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.

Having begun his career at Melick & Porter over twenty-five years ago, Mike rejoined the firm in 2015 after several years at a national firm specializing in civil litigation defense and insurance coverage matters. Mike has experience in a variety of areas, from professional liability and premises liability claims to business disputes, housing discrimination, and environmental claims.

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.

Carolyn is a partner at Melick & Porter's Boston office. Carolyn joined the firm in 2014, after having worked at another Boston insurance defense firm for over five years. Carolyn has extensive experience in defending individual and corporate clients in a wide variety of complex multi-party construction-related matters, including personal injury, wrongful death and breach of contract claims in the state and federal courts of Massachusetts.

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.

Jim is a graduate of Boston College, B.A., 1992 and New England School of Law, J.D., 1995. He was the recipient of the American Jurisprudence award in Administrative Law in 1995. He clerked at Roche, Heifetz, Murphy & Wholley during law school and joined the firm as an associate in 1995. He was a partner in the Boston firm of Tucker, Heifetz & Saltzman, LLP from 2002 through 2012.

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.

Alex is an associate in our Connecticut office. He graduated summa cum laude from Quinnipiac University School of Law. He has a B.A. degree in English from Gettysburg College. Alex was an Associate Editor of the Quinnipiac Law Review and received awards for Academic Excellence and Outstanding Performance in Oral Advocacy.

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.

Mathew is an associate in our Connecticut office. He is a graduate of New York Law School and has a B.A. degree in History from Western Connecticut State University. During Law school, Mathew gained experience in employment law by working closely with the Staff Attorneys at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Mathew handles cases extensively in both state and federal court with a focus on employment law.

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.

Johnathan graduated magna cum laude from Quinnipiac University School of Law in 2018. During law school, he won the Connecticut Judges Association Memorial Award and was named Student Leader of the Year in 2018.

Victoria joined Melick & Porter after several years working with the Committee for Public Counsel Services, where she rose to the position of Supervising Trial Attorney. Victoria’s work with this agency, which provides for public defense in Massachusetts, allowed her to gain extensive jury trial experience, including numerous felony criminal cases involving sexual assault, home invasion and controlled substances offenses.

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.

Erin’s extensive experience includes the defense of employment practices, insurance coverage, premises liability, and professional malpractice matters. She recently obtained a favorable finding before a New Hampshire medical malpractice screening panel in a negligent EMT case. She has also obtained summary judgment on behalf of numerous clients, including a pre-fabricated building company in a negligent construction matter.

Doug provides counseling and trial advocacy for the sports and entertainment industry and counts among his clients some of the premier sports and entertainment franchises in Massachusetts. He has extensive experience defending claims arising out of activities at NFL and MLB events, concerts, triathlons, marathons, hockey rinks, dance clubs, and commercial trucking.

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.

Sophia is an Associate in Melick & Porter’s Boston office. Her practice focuses on the defense of complex liability matters in the areas of construction, premises, and automobile. She also handles employment law matters. Prior to joining the firm, Sophia was a public defender for several years in New Hampshire, where she represented juveniles and adults facing misdemeanor and serious felony criminal offenses.

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.

Matt is a Partner in the General Liability and Professional Liability practice groups. He is admitted to practice in both Rhode Island and Massachusetts, as well as the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island and regularly represents insurance carriers, their policy holders and self-insureds in state and federal court. Matt is a skilled litigator who has successfully represented clients on a wide range of insurance defense matters.

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.”

Shannon is a partner in the firm's Boston and Providence offices and her practice concentrates on complex civil litigation, with a special focus on toxic tort litigation.

Attorney Pickett represents clients in all areas of the firm’s practice, including claims involving insurance coverage, toxic torts, premises liability, and products liability in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

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.

Dos Urbanski has been with Melick & Porter since 2002 and has represented clients in all state and federal courts in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, as well as before the First Circuit Court of Appeals. He has broad experience in a number of litigation areas with cases involving employment and professional liability issues, along with commercial and general liability matters.

Christopher is a graduate of Denison University, and received his J.D. from South Texas College of Law in 2009. Prior to joining Melick & Porter, Christopher practiced with several boutique and regional defense firms in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. He has trial experience in Connecticut and Rhode Island Superior Courts.

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.