Governor John Lynch recently named attorney Emily Gray Rice as co-chair of the Judicial Selection Commission. The commission was created in 2005 through an Executive Order issued by Gov. Lynch, with the purpose of vetting candidates for judicial posts.

Rice is a trial attorney with extensive experience in federal and state courts. She also maintains a private mediation practice. Earlier in her career, Rice served as chief of the Civil Bureau in New Hampshire's Department of Justice. Rice chairs the Advisory Committee on Rules for the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. She is an adjunct professor of law at Franklin Pierce Law Center where she teaches trial advocacy. Rice is the recipient of numerous awards, including the New Hampshire Bar Association’s E. Donald Dufresne Award for Outstanding Professionalism. Rice is also a dedicated community volunteer and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Capitol Region Food Program and Red River Theatres.

The eleven-member commission is comprised of both attorneys and non-attorneys. When there is a judicial vacancy, the Commission provides Gov. Lynch with a list of qualified candidates for consideration. From those candidates, the Governor makes a nomination to the Executive Council.

Philip Waystack of Colebrook, an attorney with Waystack Frizzell in Colebrook, serves as the other co-chair of the commission.

Orr and Reno has been named a 2008 Go-To Law Firm for Technology Companies by Corporate Counsel magazine. Each year the magazine conducts surveys with in-house counsel at the top 500 American companies, asking them which outside law firms they use and for what practice areas.

The firm received the award for outstanding work done by attorneys Jim Bassett and Martha Van Oot. IMS Health, Inc. chose Bassett for his work in the practice area of Litigation and Oracle Corporation selected Van Oot for her work in the Intellectual Property arena.

Data to back up the surveys are gathered through court dockets, securities filings, and law publications. This year, ALM—a leading integrated media company and publisher of Corporate Counsel—has targeted the surveys toward top technology companies. The named firms have the honor of being Go-To Law Firms. The firm will appear in a new ALM-published guide called In-House Law Departments at the Leading Technology Companies, coming out soon. The guide will serve as a reference tool for in-house counsel at technology companies, allowing them to consider Go-To Law Firms as additional legal expertise. It will be distributed to more than 10,000 in-house counsel, including every Fortune 1000 General Counsel.

Long-time Orr & Reno partner Ronald L. Snow died after a brief illness at Concord Hospital on March 14, 2008. He was 72. For over 46 years at Orr & Reno, Ron was a vital member of the firm, establishing its litigation department and becoming one of the most respected trial lawyers in New Hampshire. He joined the firm in 1961 and served as its president from 1986 to 1994. His notoriety as a trial lawyer began at Yale Law School where he won the student trial competition and culminated in his election as a Fellow in the American College of Trial Attorneys in 1982. His numerous courtroom successes included complex commercial disputes, plaintiffs products liability actions and complicated medical malpractice defenses. By example and active mentoring, he provided many past and present Orr & Reno lawyers with not only superior training in the craft of trial preparation and practice but high standards of ethical conduct and loyalty to clients and the firm.

Ron was born in Franklin, NH and raised in the Lakes Region. He was a debate and athletic star at Laconia High School and quarterbacked the first New Hampshire Maple Sugar Shrine football team. Attending Dartmouth, he played baseball and won national recognition as a debater before graduating in 1958 and going on to Yale Law School, finishing in 1961. He settled in Concord and at Orr & Reno that summer with his wife, Mary Ellen, and together they raised three children, including Lisa Snow Wade, a current partner in the firm. He served numerous charitable organizations to promote a wide variety of interests, and was instrumental in the implementation of technology in the federal and state court rooms in New Hampshire. Ron loved jazz and was a talented golfer and magician.

“For everyone around him, Ron set an incredible example as a lawyer, in his unparalleled preparation, the insightful analysis and judgment he applied to issues and his unwavering adherence to the highest ethical standards.” said John Malmberg, Orr & Reno president. “Orr & Reno is deeply indebted to him for the example he provided, the wisdom he shared and his abiding loyalty and service to Orr & Reno and to our clients.”

A service of thanksgiving and remembrance will be held on Wednesday, March 19 at 1:00pm at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church of Concord with a reception for family and friends following the service hosted by Orr & Reno.

Ronald L. Snow: Local Attorney and Community Leader, Conord Monitor.

LHS Grad Excelled in School, Legal Profession, The Citizen of Laconia.

Attorney Heidi Cole recently graduated from The Vesta Roy Excellence in Public Service Series. In addition, Cole has been elected to the organization’s Board of Governors.

The Series is a political leadership training program for Republican women who have an interest in politics and public service but have not yet held state elective office. The program provides both informational and skills-building sessions to give participants tools and training to build their confidence and turn interest into activism.

During her year-long fellowship, Cole participated in various training sessions including understanding the legislative process, planning campaigns, traveling to Washington, DC to meet and learn tips from staff and members, and hearing personal stories from elected officials.

Vesta Roy served as a Rockingham County Commissioner, state representative, and state senator from 1979-1986. As senate president at the time of Governor Hugh Gallen’s death, she served as governor for 7 days prior to the swearing in of Governor John H. Sununu. She was the first female to hold that position.

