Boston, MA. Nixon Peabody LLP has promoted 12 attorneys in its 2026 counsel class, representing national markets and a wide range of litigation and transactional practices from each of the law firm’s three legal departments.
“Each of the attorneys in our new counsel class demonstrates key characteristics that drive sustainable success: talent, dedication, commitment to our clients and firm, and a constant desire to grow,” said Stacie B. Collier, Nixon Peabody Chief Talent Officer. “These colleagues have made significant contributions to our firm and the communities they serve, and we are thrilled to see them continue to grow in the next phase of their careers.”
All of the attorneys in Nixon Peabody’s 2026 partner class were elevated from counsel, illustrating the integral nature of the firm’s counsel program for attorney development.
Business & Finance
Anthony Bova, Corporate, Boston
Anthony focuses his practice on a wide range of corporate mergers and acquisitions, including platform acquisitions and add-ons, recapitalizations, portfolio company guidance and considerations specific to private equity, and corporate governance, among other areas. He represents both public and private companies with a particular focus on buy- and sell-side private equity transactions. Anthony also actively represents family office investors and has extensive experience in guiding family-owned businesses through their first acquisition event. He is an active mentor and regularly serves as a presenter or panelist for firm programming. Anthony also serves as a Steering Committee member within the Boston Bar Association’s Business Transactions section.
Alexandra Crean, Private Clients, Boston
Alex advises high-net-worth clients on estate planning, trusts, and tax matters, with a particular focus on cross-border planning. She also regularly guides fiduciaries through the administration of domestic and foreign estates and trusts. Alex helps clients build flexible structures that minimize transfer taxes, enhance income tax efficiency, preserve optionality, and simplify administration over time. She serves as co-chair of the Boston office’s Women’s Network and as clerk for the Board of Directors of the Alumnae Association of Mount Holyoke College. She was selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for 2026 in the field of Trusts and Estates.
Maximilian Ferullo, Global Finance, New York City
A member of the firm’s Leveraged Finance Team, Max advises sponsors, borrowers, arrangers, agents, and lenders on complex domestic and cross-border finance transactions, including leveraged and acquisition financings across secured and unsecured, single-lender and syndicated, and cash flow and asset-based facilities. He frequently collaborates with members of the Corporate, Mergers & Acquisitions, and Private Equity Teams on the financing and refinancing needs of general corporate and portfolio company clients. Max leverages his experience as a former bankruptcy and restructuring associate to bring a hybrid perspective to distress-related matters, including workouts, intercreditor disputes and debt restructurings both out-of-court and in Chapter 11. He has been selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in 2024 and 2025, in the field of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law.
Kaitlyn Greene, Private Clients, Boston
Kaitlyn’s practice focuses on estate and tax planning, helping individuals, business owners, and families develop sophisticated estate plans that optimize tax efficiencies while advancing each client’s unique values and long-term goals. She counsels clients and trusted advisors on various wealth transfer vehicles and drafts the necessary documents, such as wills, revocable trusts, irrevocable life insurance trusts, and gifting trusts. Kaitlyn also advises individual and corporate fiduciaries on estate and trust administration, with a focus on charitable trust administration and compliance in Massachusetts. She is an engaged mentor, presenting on panels and supporting recruitment efforts. Kaitlyn was selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for 2026 in the field of Trusts and Estates.
Emily Holt, Corporate, Boston
Emily represents companies, financial institutions, and other creditors in complex restructuring efforts as they navigate the complexities and legal risks related to financially troubled companies. Her practice centers on corporate restructuring and insolvency matters, with a particular emphasis on creditors’ rights in both in-court and out-of-court restructurings, workouts, liquidations, distressed financings, and acquisitions. Emily co-chairs the firm’s Associates Council in the Boston office and she serves on the New England chapter of the Turnaround Management Associates (TMA) Network of Women committee. She was selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for 2026 in the field of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law.
