Attorneys make 2015 Best Lawyers in America List.
Coverage in The Longmeadow News
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Local law firm, Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin, P.C., serving Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York, today announced that eight attorneys have been selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2015. Best Lawyers® is the oldest and most highly respected guide to the legal profession. The 52,488 attorneys named to Best Lawyers have been recognized by their peers in the legal industry for their professional excellence in 137 different practice areas covering all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Lawyers nominated for the honor are divided by geographic region and practice areas. They are evaluated by their peers on the basis of professional expertise, and undergo an authentication review to make sure they are in current practice and in good standing.
Partner Michele J. Feinstein has been selected by her peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2015 in the fields of elder law and trusts and estates. Attorney Feinstein, a resident of Longmeadow, concentrates her practice in the areas of estate planning and administration, elder law, probate litigation, health law and corporate and business planning, including all aspects of planning for the succession of business interests, representation of closely held businesses and their owners and representation of physicians in their individual and group practices.
Partner Gary S. Fentin has been selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2015 in the fields of banking and finance law and commercial transactions/UCC law. A resident of Conway, Mass., Fentin concentrates his practice in the areas of commercial and real estate finance and development, industrial revenue bonds, affordable housing, estate planning, business law and business foreclosures and workouts. He manages the firm’s tax-exempt bond practice and has acted as bond counsel and/or purchaser’s counsel in hundreds of such issues since 1978. He is the only counsel west of Worcester who has been approved as bond counsel to the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency.
“It is a tremendous honor to be included on the list of Best Lawyers,” said Attorney Fentin. “We are proud of the work conducted by all our attorneys who have been recognized this year and value the credibility the program lends to our firm.”
Partner Carol Coie Klyman has been selected by her peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2015 in the field of elder law. A resident of Westhampton, Klyman concentrates her practice in the areas of elder law, estate planning and administration, special needs trust planning, estate settlement, guardianships, and probate litigation. An emerging part of her practice is estate planning for individuals with disabilities, including filing petitions for guardianships, structuring settlements for personal injury proceeds, and drafting special needs trusts.
Partner Timothy P. Mulhern has been selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2015 in the fields of corporate law and tax law. Attorney Mulhern, a resident of Longmeadow, was first listed in Best Lawyers in 2013. He concentrates his practice in the areas of family business planning, taxation, corporate law and estate planning.
Partner Steven J. Schwartz, has been selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2015 in the fields of business organizations (including LLCs and partnerships), closely held companies and family business law and corporate law. Schwartz, a resident of Monterey, concentrates his practice in the areas of family business planning, mergers and acquisitions, corporate law and estate planning. His practice involves representation of principals in family business planning (including exit planning for business owners), representation of individuals and corporations in the purchase and sale of business enterprises, strategic planning for the future of clients’ businesses and providing advice as to alternatives in financing through loans and venture capital.
“It is a privilege to be selected for the Best Lawyers distinction,” said Attorney Schwartz. “I am honored to be listed amongst so many knowledgeable and dedicated attorneys nationwide.”
Partner James B. Sheils has been selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2015 in the fields of commercial transactions/UCC law. Sheils, who also serves as town moderator of East Longmeadow, concentrates his practice in the areas of commercial finance law, creditors’ rights, banking law and telecommunications siting matters.
Partner Ann (Ami) I. Weber has been selected by her peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2015 in the field of elder law. Weber is a resident of Granville, Mass., and concentrates her practice in the areas of estate tax planning, estate administration, probate and elder law. She has a particular interest in creative estate planning for authors, artists, farmers and landowners. Weber was first listed on Best Lawyers in 2004.
Partner Steven Weiss been selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2015 in the fields of bankruptcy and credit or debtor rights and insolvency and reorganization law. Weiss, a resident of Longmeadow, was first named to Best Lawyers in 2013. He concentrates his practice in the areas of commercial and consumer bankruptcy, reorganization and litigation. He supervises the firm’s bankruptcy, reorganization and workout practice and represents creditors, debtors and others in both commercial and consumer bankruptcy cases throughout Massachusetts. Weiss has been a member of the private panel of Chapter 7 Trustees for the District of Massachusetts since 1987 and also serves as a Chapter 11 Trustee.
“Best Lawyers is the most reliable reference for quality legal representation,” said President and Co-Founder Steven Naifeh. “Inclusion on this list indicates that an attorney is valued by his or her peers for professional success.”
Selection to Best Lawyers — which has been published annually since 1983 — is based on a rigorous national survey involving more than 5.5 million detailed, confidential evaluations by lawyers of other lawyers in their respective practice areas.