Legal Careers in New England

Bill is a seasoned trial attorney with extensive trial experience and successful verdicts defending clients in construction, complex product liability, premises liability, dram shop, transportation and sports and recreation matters. He represents product manufacturers, contractors, shopping malls, restaurants, major real estate developers, property owners, condominium associations, resorts and ski areas.

Maz has been at Melick & Porter his entire legal career. He began as a Law Clerk in the summer of 1988 and joined the firm as an Associate in the fall of 1989. Maz has extensive experience in complex civil litigation matters, representing clients in both federal and state courts for over 30 years. A significant portion of his practice involves employment law and includes providing major national corporations with oversight and defense of their employment litigation.

Bob joined the firm in 1984 after graduating from law school and has made it his professional home. In the years since, he has tried numerous jury cases in both federal and state courts involving a variety of civil matters, including professional malpractice, insurance coverage, and general liability claims. Bob oversees our firm's appellate practice and has successfully argued cases before the First Circuit Court of Appeals.

Mark is an experienced trial attorney with a focus on employment law and professional liability. Mark also has extensive experience handling product liability, construction, premises liability, unfair business practices, and general litigation matters. He represents clients in both federal and state courts.

Brian is a partner in Melick & Porter's Boston office. He focuses his practice on defending individual and corporate clients in complex civil litigation matters including general liability, hospitality and restaurant litigation, entertainment and sports litigation, construction litigation, and transportation litigation. He is admitted to the state and federal court of Massachusetts.

Prior to joining Melick & Porter, Shannon spent two years working as a Law Clerk to the Justices of the Massachusetts Superior Court. Shannon’s experience includes counseling and defending clients in all facets of recreational, products, construction, and general liability litigation in both federal and state courts. 

Chris joined the firm in 2010 and concentrates his practice on the defense of complex liability matters in the areas of construction, dram shop, premises, automobile, and catastrophic tort. Prior to joining Melick & Porter, Chris worked at a civil litigation defense firm outside of Boston where he specialized in construction and automobile matters.

Bob rejoined the firm in 2021 after several years at firms similarly specializing in complex civil litigation. He has extensive experience handling general liability, construction, liquor liability, premises liability, products liability, transportation, and toxic torts.

Rick Heifetz is entering his fortieth year of practicing law. He is a 1972 graduate of the University of New Hampshire (B.A., cum laude) and a 1978 graduate of the New England School of Law (J.D., cum laude). He began his legal career as an associate in the firm of Darling & McLaughlin in Burlington and was a founding partner in the Boston firm of Roche, Heifetz, Murphy & Wholley.

Holly is a partner in the firm’s Connecticut and New York offices. Her practice focuses on all facets of employment law, and the areas of professional liability and general liability. Holly represents clients in both federal and state courts in Connecticut and New York, as well as before federal and state agencies, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the New York State Division of Human Rights.

Bill Rose is a graduate of University of Massachusetts and a cum laude graduate of Suffolk University School of Law. He also obtained his C.P.C.U. designation. Bill previously practiced at Morrison, Mahoney & Miller; Gillespie & Associates; the Law Offices of Peter Eleey; and Tucker, Heifetz & Saltzman, LLP. He handles cases in all areas of the firm’s practice.

Rob concentrates his practice on premises liability, professional liability, explosion, construction injury and worker’s compensation matters. Rob’s most notable defense verdicts in civil jury trials include: a negligent product distribution claim by a waitress whose face was burned by flaming brandy flambé spilled on her by a chef performing a “Strawberry Flambe” on stage.

Steve is a Junior Partner in Melick & Porter's Connecticut office. Steve studied business and psychology at Indiana University where he earned a bachelor’s degree. He then attended Quinnipiac University School of Law and was honored with the Dean's Scholarship award. Following graduation from law school, Steve joined a small law firm in Danbury, Connecticut where he grew his practice for eleven years before joining Melick & Porter.

Lauren is a sixth-year associate in the firm's Boston office. Lauren's practice focuses on general liability, toxic tort litigation, product liability, and employment law.

Lauren is a Junior Partner in the firm’s Boston office. Her practices focus on defending employment practices liability matters involving a variety of issues, including harassment, discrimination, and retaliation. She also handles professional liability, general liability, and insurance coverage matters. Lauren represents clients in both state and federal courts as well as before state and federal agencies.

