Boston, MA. Nixon Peabody LLP is proud to announce the firm’s 2026 new partner class, which includes 12 attorneys from the firm’s three departments, representing a diverse range of practice areas.
This year’s partner class reflects Nixon Peabody’s commitment to retaining and developing top talent, with the collective goal of providing exceptional client service and results. The group includes attorneys from regions across the United States. All 12 new partners are being elevated from counsel—a testament to the strength of the firm’s counsel program, which includes training and mentoring lawyers to develop strengths in key areas for future success.
“Each of our new partners embodies the Nixon Peabody spirit; they are adaptable, creative, have grit, and are always focused on achieving excellent results for our clients,” said Stephen D. Zubiago, Nixon Peabody CEO and managing partner. “We’re honored to welcome our 2026 class to the firm’s partnership. Their achievements, across practices and geographies, underscore our belief that career growth is driven by curiosity, engagement, and initiative.”
The new partner promotions take effect February 1, 2026.
Business & Finance
Paul DeTurk, Corporate, Boston
Paul is a skilled corporate lawyer who leads complex transactions, focusing his practice on sophisticated private-company mergers and acquisitions, venture capital, strategic collaborations, emerging companies, and corporate governance matters. He advises clients across a range of industries, including technology, life sciences, and healthcare. Outside of his practice, Paul leads training and mentoring programs for associates. He has been selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch since 2023.
Lena Gionnette, Corporate, Rochester
Lena Gionnette advises employers, executives, and plan fiduciaries on the full spectrum of employee benefits and compensation matters. Her practice spans retirement plan and health and welfare compliance, plan governance and fiduciary issues, and the benefits aspects of corporate transactions. Lena has been recognized in the 2024 and 2025 editions of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch and previously served as co-chair of the ABA Tax Section’s Welfare Plans Subcommittee. She is also active in pro bono benefits counseling for nonprofits and legal aid organizations.
Nicoleas Mayne, Corporate, New York City
A member of the firm’s Entertainment & Media and Sports & Stadiums teams and a former NHL player agent, Nic represents leading names in entertainment, sports, and consumer products. Nic advises high-profile celebrity and venture-backed brands, an impressive roster of creators, and a range of managers, agents, investors, and other companies interacting with the creator economy and name-image-and-likeness (NIL) markets. Outside the firm, Nic is an adjunct professor at Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, Oregon, where he teaches a course on Sneaker Law, and he serves on the Board of CASA for Children.
Justin D. Pfeiffer, Healthcare, Albany
Justin advises healthcare providers on regulatory compliance, transactional matters, government insurance programs, and commercial payor arrangements. Having previously directed the Bureau of Program Counsel, the largest legal bureau of the New York State Department of Health, he regularly contributes thought leadership based on his deep knowledge of the healthcare regulatory landscape and its legal complexities. Justin also maintains a varied and active pro bono practice.
Shaziah Singh, Corporate, New York City
Shaziah counsels public and private strategic buyers on mergers and acquisitions, private equity and debt transactions, and corporate matters. While she has a particular focus on the sports sector, Shaziah has extensive experience advising clients in a wide variety of industries, including manufacturing, security services, healthcare, and food and beverage. In the private equity and family office space, she advises investors, funds, and family offices in connection with direct/portfolio investments, portfolio companies, and exit transactions. She has been listed in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch since 2024 and is a member of the Junior League of Grand Rapids, Michigan, chapter.
Litigation
Brian Hill, Complex Disputes, Washington, DC
Brian represents clients in federal and state courts, arbitrations, and internal and government investigations, with an emphasis on commercial disputes, business torts, government contracts, fiduciary duties, False Claims Act matters, and cross-border litigation. He has significant experience leading cases in the Superior and District courts of the District of Columbia and the surrounding area, including the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. Brian is a frequent contributor to the ABA and the International Comparative Legal Guide, and he serves as co-chair of the ABA Litigation Section’s Business Torts & Unfair Competition Committee.
Jessica Schachter Jewell, Labor & Employment, Providence
Jessica has established herself as a trusted adviser in the complex world of labor and employment law. Her practice focuses on providing counsel and litigation defense to regional and national employers in a broad spectrum of industries, with a particular focus on matters involving employment discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and whistleblower claims. An active firm citizen, Jessica serves as the Providence office pro bono attorney. She’s been recognized in Chambers since 2021 and was selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 in the field of Employment Law—Management.
Matthew A. Werber, Intellectual Property, Chicago
Matt is an experienced litigator who advises clients across many industries on protecting, monetizing, and defending their intellectual property rights. He represents technology companies in complex patent lawsuits in federal district courts and the Federal Circuit and prosecutes anti-counterfeiting and trademark enforcement campaigns for numerous globally recognized brands. As co-leader of the firm’s Artificial Intelligence IP Team, Matt also counsels clients and contributes thought leadership on the risks and opportunities presented by AI.
Project Finance, Infrastructure & Real Estate
Nicole V. Hixon, Community Development Finance, Boston
Nicole helps equity investors, syndicators, and lenders navigate multi-layered public and private financings, including leveraging low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) transactions and other types of credits, to finance affordable housing and community development projects throughout the United States. In this work, she advises clients on the structuring of transactions involving multiple layers of public and private financing, including tax-exempt bonds. Nicole has been listed in Best Lawyers since 2025.
Emily Schwebke, Affordable Housing & Real Estate, Chicago
Emily represents clients in real estate acquisitions, dispositions, and leasing across asset types and advises on operational and financing matters. These commercial real estate transactions involve a broad range of industries, including multifamily housing, affordable housing, office buildings, warehouse and industrial properties, and mixed-use properties. Her client work also involves counseling tax equity investor clients on site control and solar leasing transactions that generate tax credits. Emily has been recognized by Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch since 2023 and serves as deputy leader of the firm’s General Real Estate Transactional Team.
Richard J. Shore, Affordable Housing & Real Estate, New York City
Drawing on nearly two decades of experience as a litigator, Richard advises on real estate litigation, governmental investigations, regulatory compliance, and complex commercial dispute matters. A former assistant attorney general in the enforcement section of the Real Estate Finance Bureau at the New York State Attorney General’s Office, Richard’s practice has a particular focus on real estate and cooperative and condominium law, and he has extensive experience with New York’s Martin Act. Outside his practice, Richard serves as co-chair of the Case Law Committee for the Co-op and Condo Section of the New York Bar Association.
Terance V. Walsh, Project Finance & Public Finance, Rochester
Terance represents municipal bond issuers, lenders, and underwriters in tax-exempt bond and leaseback transactions, serving as underwriters’ and disclosure counsel on public offerings and private placements. In addition to representing industrial development agencies, local development corporations, and municipal utilities, Terance has extensive experience advising on electric and gas prepay transactions. He was named to The Bond Buyer’s 2025 “Rising Stars” list and has been listed in Best Lawyers since 2021.
