Reilly and Ryan Cunningham prevail on a motion to dismiss all claims against the firm’s client, a leading national bank.

June 2016

Jonathan W. Fitch was appointed to the Zoning Board of Appeals for the Town of Sherborn.

June 2016

Andrea Peraner-Sweet was elected to her third term as a member of the Town of Westford’s Board of Selectmen.

June 2016

Andrea Peraner-Sweet was a panelist on the 6th Annual Trials Facing Female Litigators hosted by the Women’s Caucus of the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys and the Women’s Bar Association.

June 2016

Steven E. Gurdin served as a faculty member at the Annual MCLE Family Law Trial Advocacy Workshop. This program is a challenging five-day course where participates have an opportunity to “get on their feet” under the rigorous scrutiny of judges and leading practitioners.

June 2016

The firm proudly supported the MetroWest Legal Services by participating in the annual Nancy King Memorial Golf Tournament at the Framingham Country Club. MetroWest Legal Services provides free civil legal aid to low-income people who would be denied justice without their help.

June 2016

The Firm proudly supported the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation by participating in the New England Patriots Fantasy Sports Camp. Partner Steven E. Gurdin put on the pads and scored some big hits!

May 2016

Jeffrey A Soilson is co-editor of the MCLE New England publication “Financial Aspects of Divorce in Massachusetts” published on May 10, 2016.

May 2016

Steve Reilly wins a defense verdict for our client, a large national bank, thus defeating the plaintiff bank customer’s claim that the bank had wrongfully paid certain checks drawn on the customer’s business checking account.

April 2016

Jennifer E. Greaney’s Case Comment entitled ” Abate v. Fremont Investment & Loan: Defining ‘Adverse Claim’ in Try Title Actions ” was published in the April 2016 edition of the Massachusetts Law Review.

April 2016

Partner Steven E. Gurdin co-chaired the 2- day MCLE Divorce Law Basics program. The program is a comprehensive course that provides family law practitioners with the fundamental skills and approaches necessary to effectively represent clients in divorce. Mr. Gurdin has chaired the program for the past twelve years.

April 2016

Steven Gurdin served as a panelist on the Massachusetts Bar Association CLE program titled – Off the Record: Deposition Preparation, Objectives and Techniques in Practice.

April 2016

Managing Partner Jonathan W. Fitch was moderator of a panel discussion titled, ” Best Practices in Arbitration: The Role of the Arbitrator, ” sponsored by the Dispute Resolution Committee of the Massachusetts Bar Association.

March 2016

Partner Patrick T. Clendenen has been selected by the Nominating Committee of the Business Law Section of the American Bar Association to be its next Secretary, effective in September 2016. This is the first step of a four-year leadership succession plan under which Clendenen is expected to become Section Chair in 2020.

March 2016

Partner Jeffrey Soilson was a discussion leader in Family Law at MCLE’s Practicing with Professionalism Seminar: a day-long seminar that every newly admitted lawyer in Massachusetts must attend after being admitted to the bar.

March 2016

Partner Jeffrey Soilson was a guest lecturer on family law topics at New England School of Law.

March 2016

In a U.S. District Court case involving complex allegations of predatory lending and breach of a mortgage contract, Steve Reilly and Ryan Cunningham prevail on a motion to dismiss all claims against firm’s client, a leading national bank.

March 2016

Steven Gurdin successfully obtained a sizable contempt judgment for non-payment of child support on behalf of a single father against the non-custodial mother. With the assistance of the Essex County Sheriff’s department the mother was apprehended after failing to appear at the scheduled contempt trial. Two Deputy Sheriff’s were able to locate the mother and immediately brought her before the Essex County Probate and Family Court. At the conclusion of the contempt trial, the Court ordered the mother to either pay the amounts owed or serve 30 days in jail. The mother remained in custody at the courthouse for the remainder of the day. An hour before being transferred to Framingham state prison, the mother (or someone on her behalf), made the required payments in order for her to be released from custody. The Court further ordered that the mother pay the father’s attorneys’ fees in prosecuting the contempt action.

