Sheehey Attorney Celebrates 35 Years

Sheehey Furlong & Behm is proud to honor firm principal Diane M. McCarthy on her 35th anniversary with the firm. Diane joined Sheehey as a paralegal in 1989. She then completed the Vermont Law Office Study Program, including a four-year clerkship under the tutelage of former firm principal Michael G. Furlong. Remembering his time as Diane’s mentor and beyond, Furlong commented, “It was my great privilege to work with Diane McCarthy for so many years — her start as a Sheehey paralegal, becoming a lawyer following the great Vermont tradition of reading law, and her growth into one of the most respected business lawyers in the State. Throughout, Diane has been a star and I could not be more pleased to recognize her many accomplishments.”

Diane passed the bar and joined the firm’s Real Estate team in 1997, becoming a principal of the firm in 2007. Over the course of her storied career at Sheehey, Diane has counseled clients in hundreds if not thousands of complex real estate, development, financing, and corporate transactions. Diane is always available to her clients, and is known for being extremely thorough, with an unparalleled focus and dedication to protecting her clients’ interests. In addition to growing a diverse practice, Diane served as the firm’s managing partner from 2011 until 2014 and leads the firm’s Transactional Team, encompassing both real estate and corporate services. Diane has been acknowledged for her work by The Best Lawyers In America, including being recognized as the 2024 Burlington Lawyer of the Year for Banking and Finance Law. She has also been recognized by New England Super Lawyers since 2020. In addition to her work with clients, Diane is a member of the Vermont Business Roundtable.

Firm principal Arline Duffy said of her colleague and friend, “I have known Diane McCarthy for over forty-five years, and she is the reason I joined this firm 15 years ago. She has been a tremendous mentor in all areas of transactional law and a role model in her dedication to providing our clients the highest quality legal work. Her leadership and commitment to the firm along with her creative problem-solving skills and deep legal knowledge exemplify what it means to be a lawyer at Sheehey. All of us at the firm are deeply grateful to have a colleague like Diane, and wish her the very best on this special anniversary.”

Sheehey Attorney Celebrates 15 Years

Sheehey Furlong & Behm would like to thank and celebrate firm principal Arline P. Duffy on her 15-year anniversary with the firm. Arline joined Sheehey in January 2009, and became a principal of the firm in 2016. Arline has curated a diverse practice serving business and non-profit clients in corporate, intellectual property, and employment matters, financial institutions on regulatory compliance, and homeowners’ associations on governance, collection and other matters. She is also a member of the firm’s estate planning team.
Firm principal Diane McCarthy praised Arline on this occasion, stating: “It has been a pleasure to work with Arline all of these 15 years. Her intellect, sense of fairness, and problem-solving skills have served our clients well. As a colleague and friend, I continue to be grateful that Arline joined Sheehey after relocating back to Vermont many years ago and appreciate all that she has done and continues to do for her clients, colleagues and community.”
In addition to Arline’s practice serving outside clients of the firm, she was recently elected as Sheehey’s in-house General Counsel. Sheehey Managing Partner Renee Mobbs commented: “I rely on Arline’s ability to issue-spot and identify and navigate risk, as I’m sure her clients do as well. I look forward to many more years working with Arline.” Arline has been recognized by the Best Lawyers in America for her work in Business Organizations Law and is the Chair of the Board of Directors for Mercy Connections, Inc. Sheehey would like to extend its gratitude to Arline for her 15 years of service, and congratulations on this noteworthy milestone.

 

Sheehey Elects New Managing Partner and General Counsel

Renee L. Mobbs, Managing Partner

Effective January 1, 2024, Sheehey Furlong & Behm P.C. has elected Renee Mobbs as Managing Partner and Arline Duffy as General Counsel of the firm. Renee will replace Ian Carleton, who will continue leading the firm’s robust litigation team.

Carleton noted, “It is with pleasure and gratitude that I pass the management baton over to my colleague and friend, Renee Mobbs.  Running a firm our size is not an easy task.  Given her background in business and organizational law, not to mention her excellent judgment and steady hand, I have no doubt Renee will do a superb job.  We are very lucky to have her at the helm.”

