Amanda Eckhoff Reappointed to REFA Board of Directors

Real Estate + Development Group partner, Amanda Eckhoff, has been reappointed to a one-year term on the Real Estate Finance Association’s (REFA) Board of Directors. REFA, a division of the Greater Boston Real Estate Board, is a commercial real estate business association providing members with networking and educational opportunities and promoting the exchange of ideas and information between professionals in the real estate finance community. Formed in 1988, REFA currently has more than 700 members and 110 corporate sponsors, hosting over 30 educational and networking events per year. Amanda also serves as co-chair of REFA’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, which focuses on implementing the Association’s DEI Policy, first adopted in 2017.

Boston Magazine Names Six R+C Lawyers as Top Lawyers 2022

Six Robinson+Cole lawyers—Kendra Berardi, Amanda Eckhoff, Michael Giaimo, Matthew Lawlor, Seth Orkand and Timothy Twardowski— were designated as Top Lawyers 2022 by Boston magazine. Now in its second year, the list was issued in the December 2022 edition of the magazine and included 1,211 best lawyers in the region, as chosen by their peers. The feature aims to serve readers as a valued resource for finding the best and most widely recognized lawyers in the Greater Boston area for their excellence in legal work. Lawyers were invited to nominate up to three of their peers in a select number of law specialty categories. Learn more and view the list.

Robinson+Cole Presents Annual Awards for Outstanding Contributions

On July 28, 2022, Robinson+Cole recognized 19 lawyers and staff members for their pro bono work, mentoring, community service and efforts to promote a diverse and inclusive work environment as part of the firm's annual awards.

The Pro Bono Award is presented by the firm’s Pro Bono Committee and honors individuals for their outstanding commitment to Robinson+Cole’s pro bono initiative. This year’s honorees were Megan E. Baroni, Laurie A. Krepto, Ryan V. Leichsenring, Leticia C. Pimentel, Stephani A. Roman and Business Center Specialist Elsa E. Colon and Attorney Career Development Manager Kristopher I. Moore, who were honored for their ongoing dedication and support of diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.

Amanda Eckhoff Recognized as Commercial Real Estate "Go To Lawyer" by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly

Robinson+Cole Real Estate + Development Group lawyer, Amanda S. Eckhoff, was recognized as a “Massachusetts Go To Lawyer” in the area of Commercial Real Estate by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly (MLW) and profiled in a special section published in the June 28, 2021 edition. The “Massachusetts Go To Lawyers” feature was debuted by MLW in 2020 to showcase leaders in the Massachusetts legal community by practice area. A “Go To Lawyer” is: an expert in his or her field; a senior attorney well-versed in case law, statutes and regulations; experienced, with a record of success in cases and/or transactions; a lawyer to whom other lawyers make referrals because of his or her expertise and accomplishments; and a lawyer who can think creatively and identify all options for a client.

Mandy Eckhoff Speaks on Commercial Real Estate Loan Documentation

Real Estate + Development Group lawyer Amanda S. Eckhoff co-presented a program entitled “Fundamentals of Commercial Real Estate Loan Documentation” on March 20, 2019, in Boston. Mandy reviewed basic loan documentation and important due diligence concerns, and highlighted key issues in negotiation from the perspective of both lenders and borrowers. More than 60 people attended the program, which was sponsored by the  Real Estate Finance Association (REFA), a division of Greater Boston Real Estate Board, a commercial real estate business association that provides members with networking and educational opportunities. 

Mandy Eckhoff Presents on Public Speaking and Effective Presentations for REFA Boston

Finance Group lawyer Amanda S. Eckhoff presented a program on “Winning With Words: How to Improve Your Presentation Game” on June 20, 2018 at Babson College in Boston, Massachusetts. Presented by the Boston Chapter of the Real Estate Finance Association (REFA), the program was the first of a two-part Women's Roundtable Session. Ms. Eckhoff's interactive seminar highlighted the importance of public speaking and effective presentations and offered tips and best practices to use in both personal and professional settings. She also covered how to be more confident and effective while also being mindful of language and mannerisms that may actually weaken a presentation. Launched in 2015, REFA's Women’s Roundtable and Events are held throughout the year as a chance for women in the real estate finance industry to network with one another, discuss market updates and trends, and hear from prominent female leaders within the real estate finance community.