March 2016

Steven E. Gurdin was a Guest Lecturer at New England Law Boston in the Law Practice Management Course. Mr. Gurdin lectured on various aspects of law firm management.

March 2016

On January 28, 2016, FITCH had a strong showing at the “Walk to Hill” day of advocacy at the State House on behalf of funding for civil legal aid. Over 600 attorneys and law students participated in the annual event, which highlights how crucial state funding is to legal aid programs across the Commonwealth. Civil aid programs provide free legal advice to low-income individuals and families facing legal problems such as eviction, health care emergencies, and wage theft. Speakers included the Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, Ralph Gants, Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, and individuals helped by legal services. FITCH had one of the top law firm participation rates at the 2016 Walk to the Hill, with 16 lawyers (80%) of the firm participating!

January 2016

Heather V. Baer published Recent Amendments to Superior Court Rules and Standing Orders, 60 Boston Bar J. 1(Winter 2016) .

January 2016

As a Director of Overcoming Barriers, Jeffrey A. Soilson helped conduct a specialized program for clinicians working with post-separation problems where children resist contact with a parent.

December 2015

Jonathan W. Fitch moderates a panel discussion on “International Arbitration: Hot Topics and Smart Contracts” at a meeting of the New England Legal Foundation.

November 2015

The firm receives a Tier 1 ranking in the 2016 Edition of U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms.” ^®

November 2015

Partner Andrea Peraner-Sweet is honored as among the “Top Women of Law” by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly at dinner held at the Marriott Copley Place Hotel.

October 2015

Partner Jeffrey A. Soilson is recognized as a “Top 100 Massachusetts Super Lawyer” ^® in a list published in Boston Magazine.

October 2015

Twelve FITCH lawyers are recognized as “Massachusetts Super Lawyers” ^® an honor awarded to no more than 5 percent of the lawyers in Massachusetts.

October 2015

Seven FITCH lawyers are recognized as “Massachusetts Super Lawyers – Rising Stars” ^® an honor awarded to less than 2.5% of the lawyers in Massachusetts under the age of 40.

October 2015

Eight FITCH partners are listed in Best Lawyers in America ^® 2016.

August 2015

Jonathan W. Fitch was guest panelist at Boston College Law School on mediation and ADR topics.

April 2015

Jonathan W. Fitch was featured in Financier Worldwide’s 2015 Commercial Arbitration Annual Review . Mr. Fitch contributed the United States chapter to the international report.

April 2015

Jeffrey A. Soilson earned the Certified Financial Litigator (CFL) designation through the American Academy of Certified Financial Litigators.

March 2015

Jeffrey A. Soilson was a faculty member at the seminar entitled “Parenting Plans and Shared Custody: Recent Research and Implications for Family Law Professionals” presented at the annual conference of the Massachusetts Chapter of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts.

March 2015

Steven E. Gurdin and Jeffrey Solison were accepted to the Greater Boston Family Law American Inn of Court. The Inn’s goal is to improve the practice of Family Law in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts through peer guidance, civility and growth as sophisticated practitioners.

February 2015

Partner Jeffrey A. Soilson was named a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.

February 2015

Partner Jeffrey A. Soilson became a Director of Overcoming Barriers, a non-profit organization created to promote children’s healthy relationships with their parents where a child is at risk of losing a relationship with a parent.

January 2015

Steven E. Gurdin, Jeffrey A. Soilson, Barbara L. Drury and Carlos A. Maycotte became members of the American Academy for Certified Financial Litigators.

December 2014

FITCH opens a Metrowest Office. Read the Press Release here

October 2014

Partners Peter E. Ball, Jonathan W. Fitch, Steven E. Gurdin, Kurt S. Kusiak and Andrea Peraner-Sweet and were named to the list of The Best Lawyers in America, 2015.

