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V O L . X X V I I N O. X X V N OV E M B E R 1 5 , 2 0 2 1 22 L AW F O C U S Verrill's two new trademark attorneys are omas Dunn and Rebecca Lessard, and the new trial attorneys are Sarah Grossnickle and Martin Topol. "We're making smart, strategic growth. It's growth in headcount, billable hours and revenue. We're focusing on the practice areas that are growing," Anderson says. "We're focusing a lot on client teams that can support our biggest clients." e firm is focused on strengthen- ing its presence in Portland, Boston and Westport, Conn. It also has an office in Augusta, as well as Washington, D.C., Rhode Island and New York. While the firm works with clients nationally, it wants to work from its base in New England. "What we experienced during COVID was a seamless transition to everyone moving home. Lawyers, staff, paralegals, all were productive and busy. Last year, we had some clients who were eager to resume face-to-face meetings, but now clients appreciate the flexibility of remote work," Anderson says. e pandemic made a lot of work more simple, such as attending an out- of-state court hearing or meeting a cli- ent in California via Zoom rather than flying across the country. "It opened up opportunities, encour- aging opportunities, to expand areas of practice that could be handled remotely," Anderson says. At the same time, remote work means competing with other law firms who also are working remotely. "ere's more competition, which adds to the lateral switching," Anderson said. "We just always have to be think- ing of how to do a better job and to be constantly focused on clients." Pierce Atwood adjusts hybrid work balance While some attorneys relish remote work, Pierce Atwood's Nic Gladd missed an office environment. Gladd joined the firm in August due, in part, to a desire to be connected to a home base in Maine while he continued his work with energy clients nationally. Gladd and his wife went to college in Maine and wanted to return. He was working remotely but wanted ties to an office and found a home at Pierce Atwood, says Jared des Rosiers, partner and chair of the firm's energy practice group. Prior to joining Pierce Atwood, Gladd was of counsel in the energy and infrastructure practice in the Washington, D.C., office of Kirkland & Ellis, a large international law firm. "Prior to the pandemic, everyone worked at the office. Now, lots of lawyers are staying remote. Nic was a unique case in that he was remote before every- one else and found that the isolation can get old, that it's helpful to be part of an office," des Rosiers says. "We're very fortunate to have him. He adds and compliments our energy practice and helps clients all over the country — all from his chosen state of Maine," des Rosiers says. Preti Flaherty launches municipal broadband practice Recognizing the importance of broad- band service and the recent avail- ability of new funding opportunities, Preti Flaherty recently formed New England's first dedicated municipal broadband practice group. Combining municipal, finance and telecommunications legal expe- rience with knowledge of commu- nications businesses and technolo- gies, the group helps clients simplify and streamline the planning and implementation of telecommunica- tions projects. e group includes members of the firm's municipal law and finance, energy and telecommunications and business law practice groups. Kristin Collins, Joseph Donahue and Bonnie Martinolich are co-chairs of the municipal broadband group. "e attorneys in our Municipal Broadband Group are trusted names in municipal, telecommunications, and business law. Central to our success is our depth of experience and nuanced understanding of the complex govern- mental and technological landscape. Formalizing our efforts into this first- of-its-kind practice group represents the latest responsive evolution of the innova- tive services clients have come to expect from Preti Flaherty," Collins said at the time the practice was launched. Je ssic a Hal l, Mainebiz staff w r ite r, can be reached at jhall @ mainebiz.biz shaheengordon.com Concord • Dover • Manchester • Nashua • Portland Fighting for Clients for 40 Years & Counting. That's our superpower. Year after year, we're proud of our attorneys named New England Super Lawyers®. Here's to our 2021 Super Lawyers! It's different here Steven M. Gordon D. Michael Noonan William Christie Peter Schroeter Lawrence Vogelman James Rosenberg Brian Quirk Lucy Karl Jeffrey Manganaro Rising Star Francis Murphy Anthony Carr Rising Star Tracey Goyette Cote Nicholas Kline Rising Star Timothy Harrington Alexander Spadinger Rising Star Benjamin Siracusa Hillman Emma Stilson Rising Star Cathy Green James Armillay Rising Star » C O N T I N U E D F RO M P R E V I O U S PA G E We're focusing a lot on client teams that can support our biggest clients. — Scott Anderson Verrill

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