PERSONNEL FILE: Nelson Mullins adds 16 for Boston office

BOSTON (Nov. 19, 2012) -- Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, a law firm with an office in Huntington, continues its growth in New England with the addition of 16 new attorneys in its Boston office. The new attorneys will comprise two litigation teams focused on civil litigation, construction and surety law in addition to product liability and catastrophic accident litigation.

The expansion of the firm’s Boston office bucks the current industry trend of slow growth in the legal profession, with 53 new attorneys joining since 2009. Nelson Mullins’ Boston office now totals 55 attorneys in practice areas that include intellectual property, corporate, financial services, securities, commercial, construction, insurance, litigation, environmental, personal injury and government relations.

“We are pleased to have this experienced group join our firm,” said Boston Managing Partner Amy Mandragouras. “These attorneys have considerable experience in and ties to New England, and beyond, and have been active in some of the more high-profile cases in the region. Their experience helps us expand the services we can offer to clients.”

The new attorneys have been involved in major, regional legal issues including Boston’s “Big Dig” highway project as well as the I-195 ("I-way") project in Providence, Rhode Island, and numerous high profile litigation cases in Connecticut and New York.

The new attorneys include team leaders Bert Capone, Tom Hayman, and Jim Carroll.

Capone, who comes to Nelson Mullins from Cetrulo & Capone, LLP, concentrates his practice in the area of surety law and construction. He represents surety companies, general contractors, subcontractors, public and private owners, architects, engineers, and construction managers. He is primary trial counsel in surety, construction, and construction defect cases ranging from contractor defaults to defective construction performance.

Hayman, who also joins Nelson Mullins from Cetrulo & Capone, LLP, concentrates his practice in commercial, surety/construction and construction defect litigation. He also has substantial litigation experience in personal injury/product liability, trust & estate, real estate and insurance coverage matters. His experience in the construction realm ranges from litigation of claims involving local schools and government buildings to major heavy highway/bridge/tunnel cases including the Providence and Big Dig litigations.

A former attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice, Jim Carroll defends corporations and individuals in state and federal trials and appeals. His recent trial practice throughout the New England and mid-Atlantic region has involved the defense of negligence and wrongful death actions in product liability cases and municipal liability matters. Jim also represents several insurers in a variety of coverage matters.

“We are excited to be joining Nelson Mullins, and we look forward to continuing to serve our clients throughout New England and beyond,” said team leader Capone. “Nelson Mullins has shown phenomenal growth over the past six years in Boston because of the hands-on approach all of its attorneys take in representing clients and expanding its business foothold here.”

Also joining the firm as partners are:
•Dwight T. Burns, III, who represents clients including owners, contractors and sureties in construction-related civil litigation.
•Gregory J. May, who concentrates his practice on environmental, products liability, and commercial claims throughout New England and the United States.
•Francis R. Powell, who represents clients in commercial disputes, construction and surety litigation, and defense of product liability and personal injury claims. He also has been engaged in Big Dig litigation.
•Michael F. Sommerville, a former insurance company manager and experienced litigator focusing on environmental and toxic tort litigation brought by and against insurers and insured companies.
•Gillian A. Woolf, who concentrates on the defense of commercial claims. She has handled multi-party cases involving negligence, products liability, breach of contract, insurance coverage, and municipal liability.

Joining as associates are:
•Benjamin J. Carroll, who focuses on wrongful death, catastrophic personal injury, products liability, and insurance coverage.
•Carl E. Fumarola, who represents corporations and individuals in disputes.
•Kate J. Borgondy, who focuses on civil litigation involving wrongful death and products liability.
•Marc E. Finkel, who defends clients involving wrongful death, catastrophic personal injury, products liability, municipal liability, and insurance coverage matters.
•Adam Florey, who represents clients in matters involving commercial, construction, professional liability, and surety disputes.
•John McDonnell, a professional engineer, professional land surveyor, and licensed construction supervisor who represents all manner of clients in transactional and litigation matters pertaining to construction projects.
•Kathryn D. Stone, whose cases encompass issues such as products liability, wrongful death, and personal injury matters.
•Patrick Uiterwyk, who represents clients in matters involving commercial, admiralty/maritime, construction, personal injury, and professional liability disputes.

The Nelson Mullins Boston office opened in 2006 with two attorneys and grew by nine attorneys and two public strategies professionals by 2009. A year later, 23 attorneys and technical specialists from the intellectual property boutique Lahive & Cockfield joined the firm. The office’s growth over the past six years reflects the firm’s dedication to New England and its belief that this region has high growth potential for its legal practice areas.

Established in 1897, Nelson Mullins has more than 470 attorneys and government relations professionals with offices in the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia.