James W. "Jim" Swift

Robert Hemley was admitted to the bar in 1971 in New York. After beginning his legal career at a Wall Street firm and serving as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York in Manhattan, he joined Gravel & Shea PC in 1976. He is based in Burlington, Vermont, where he has practiced law for decades representing individuals and businesses in complex legal matters. During his long tenure at Gravel & Shea PC, Mr. Hemley has handled a wide range of cases, including Bet-...

A.J. LaRosa is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Land Use and Zoning and Litigation - Real Estate. A.J., who practices law in Burlington, Vermont, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which A.J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

William “Chip” Mason is a partner in Gravel & Shea PC’s Corporate Department and has been with the firm since 2003. He has served as a co-managing partner since 2020 and has been a partner since 2006, working with businesses and organizations throughout Burlington, Vermont and the surrounding region. Prior to joining Gravel & Shea PC, Chip practiced at another well-established Burlington, Vermont law firm, where his work focused primarily on debt and equity financing...

Ms. Langan, a Director of the firm, concentrates her practice in the commercial area, focusing on transactions involving complex real estate issues. She assists her clients in real estate transfers, leasing and financing. Ms. Langan has represented companies in purchase and sale transactions involving Vermont’s largest ski resort, the State’s most extensive private timber holdings and multi-site telecommunication facilities. She also counsels private, state and national land conse...

For more than ten years, Mr. Smith, a shareholder and director of the firm, has concentrated in the following areas: Intellectual Property Mr. Smith advises clients on a variety of intellectual property issues. He represents business clients in litigation and the prosecution of trademark applications. He also regularly counsels clients regarding copyright and trademark issues that may arise in their business environment, including how to respond to "cease and desist" letters, insuring ownersh...

Bob Rushford was admitted to the Vermont bar in 1988 and is based in Burlington, Vermont. He began his legal career as a law clerk to the Honorable Albert W. Coffrin of the U.S. District Court for the District of Vermont from 1988 to 1989. Following his clerkship, Bob practiced with a general practice firm that emphasized land use development and real estate law. Bob joined Gravel & Shea PC in 1996 and became a partner in 2000. His practice is concentrated in Real Estate Law, with an emph...

Ritchie E. Berger is head of the firm’s litigation group and is considered one of Vermont's premier trial lawyers. He concentrates on the defense of complex civil litigation throughout Vermont and New England. Mr. Berger is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, Past-Vermont State Chair, a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, Past-President of Vermont Chapter, and is listed in Benchmark: Litigation, Best Lawyers in America, Chambers USA, America's Leading Lawyers...

Liam maintains a broad practice grounded in all types of real estate matters. Liam’s litigation practice focuses on property law, including disputes involving title and boundary issues, easements, adverse possession and prescriptive easements; public and private road issues; title insurance claims; land use, zoning and Act 250; construction, condemnation and tax appeals. In the course of his practice, Liam has represented landowners, developers, municipalities and neighborhood groups in...

My goal is to provide clients with practical solutions to mitigate legal and financial risk. I collaborate with clients to resolve their legal issues so that they can get on with operating their business or organization. The underlying philosophy of my practice is that transactional attorneys should add value for their clients by helping to manage future and present risk in a cost effective manner. I pride myself on being responsive and providing the right solution for each client regardless ...

Mr. McMahan is a corporate and intellectual property lawyer, advising businesses on issues related to formation, mergers and acquisitions, raising capital, technology licensing, trademarks and copyrights. Mr. McMahan's clients range from entrepreneurial start-ups to publicly-held companies. He has particular experience representing software vendors and purchasers in the negotiation of computer system implementation, license and support agreements. Mr. McMahan also advises clients on the selec...