Litigation

Attorney Robert N. Launie graduated from Boston College High School in 1974 and Boston College in 1978. After working in-house for a large union masonry company in many different capacities for four years, he decided he would follow his dream of being a litigator and attend law school. Attorney Launie entered New England School of Law, in the evening program while still working his day job for the union masonry company, graduating in 1986 with his entering class. While at New England School of Law, he interned as a Rule 303 prosecutor in the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office handling numerous prosecutions. Attorney Launie was always drawn to trial work and started his own practice doing court-appointed criminal defense work in various district courts, in Middlesex, Norfolk, and Bristol counties. In the early '90’s, Attorney Launie was hired to defend individuals accused of serious crimes and was charged with assembling defense teams for their representation as well as actively participating in the defense of many high-profile cases. Over a 30-year career, Attorney Launie has appeared in both District and Superior Courts, as well as the Federal Courts throughout New England. In 1997, Attorney Launie began working with Attorney Paul V. Marino. After a few years of practicing together, Attorney Launie and Attorney Marino formed Launie & Marino, P.A., in 1999. Together they have expanded their practice to the areas of business litigation, business transactions, family law, as well as counseling and strategic planning for small businesses. Attorney Launie has successfully completed a nationally approved and accredited intensive mediation program, receiving his certificate from the highly respected MWI mediation facility, allowing him to work as both a mediator and conciliator. Attorney Launie has been successful in using his extensive experience and valuable knowledge of litigation aspects in helping to bring litigants to a successful end result in the areas of divorce and business disputes, hopefully showing them how to avoid the costly expense of full litigation. In the Family and Probate Court, Attorney Launie has extensive experience working on divorces that include complicated and sensitive issues like child custody, alimony, and the division of assets. Using his mediation skills, he has been successful in bringing parties together to find equitable and agreeable solutions before trial.

OVER 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN FAMILY LAW, ESTATE PLANNING, AND REAL ESTATE LAW At the Law Office of Vincent C. Machroli, P.C., we are a general practice firm with over three decades of experience representing clients in DuPage County, Cook County, and communities throughout the Chicago metro area. Located in Hillside, Illinois, we are a suburban firm focused on providing highly personalized representation for each client we serve. We have extensive experience and in-depth knowledge in several practice areas, and over the years we have established a strong track record securing successful results for our clients. The number one goal at our office is, to not only meet our clients’ legal needs, but also to exceed their expectations. DELIVERING A WIDE RANGE OF LEGAL SERVICES As a general practice firm, we work hard to serve as a “one-stop” for just about all consumer legal matters. Some of our primary areas of focus include: Family Law and Divorce Estate Planning Real Estate We also provide legal representation for matters involving personal injury, criminal and traffic law, workers' compensation, civil litigation defense, and general legal services. To speak to a qualified attorney about any of these areas of practice, call 708-449-7400.

Pete is the principal and founder of Praxidice. After interning for the Chief Justice of the Colorado Supreme Court, Pete worked in the litigation department of a large national law firm before relocating to Aspen and opening his own office. Pete has been named as a Colorado Super Lawyer (no more than five percent of all lawyers in Colorado are selected) in civil litigation. Pete also enjoys the highest AV Preeminent® rating from Martindale Hubbell, has attained the designation of Master Advocate with the National Institute of Trial Advocacy, and is listed as one of Colorado’s Top 100 Trial Lawyers with the National Trial Lawyer’s Association. Pete worked in the litigation department of a large national law firm before relocating to Aspen and opening his own office. Pete enjoys the highest AV Preeminent® rating from Martindale Hubbell, has attained the designation of Master Advocate with the National Institute of Trial Advocacy, and is listed as one of Colorado’s Top 100 Trial Lawyers with the National Trial Lawyer’s Association. Pete has tried cases in state and federal courts across the country, with many of them receiving national publicity. See some of his Representative Cases.

Bill Pemerton earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Tennessee Technological University in 2000 and was awarded his J.D. from the Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham, Alabama in 2005. Upon graduation from Cumberland, he was honored with a Certificate of Trial Advocacy and has since maintained a substantial litigation practice in both Tennessee and Alabama. His practice includes personal injury, family law, and general litigation. He was recently listed as a Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 31 general civil and family mediator.

