Stephen A. Shatz, Steven J. Schwartz, Gary S. Fentin, Michele J. Feinstein, Carol C. Klyman, Timothy P. Mulhern, Ann I. Weber and Steven Weiss were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2014. Additionally, Attorney Shatz was named the Best Lawyers®2014 Springfield, Massachusetts Real Estate Law “Lawyer of the Year.” The Best Lawyers in America is a peer-reviewed listing that has been published since 1983. Selection is based on a rigorous national survey involving more than 3.9 million detailed, confidential evaluations by lawyers of other lawyers in their respective practice areas.
“Best Lawyers®recognition is a significant honor,” said Attorney Shatz. “We are proud of the work conducted by all our attorneys who are included in the list, and value the credibility the program lends to our firm.”
Attorney Stephen A. Shatz, first listed in the publication in 1993, was selected for his work in the specialty areas of Banking and Finance Law and Real Estate Law. A shareholder at Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin, P.C. since 1969, he concentrates his practice in the areas of real estate development, real estate finance, and commercial leasing.
Attorney Steven J. Schwartz was selected for his work in the areas of Corporate Law, Business Organizations and Closely Held Companies and Family Business Law. He concentrates his practice in the areas of family business planning, mergers and acquisitions, corporate law, and estate planning.Attorney Schwartz’s practice involves representation of principals in family business planning (including exit planning for business owners), representation of individuals and corporations in the purchase and sale of business enterprises, strategic planning for the future of clients’ businesses, and providing advice as to alternatives in financing through loans and venture capital.
Attorney Gary S. Fentin was selected for his work in the areas of Commercial Transactions and Banking and Finance Law. He concentrates his practice in the areas of commercial and real estate finance and development, industrial revenue bonds, affordable housing, estate planning, business law, and business foreclosures and workouts. Attorney Fentin manages the firm’s tax-exempt bond practice and has acted as bond counsel and/or purchaser’s counsel in hundreds of such issues since 1978. He is the only counsel west of Worcester, MA who has been approved as bond counsel to the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency.
Attorney Michele J. Feinstein was selected for her work in the areas of Elder Law as well as Trusts and Estates. She concentrates her practice in the areas of estate planning and administration, elder law, probate litigation, health law, corporate and business planning, including all aspects of planning for the succession of business interests, representation of closely held businesses and their owners, and representation of physicians in their individual and group practices.
Attorney Carol C. Klyman, first listed in the publication in 2007, was selected for her work in the area of Elder Law. She concentrates her practice in the areas of elder law, estate planning and administration, special needs trust planning, estate settlement, guardianships, and probate litigation. Her services include drafting strategic plans for clients facing nursing home care and preparing and filing applications for MassHealth benefits. As an advocate, she represents clients before the Office of Medicaid Board of Hearings on MassHealth appeals, before the Superior Court on appeals of adverse administrative hearing decisions and before the Probate Court on litigation involving wills, trusts and estates and contested guardianships. Attorney Klyman also is versed in all aspects of estate administration, including probate petitions and accountings and preparation of estate tax and gift tax returns.
Attorney Timothy P. Mulhern, first listed in the publication in 2008, was selected for his work in the areas of Tax Law and Corporate Law. He concentrates his practice in the areas of family business planning, taxation, corporate law and estate planning. He has been a Committee member of the Western New England University Tax Institute Advisory Committee since 1985.
Attorney Ann (“Ami”) I. Weber, first listed in the publication in 2007, was selected for her work in the area of Elder Law. She concentrates her practice in the areas of estate tax planning, estate administration, probate, and elder law. Attorney Weber has a particular interest in creative estate planning for authors and artists, and farmers and landowners.
Attorney Steven Weiss, first listed in the publication in 2008, was selected for his work in the areas of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights as well as Insolvency and Reorganization Law. He concentrates his practice in the areas of commercial and consumer bankruptcy, reorganization and litigation. Attorney Weiss manages the firm’s bankruptcy, reorganization and workout practice, represents creditors, debtors, and others in both commercial and consumer bankruptcy cases throughout Massachusetts, and has been a member of the private panel of Chapter 7 Trustees for the District of Massachusetts since 1987, and also serves as a Chapter 11 Trustee