August 2014

Steven E. Gurdin has been named to the New England Advisory Board of the American Academy of Certified Financial Litigators (The “AACFL”). The AACFL is a professional membership organization dedicated to enhancing the legal profession through advanced financial training. Its mission is to provide innovative financial training programs designed to increase the financial knowledge of attorneys dealing with financial issues in litigation.

June 2014

Jeffrey Soilson was a faculty member at the MCLE seminar on June 17, 2014 titled: “Married (& Divorcing) with Children – Handling support and custody issues.”

June 2014

Steven E. Gurdin moderated the Spring 2014 MCLE Family Court Judicial Forum in Taunton, MA. This marks Mr. Gurdin’s 12th consecutive year as the moderator. Judges from the Probate and Family Court sat on the panel and delivered their opinions and legal analysis on hypothetical fact patterns prepared by Mr. Gurdin and his colleagues at FITCH.

May 2014

Steven E. Gurdin co-chaired the 2- day MCLE Divorce Law Basics program. The program is a comprehensive course that provides family law practitioners with the fundamental skills and approaches necessary to effectively represent clients in divorce. Mr. Gurdin has chaired the program for the past ten years.

May 2014

Steven E. Gurdin attended the Joint Conference of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) in Las Vegas. The conference was a multi-day program focused on complex financial matters relating to divorce including issues of business valuation, executive compensation, forensic accounting, and income tax considerations.

April 2014

Jonathan W. Fitch attended the Spring Meeting of the International Law Section of the American Bar Association in New York City.

April 2014

Jeffrey A. Soilson was elected to the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Chapter of the AFCC (Association of Family and Conciliation Courts), an interdisciplinary and international association of professionals dedicated to the resolution of family conflict.

March 2014

Partner Jeffrey Soilson was a faculty member at the joint conference of the Massachusetts Association of Family and Conciliation Courts and Massachusetts Association of Guardians Ad Litem at Regis College, Weston, MA titled: “When the Court and Clinical Practice Collide.

November 2013

Partner Andrea Peraner-Sweet was re-elected to the Board of Selectman of Westford, Massachusetts for her second term.

May 2013

Jonathan W. Fitch was elected as Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, “an honorary organization of lawyers, judges, and legal scholars whose public and private careers have demonstrated outstanding dedication to the welfare of their communities and to the highest principles of the legal profession.”

May 2013

Jeffrey A. Soilson chaired an MCLE seminar on High Conflict Custody Cases.

May 2013

Steven E. Gurdin moderated the Spring 2013 MCLE Family Court Judicial Forum in Worcester, MA. This marks Mr. Gurdin’s 11th consecutive year as the moderator. Judges from the Probate and Family Court sat on the panel and delivered their opinions and legal analysis on hypothetical fact patterns prepared by Mr. Gurdin and his colleagues at FITCH.

May 2013

Steven E. Gurdin co-chaired the 2- day MCLE Divorce Law Basics program. The program is a comprehensive course that provides family law practitioners with the fundamental skills and approaches necessary to effectively represent clients in divorce. Mr. Gurdin has chaired the program for the past nine years.

May 2013

Steven E. Gurdin was sworn in at the U.S. Supreme Court as part of a two day alumni event of Albany Law School of Union University in Washington, D.C.

April 2013

Jonathan W. Fitch and associates Carlos A. Maycotte attended the conference of the International Law Section of the American Bar Association in Washington, D.C. and participated in three days of seminars with attorneys from around the globe.

April 2013

Peter E. Ball was a panelist at the annual MCLE Deposition Practice conference.

January 2013

Finally a Treaty for the Enforcement of U.S. Court Judgments Abroad, written by Jonathan W. Fitch and summer associate Faith Hill was published in the Massachusetts Law Journal.

December 2012

Steven E. Gurdin moderated the Fall 2012 MCLE Family Court Judicial Forum. This marks Mr. Gurdin’s 10th consecutive year as the moderator. Mr. Gurdin moderated panels in Boston and Taunton. Judges from the Probate and Family Court sat on the panel and delivered their opinions and legal analysis on hypothetical fact patterns prepared by Mr. Gurdin and his colleagues at the firm.