In environmental law, in exceptionally challenging cases, an ordinary approach is just not enough. Gregory A. Cade, has made this clear when he developed his personal vision of "Know your case". This is his leading principle that successfully combines all the necessary traits in order to solve complex legal issues. Having a solid science background is also a notable difference in his unique approach. Greg is using his Industrial Hygiene degree in handling injuries resulting from exposure to asbestos, benzene, creosote, coke emissions, dioxins, PAHs, PCBs, and other known toxicants. Representing thousands of individual and community claims all over the Southeast for 20 years, Greg is always driven to help injured people, be it in an occupational setting or in an environmental setting, in a mass setting or a class action setting. None of these would be possible without taking things personally, something that not every lawyer has the dedication to do. He has instilled in his entire firm a strong motivation to establish real connections with every client. Detailed knowledge, time consumption and financial risk may be enough reasons for most law firms to avoid environmental cases. For Greg, this is not the case. Patience, loyalty and knowledge make Greg a powerful ally on the side of environmental victims.

The lawyers of the law firm of Clay, Massey & Associates, P.C. have a combined 80 years of legal experienced and have helped more than 10,000 individuals and families following accidents and injuries in southern Alabama and along the Gulf Coast. We are among the leaders in Alabama personal injury litigation law: -We have recovered numerous awards exceeding $1 million dollars and have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements and trial verdicts for our clients over 45 years of practice. -Attorney R. Edward Massey, Jr. is a sustaining member of the Alabama Association for Justice and a former member of the Board of Governors of the Alabama Association for Justice. He is also a member of the Mobile Bar and the Alabama State Bar, and is licensed to practice in all Alabama state and federal courts. Ed is one of the firm's founding members and has been with the firm since its inception in 1972. - Attorney R. Edward (Eddie) Massey III has been practicing with the firm since 1999. He was recently selected by The American Society of Legal Advocates as one of the Top 100 Litigation Lawyers in the State of Alabama for 2018. Eddie is a member of the Alabama Association for Justice, the Mobile Bar, and the Alabama State Bar and is licensed to practice in all Alabama state and federal courts. -Calvin Clay is a founding member of the firm with over forty-five years of experience seeking justice for injured people. He is now of counsel to the firm and provides experienced insight on current cases. We are highly skilled at gathering the information needed to support your claim for compensation through the thorough investigation of your claim and accident scene, and we will work tirelessly to maximize your recovery, whether through settlement or litigation.

Bob has been practicing law for twenty-nine years and is licensed in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine. Bob attended the University of New Hampshire and graduated with degrees in Business Administration with minors in Economics and Philosophy. He subsequently completed his legal training at the University of Maine School of Law, graduating with his law degree in May 1988. He is admitted to practice in both state and federal courts in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine and the First circuit Federal District Court. Bob has been a member of the SSJM team since 1988. During Bob’s first decade as a lawyer, he primarily litigated commercial, business, personal injury and family law disputes. The financial and emotional cost of the traditional litigation model to Bob’s clients has caused him to redirect his professional energy. Although Bob frequently litigates appropriate cases, he now guides clients toward a collaborative and peaceful solution to their legal problems. In the collaborative method, clients maintain control, reduce legal fees and the emotional turmoil associated with litigation, all while maintaining privacy which does not exist in the litigation model. Bob is a member of the Mass. Bar Association, NH Bar Association, Maine Bar Association, Haverhill Bar Association, Middlesex County Bar Association, Salem, NH Bar Association, Essex County Bar Association, The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), MA and NH NAELA Chapters, the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP), Massachusetts Collaborative Law Counsel (MCLC), Collaborative Law of New Hampshire and Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce. Bob has also achieved the certificate as a certified financial divorce litigator. In 2018 Bob was nominated and voted as one of The 10 Best Elder Law Attorneys in Massachusetts. Bob’s practice areas include divorce and family law, estate and trust planning, elder and Medicaid planning, probate administration, business and corporate law, securities and commercial litigation, business general counsel, personal injury and wrongful death.

Ryan P. Barry received his B.A., with honors, from the University of Connecticut and his J.D. from the University of Connecticut School of Law. During law school, Attorney Barry worked as a Judicial Extern for United States District Court Judge Dominic J. Squatrito. He was also selected to membership on The Connecticut Law Review and is the author of "ERISA's Purpose: The Conveyance of Information from Trustee to Beneficiary," 31 Conn. L. Rev. 735 (1999). Attorney Barry is admitted to practice law in the State of Connecticut, the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit. He is a member of the Connecticut Bar Association, the Manchester Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the American Association for Justice, the Connecticut Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, and the Connecticut Association of Municipal Attorneys. In July 2018, Attorney Barry was appointed by the judges of the Superior Court to serve for a 3-year term on the Statewide Grievance Committee. Attorney Barry is also a Life Fellow of the Connecticut Bar Foundation, membership for which is by invitation only, and is evidence of professional distinction. He has been named to Connecticut Super Lawyers List since 2020 for his work in personal injury.

