James Coughenour

Gareth Orsmond focuses his practice on commercial real estate, land use, environmental, and energy matters in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. His practice encompasses transactional work, permitting, and litigation. Gareth started his career as an environmental and land use lawyer before building his commercial transactional practice. This background enables him to negotiate and implement complex real estate deals while resolving challenging environmental and land use issues.

Kierstan Schultz is a litigator and a member of Nixon Peabody’s Complex Commercial Disputes practice group. She represents health care providers, businesses and individuals, and manages discovery, motion practice and trials for complex commercial litigation matters. What do you focus on? I represent clients in a variety of industries in all aspects of the adversarial process, in civil litigation in state and federal courts. Health Care Litigation My health care litigation practice focus...

Charlie’s practice is in the areas of real estate, commercial lending and loan workout for lenders. His experience includes real estate development, leasing, condominium issues, bankruptcy and perfecting and enforcing commercial loan documents. Charlie’s clients range from real estate developers to banks, nonprofits and municipalities.

Kirsten Wilson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: General Practice. Kirsten, who practices law in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kirsten is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

A founding shareholder of the firm, Michael leads the Litigation Practice Group, specializing in business and commercial litigation matters, defense of medical malpractice actions, and advising medical doctors and practices in a variety of legal matters. He is an accomplished trial lawyer in New Hampshire and Massachusetts state and Federal courts, and brings extensive experience to the investigation, evaluation, settlement or trial of major cases. Michael is a skilled litigator, effective ne...

Nancy E. Oliver is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Nancy E., who practices law in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Nancy E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Brad is head of the firm’s Estate Planning and Probate, Government Relations and Not-for-Profit, Charitable and Religious Institutions Practice Groups. He is a past President of the firm and has practiced with Sheehan Phinney since 1973. Brad represents many colleges and schools, religious organizations throughout New England, and hospital, nursing home and other charitable and other not-for-profit clients, and practices general corporate law. He writes a regular column, “Cook on ...

K. Joshua Scott is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. K. Joshua, who practices law in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which K. Joshua is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Donna is one of New Hampshire’s most experienced and respected trial attorneys. In her 29 years of practice she has been lead counsel in some of the most high profile cases in this state. She has tried over 150 jury trials including charges of homicide, aggravated felonious sexual assault, felony assault, domestic violence, DWI, theft, sale and possession of drugs as well as numerous motor vehicle cases. Donna has obtained verdicts of not guilty in numerous cases including affirmative d...

Since 1978, Joe has dedicated his legal career to the representation of individual plaintiffs in personal injury litigation. Joe is currently a member of the New Hampshire Supreme Court Committee on Character & Fitness. He is a member of the American College of Trial Lawyers and the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and he has been a 20 year member of Best Lawyers in America. Joe McDowell was one of the lead lawyers in the $2.5 Billion settlement for the victims of the Dalkon Shield birth co...