December 2012

Peter E. Ball, Jonathan W. Fitch, Steven E. Gurdin, Kurt S. Kusiak, Andrea Peraner-Sweet, James B. Re, Stephen C. Reilly have been included on the Massachusetts Super Lawyers list as outstanding attorneys in Massachusetts for 2012. No more than 5 percent of the lawyers in the state are selected by Super Lawyers.

October 2012

Peter E. Ball, Jonathan W. Fitch and Steven E. Gurdin were named to the Top 100 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list for 2012. Mr. Ball and Mr. Gurdin were also listed as among the Top 100 New England Super Lawyers.

October 2012

Jonathan W. Fitch, Carlos Maycotte attended the Annual Meeting of the Section of International Law of the American Bar Association in Miami.

October 2012

Jonathan W. Fitch attended an international arbitration conference in Bogota, Colombia, jointly sponsored by the International Centre for Dispute Resolution, the international division of the American Arbitration Association, and the Chamber of Commerce of Bogota.

October 2012

Peter E. Ball, Andrea Peraner-Sweet, Kurt S. Kusiak, and Steven E. Gurdin have been selected by their peers to be included in the Best Lawyers In America®, 19th Edition. Selection for Best Lawyers is based on an exhaustive and rigorous peer-review survey comprising nearly 4 million confidential evaluations by the top attorneys in the country. The annual Best Lawyers publication has been described by the American lawyer as “the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice.

September 2012

Jonathan W. Fitch has been appointed to the panel of arbitrators of the International Centre for Dispute Resolution®, the international division of the American Arbitration Association. The ICDR is one of the most highly respected international arbitral organizations, and it conducts arbitration proceedings throughout the world.

September 2012

Jonathan W. Fitch has published a chapter titled, “The Limitations on American-Style Discovery in International Arbitration” in a new book, Strategies for International Arbitration, published by Aspatore Press, a division of West Thomson Reuters.

June 2012

Andrea Peraner-Sweet has been appointed as a hearing officer of the Board of Bar Overseers for a three year term. The Board of Bar Overseers was established by the Supreme Judicial Court in 1974 as an independent administrative body to investigate and evaluate complaints against lawyers.

May 2012

Steven E. Gurdin chaired the MCLE Divorce Law Basics program on April 12. The program is a comprehensive course that provides family law practitioners with the fundamental skills and approaches necessary to effectively represent clients in divorce. Mr. Gurdin has chaired the program for the past eight years.

April 2012

Peter E. Ball, Jonathan W. Fitch and Andrea Peraner-Sweet were named as among Boston’s Top Rated Lawyers in a list published by the Boston Globe. The list was created by LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell, the company that has long set the standard for peer review ratings.

April 2012

Jeffrey A. Soilson was a faculty member at an MCLE seminar on Divorce Law.

April 2012

Jeffrey A. Soilson joins the firm as a Partner. Mr. Soilson focuses in the areas of divorce and family law and Probate, Will And Trust Litigation.

February 2012

An associate has published a case comment, “Civil Law – Abolishing the Distinction Between Natural and Unnatural Accumulations of Snow and Ice when Determining Negligence of Property Owner,” in the current edition of the Massachusetts Law Review.

November 2011

Partner Peter Ball has been named to the “Top 100 Massachusetts Super Lawyers 2011” list published by Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters rating service, in the November issue of Boston Magazine. This is the third time that Peter has received this professional recognition.

October 2011

Managing Partner Jonathan Fitch has been named to the “Top 100 Massachusetts Super Lawyers 2011” list published by Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters rating service, in the November issue of Boston Magazine.

October 2011

We are pleased that eight Fitch Law Partners LLP attorneys have been named to the 2011 “Massachusetts Super Lawyers” list published by Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters rating service, in the November issue of Boston Magazine. Those selected include Peter Ball, Jonathan Fitch, Steven Gurdin, Andrea Peraner-Sweet, James Re, Stephen Reilly. No more than 5 percent of the lawyers in Massachusetts are selected by Super Lawyers. According to Super Lawyers, “The annual selections are made using a rigorous multi-phased process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates, and peer reviews by practice area.”