Mike is an associate in the firm's Boston office. Mike's practice focuses primarily on the defense of complex general liability, product liability, premises liability, personal injury, construction, and recreational liability cases.

Lauren is an associate in the firm’s Boston office. Lauren’s practice focuses primarily on the defense of complex general liability, premises liability, liquor liability, sexual abuse litigation, personal injury, construction, and employment law matters.

John is an associate in the firm’s Boston office. John’s practice focuses on civil litigation matters including personal injury/negligence defense, product liability, premises liability, insurance coverage, bad faith claims, complex commercial / business disputes and employment.

Jennifer is Of Counsel in the firm's Boston office. She focuses on helping employers defend claims involving discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful termination. She also has experience with matters involving contract disputes, insurance coverage, professional malpractice, product liability, and premises liability. Jennifer has tried numerous felony criminal and civil jury trials in Massachusetts state court.

Chris is an Associate in Melick & Porter's Connecticut office. His practice focuses on defending individual and corporate clients in a wide range of civil litigation matters involving employment practices liability, premises liability, general liability, and insurance coverage issues.

Nick is an Associate in Melick & Porter's Boston office. His practice focuses on employment law, general liability, professional liability, and premises liability.

Stephanie Bendeck is a skilled and experienced trial attorney. She has tried over fifty cases, both jury and non-jury, and argued complicated motions involving complex legal issues to the court. She is experienced in preparing, defending, and cross-examining both lay and expert witnesses.

Malik is an Associate in our Boston office. He is a graduate of the University of London and received his law degrees from Georgetown and Berkeley Law. His practice focuses on general liability and product liability.

Casey is an Associate in Melick & Porter's Connecticut office. Her practice focuses on defending individual and corporate clients in a wide range of civil litigation matters involving employment practices liability, premises liability, general liability, and insurance coverage issues. She has experience defending against premises liability and personal injury cases on behalf of her clients.

Alexandra is an Associate in the firm's Boston office. Alexandra's practice focuses on the defense of employment practices, general liability cases and insurance coverage.

Mike is an Associate in Melick & Porter's Connecticut office. His practice focuses on employment law, professional liability, transportation law, and general liability.

Alexandra is an Associate Attorney in Melick & Porter’s Boston office.  Alexandra is developing a practice focused upon premises, motor vehicle and general liability claims, as well as commercial disputes

Tom is an Associate in Melick & Porter’s Boston office.  He joined the Firm in 2016 as a litigation paralegal, gaining experience in a wide range of complex liability matters while pursuing his JD from New England Law | Boston.  Tom will be focusing his practice on defending individual and corporate clients in general liability, professional liability, and sexual abuse litigation. 

John F. Rooney, III, who joined the firm in 1986, has successfully tried over 300 cases in both state and federal court. His practice focuses on toxic torts, complex products liability, environmental damage, utility companies, fire and explosion cases, aviation law, contract actions, insurance fraud, sexual abuse matters, premises liability, and criminal law.

Christian has extensive experience in complex litigation matters, including bench and jury trials, arbitrations, administrative proceedings, and mediations. His corporate counseling includes risk assessment and contract review. He is admitted to the state and federal courts of Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. Christian's practice has earned him selections as a “Massachusetts Super Lawyer.”

Kurt Rocha’s practice encompasses premises liability, personal injury defense, and insurance law. He is admitted in three jurisdictions: Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, as well as the United States District Courts for the District of Rhode Island and Connecticut.

Syd is a cum laude graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth and a cum laude graduate of Suffolk University Law School. During law school, he was the recipient of the Goodwin Scholarship for Best Trial Advocacy. Syd previously practiced at Regan & Kiely LLP and Tucker, Heifetz & Saltzman in Boston.

Jacqueline is an associate in the Providence office. Her practice focuses on toxic torts, products liability, and premises liability. Jacqueline represents manufacturers of a variety of products including valves, pumps, boilers, furnaces, and water heaters. She also handles general liability matters. Jacqueline is a cum laude graduate of Salve Regina University, and Roger Williams University School of Law.

Parker is an Associate in the Boston office. Parker focuses his practice on civil litigation matters, including personal injury and negligence defense, products liability, premises liability, toxic torts, insurance coverage, and complex commercial/business disputes.