Robinson+Cole Employees Lend a Hand to New England Center and Home for Veterans

Lawyers and staff from the Boston office have been volunteering their time to provide meal service for the New England Center and Home for Veterans (NECHV), an organization dedicated to equipping Veterans who are facing or at-risk of homelessness with the tools for economic self-sufficiency and to providing them a path to achieve successful and dignified independent living. Spearheaded by Finance Group lawyer Amanda S. Eckhoff, a group of Robinson+Cole employees has volunteered to serve lunch, for one afternoon, during the months of January, April, and June 2018. To date, the following volunteers have participated in the community service project: Marleen M. Chin, Pamela A. Heafey, Rebecca B. Hughes, E. Christopher Kehoe, Samuel Mullin, Danielle M. Pasquale, and Phyllis A. Williams. Each day, NECHV serves between 380-400 meals to Veteran residents and Veterans accessing services through the organization’s programs. View photos.

Robinson+Cole Hosts Young Lenders Happy Hour

A gathering of 16 clients and colleagues attended a Robinson+Cole happy hour at Tavern Road, a restaurant in the Seaport District of Boston. Commercial finance lawyer Amanda S. Eckhoff organized the private get-together for new lenders in the early stages of their careers as a way for them to network with the firm and each other. The evening of networking and socializing followed a brief presentation by commercial finance lawyer Michael R. Enright on the bankruptcy process. This well-received event will be reprised in the early fall.

Boston Lawyers Address WomenUp Event

Business and intellectual property lawyer Kathleen M. Porter and real estate lawyer Carla M. Moynihan participated in the WomenUp – Local Women of Influence awards breakfast in Boston on December 11, 2014. The event profiled 22 Boston-area women of influence, visionary entrepreneurs who are making a mark in Boston's economic environment. Before the audience of more than 500 women professionals and entrepreneurs, Ms. Porter and Ms. Moynihan provided an overview of Robinson+Cole and then introduced four of the honorees. Boston lawyers Amanda S. Eckhoff, Caitlin M. Healey, Elizabeth W. Kaloyanides, Katherine C. Bailey, Misha K. Daha, Matthew J. Lawlor, and J. Michael Wirvin also attended the event, together with clients and friends of the firm.

WomenUp.org's mission is "to increase women's role in the global economy by providing leadership training, mentorship, and support to girls and women through every stage of their lives and careers."

 

Mandy Eckhoff Selected as One of Boston's Future Leaders

Commercial finance lawyer Amanda S. Eckhoff has been selected as one of Boston's Future Leaders by the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce. Boston's Future Leaders program identifies midlevel executives with strong leadership potential, providing them with opportunities to engage in the region's business and civic communities, enhance their professional skills, and build their networks. Participants in the program have the opportunity to learn from world-class professors at the Harvard Business School and Suffolk University's Sawyer Business School, to learn about public policy issues affecting local businesses from some of the region's foremost political leaders, and to connect with prominent executives in the business and civic communities.

National Association of Realtors Honors LandLaw Partner and Firm

LandLaw partner Brian W. Blaesser and Robinson & Cole were honored by the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) at its national conference in November. Mr. Blaesser and his R&C team were recognized for their 12 years of work on behalf of NAR through programs developed to address issues important to Realtors® and the real estate industry. These programs include the Land Use Initiative, through which the team provides analyses of proposed state and local regulatory initiatives, the Customized State Legislation Program, through which the team prepares Realtor®-sponsored state legislation, the Smart Growth Quarterly e-Newsletter, which provides a 50-state update of pending smart growth-related legislation and initiatives at the state and local levels, and the Coordinating Realtor® Campaign, NAR’s national legislative campaign to address state real estate transfer taxes. The Robinson & Cole NAR team of attorneys and land use analysts is drawn from across the firm’s offices and includes Anne F. Campbell, Amanda S. Eckhoff, Michael Giaimo, Michele L. Maresca, Linnea C. McCaffrey, Gregory S. Sampson, Timothy C. Twardowski and George W. Watson III.