October 2011

Steven E. Gurdin is a panelist at the MCLE Family Law Case Update 2011 Program. Mr. Gurdin lead a discussion on recent MA case law relating to alimony, child removal and college education expenses.

June 2011

Partner Stephen Reilly taught a section titled “Creating a Discovery Plan” in the Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education course, Civil Discovery Practice: MCLE Basics Plus, on February 16 in Boston. The lecturers at this year’s program include other well-known litigators, a provider of e-discovery services and Superior Court Justice Peter Lauriat. Stephen has been a lecturer at MCLE on discovery topics for a number of years.

February 2011

Expressing its “profound gratitude,” the Equal Justice Coalition has presented Fitch Law Partners LLP with the Nancy King Award for the third consecutive year. The award is given to the Massachusetts law firm with the highest percentage of attorneys participating in the annual Walk to the Hill for Civil Legal Aid.

December 2010

Steven E. Gurdin moderated that Fall 2010 MCLE Family Court Judicial Forum. This marks Mr. Gurdin’s 8th consecutive year as the moderator. Mr. Gurdin moderated panels in Boston and Plymouth. Judges from the Probate and Family Court sat on the panel and delivered their opinions and legal analysis on hypothetical fact patterns prepared by Mr. Gurdin.

November 2010

Congratulations to the eight lawyers of Fitch Law Partners LLP who have been selected as “Massachusetts Super Lawyers” for 2010 in the list published by Law & Politics in Boston Magazine. No more than 5 % of the attorneys in Massachusetts are awarded this honor. All of the lawyers selected have received this recognition in a number of prior years.

October 2010

Congratulations also to the eight lawyers of Fitch Law Partners LLP who have been selected as “Rising Stars” for 2010 in the “Massachusetts Super Lawyers” list published by Law & Politics in Boston Magazine. No more than 2.5% of the attorneys in Massachusetts under the age of 40 are awarded this honor.

October 2010

Steven E. Gurdin was honored by the Boston Bar Association on September 21, 2010 at the annual Leadership Appreciation reception for his service to the association as co-chair of the Family Law Section from 2008-2010.

September 2010

August 2010

Steven E. Gurdin chaired the MCLE Divorce Law Basics program on May 6 and 7. Mr. Gurdin has chaired this program for the past six years. This program is a comprehensive two-day course that provides family law practitioners with the fundamental skills and approaches necessary to effectively represent clients in divorce.

May 2010

Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly recognizes Jonathan W. Fitch as a “Lawyer of the Year 2009” at a banquet in honor of “Leaders in the Law” at the Westin.

April 2010

Kurt Kusiak appears as a panelist at the Annual Business Litigation Conference sponsored by Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education.

January 2010

Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly names Jonathan W. Fitch, the firm’s managing partner as a “Lawyer of the Year 2009.” Mr. Fitch was one of ten lawyers in the Commonwealth to receive this honor.

January 2010

Steven E. Gurdin was recognized as a “top volunteering individual” in the 2008-2009 Annual Report of Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education (MCLE). Steven E. Gurdin was among ten volunteers recognized by MCLE as “top volunteering individuals” out of the 2,431 individuals that volunteered their time, expertise and enthusiasm as MCLE advisers, faculty, authors and editors. Annually, Mr. Gurdin moderates the Family Court Judicial Forum, co-chairs the Divorce Law Basics Program, serves on the Family Law Curriculum Advisory Committee and participates in other family law and Probate, Will And Trust Litigation programs.

December 2009

Steven E. Gurdin moderates the Fall 2009 MCLE Family Court Judicial Forum. This marks Mr. Gurdin’s 7th consecutive year as the moderator. Mr. Gurdin will be moderating panels in Boston and Taunton. Judges from the Probate and Family Court sit on the panel and deliver their opinions and legal analysis on hypothetical fact patterns prepared by Mr. Gurdin.

