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Ten Todd & Weld attorneys recognized in 2024 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America

Ten Todd & Weld attorneys are recognized in 2024 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America.

Recognition in Ones to Watch is based entirely on peer review and employs the same methodology used for Best Lawyers lists which were first published in 1983.  The 2024 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch recognizes 25,333 lawyers across the U.S. in 79 practice areas.

Attorneys listed in Ones to Watch have been in private practice typically for five to 10 years and are recognized for outstanding professional excellence.

The Todd & Weld attorneys listed in 2024 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch are:

  • Lauren M. Bussey (Family Law)

  • Joseph M. Cacace (Appellate Practice; Commercial Litigation; Litigation – Labor and Employment)

  • Widmaier M. Charles (Commercial Litigation; Insurance Law; Litigation – Real Estate)

  • Michael R. DiStefano (Criminal Defense: General Practice; Criminal Defense: White Collar)

  • Matthew S. Furman (Commercial Litigation; Litigation – Real Estate)

  • William Gildea (Commercial Litigation; Insurance Law; Litigation – Construction; Personal Injury Litigation – Defense)

  • Alycia Kennedy (Commercial Litigation)

  • Christian G. Kiely (Criminal Defense: White Collar)

  • Lucia A. Passanisi (Litigation – Labor and Employment)

  • Megan L. Rothemich (Family Law)

Ms. Bussey represents clients in all aspects of family law, including divorce, modification, child custody and parenting plans, asset divisions, and prenuptial agreements.  She counsels clients through all phases of family law litigation, including negotiating separation agreements, and regularly appears on their behalf in court.

Mr. Cacace is a seasoned trial and appellate litigator with a proven record of success at all levels of state and federal courts and in arbitrations and mediations.  Mr. Cacace, a partner at the firm, handles complex civil disputes of all types.  His business litigation expertise includes cases involving closely held businesses, shareholder derivative actions, contractual disputes, unfair and deceptive business practices, and a wide range of business torts.  

Mr. Charles concentrates his litigation practice on complex business disputes and real estate matters.  He represents clients in all phases of litigation and arbitration, including drafting pleadings, managing pre-trial discovery, handling motions, and arguing at trial.  Mr. Charles also represents clients in matters involving government investigations and white-collar criminal defense.

Mr. DiStefano, a partner at the firm, concentrates his practice in the areas of government investigations and criminal defense, including defending clients at trial and in pre-indictment government investigations.  A former prosecutor, Mr. DiStefano also advises clients under investigation in a variety of forums outside of court, including government civil investigative proceedings, college and university disciplinary matters, and professional licensing board hearings.  

Mr. Furman has more than a decade of experience handling business, employment, and real estate disputes for a wide variety of clients.  He has tried cases to judges and juries and regularly appears in Massachusetts courts, including the Business Litigation Session of the Superior Court and the specialized Land Court.

Mr. Gildea concentrates his civil litigation practice on representing clients in a wide variety of disputes across multiple industries.  A seasoned litigator, he has represented individuals, corporations, manufacturers, long-term care facilities, and insurers in a wide range of matters, including employment discrimination, catastrophic torts, professional malpractice, and contract disputes.

Ms. Kennedy concentrates her practice on commercial litigation.  She assists clients in all phases of civil litigation, including examining witnesses in court, conducting depositions, arguing dispositive motions, drafting pleadings, negotiating settlements, and developing litigation strategy.

Mr. Kiely concentrates his practice on business litigation, representing companies and individuals in a wide range of disputes.  He also represents clients in matters involving First Amendment law and defamation, government investigations, and white-collar criminal defense.  He regularly appears in state and federal courts at the trial and appellate levels.

Ms. Passanisi concentrates her practice on employment litigation, including matters involving discrimination, retaliation, wrongful termination, non-solicitation and non-competition agreements, misappropriation of trade secrets, and wage and hour laws.  She regularly appears in court, conducts depositions, prepares pleadings, and negotiates settlements. 

Ms. Rothemich concentrates her practice on all aspects of family law, including multifaceted divorce cases involving asset division, issues of child support and alimony, and custody disputes.  She collaborates with experts for varied purposes, including business valuation, forensic analysis of financial information, tax scrutiny, and psychological evaluations and opinions.