Boston, MA. Nixon Peabody LLP has further strengthened its counsel ranks with the addition of six new counsel within the firm’s three departments.
“Our counsel program remains central to our professional development initiatives and lateral talent pipeline, continually expanding our firm’s capabilities and strengthening our client service,” said Stacie B. Collier, Nixon Peabody Chief Talent Officer. “Each of these attorneys brings impressive experience and a deep commitment to client service. We are thrilled to welcome them to the firm, including two attorneys who are rejoining us, and we look forward to their growth and the meaningful contributions they will make.”
The six attorneys represent a diverse range of practice areas, including Affordable Housing & Real Estate, Construction & Real Estate Litigation, Corporate, Private Clients, and Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense. They also join across various Nixon Peabody offices, including Boston, New York City, San Francisco, and Washington, DC.
Business & Finance
Kelly Hathorn, Corporate, New York City
A member of Nixon Peabody’s Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation Team, Kelly advises clients on compliance-related aspects of qualified and non-qualified benefit plans, including pension plans, 401(k) plans, executive compensation and equity incentive plans, and health and welfare benefit arrangements. She partners with plan fiduciary committees to manage ongoing administration and reduce risk, and she also advises on the benefits-related aspects of corporate transactions. Kelly earned her JD from University of Connecticut School of Law and her BA from College of the Holy Cross.
Troy Lieberman, Corporate, Boston
Troy, who rejoins the firm, is an experienced technology lawyer whose practice spans regulatory, transactional, and litigation counsel to his clients. Troy advises technology and data-driven companies—from emerging startups to public companies—on data privacy, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI), complex technology, and commercial transactions, and related litigation. Drawing on his prior senior level, in-house experience at a high-growth text message and AI marketing platform, he also serves as outside general counsel to innovative companies, providing practical, risk-adjusted advice. Troy earned his JD from University of Virginia School of Law and his BA from Colby College.
Susan Robb, Private Clients, Boston
Susan has more than 20 years of experience advising high-net-worth individuals and families on all aspects of estate planning, estate administration, and trust administration. She works with families to achieve their estate, income tax, business succession, philanthropic, and multi-generational wealth transfer goals. Susan also counsels individual, professional, and corporate trustees and personal representatives on fiduciary duties and best practices in the administration of trusts and estates. She earned her JD from Suffolk University Law School and her BA from Hamilton College.
Litigation
John Mulcahy, Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense, Boston
John is a trial lawyer and has over 15 years of experience as a federal and state prosecutor in a range of high-stakes matters including tax, public corruption, money laundering, extortion, obstruction of justice, and bribery. He has tried more than 40 civil and criminal cases in federal and state courts and has extensive trial experience involving healthcare fraud, corporate and employment tax fraud, US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) violations, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) violations, and COVID-19-related fraud. John earned his JD from Boston College Law School and his BA from Boston College.
Dawn Valentine, Construction & Real Estate Litigation, San Francisco
Dawn rejoins Nixon Peabody and is a litigator with more than 20 years of experience representing clients in a wide variety of complex commercial disputes, including in connection with construction and real estate development. She counsels clients on pre-dispute evaluations and all facets of litigation, including at the appellate level in both state and federal courts. Dawn has advised clients on an extensive variety of large-scale contract disputes involving allegations of fraud, ERISA, class actions, false advertising, False Claims Act violations, copyright and trademark infringement, and unfair business practices. Dawn earned her JD from University of California Berkeley School of Law and her BA from Boston University.
Project Finance, Infrastructure & Real Estate
Sandra Buchko, Affordable Housing & Real Estate, Washington, DC
Sandy represents landlords, tenants, real estate developers, embassies, hotels, not-for-profit institutions, and REITs in retail, office, hospitality, and multifamily real estate transactions. Her work includes landlord and tenant leasing matters; acquisitions and dispositions; financing, including note sales and general foreclosure; and related corporate aspects of commercial and hospitality properties. With more than 20 years of experience as an attorney and 13 years as an in-house retail regional leasing director, Sandy brings an exceptionally deep and nuanced understanding of how to effectively guide her clients and negotiate and close transactions while providing economic insights in the transactions. She earned her JD from Campbell University Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law and her BA from University of Virginia.