November 2009

Law & Politics honors Peter E. Ball as a “Top 100 Massachusetts Super Lawyer” in a list published in Boston Magazine.

October 2009

Law & Politics award nine Fitch Law Partners LLP lawyers the “Massachusetts Super Lawyer” designation, which is limited to 5% of the lawyers in Massachusetts.

October 2009

Law & Politics recognize five Fitch Law Partners LLP lawyers as a “Rising Star” in the “Massachusetts Super Lawyer” list published in Boston Magazine. The “Rising Star” award is limited to 2.5% of the lawyers in Massachusetts under the age of 40 who have been practicing for less than 10 years.

October 2009

October 2009

Steven E. Gurdin co-moderated a bench-bar meeting at the Boston Bar Association with five of the newly appointed Probate and Family Court Justices.

May 2009

Steven E. Gurdin is a panelist at the MCLE 12th Annual Family Law Conference. Mr. Gurdin will be discussing recent developments in case law and legislation. The Family Law Conference is the largest family law program of its kind in Massachusetts.

March 2009

Steven E. Gurdin will be chairing the MCLE Divorce Law Basics program. Mr. Gurdin has chaired this program for the past five years. This program is a comprehensive two-day course that provides family law practitioners with the fundamental skills and approaches necessary to effectively represent clients in divorce.

March 2009

Robert Mendillo served on a panel of instructors for a deposition skills training program offered to various assistant attorneys general by the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Institute.

January 2009

Peter Ball is a panelist for the fourth consecutive year for the MCLEs annual program on Civil Deposition Practice.

December 2008

Steven E. Gurdin moderates the Fall 2008 MCLE Family Court Judicial Forum. This marks Mr. Gurdin’s 6th consecutive year as the moderator. Mr. Gurdin will be moderating panels in Boston and Plymouth. Judges from the Probate and Family Court sit on the panel and deliver their opinions and legal analysis on hypothetical fact patterns prepared by Mr. Gurdin.

November 2008

Ten lawyers of Fitch Law Partners LLP are named ‘Massachusetts Super Lawyers,’ in a survey published in Boston Magazine. The recognition is given to only 5% of the lawyers in the Commonwealth. Three lawyers of the firm are recognized as ‘Massachusetts Rising Stars,’ a group of the top 2.5% of all lawyers under the age of 40. See the Press Release for details.

October 2008

Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly cites the case of Batishchev v. Coldwell Banker, won for our clients by Jonathan Fitch, as among the ‘Most Significant Opinions during January ‘ June 2008.’ See Memorandum and Order.

July 2008

Steve Gurdin named Co-Chair of the Family Law Section of the Boston Bar Association.

June 2008

Steve Gurdin, a highly regarded attorney who works primarily in the area of family law, joins Fitch Law Partners LLP as a Partner after practicing at Conn Kavanaugh Rosenthal Peisch & Ford, LLP for 12 years, (the past 5 years as a partner).

June 2008

Steve Reilly co-authors “Preparing To Take A Deposition,” which appears as Chapter 3 of the Massachusetts Deposition Practice Manual, 2d ed., 1st Supplement (MCLE, Inc. 2008).

May 2008

Alex Klibaner lectures on Employee Rights and the Prevention of Workplace Violence at Endicott College’s Annual Conference on Workplace and School Violence.

April 2008

Alex Klibaner co-chairs a CLE program at the Boston Bar Association on Litigating and Winning Employment Discrimination Cases

March 2008

Peter Ball chairs a Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education program entitled, “What Every In-House Counsel Should Know About Criminal Law..

January 2008

Kurt Kusiak appears as a panelist at the Annual Business Litigation Conference sponsored by Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education.

January 2008

Nine lawyers of Fitch Law Partners LLP, including all of the firm’s partners, are named “Massachusetts Super Lawyers” in Boston Magazine – a recognition limited to 5% of the lawyers in the Commonwealth.

November 2007

June 2007

Barbara Drury, Alex Klibaner, Elizabeth Koenig and Amber Villa recognized as “Rising Stars” placing them among the top 2.5% of lawyers under the age of 40 in the “Massachusetts Super Lawyers” poll appearing in Boston Magazine.