Orr & Reno Immigration Manager, Robin Vermette will present on hiring foreign physicians and allied health processionals at the join meeting of the Vermont Healthcare Human Resource Association and Healthcare Human Resource Association of New Hampshire on June 20.

The workshop will provide an immigration overview for human resources professionals and will clarify the difference between the J-1 and H-1B physician, explain the J-1 waiver process and whether a facility qualifies for the J-1 waiver, the requirements to file an H-1B visa petition with Immigration, visa alternatives when the H-1B is not an option, and describe the “green card” process.

Vermette joined Orr & Reno in 1993 after serving as Special Assistant and Immigration Specialist for former U.S. Senator Warren Rudman. As part of the firm’s Employment Law and Immigration practice, she focuses entirely on immigration matters - particularly assisting employers and foreign nationals through the complex immigration process for employment-based professional visas and the "green card" process.

Vermette has written articles on immigration issues for business magazines and has been a guest lecturer and workshop presenter at institutions such as Dartmouth College, Franklin Pierce Law Center, Middlebury College, the University of New Hampshire, the National Association for Foreign Student Advisors, and human resource and health care associations.

Orr & Reno is pleased to announce that Richard Y. Uchida has joined the firm as a director and a member of the business practice group. Richard is a business lawyer with expertise in real estate development and all areas of land use planning and regulation. In addition, he advises clients on formations, acquisitions and sales of businesses, commercial leasing, and general day-to-day business issues. Richard subscribes to a philosophy of bringing value to his clients in all of their legal matters.

The general governing council of the Religious of Jesus and Mary recently approved the sale of the Villa Augustina School, a K-8 Catholic school in Goffstown, New Hampshire to a group of concerned parents.

It was almost five months ago, when the Religious of Jesus and Mary told parents they could not financially support the school they founded 90 years ago, making its closure almost certain. Since then, determined parents have created a transition team, developed a five-year plan, established two new non-profit corporations to operate as successors to the school, and raised necessary funds to purchase and upgrade the school. Parents and others, acting through the Villa Augustina Leadership Transition Team, devised a plan to continue the school through an independent non-profit successor corporation that will continue to operate the school as an independent Catholic school.

Orr & Reno attorney Todd Fahey has represented the parents of Villa Augustina School and the Villa Augustina Leadership Transition Team throughout the organizational process and negotiation of this transfer.

Union Leader Article: Sale of Villa Augustina to Parents Ok’d

On March 21, 2008, the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission (“PUC”) issued an order declaring that Verizon had been improperly imposing “carrier common line charges” upon competitive local exchange carriers (“CLECs”) in instances where no Verizon “common line” was being used and where no Verizon end use customer was involved in the telephone call. Verizon was ordered by the PUC to cease billing these charges to CLECs. In addition, the PUC ruled that Verizon’s misinterpretation of its tariff had resulted in impermissible charges and therefore Verizon owes restitution to the CLECs. The PUC determined that “the aggregate potential Verizon liability appears to be on the order of $15 million to $20 million.” The exact amount and manner of refunds or reparations will be determined in a second phase of this case.

This case was initiated upon a complaint brought by Freedom Ring Communications, LLC d/b/a BayRing Communications which is represented by Attorney Susan Geiger, a shareholder and director of Orr & Reno, and a former PUC Commissioner.

On March 14, the New Hampshire Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision, ruled that MacDowell Colony, of Peterborough, New Hampshire, is a charitable organization under New Hampshire law and entitled to a property tax exemption.

MacDowell Colony was established in 1907 by Edward MacDowell, an internationally renown composer, and his wife, Marian, to “promote the arts … to encourage study, research and production of all branches of art … and to broaden their influence” throughout the world. The MacDowells dedicated their home in Peterborough to be “a place for work and companionship of students in all the arts.” Their generosity has given New Hampshire one of the most successful artist-in-residence programs in the country. Each year both established and emerging artists through a selective admission process are awarded fellowships to the Colony to work on art projects. Over the years Colony Fellows have included such well known artists as Thornton Wilder, Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein, Willa Cather and Alice Walker.

In its decision, the Supreme Court ruled that MacDowell’s mission is charitable because its “artist-in-residence ‘program primarily benefits society as a whole.’” In so ruling, the Court rejected the Town of Peterborough’s argument that MacDowell did not serve the general public because its property is used only by artists who are awarded fellowships. The Court stated that the “relevant inquiry is not whether the public…benefits from the organization’s property…but whether the public…benefits from the organization’s performance of its stated purpose,” in MacDowell’s case, “promotion of the arts.”

After the decision, MacDowell Colony released the following statement:

“Today’s Supreme Court decision affirming MacDowell’s longstanding property tax exemption is welcome news to all citizens who value the work done by charitable organizations in New Hampshire ... The Court’s ruling reminds us that municipalities and non-profits are on the same side, working to strengthen our communities and enhance the quality of life for all citizens …That the importance of the arts in the Granite State has not faded with the passage of so many generations serves as an inspiration to all of us.”