While at the conference, Mr. Blaesser met with NAR’s leadership to discuss Robinson & Cole’s work for NAR and was asked to address the controversial issue of private transfer fees (PTFs), which are fees required to be paid to a private third party upon the sale or transfer of real property. They are typically imposed in the form of a covenant recorded against the property. NAR and the American Land Title Association (ALTA) have opposed PTFs on the ground that they constitute an unreasonable restraint on the transferability of real property. The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) acted to prohibit issuance of FHA insurance on properties with PTFs in June 2010. The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) recently proposed guidance that would instruct Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac not to purchase mortgages secured by properties that are encumbered by private transfer fees.

Brian Blaesser and Amanda Eckhoff Publish Article on Green Initiatives Impacting Private Development

LandLaw attorneys Brian W. Blaesser and Amanda S. Eckhoff just published Part 2 of The Greening of the Litigation Landscape in the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) publication Retail Law Strategist. The article is the second in a three-part feature and explains the two types of green initiatives impacting private development—voluntary programs that provide incentives for green construction and mandatory programs requiring compliance. Mr. Blaesser and Ms. Eckhoff discuss how local green initiatives may affect allocation of responsibilities and risk among members of a real estate development team. They use one of the first-in-the-country “green” litigation cases, Shaw Development, LLC v. Southern Builders, Inc., as an example of how these risks and responsibilities may lead to litigation during development of a green retail building. They also examine the American Institute of Architects’ forms – B101 (2007) (Standard Form Agreement Between Owner and Architect) and the B214 (2007) (Standard Form of Architect’s Services: LEED Certification) – that are intended to better allocate the responsibilities among development team members during construction of a green building and reduce the risk of litigation. The authors recommend steps that members of a development team can take to reduce risk of litigation and ensure that each member has a clear understanding of their role, responsibilities, and degree of risk when undertaking a green retail construction project. To read Part 1 and Part 2 of the article, please click here.

74 Robinson+Cole Lawyers Listed in The Best Lawyers in America 2023

74 Robinson+Cole lawyers were selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2023. Of the 74 lawyers from across the firm’s practice groups and offices named to the list, 54 are from Connecticut. The firm continues to have the highest number of recognized lawyers in the state. Robinson+Cole also has the highest number of listed lawyers in Connecticut in the areas of environmental law insurance law and construction litigation. Only the top 5.3 percent of all practicing lawyers in the U.S. were selected by their peers for inclusion in the 29th edition of The Best Lawyers in America®.

Additionally, the following five lawyers were named the Best Lawyers® 2023 “Lawyer of the Year” in Hartford, Connecticut, in the noted practice areas: Brian R. Smith in Land Use and Zoning Law, Christine E. Bromberg in Tax Law, James P. Ray in Litigation – Environmental, Joey Lee Miranda in Energy Regulatory Law, Norman H. Roos in Banking and Finance Law, Rachel V. Kushel in Employment Law – Management, Theodore J. Tucci in  Health Care Law and Virginia E. McGarrity – in Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law.

The third edition of Best Lawyers: “Ones to Watch” was also released, includes 23 Robinson+Cole lawyers. The “Ones to Watch” recognition is given to attorneys early in their careers for their outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States. The firm has the highest number of lawyers to receive this designation in Hartford, Connecticut. Read more in the press release.

65 Robinson+Cole Lawyers Listed in The Best Lawyers in America© 2022

65 Robinson+Cole lawyers were selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2022. Of the 65 lawyers from across the firm’s practice groups and offices named to the list, 49 are from Connecticut. The firm continues to have the highest number of recognized lawyers in the state. Robinson+Cole also has the highest number of listed lawyers in Connecticut in the areas of environmental law and insurance law.

Additionally, the following five lawyers were named the Best Lawyers® 2022 “Lawyer of the Year” in Hartford, Connecticut, in the noted practice areas: Patrick M. Birney in Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Michael F. Maglio in Banking and Finance Law, Robert S. Melvin in Environmental Law, Joey Lee Miranda in Energy Law and Jacqueline Pennino Scheib in Trademark Law. Peter V. Lacouture was also named a Best Lawyers® 2022 “Lawyer of the Year” in Providence, Rhode Island in the area of Energy Law.