May 2007

Kurt Kusiak testified before the Joint Revenue Committee of the Massachusetts House and Senate on a bill which would allow cities and towns to exempt senior citizens on limited, fixed incomes from Proposition 2 1/2 overrides.

May 2007

Alex Klibaner moderated a program at the Boston Bar Association entitled Taking Advantage of Pre-Litigation Opportunities: Drafting and Responding to Demand Letters.

March 2007

Kurt Kusiak to appear as a panelist at the annual Business Litigation Conference of Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education in Boston.

January 2007

Peter Ball to appear as a panelist at the annual Deposition Practice Conference of Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education in Boston.

December 2006

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has appointed our partner, James B. Re, to be a Member of the Court’s Standing Advisory Committee on the Rules of Professional Conduct. Mr. Re commences membership on the Advisory Committee as he concludes his four-year term as a Member (Vice Chair in his final year) of the Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers of the Supreme Judicial Court from January 1, 2003 through December 31, 2006. The Board of Bar Overseers is a 12-member board appointed by the Supreme Judicial Court to review allegations of misconduct lodged against lawyers.

December 2006

Stephen Reilly’s comments on the efforts of banks to combat check fraud appear in the Boston Business Journal.

November 2006

Nine lawyers of Fitch Law Partners LLP, including all of the firm’s partners, named “Massachusetts Super Lawyers,” by a poll appearing in Boston Magazine. The annual award recognizes the top 5% of the lawyers in Massachusetts.

November 2006

Peter Ball appointed to Criminal Law Curriculum Advisory Committee of Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education.

November 2006

Alex Klibaner is appointed to the Steering Committee of the Labor & Employment Section of the Boston Bar Association. Concerned with all aspects of the employer-employee relationship, the Labor and Employment Law Section organizes educational programs, hosts socializing events, and publishes a newsletter for practitioners in the field.

September 2006

May 2006

Alex Klibaner selected as 2006 ‘Rising Stars’ placing them among the top 2.5% of lawyers under the age of 40, in the ‘Super Lawyers’ poll appearing in the May 2006 issue of Boston Magazine.

May 2006

William A. McCormack, a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and professor of trial practice at Boston College Law School, joins Fitch Law Partners LLP as counsel.

February 2006

On January 1, 2006, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court appointed our partner, James B. Re, to be Vice Chair of the Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers of the Supreme Judicial Court. The Board of Bar Overseers is a 12-member board appointed by the Supreme Judicial Court to review allegations of misconduct lodged against lawyers. The Court first appointed Jim to the Board in December 2002 to serve a four-year term, commencing January 1, 2003.

January 2006

Kurt Kusiak is a faculty panelist for the MCLE’s annual Business Litigation program.

January 2006

Peter Ball is an MCLE faculty panelist on a program regarding the taking of depositions.

December 2005

Eight lawyers of Fitch Law Partners LLP, including all of the firms partners, named “Massachusetts Super Lawyers” in Boston magazine, an honor awarded to the top 5% of the lawyers in Massachusetts.

November 2005

Associates Heather Baer and Alexander Klibaner cited as ‘Rising Stars,’ placing them among the top 2.5% of lawyers under the age of 40, in the ‘Super Lawyers’ poll appearing in the May 2005 issue of Boston Magazine.

May 2005

James B. Re teaches in the Harvard Law School Winter Trial Advocacy Workshop as he has for many years.

January 2005

Kurt S. Kusiak is an MCLE faculty panelist for the Annual Business Litigation program.

January 2005

20 ^th Anniversary of the founding of Fitch Law Partners LLP.

October 2004

Stephen C. Reilly is an MCLE faculty panelist for the Annual Massachusetts Discovery Practice program.

October 2004

Stephen C. Reilly is an MCLE faculty panelist for the Annual Massachusetts Discovery Practice program.

October 2003

James B. Re appointed to four year term as Member of the Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers.

January 2003