Biography

Betsy's practice focuses on all aspects of corporate, antitrust, and health care law. She has extensive transactional experience in mergers and acquisitions, reorganizations, venture capital financing, contract negotiations including domestic and international licensing agreements, franchise agreements representing both franchisors and franchisees, business tax planning, commercial lending, and equipment leasing. She has extensive experience in all aspects of corporate and health care antitrust counseling and investigations. She represents for-profit and nonprofit corporations, hospitals, clinics, and physician groups before the Department of Justice, the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general. She advises clients on matters involving the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, Chinese tariffs, and Iranian sanctions.

Betsy was selected by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly as a Top Woman of Law. Prior to joining Verrill, she was selected by Rhode Island Governor Bruce Sundlun to serve as the Governor's Executive Counsel and was also appointed by Senators Inouye and McCain to a committee to draft amendments to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.

Services/Industries

Education

  • Case Western Reserve University School of Law  (J.D.)
    • Law Review
  • Kenyon College  (B.A., cum laude)
    • With Distinction

Public Service

  • Plan International USA, Board of Directors and Governing Board Chair (2012-present)
  • WaterFire Providence, Chair Emeritus (2015-present); Board Chairperson (2012-2015)

Bar Admissions

  • Massachusetts
  • Rhode Island

Memberships

  • American Bar Association: Section of Antitrust Law, Corporate Counseling Committee, Mergers and Acquisitions Committee, Pricing Conduct Committee; Section of Business Law; Section of Health Law; Forum on Franchising
  • American Health Lawyers Association
  • Boston Bar Association
  • Rhode Island Bar Association

Honors

  • Recognized as one of Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly 2014 Top Women of Law
  • AV® rated by Martindale-Hubbell
  • Recognized in Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business under Corporate/M&A (2020)
  • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America© for Corporate Law in Boston, Massachusetts
  • Selected by peers for inclusion in New England Super Lawyers© under Business/Corporate, Health Care and Antitrust Litigation

To learn more about third-party ratings and rankings, and the selection processes used for inclusion, click here.

Court and Other Admissions

  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit

Firm Highlights

Publication/Podcast

Whole Foods Win Shows Workplace Rules Can Shield Cos.

Verrill attorney Liz Johnston was recently published in Law360 for her article “Whole Foods Win Shows Workplace Rules Can Shield Cos.” In the article, Johnston discusses the recent decision in Kinzer v. Whole Foods...

Event

Maine HR Convention: Workshop C: What Every Plan Sponsor Needs to Know-Your Fiduciary Duties in 2023

Join Verrill's Christopher S. Lockman at the 2023 Maine HR Convention where he will be presenting Workshop C: What Every Plan Sponsor Needs to Know-Your Fiduciary Duties in 2023 . This workshop will review...

News

Verrill's Norman Belanger and Betts Gorsky Featured in Mainebiz Article

Matter

Elections and Constitutional Law: Successfully Challenged Certification of Initiative Petition

In a victory for consumers and the ride-hailing public, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court recently barred the Secretary of State from placing on the November ballot initiative petitions proposed by companies such as Uber...

Publication/Podcast

Say What You Mean, Mean What You Say…Gorelick v. Star Markets: A Study in Indemnity

Indemnity clauses in contracts are a valuable tool for allocating risk among the contracting parties, most often risk attendant to personal injury and property damage, and their effect can be far-reaching. Despite their significance...

Blog

HR Power Hour with Sabine Gedeon

Event

Maine HR Convention: Workshop A: Out of Sight, Out of Mind-Legal Implications of Proximity Bias

Join Verrill's Tawny L. Alvarez at the 2023 Maine HR Convention where she will be presenting Workshop A:Out of Sight, Out of Mind-Legal Implications of Proximity Bias. Proximity bias can raise discrimination issues for...

Blog

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Proposes National Drinking Water Standard for Six PFAS Compounds

On March 14, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) announced a proposed National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) for six per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”). PFAS are a category of manufactured chemicals that...

Matter

Advised Fortune 500 Company on Group Health and Welfare Benefit Plans

We were engaged by a Fortune 500 manufacturing company to provide legal and compliance services regarding its group health and welfare benefit plans. During the course of our representation, we have advised the company...

News

David Lazarus Quoted in Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly Article Regarding Cryptocurrency Whistleblowing.

Contact Verrill at (855) 307 0700