Burlington attorneys Eric D. Jones and Peter B. Kunin and Brattleboro attorney Timothy E. Copeland Jr., have moved into new leadership roles at the northern New England law firm of Downs Rachlin Martin PLLC. Jones and Kunin were selected by Managing Partner Paul H. Ode Jr., to serve as Deputy Managing Partners of the firm along with Brattleboro attorney Peter B. Robb, who will continue in the Deputy Managing Partner role this year. Copeland replaces Jones as the chair of the Labor and Employment Law practice.
“We are fortunate at DRM to have a number of attorneys with the skills and talent to hold senior management positions,” said Ode, who was elected to serve his second three-year term as Managing Partner at the firm’s annual meeting in December. “I am extremely pleased that Eric and Peter have agreed to join me in leading and continuing to build the firm, while keeping our core values of personal, responsive client service and excellent lawyering at the center of all that we do. I also extend my sincere appreciation to Peter Robb, who has held the position of Deputy Managing Partner for the past three years and will transition out of that role later this year.”
In his legal practice, Jones represents employers in a broad range of matters, including the defense of employment disputes, unfair labor practice proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board and labor arbitrations. He counsels employers on employment practices, policies and day-to-day human resources issues, and he represents businesses and individuals in commercial disputes, including contract, fraud, unfair trade practices, trade secret, and business torts litigation. Jones graduated with highest honors from Vermont Law School.
Kunin advises clients on all aspects of trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets and computer law. He drafts and negotiates a broad range of trademark licenses, software license agreements and technology transfer agreements and assists clients in resolving disputes related to ownership of intellectual property rights through settlement negotiations, mediation and litigation. Kunin graduated summa cum laude from Cornell Law School. He has been an adjunct professor at Vermont Law School since 1996.
Copeland has an active practice representing employers before the National Labor Relations Board including proceedings arising from union organizing activity and unfair labor practice charges. He counsels management on how to avoid employment litigation and grievances, plant closing and layoff issues, proper termination procedures, Family Medical Leave Act and state leave law issues, wage and hour issues, the Americans with Disabilities Act and other matters. Copeland is a summa cum laude graduate of Vermont Law School.
Downs Rachlin Martin PLLC is a full-service law firm with more than 60 attorneys and six 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.