Robert Rachlin celebrates 50th year with Vermont law firm

Burlington, Vermont, attorney Robert D Rachlin, senior director of the law firm Downs Rachlin Martin PLLC, celebrated his 50th anniversary this month with the law firm that bears his name. He was honored at the firm’s annual holiday dinner, held at the Stoweflake Resort and Conference Center.
Rachlin holds a bachelor’s degree from Yale University and a law degree from the University of Chicago Law School. Over the decades, he has represented the state of Vermont in achieving one of the largest state court verdicts in Vermont history and has attained, in a trade secret misappropriation suit, the largest federal award in Vermont history.
He successfully represented the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) in establishing U.S. license primacy over licenses granted by the International Olympic Committee, considered by the USOC to be a major stride in the protection of its control over Olympic-related designations.
Throughout his career, Rachlin has dedicated a significant portion of his time to pro bono work, including representation of detainees at Guantánamo. In 2002, he received the Vermont Bar Association’s Distinguished Service Award, together with the firm.
Rachlin is an elected member of the American Law Institute, an elected fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and an elected fellow of the International Society of Barristers. He has served on the Vermont Board of Bar Examiners and the Vermont Professional Conduct Board.
He serves on the board of trustees of Vermont Law School, where he also has been appointed to the faculty as "Distinguished Lecturer." He teaches courses in ethics and remedies at the law school. In addition, he is an adjunct faculty member in the department of German and Russian at the University of Vermont. Rachlin has been continuously listed in Best Lawyers in America since the work was first published 25 years ago. He is listed in Chambers USA: Guide to America’s Leading Business Lawyers, and he has received Martindale-Hubbell's AV® Preeminent™ Peer Rating, the highest rating attainable. He is ranked among the top five percent of attorneys in Vermont by Super Lawyers® magazine.
Rachlin joined the St. Johnsbury law practice of John H. Downs in December 1959 and began practicing law after graduating from law school the following spring. Allen Martin joined with Downs and Rachlin in 1969 and, a short time later, the three established the firm as it is known today.
DRM is a full-service law firm with more than 60 attorneys and offices in Vermont, New Hampshire and New York. DRM provides legal services to local, national and international clients in practice areas that include bankruptcy and business restructuring, business law, captive insurance, energy and telecommunications, family law, health law, intellectual property, labor and employment, litigation, real estate and land use, environmental law, tax law and trusts and estates. The firm represents clients in legislative, regulatory and public affairs through the Government and Public Affairs group. DRM is the law firm member for Vermont of Lex Mundi, the world's leading association of independent law firms.
Source: DRM. 12.22.2009