Meghan Hopkins, Healthcare, Providence
Meghan represents healthcare and general corporate clients in various transactional, regulatory, and operational matters, including mergers, acquisitions, restructurings, joint ventures, and joint operating agreements. She is a trusted adviser and active firm citizen, participating in pro bono work and contributing to firm committees, including the Associates Council and the regional Green Committee. Meghan serves on the Board of Directors of Providence Community Health Center and the Board of Trustees of McAuley Ministries. In 2025, she was recognized by Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly’s Excellence in the Law in the “Up & Coming Lawyers” category and named to Providence Business News’ 40 Under Forty list.
Litigation
Matthew Costello, Complex Disputes, Boston
Matt focuses on complex litigation matters at the federal and state levels, helping clients efficiently achieve their desired results and business goals while resolving disputes without resorting to litigation whenever possible. Among other involvements, Matt serves as co-chair of the Massachusetts LGBTQ Bar Association Board of Directors. He is a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association Complex Commercial Litigation Section Council and he was recently selected for the 2025–2026 Boston Bar Association Public Interest Leadership Program. Matt was selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for 2026 in the field of Commercial Litigation and named to Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly’s Excellence in the Law list in the “Up & Coming Lawyers” category.
Catherine Hunstad, Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense, Washington, DC
Catherine handles high-stakes legal issues focused on compliance, internal investigations, criminal litigation, and complex immigration issues. She advises clients on criminal and civil matters involving government enforcement agencies, including the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security, among others. Catherine employs her deep knowledge of the international legal landscape as part of the firm’s Cross-Border Risks Team, which represents businesses and high-net-worth individuals facing potential sanctions, international arrest warrants, criminal indictments, and other critical challenges. Catherine was selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for 2026 in the fields of Criminal Defense: White-Collar and Immigration Law.
Conor McNamara, Construction & Real Estate Litigation, San Francisco
Conor represents public entities, major companies, and high-net-worth individuals in a wide array of disputes, including construction matters, contract and intellectual property disputes, and government investigations. He is experienced in all aspects of litigation, including e-discovery work and investigation work, motion practice and depositions in complex litigation, and witness examinations at multi-week arbitration evidentiary hearings. Conor has an active pro bono immigration practice and is a member of the firm’s Veterans Network. He was selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for 2026 in the fields of Commercial Litigation and Litigation—Construction.
Brianna Portu, Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense, Boston
Brianna represents clients through all stages of government investigations, internal investigations, and complex civil and criminal litigation. She skillfully navigates grand jury subpoenas, HIPAA subpoenas, and civil investigative demands involving various enforcement agencies, making her an asset to many teams across the firm. Brianna maintains an active pro bono practice and is dedicated to firm initiatives, including recruiting and mentoring associates in the Litigation Department. She was selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for 2026 in the field of Criminal Defense: White-Collar.
Project Finance, Infrastructure, and Real Estate
Eric Brenner, Project Finance & Public Finance, Albany
Eric provides efficient, future-focused counsel to a wide variety of clients in project finance and public finance. He represents clients on all sides of taxable and tax-exempt projects that transform our communities, including issuers, underwriters, and borrowers. His work also includes representing lenders in financings for healthcare and nonprofit entities. Within his practice, Eric also represents industrial development agencies in transactions that foster economic development. He served as a member of the firm’s Associates Council and was selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for 2026 in the fields of Banking and Finance Law, Municipal Law, Project Finance Law, and Public Finance Law.
Spenser Sotolongo, Affordable Housing & Real Estate, Chicago
Spenser’s practice encompasses the full spectrum of real estate matters throughout the Chicagoland area, the Midwest, and across the nation, including development, acquisitions, dispositions, leasing, and financing. He represents developers, property owners, tenants, and investors in these transactions, bringing a practical, client-focused approach to each matter. Whether navigating complex deal structures or addressing day-to-day real estate needs, Spenser is committed to understanding his clients’ business objectives and delivering tailored solutions that advance their goals. Spenser also serves on the board of Holiday Heroes, a nonprofit benefiting pediatric patients. He has been selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch since 2022, including 2026, in the field of Real Estate Law.
