Verrill’s Brian M. Hurley and Lauren Galvin have been named Lawyers of the Year by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly

BOSTON, Mass. – Verrill attorneys Brian M. Hurley and Lauren Galvin have been named Lawyers of the Year by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly for their role in clarifying the Massachusetts Anti-SLAPP law.

Their advocacy confirmed the need to simplify the statute by addressing prior decisions and restoring a more straightforward framework. The landmark decision in Bristol Asphalt Co. v. Rochester Bituminous Products now provides clearer guidance for trial courts and practitioners, ensuring anti-SLAPP standards are more consistent and less burdensome. Hurley and Galvin’s work assisted in resolving a decade-long issue. After considering the arguments, the Court set a precedent that will assist lower courts in resolving disputed claims and issues for years to come.

Hurley is a litigation lawyer focusing on real estate-related litigation, including land use, environmental, title and title insurance claims and disputes. Hurley advises institutional, commercial and individual clients on a wide variety of litigation issues and represents them in the state and federal courts of Massachusetts. Hurley has frequently lectured on litigation matters for Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education Foundation, American Land Title Association, Real Estate Bar Association and National Business Institute. He has published written materials on a variety of litigation and real estate topics.

Galvin provides strategic counsel and representation to private and public clients across all stages of litigation, including case initiation, discovery, trial preparation, and appeals. Galvin has more than a decade of experience representing private and public clients in the Supreme Judicial Court, Massachusetts Appeals Court, Land Court, and Superior Court. Her practice encompasses many legal areas, including land use and zoning, real estate disputes, State and local permitting, the Wetlands Protection Act, local legislation, elections, public records law, and open meetings law.