Bill Chapman represented MacDowell Colony. Other members of the firm who work on behalf of New Hampshire charitable organizations are Connie Lane, Vera Buck, John Malmberg, and Todd Fahey.

To read the full MacDowell Colony decision Click Here.

Long-time Orr & Reno partner Malcolm McLane passed away at his home on February 2, 2008. He was 83. For over 50 years at Orr & Reno, Malcolm was a distinguished trusts and estates lawyer. He joined the firm in 1952 and served as its president from 1981 to 1984. He had a long career in public life, serving on the Concord City Council for 20 years, as mayor of Concord from 1970 to 1976 and on the Executive Council from 1977 to 1982. Before settling in Concord with his wife Susan to raise their five children, Malcolm was a decorated fighter pilot in World War II, graduated from Dartmouth, was a Rhodes Scholar and graduated from Harvard Law School. His record for the fastest ascent to the AMC’s Greenleaf Hut on Mt. Lafayette still stands, and he captained the Dartmouth Ski Team. Malcolm was instrumental in the development of the Wildcat Mountain Ski Area and Concord’s Everett Arena and in the renovation and rejuvenation of the Capital Center for the Arts. He served numerous charitable organizations to promote a wide variety of interests, including education, social welfare and women’s rights.

“Malcolm’s unselfish public service, high professional standards and engaging, genuinely warm and funny manner provide a great example for all of us,” said John Malmberg, Orr & Reno president. “I will always be grateful for the opportunity to know him, for all he did for Concord and the State of New Hampshire and for his abiding loyalty and service to Orr & Reno.”

A service of thanksgiving and remembrance will be held on Sunday, February 10 at 3pm at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church of Concord with a reception for family and friends following the service hosted by Orr & Reno.

The Multi-Faceted Malcolm McLane, NH Public Radio, The Front Porch, January 2004. Click Here

Ex-mayor McLane dies at 83: Community leader helped shape city, Concord Monitor, February 2008. Click Here

Malcolm McLane: Concord mayor from 1970 to 1976, The Concord Monitor, February 2008. Click Here

McLane quietly made Concord a better place: Concord Monitor Article

Malcolm McLane was 'one of those old-fashioned lions': UnionLeader Article

Jeniffer Eber was elected to the Board of Directors of The Animal Rescue League of NH in February. Eber focuses her practice on commercial, insurance and employment litigation, domestic relations and animal rights litigation.

The Animal Rescue League of New Hampshire is a community resource dedicated to saving the lives of homeless pets, caring for companion animals afflicted by neglect, abandonment and cruelty and enhancing the relationship between people and pets through adoption, education, compassion and the promotion of animal welfare.

Bonnie Packard, Director of Government Relations, was nominated by U.S. Senator John Sununu (R-N.H.) to participate in the Business and Professional Women’s Leadership Summit in Washington in late April. Packard was one of 31 New Hampshire women nominated. The summit offers over 400 women leaders from across the country a forum to discuss economic growth, education, health care and other national political issues.

Five Orr & Reno attorneys undertook leadership roles during the 2007 Campaign for Legal Services:

• Jeremy D. Eggleton
• Emily Gray Rice
• Jessica E. Storey
• Kate J. Winstanley

These five attorneys have donated their time to help low-income members of the community receive legal assistance and raised funds to support the Legal Advice & Referral Center, the New Hampshire Pro Bono Referral Program and New Hampshire Legal Assistance.

Government Relations Advisor Denis Parker was recently reappointed by Governor John Lynch and confirmed by the Executive Council to serve his second three-year term on the NH Compensation Appeals Board. Parker was previously nominated for the position in 2005 by then Governor Jeanne Shaheen. The Appeals Board was established in 1991 and is administratively attached to the Department of Labor. The Board conducts de novo hearings on workers compensation issues and such decisions may only be appealed to the State Supreme Court.

Attorney Martha Van Oot will serve on the faculty for a new legal workshop for attorneys and others interested in business dissolutions being offered by the NH Bar Association. The program, Business Split-Ups: Issues Arising from Corporate and Partnership Fractures, will be held on Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at NH Bar Association Seminar Room.

The program will feature a panel of experienced practitioners discussing the legal issues that attorneys must help clients address during the dissolution of a business. The seminar will also look at resolving disputes among business owners that arise after an acquisition, merger or some other change of ownership. Details at www.nhbar.org.

Students at Pierce Law Center in Concord are benefiting from Connie Boyles Lane’s 27 years of diversified legal experience this term. As an adjunct professor, Lane is teaching a course on Nonprofit Organizations and Management. As a former executive director of two nonprofit organizations, Lane is familiar with the myriad legal and management issues facing both new and established nonprofit organizations. In addition, Lane has served on numerous nonprofit boards and provided strategic planning advice to numerous others as a consultant. Lane focuses her practice in the areas of business and real estate with an emphasis on nonprofits, financial transactions, small business and land use law.