Upton & Hatfield, LLP
Concord, NH
Member Since 1993
Law School: University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law

What inspired you to practice plaintiffs’ employment law?

When I first graduated from law school, I worked for a firm in Manchester, NH. The firm was hired to represent an employee in an age discrimination case, but they didn’t handle employment cases. They asked me to take it and run with it, and I did, leading to my first plaintiff’s verdict in a case in the federal district court of New Hampshire. I was struck, and began to jump in with both feet, learning to handle all manner of workers’ rights cases at the firm.

Career-wise, what accomplishment are you most proud of?

I have been representing plaintiffs for 33 years in employment discrimination cases. I am most proud of my representation of women who have been subjected to gender discrimination. It is an issue so close to my own heart. My first verdict representing a woman was Jeanne Boisvert v. Sears Roebuck & Co., when I was seven years out of law school. I won a $1M verdict in the gender discrimination/retaliation case before Judge Stephen McAuliffe in the federal district court in New Hampshire. I am still so proud of winning that verdict early in my career!

What advice do you have for law students or new lawyers interested in this area of law?

Employment law is a wonderful area of practice, but it has developed a lot of challenges given our new world of ESI! And it’s not an area to dabble in. If you want to do plaintiffs’ employment law, learn all of the laws, and study the case law, and really work very diligently on each case.

What does NELA membership mean to you? How has it impacted your career?

My dear friend Nancy Richards-Stower started the New Hampshire Chapter of NELA in 1993. I was two years out of law school. Without the help of NELA-NH, I could not have managed all of the cases I had. At that time, I worked at a firm that did not have other attorneys who practiced employment law; NELA-NH helped me feel supported. I also joined National NELA at the same time. For years, we had annual Regional NELA Conferences, frequently held in Boston. My NELA colleagues have always been available to bounce ideas off of, and to help and commiserate about tough cases. It’s just been a wonderful support network!

What’s your favorite way to spend a day off?

Hiking with my husband and our dog Finnegan! Or skiing with my husband and our two adult sons!

Is there anything else would you like to share with us?

NELA is just an incredibly wonderful organization! Thank GOD for NELA!