Two new officers - Vice President Richard P. Campbell and
Secretary Jeffrey N. Catalano - join the 2009-10 leadership team as
Valerie A. Yarashus begins her term as Massachusetts Bar
Association president.
Richard P. Campbell
is the founder and chairman of Campbell, Campbell, Edwards &
Conroy PC, which specializes in trial practice, with offices in
Boston and Philadelphia. He represents individuals and corporations
in personal injury matters, commercial disputes, multi-district
litigation, class actions, aviation disasters, toxic tort and
products liability disputes.
He also organizes and leads his
firm's pro bono project, educating parents, students and school
administrators about civil and criminal social host liability laws.
A past MBA secretary, Campbell has served on the MBA's House of
Delegates, for more than five years, the Criminal Justice Section
Council for four years and currently serves as a trustee for the
Massachusetts Bar Foundation.
Campbell is a past chair of the
34,000-member Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section of the
American Bar Association. Campbell was honored by Boston College
Law School with its highest award for dedication to the law - the
Founder's Medal. Campbell was the 2009 recipient of the ABA Tort
Trial & Insurance Practice Section Andrew C. Hecker Memorial
Award, in recognition for his leadership, outreach, enthusiasm,
professionalism and pride. He lives in Cohasset.
"The MBA's mission addresses two
interlinked communities: member lawyers and the public," Campbell
said. "As an officer, I am blessed with the opportunity to add
building blocks to the rule of law, to demonstrate the fundamental
importance of our profession to society, and to help our members
achieve the professional success they deserve in these difficult
times."
Jeffrey N. Catalano, secretary, is a partner at
Todd & Weld LLP in Boston, where he specializes in representing
victims of catastrophic injuries in the areas of medical
negligence, product liability, auto accident, class action and
other personal injury cases.Boston magazine in 2005. He lives
in West Roxbury.
A past chair of the MBA's Civil Litigation Section, Catalano has
served on the MBA's House of Delegates since 2006 and is a member
of its Executive Management Board. A Massachusetts Bar Foundation
Fellow, he is also a member of the executive committee for the
Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys.
Catalano is on the board of
directors for the nonprofit law firm Health Law Advocates Inc.,
where his pro bono work includes patient advocacy and representing
chronically ill and impoverished people who are denied access to
health care services. In 2008, he was recognized by Health Law
Advocates for his exceptional pro bono representation. Catalano was
selected as a New England "Super Lawyer" in 2009 and a "Rising
Star" by
"As an officer of the MBA, I feel
privileged to assist in its future so that it remains a strong,
respected and important contributor to the law," Catalano said. "I
look forward to promoting the many opportunities the MBA offers to
build friendships and personal connections that are so vital to
maintaining the civility and dignity of our great profession."
Returning as officers for
the 2009-10 term are:
President Valerie A.
Yarashus, a principal with Meehan, Boyle, Black &
Bogdanow PC in Boston.
President-elect Denise Squillante returns for
her fifth year as an officer of the MBA. Long active in the MBA
House of Delegates and the MBA's Family Law Section and its
associated committees, she was instrumental in establishing the
association's General Practice, Solo & Small Firm Section and
well as leading MBA's efforts for lawyers transitioning in and out
of practice. Squillante is a solo practitioner in Fall River.
"Every lawyer is facing economic strains, work/life
balance challenges and other difficulties in their everyday
practice. I look forward to helping lead the MBA to continually
identify the needs of our members and provide services and
resources that support and enhance their practice.
Douglas K. Sheff
follows his 2008-09 year as MBA secretary to serve as MBA vice
president in 2009-10. He is a past chair of the MBA's Civil
Litigation Section and a former regional delegate to the
association's House of Delegates. Sheff is a senior partner at
Sheff Law Offices in Boston.
"I am truly proud to serve as vice president of the MBA this
year. In addition to working with our team of talented officers, I
am honored to chair the MBA's Membership Committee. We will hit the
ground running with new services and products as well as events and
activities statewide which are certain to grow and strengthen our
great organization."
Treasurer Robert L. Holloway Jr. begins his third
term as an officer. He has served as secretary and vice president.
Holloway has also served on the Ethics Committee, as chair of the
Civil Litigation Section and as a regional delegate to the
Association's House of Delegates. He is a shareholder and president
of MacLean, Holloway, Doherty, Ardiff & Morse PC in
Peabody.
"I am honored to serve as treasurer
of the MBA, following the superb leadership of (2008-09 Treasurer)
Denise Squillante. I look forward to the challenge of building on
Denise's accomplishments, working with an excellent Budget and
Finance Committee, MBA leadership and staff. I welcome suggestions
from all MBA members regarding budget and finance matters."