Conn Kavanaugh

Conn Kavanaugh is pleased to welcome Pamela Berman to the firm in the Business Litigation and Criminal/White Collar/Regulatory groups.

Pam has over 35 years of experience as a trial lawyer, specializing in complex commercial litigation and defending against government investigations.

For her accomplishments throughout her career, contributions to the development of the law in Massachusetts, and efforts to improve the quality of justice, Pam will be inducted into the 2024 Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly Hall of Fame on September 17th.

Join us in welcoming and congratulating Pam!

Read more here: https://hubs.ly/Q02NNV5x0

We are delighted to announce 12 Conn Kavanaugh attorneys have been selected as 2024 Best Lawyers® Women in the Law.

Read more: https://hubs.ly/Q02NtNV00

Sheila Giglio, a partner in Conn Kavanaugh’s estate planning practice, has been selected as a 2024 “Top Women of Law” honoree by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly.

“I am so honored to be acknowledged for something I love to do. My work is endlessly fascinating and full of variety, with plenty of opportunities to give back,” said Sheila. “From business succession planning to estate planning and administration to overseeing the management of trusts, I work with a wide variety of individuals and families to guide them and develop creative solutions that meet their goals.”

Congratulations, Sheila!

Read more here: https://hubs.ly/Q02N4_Sh0

James Peloquin was named by Best Lawyers as Boston’s 2025 “Lawyer of the Year” for Construction Law. Chair of the firm’s trial department, construction, and mediation/arbitration groups, James continues to bridge the connection between everyday people and their understanding of the law.

Congratulations Jim!

Learn more: https://hubs.ly/Q02LqwR10

Erin Higgins was named by Best Lawyers as Boston’s 2025 “Lawyer of the Year” for Litigation - Insurance. In addition to handling insurance coverage and litigation matters, Erin defends attorneys against misconduct allegations and helps avoid such allegations by providing ethics guidance to lawyers involved in complex, troublesome, or sensitive matters.

Congratulations Erin!

Learn more: https://hubs.ly/Q02Lqv1X0

Conn Kavanaugh is proud to announce that 21 attorneys have been included in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® and five have been included in The Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch.

Please join us in congratulating our team!

Learn more: https://hubs.ly/Q02Lqx4M0

CK Attorney Sarah Nyren was invited to become an ambassador for CREW Boston (Commercial Real Estate Women).

CREW Boston is the region's leading professional organization promoting the advancement of women within the commercial real estate industry. It offers professional support, development, education, and networking opportunities to empower the advancement of women in the industry.

“In just one year of attending CREW Boston events, participating in the mentoring program, and joining the membership committee, I have made many meaningful relationships. This is because CREW Boston’s members are welcoming, supportive, inspiring, and just plain fun! I can’t wait to do my part in welcoming this year’s new members by serving as a CREW Ambassador," said Sarah.

Read more here: https://hubs.ly/Q02KtmkF0

Conn Kavanaugh is proud to announce that George Ford will be inducted into the 2024 Mass Lawyers Weekly Hall of Fame.

The Hall of Fame recognizes members of the bar for their accomplishments throughout their career, contributions to the development of the law in Massachusetts, and efforts to improve the quality of justice.

Join us in celebrating George!

Read more about George’s extraordinary career in the September 16 special section of
Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly.

Conn Kavanaugh is pleased to announce that Patricia Shumaker has joined the firm as partner in the Estate Planning/Administration group.

Patricia’s twenty-four years of experience make her an ideal counsel for clients who need comprehensive planning and long-term care. Read more about her here: https://hubs.ly/Q02HkCv80

Join us in welcoming Patricia.

Conn Kavanaugh attorneys and spouses enjoy an evening at their annual Attorney Social, held at the end of June.

On June 13, Conn Kavanaugh attorneys Tom Gallitano and Alexis Theriault attended the 2024 Boston Bar Association (BBA) Law Day event at the historic Boston Symphony Hall. Guests throughout the Boston legal community came together to network and celebrate the rule of law.

Team CK laced up their running shoes for the 2024 American Heart Association's Lawyers Have Heart 5K in Boston on June 6.

Congrats on a successful race!

Managing Partner Erin Higgins and Daisha Bishop attended the Annual Ida B. Wells Award Celebration on Saturday, June 1.

The Massachusetts Black Women Attorneys (MBWA) hosts this event each year to honor the achievements of exceptional Black women attorneys in the legal profession.

The Award is named in honor of Ida B. Wells-Barnett, a prominent investigative journalist, activist, and researcher, who led an anti-lynching crusade in the United States in the 1890s. Read more about her here: https://hubs.ly/Q02zV9gk0

Conn Kavanaugh welcomes its 2024 summer associates.

From left to right: J.D. candidate from Suffolk University Law School Henry Dowd, Daisha Bishop also from Suffolk, has returned after starting as CK's Winter 2024 Macon Bolling Allen Fellow, and former intern Emily Goodman from the University of Victoria.