The second edition of Best Lawyers: “Ones to Watch” was also released, of which 17 total Robinson+Cole lawyers are listed in. The “Ones to Watch” recognition is given to attorneys who are earlier in their careers for their outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States. Read more in the press release.

61 Robinson+Cole Lawyers Listed in The Best Lawyers in America© 2021

61 Robinson+Cole lawyers were selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2021. Of the 61 lawyers from across the firm’s practice groups and offices named to the list, 46 are from Connecticut. The firm continues to have the highest number of recognized lawyers in the state. Robinson+Cole also has the highest number of listed lawyers in Connecticut in the areas of environmental law and insurance law.

Additionally, the following six lawyers were named the Best Lawyers® 2021 “Lawyer of the Year” in Hartford, Connecticut, in the noted practice areas: Michael R. Enright in Litigation – Bankruptcy, Gregory R. Faulkner in Litigation – Construction, Virginia E. McGarrity in Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Joey Lee Miranda in Environmental Law, James P. Ray in Litigation – Environmental and Theodore J. Tucci in Health Care Law. Michael S. Giaimo was also named a Best Lawyers® 2021 “Lawyer of the Year” in Boston, Massachusetts, in the area of Land Use and Zoning Law.

The inaugural edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch was also released, of which 17 total Robinson+Cole lawyers are listed in. The “Ones to Watch” recognition is given to attorneys who are earlier in their careers for their outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States. Read more in the press release.

Norm Roos Elected President of the American College of Mortgage Attorneys

Finance Team lawyer Norman H. Roos has been elected president of the American College of Mortgage Attorneys (ACMA) for the 2019-2020 term. Norm was installed during the ACMA Annual Meeting on September 7, 2019 in Monterey, California. Also in attendance were Real Estate + Development Group lawyers Candace M. Cunningham and Amanda S. Eckhoff. Candace was appointed co-chair of the ACMA Title Insurance Committee. She also served as the moderator and a panelist for a program titled "The New (and Improved?) ALTA Title Policies: Are You Ready for Them?" Mandy was installed as an ACMA Fellow. Read more and view a photo in the press release. 

Mandy Eckhoff Appointed to New England Center and Home for Veterans Board of Directors

The New England Center and Home for Veterans (NECHV), an organization dedicated to equipping veterans who are facing or at-risk of homelessness with the tools for economic self-sufficiency and to providing them a path to achieve successful and dignified independent living, has appointed Finance Group lawyer Amanda S. Eckhoff to its Board of Directors. Read more in the press release.

Robinson+Cole Elects New Partners and Counsel

Robinson+Cole is pleased to announce the election of three new partners and the promotion of eight associates to counsel. The new partners are John P. Casey, Amanda S. Eckhoff, and Andrea Donovan Napp. The new counsel are Megan E. Baroni, Steven J. Boyajian, Brian M. Flaherty, Michael W. Kaufman, Robert G. Rahilly, Rickie M. Sonpal, George W. Watson III, and Brian J. Wheelin. The promotions are effective January 1, 2015.

Robinson & Cole Attorneys Selected for Top Women Attorneys in Massachusetts

Robinson & Cole lawyers Carla M. Moynihan, Amanda S. Eckhoff, and Danielle Andrews Long have been selected for the Top Women Attorneys in Massachusetts list being featured in the April 2013 issue of Boston magazine. All three attorneys were chosen based on their inclusion in the 2012 Super Lawyers® or Rising Star lists ( Super Lawyers is a registered trademark of Key Professional Media, Inc.).

Super Lawyers® Names 49 Robinson & Cole Attorneys to 2012 List and Recognizes 26 as Rising Stars

A total of 49 Robinson & Cole attorneys were named Super Lawyers® in the states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island for 2012. The Super Lawyers® designation is based on regional balloting by attorneys, third-party research, and a peer review process encompassing myriad practice areas.

In addition, 26 attorneys at the firm were recognized as "Rising Stars." Read an explanation of the Super Lawyers methodology here.

Recognized attorneys and their areas of practice can be read in the full press release.