Holland & Knight Continues Growth in Boston with Addition of Four New Attorneys
BOSTON – February 5, 2013 – Holland & Knight is pleased to announce that Brian G. Leary, Diane M. McDermott and Jeffrey M. Stoler have joined the firm as partners and Richard W. Holtz has joined as senior counsel in the firm's Boston office.
Holland & Knight's Boston office has 142 attorneys and is ranked 12th largest in the area. In 2012, the office added four new partners and two senior counsel.
"Our office is on a path of steady growth in the region," said Steven Wright, Executive Partner of Holland & Knight's Boston office. "These attorneys are prominent members of the community and stars in their respective legal fields. Their practices complement our existing strengths nicely and they will bring great value to our local and national clients."
Mr. Leary is a member of the firm's Business Section and works with some of the nation's largest companies in planning and implementing multi-pronged strategies for high-stakes problem solving. These strategies involve the coordination of litigation defense, government relations and media strategy. In the past, Mr. Leary was a Peabody award-winning reporter/anchor for Boston's WCVB-TV and the founder and CEO of Mogall, Inc, one of the early pioneers of social networking. He currently serves on the board of directors of the New England Legal Foundation and is chair of Mayor Thomas Menino's gaming commission, known as the Host Community Advisory Committee.
Ms. McDermott is a member of Holland & Knight's Real Estate Section and advises on permitting and development, leasing, conveyancing, and purchase and sale transactions. She also represents clients in the hotel and hospitality industry in connection with various aspects of their business operations. In 2012, Ms. McDermott was named a "Top Women in Law" by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly magazine. She currently serves on the board of the directors for Women’s Lunch Place, a daytime shelter providing services to women in need.
Mr. Stoler is a member of the firm's Business Section handling corporate and securities matters, with an emphasis on negotiated transactions involving companies as diverse as the Fortune 50 to local start-ups. Most-commonly, Mr. Stoler serves as general counsel to middle-market businesses engaged in the service, manufacturing and tech sectors. Mr. Stoler is active in Boston's angel capital community, both as a longtime member of Launchpad and, more recently, as a co-founder and managing director of SideCar Angels. Mr. Stoler serves on the board of directors of Greater Boston Legal Services Corporation, one of the nation's oldest providers of civil legal aid to the indigent.
Mr. Holtz is a member of the firm's Real Estate Section and concentrates his practice on real estate and financing transactions, including transactions involving acquisitions and sales, leasing, zoning, permitting and land use matters. In the past, Mr. Holtz has served as general counsel and secretary of a Massachusetts quasi-public authority dedicated to creating and enhancing economic development through various real estate development and financing activities and programs.
Mr. Leary, Ms. McDermott and Mr. Stoler were formerly partners with McCarter & English; Mr. Holtz was previously special counsel.