CK Real Estate Partner Peter Covo invited Products Liability Partner Chris Fitzgerald to play in the May 21 SIOR NE & Arco National Construction Charity Golf Event at Brae Burn Country Club in Newton, MA. Sarah Nyren from CK’s Land Use/Real Estate Litigation group joined them later, along with Construction attorneys Ryan Paine and Ryan Forgione.

Proceeds from the one-day event benefit the Workforce Development Action Project at Community Foundation for MetroWest.

On May 2, members of our White Collar Criminal Defense Team attended the Boston Bar Association’s (BBA) White-Collar Crime Conference.

“The theme of the conference was what it means (according to the government) to engage in corporate and individual cooperation with federal prosecutors during a criminal investigation. Great networking and fantastic crowd in attendance,” said Partner Carol Starkey.

L-R: CK Attorneys Scott Ofrias, Carol Starkey, Emily Slaman, Julie Martin. Partner Glen Tagliamonte also attended but missed the photo.

On May 14 Attorney Sarah Nyren attended the May CREW Luncheon Program where attendees enjoyed a presentation on the impressive Hood Park Redevelopment project — a 20-acre mixed-use urban campus in Charlestown.

CREW Boston's mission is to bring together women professionally engaged in commercial real estate and related service industries.

We are proud to announce that Associate Sydney Powers has graduated from the Massachusetts Bar Association’s Leadership Academy!

Captured here, she receives her certificate from Damian Turco, President of the Mass Bar Association.

Join us in Congratulating Sydney!

On May 23 CK colleagues came together at SIP Café in downtown Boston to welcome guests of honor Maureen Curran and Susan Marini, along with other new additions to the firm. Everyone had a wonderful time.

On May 11, Associates Yi Ke and Sydney Powers attended the Chinese Antibody Society (CAS) 2024 Annual Conference after Yi Ki's client kindly invited her to the conference.
CAS is a global nonprofit and non-governmental professional organization that focuses on antibody-based therapeutics.

Partner Kate O’Toole, Senior Counsel Alexis Theriault, Partner Tom Gallitano, and our former Associate Julie Muller had an entertaining evening attending the Women’s Bar Foundation Comedy Night on May 2, 2024, at the Boston Harbor Hotel.

Conn Kavanaugh proudly congratulates Partner Kurt Fliegauf on receiving the Dora Kishibay Garabedian Visionary Award from the Hopkinton Center for the Arts.

Kurt reported, “On April 25th, I received the Dora Kishibay Garabedian Visionary Award from the Hopkinton Center for the Arts. I served as co-chair of the HCA’s board for six years, during which time we rehabilitated a barn from the early 1900s and built a new art gallery and performance center. It was a lovely evening, with many old and dear friends.”

Join us in congratulating Kurt!

Conn Kavanaugh litigation partner Andrew Dennington has been re-elected to a second term on the Southborough Select Board, of which he served as Chair for the past year.

Learn more: https://hubs.ly/Q02ygqdp0

In late April, Managing Partner Erin Higgins traveled to Savannah, GA to attend the Litigation Counsel of America’s (LCA) 2024 Spring Retreat.

CLE sessions included effective closing arguments, preparation of 30(b)(6) witnesses, internet tracking litigation, and more.

At the conference, she captured a photo with Rhonda Orin of Anderson Kill (on right), whom Erin met many years ago when they were on opposite sides of a case.

Conn Kavanaugh enthusiastically welcomes Maureen Curran back to the firm.

Maureen began her career at Conn Kavanaugh in 1990 as the firm’s first summer associate, came on board as a full-time associate in 1991, and stayed with the Firm for five more years. She opened her own Probate Litigation practice in 2005. Today, Maureen has returned to her roots and has joined her robust Probate Litigation practice to ours.

Read more here: https://hubs.ly/Q02xN5sJ0

A long run, a Welcome Homecoming, and Tips for the Tipped. The Spring edition of ConnKavaNews is here!

Subscribe here: https://hubs.ly/Q02wFXFc0

Getting Our Hands Dirty on Earth Day 🌎

To celebrate Earth Day, our crackerjack administrative team organized plant repotting for everyone’s office plants. Here we are, having a blast. Our plants are SO happy, upgraded to their larger, more attractive homes.

Partner Peter Covo invited the associates out for drinks earlier this month at High Street Place. He calls it “Attitude Adjustment Hour” and has been doing this on a regular basis since he started at the Firm last fall.

In attendance are: (Left to right): Ryan Forgione, Peter, Daniel Walsh-Rogalski, Brendan Kelley, Christina Pashou (now a partner), Kaitlyn Stone, Sydney Powers, and Scott Ofrias.

Litigation attorney Andrew Dennington takes advantage of school vacation week by bringing his adorable children in to the office.

After being fussed over by Andrew’s colleagues, they enjoyed a tour of the State House, lunch at Union Oyster House, and a walk across Boston Common, the Public Garden, and down Newbury Street.

A great “I love Boston” day for a couple of future lawyers, perhaps?

Conn Kavanaugh Business Litigation Attorney Ken Thayer shows he can “Go the distance” by finishing his first ever Boston Marathon in 2:50 on Monday, April 15, 2024!

Way to go, Ken!