Mobbs joined the firm in January 2016, working primarily in Sheehey’s transactional practice group, and was elected as a director and shareholder of the firm in 2018. Renee’s practice includes counseling financial institutions, business and property owners, developers and homeowners’ associations in their daily operational concerns, as well as in commercial litigation and transactional matters. She is a past President of the Vermont Bar Foundation.

“I am honored by my partners’ trust and support in electing me to this role. With the help of our highly skilled operations and management team, including our new General Counsel, I am committed to building on Sheehey’s reputation as the best business law firm in the state, and to serving and supporting each and every person in our firm as we strive to exceed our clients’ expectations. I also want to thank Ian Carleton for his service in this role in 2023—but as one of the best (and busiest) litigators in the state, I am happy to see him return to his thriving practice full-time, much to the benefit of our clients and the firm.

Arline P. Duffy, General Counsel

Arline Duffy, the firm’s new General Counsel, joined the firm in 2009. Arline’s diverse practice includes assisting business and non-profit clients in corporate and employment matters, counseling financial institutions on regulatory compliance, and advising many homeowners’ associations. She is also a member of the firm’s estate planning team. Arline is currently the Chair of the Board of Mercy Connections, Inc.

Please join Sheehey in congratulating Renee and Arline on their new roles.

 

 

Sheehey Attorney Celebrates 10 Years

Sheehey Furlong & Behm would like to extend its congratulations to firm principal Kevin Lumpkin for his tenth anniversary at Sheehey. Kevin first joined the team in November of 2013, becoming an integral part of its robust litigation group, and was named as a principal of the firm in 2018. He practices at both the state and federal level and regularly acts as local council for national law firms litigating in Vermont. Since 2015, he has been selected to the New England list of Rising Stars by Super Lawyers magazine, and in 2020 was named as one of 40 rising stars under 40 by Vermont Business Magazine. At the firm, Kevin is known for his energetic and adaptable spirit, and the persistence with which he pursues his cases. He is remarked upon for his dedication, determination, and for continuously encouraging both attorneys and staff towards their ambitions. Please join us in congratulating Kevin on this important anniversary.

Sheehey Sponsors Empty Bowl Dinner

Sheehey Furlong & Behm will once again sponsor the Spectrum Youth & Family Services Empty Bowl Dinner. The annual dinner, to be held October 10th, brings together members of the local community who are able to select a handmade ceramic bowl to fill with soups donated by local businesses. In addition, attendees are able to purchase items on the Giving Board, from eyeglasses to textbooks and personal care items, to benefit local youth.

Spectrum Youth and Family Services has been serving Vermont communities over 50 years. Their mission is to empower local youths and their families to lead better lives and make positive, sustainable changes through prevention, intervention, and life skills services. Sheehey is proud to support Spectrum in their efforts to transform not only the lives of the individuals and families they serve, but also the communities they work in.

Sheehey Administrative Assistant Celebrates 20 Years

September marks a special anniversary for firm librarian and administrative assistant Carolyn Murray, who will be celebrating her 20th year of working for Sheehey Furlong & Behm.

Carolyn first began working for Sheehey as the firm’s receptionist, welcoming all clients to the firm with a friendly and professional demeanor that continued into her administrative work. When speaking on Carolyn’s work ethic, firm principal Diane McCarthy noted, “Carolyn is a great team member and mentor to her fellow staff members.  I always appreciate her calm demeanor, attention to detail, and willingness to jump in on projects, especially with projects that often have tight deadlines.”

Amongst her colleagues at Sheehey, Carolyn is known for her professionalism, diligence, and dedication, which she brings to all she does. “Over the course of her career at our firm, Carolyn has grown to be a cornerstone of Sheehey’s operations,” said Managing Partner Ian Carleton. “Carolyn and I arrived at the firm nearly at the same time, and it has been a pleasure to watch her play so many important roles over the years.  We are a better firm for her competence and stability.  Congratulations Carolyn.”

Carolyn, we extend our congratulations on this milestone, and our thanks for twenty years of incredible work with the firm.