John J. Schrot, Jr.’s legal career has predominantly focused on family law. He also has extensive experience in contract negotiations, commercial transactions, employment law, real estate, insurance, construction, securities, corporate law, arbitration, and other intricate personal and contractual relationships. Mr. Schrot received the prestigious Top 10 Attorney Award from both the National Academy of Family Law Attorneys (NAFLA) and American Institute of Family Law Attorneys (AIOFLA), recognizing him as one of the Top 10 family law attorneys in Michigan. NAFLA was established with the primary goal of discovering and recognizing the top 10 family law attorneys in each state for their hard work, knowledge, skill, experience, expertise and success in their practice of family law. AIOFLA is similar, as well as having an emphasis on "client satisfaction." The attorneys who make the NAFLA and AIOFLA Top 10 must first be nominated. He has been consistently recognized as a Super Lawyer(Super Lawyers.com), a Top 100 Matrimonial and Family Attorney by The National Advocates, and in the dbusiness Magazine as a Top Lawyer in Metropolitan Detroit in the practice areas of family law and litigation; and selected by his peers as a Leading Lawyer in family law in Michigan. He has served by court appointment as a special master of discovery, facilitator, mediator, umpire, arbitrator and receiver. He has consistently achieved an AV Preeminent rating, the highest peer rating by Martindale Hubbell, a nationally recognized directory of attorneys, for his legal ability and ethical standards. He received the Distinguished Lawyer Award from the Shamrock Bar Association, and has been named a Leader in the Law. He has appeared in state and federal courts throughout Michigan and has argued in the Michigan Court of Appeals and the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Professional memberships include the American Bar Association, State Bar of Michigan and Oakland County Bar Association, ABA section memberships include litigation, family law and business law. Section memberships in the State Bar of Michigan include family law and business law. He is an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association. Mr. Schrot is a past chairman of the Oakland County Bar Association’s Circuit Court Committee. He is also a member of the City of Birmingham Board of Ethics, Past Grand Knight of the Birmingham Knights of Columbus, Past President of the Birmingham Rotary Club, among other volunteer positions. He has also served on the Board of Directors of the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit, and has been past chair of the Board of Directors of the Birmingham YMCA and the City of Birmingham Ethics Board and Advisory Parking Committee. He was the recipient of the Federal Bar Foundation Edward Rakow Scholarship Award at the Detroit College of Law in 1976, where he was the Editor-in-Chief of the Detroit College of Law Review. He also served as Law Clerk to the Honorable Harold H. Bobier, Judge of the U.S. District Court in Bankruptcy for the Eastern District of Michigan.

Steve was born and raised in Colorado Springs where graduated from Palmer High School. He attended Cornell College, earning a bachelor’s of arts degree in biochemistry and molecular biology. He then attended California Western School of Law in San Diego, initially focusing his studies on pharmaceutical and biotechnology intellectual property law. At the encouragement of a Trial Practice Professor, Steve began an internship with the California Innocence Project and then worked with the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, one of the nation’s most prestigious prosecutor’s offices. Steve quickly realized that he was much more interested in becoming a trial attorney, and changed the focus of his legal education. Steve eventually returned to Colorado, and after passing the Colorado Bar Exam, accepted a position as a Deputy District Attorney in the Fourth Judicial District. As a DA, Steve initially prosecuted DUI cases, serious traffic offenses, domestic violence cases, and other misdemeanors. After only three months prosecuting misdemeanor cases, Steve was moved to the felony prosecution unit, where he prosecuted a wide range of felony cases, ranging from simple theft and drug cases, to homicides and assaults. Finally, Steve was assigned the coveted position as a member of the Vehicular Homicide/Vehicular Assault team, where he vertically prosecuted fatal traffic accidents, DUI and reckless driving charges resulting in death and serious bodily injury, and homicides. Before leaving the DA’s Office, Steve received the “Tradition of Excellence” Award. After leaving the DA’s Office, Steve joined a large civil litigation firm, where his practice focused on personal injury litigation. Steve joined McDowell/Rodemer, LLC as a partner in an effort to broaden the practice in civil litigation and criminal defense. After leaving McDowell/Rodemer, LLC , Steve became a sole practitioner, in an effort to maintain a smaller caseload and provide more attention to each client. Today, Steve is recognized as a premier trial attorney in Colorado. He has been named as one of the top 40 attorneys under 40 by the National Trial Lawyers for 2012 and 2013. The National Advocacy for DUI Defense recently named Steve as one of the Top 100 DUI Defense attorneys. He is a member of the prestigious National College for DUI Defense, and holds the rating of 10/10 “Superb” by Avvo. Steve is a member of the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association, the American Association for Justice, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and the Colorado Criminal Defense Bar Association. Steve has tried countless criminal and civil matters, and continues to do so on a very regular basis with outstanding results. When not in the courtroom, Steve is an avid golfer.