Burns & Levinson LLP Names Laura R. Studen and Shepard Davidson Co-Chairs of the Business Litigation Department

Boston, MA - October 4, 2005

Burns & Levinson LLP, a Boston-based leading law firm with offices in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and the District of Columbia, announces that Laura R. Studen and Shepard Davidson will co-chair the Firm’s Business Litigation Department.

“Laura and I are looking forward to continuing and growing Burns & Levinson’s representation of clients in state and federal courts throughout New England,” said Shep Davidson.

“As attorneys we need to be more than just lawyers, we need to bring maturity and expertise to the practice of law. We are counselors and advisors,” said Laura R. Studen. “Shep and I look forward to leading our Business Litigation Department bringing value to our clients by exercising judgment and maturity to problem solving.”

Laura R. Studen has been practicing for 23 years and has been with Burns & Levinson since 2001. She concentrates her practice in employment law, business litigation, family and probate law, and she counsels companies as well as individuals. Ms. Studen has handled litigation involving employment matters (including discrimination, wrongful discharge, workplace harassment, executive compensation and employment contract negotiations). Her family law practice includes litigation of child custody and removal as well as divorce among medium to higher net worth individuals involving complex business valuation and asset issues.

Ms. Studen is a 1982, magna cum laude, graduate of the New England School of Law, received a graduate degree in journalism from Boston University School of Communications in 1972, and earned a B.A. from Ohio State University in 1970. Ms. Studen is the former Chair of the Employment Practice Group at Lane, Altman & Owens LLP. She also taught Employment Law and Family Law as an adjunct faculty member at the New England School of Law. She is past president of the Massachusetts Association of Women Lawyers, a former member of the Board of Governors of the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys, and a Fellow of the Massachusetts Bar Foundation.

Shepard Davidson has been in practice for 15 years and with Burns & Levinson since 2001. He concentrates his practice in the areas of complex business torts, contract claims, real estate disputes and disputes involving closely held corporations. Mr. Davidson has extensive experience in virtually all phases of civil litigation. He has tried cases in the Massachusetts Superior and District Courts, as well as the Federal District Court. Mr. Davidson also has argued before the Massachusetts Appeals Court and Supreme Judicial Court. He is a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association. Mr. Davidson received a J.D. degree from Northeastern University in 1990, and a B.A. from Swarthmore College in 1986.

Burns & Levinson LLP (www.burnslev.com) is a leading full-service law firm. For over 45 years we have served a diverse group of individuals and corporations in all industries. The firm operates with an entrepreneurial spirit, like many of our clients, and uses a multi-disciplinary approach to achieve our clients’ goals. Based in Boston, Burns & Levinson LLP has other offices in Massachusetts, Providence, RI and Washington, DC.

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Contact: Angeline Mistretta, Director of Marketing, Burns & Levinson LLP, 617-345-3694, amistretta@burnslev.com