Sheehey Sponsors Zoe’s Race

For the second year, Sheehey Furlong & Behm is sponsoring the Howard Center’s Zoe’s Race. The race, which was originally conceived of in 2009, and which is now in its 13th year, aims to raise funds for individuals and families served by the Howard Center to make their homes accessible. The support of its participants, as well as of local businesses, aids the Howard Center in meeting the needs of the communities it serves. To date, the race has helped to raise more than $270,000 which has funded a total of 34 accessibility projects helping local families.

Commenting on the sponsorship, firm partner Arline Duffy noted, “Our firm is pleased to support Zoe’s Race again this year. The money raised provides important financial support to families in need of a more accessible home, and we are grateful to the Howard Center for their efforts to improve the quality of life in our community.”

Fifteen Sheehey Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers

Sheehey Furlong & Behm P.C. is proud to announce that fifteen of its attorneys have been recognized in the 2024 editions of The Best Lawyers in America, as well as Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch 2024. The publication recognizes over 66,000 American lawyers in more than 140 practice areas across all states. Recognition by Best Lawyers comes is the result of a peer review process which relies on the assessment of leading lawyers in the same geographical region and practice area as the recognized attorneys. Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch utilizes a similar peer review methodology to acknowledge lawyers earlier in their private practice careers.

Additionally, Sheehey attorney Diane McCarthy has been recognized as the 2024 Burlington Lawyer of the Year for Banking and Finance Law. Each year, this award is presented to one lawyer within each practice area and geographic region. Congratulations to Diane, and to all of the Sheehey attorneys who have been recognized for their work and professional abilities.

2024 Burlington Lawyer of the Year: Banking and Finance Law
Diane McCarthy

Sheehey Attorneys Recognized in the 2024 Edition of Best Lawyers in America include:
Ian Carleton

Arline Duffy

Diane McCarthy

Mark Melendy

Renee Mobbs

Christina Nolan

Heather Ross

Nathan Stearns

Lewis Sussman

Sheehey Attorneys Recognized in the 2024 Edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch include
Nathaniel Eisen

Walter McCarthy

Devin McKnight

Alexandrea Nelson

Peter Raymond

Hannah Waite

 

Hannah C. Waite Elected Director of Sheehey

Sheehey Furlong & Behm P.C. is pleased to announce that Hannah C. Waite has been elected as a Principal and Director of the firm effective July 1, 2023.  Hannah joined the firm in February 2021 as an associate with a practice focused primarily in civil litigation. Hannah has a broad civil litigation practice, serving business and individual clients in both state and federal court on matters ranging from employment to construction to medical malpractice.  She also has experience working on complex commercial matters, including representing both whistleblowers and corporations in cases brought under the False Claims Act.

Immediately following law school, Hannah worked at Cravath, Swaine & Moore in New York City.  She then clerked for the Honorable John G. Koeltl of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and for the Honorable Dennis Jacobs of the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.  Following her clerkships, Hannah practiced in the New York City office of Susman Godfrey, one of the country’s most highly regarded trial firms.

Commenting on Hannah’s partnership, Ian P. Carleton, Sheehey’s managing attorney, stated, “We could not be more pleased that Hannah is joining the Sheehey partnership.  Her instincts and critical thinking are second to none among attorneys of her generation.  It is difficult to think of an attorney who better epitomizes who we want to be as a firm, now and in the future.”

Hannah graduated magna cum laude and order of the coif from New York University School of Law, where she was a Pomeroy Scholar (one of the top ten students after the first year) and served as an Articles Editor on the NYU Law Review. Hannah received her B.A. cum laude from Middlebury College.

 

Sheehey Sponsors Girls on the Run

Sheehey Furlong & Behm is proud to announce the firm’s sponsorship of Girls on the Run Vermont. The non-profit organization is one dedicated to changing the lives of girls in grades 3-8 through their character development program. Their experience-based program curriculum is designed to inspire, “girls to be joyful, healthy, and confident” and instills girls with the necessary skills to navigate their world while laying the foundations for a lifelong appreciation of health and fitness. The program will conclude with a celebratory 5K to be hosted Saturday, June 3rd in Essex Junction. Sheehey’s sponsorship of the program will help provide access to the program for girls who would not have otherwise been able to participate.

You can learn more about Girls on the Run Vermont by visiting their website here.