Two firm shareholders have earned the honorable distinction of “Lawyer of the Year” for 2025 by Best Lawyers®, a peer-reviewed guide to the legal profession.
Diane McCarthy has been recognized by her peers as the 2025 “Lawyer of the Year” in Business Organizations for Burlington, Vt. She was also recognized generally in the categories of Banking and Finance Law, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, and Real Estate Law. Diane joined the firm in 1997 and is a principal of the firm. She advises and represents clients in the purchase and sale of commercial real estate, leasing, and other real estate-related matters. She also advises clients in connection with business organizational matters, including the formation, dissolution, purchase, and sale of Vermont business enterprises.
Mark Melendy has been recognized as the 2025 “Lawyer of the Year” in Trust and Estates Law for Burlington, Vermont. Mark was also recognized for high caliber work in Tax law. Mark is a
principal of the firm and his practice focuses on estate and trust planning and administration, business succession planning and tax advice. Mark assists clients with planning for a smooth transfer of assets to loved ones, and, following a client’s death, guidance through the estate and trust administration process. His clients range from business owners transferring their businesses to individuals planning for distributions to their beneficiaries lifetime medical issues and planning for long term care costs, with clients’ piece of mind concerns at the forefront. Mark focuses on drafting estate plans that accomplish the clients’ goals in an understandable manner while attaining income and estate tax efficiency, notwithstanding the complexities that some estate plans require.
Sheehey would also like to congratulate the following lawyers named to The Best Lawyers® in America 2025 list:
The Best Lawyers in America® 2025 Edition:
- Criminal Defense: General Practice
- Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- Banking and Finance Law
- Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
- Corporate Law
- Litigation – Intellectual Property
- Banking and Finance Law
- Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
- Corporate Law
- Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Real Estate Law
- Tax Law
- Trusts and Estates
- Banking and Finance Law
- Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
- Corporate Law
- Real Estate Law
- Commercial Litigation
- Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- Commercial Litigation
- Employment Law – Individuals
- Employment Law – Management
We also congratulate the six Sheehey attorneys who were named Ones to Watch®, a distinction typically conferred on lawyers who have been in practice for between 5 and 9 years.
Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America
- Appellate Practice
- Commercial Litigation
- Real Estate Law
- Commercial Litigation
- Criminal Defense: General Practice
- Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- Commercial Litigation
- Criminal Defense: General Practice
- Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- Commercial Litigation
- Corporate Law
- Land Use and Zoning Law
- Commercial Litigation
Best Lawyers® is the oldest peer-reviewed publication company in the legal profession that’s widely regarded by both clients and legal professionals. Its list of outstanding lawyers is compiled by conducting extensive peer review surveys where thousands of lawyers confidentiality evaluate their professional peers.
Sheehey Furlong & Behm is a Vermont law firm that provides a full range of legal services to local, national and regional businesses, nonprofit organizations and individuals. When it matters most, you need experience, knowledge and insight on your side. At Sheehey, we have been resolving complex legal issues since 1926. Home to some of the region’s most sought after lawyers and representing some of Vermont’s and the region’s highest profile companies, we excel at providing quality representation with a cost effective approach, all tailored to your needs.
