Rod Saggese was elected to serve as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Greenwich Emergency Medical Service. Known affectionately as GEMS, it is the non-profit organization that is the sole provider of pre-hospital emergency medical services to the Town of Greenwich.
Chambers High Net Worth Recognizes Whitman Breed’s Charles Pieterse and George Smith in 2022
Whitman Breed partners Charles Pieterse and George Smith have been recognized by the Chambers 2022 High Net Worth Guide as leading private wealth lawyers in Connecticut.
Charlie is the top-ranked lawyer in Band 1 of Chambers’ Private Wealth Disputes category in Connecticut. Chambers describes Charlie as being “a renowned trust and estate litigator in Connecticut,” with sources saying “I thought he did an excellent job at shepherding the client through the system.”
George is among lawyers ranked in Chambers’ Private Wealth Law category for his work “advis[ing] affluent individuals on an array of matters including estate and trust planning and administration.” Sources described George as a “very good attorney and a lovely person.” George and a group of lawyers and staff joined Whitman Breed from Smith & Grant LLP in 2020.
Chambers and Partners is an independent research company operating across 200 jurisdictions delivering detailed rankings and insight into the world’s leading lawyers. Whitman Breed congratulates and applauds Charlie and George on their hard work and recognition by the Chambers 2022 High Net Worth Guide.
Whitman Breed Announces Jevera Kaye Hennessey Joins the Firm
Whitman Breed Abbott & Morgan LLC is excited to welcome Jevera Kaye Hennessey from Kaye and Hennessey, LLC in Greenwich. Jevera is joining the firm as a partner in its Trusts & Estates Department.“It is a privilege to welcome our friend and former colleague to the firm. Jevera’s deep knowledge of the law and her well known commitment to client service and professionalism will enhance the firm’s ability to provide legal services to our clients, whether in the context of planning, estate and trust administration or probate litigation,” expressed Whitman Breed Co-Managing Partner, Charlie Pieterse.
“Years ago, I worked at the predecessor firm to WBAM, along with many of the same attorneys that I will now have the pleasure of working with again,” said Jevera. “We have since collaborated on many projects, which speaks to the wonderful relationship we’ve maintained. I am excited to serve my clients at my new firm, and to offer them the broad legal service platform available at WBAM.”
December 2021
Drew Nelson, Kevin Walsh and Nick Douglas represented a Connecticut based family-owned manufacturer and seller of promotional products in connection with the negotiation and sale of the company to a national industry leader in custom fabricated promotional and specialty products for different industries.
The Firm successfully defended the validity of a significant gift to a charitable trust in an appeal before the Connecticut Supreme Court. The gift, which was challenged by a relative of the donor, was intended to – and now will – benefit quadriplegics and their caregivers. It is believed to be among the largest individual charitable donations in Connecticut history. The appeal followed a trial victory on the Complex Litigation Docket of the Superior Court. On behalf of family trustees, the appeal was argued by Whitman Breed partner Charles Pieterse with assistance from partner Wyatt Jansen and associate Trevor Larrubia. The Firm worked closely on the appeal with co-counsel at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, including lead trial counsel Lynn Neuner, Laura Twomey, Joshua Polster, and Sara Ricciardi.
Drew Nelson and Nick Douglas represented a Connecticut based developer of an online investment research platform designed to offer content to assist in investment research distribution, management and consumption in connection with the negotiation and sale of the company to a world-wide provider of virtual solutions for financial communications.
November 2021
Whitman Breed Partners and Associates have been named “Connecticut Super Lawyers® and Rising Stars” for 2021. Connecticut selection information at http://www.superlawyers.com/connecticut/selection_details.html
Charles Pieterse (Trusts & Estates Litigation), Jim Riley (Business Litigation), George Smith (Estate Planning & Probate), Rod Saggese (General Litigation), Thomas O’Connor (Rising Star – Civil Litigation), Luke Tashjian (Rising Star – Tax), Kathryn O’Neill (Rising Star – Business/Corporate), and Wyatt Jansen (Rising Star – Business Litigation and Trusts & Estates Litigation) were named Connecticut Super Lawyers and Rising Stars.
Drew Nelson and Nick Douglas represented an institutional investor in connection with the negotiation of a note and warrant investment in a boatyard to finance future growth and working capital needs.
Drew Nelson, Luke Tashjian and Nick Douglas represented a Connecticut based family-owned pest control company servicing the Connecticut and New York area in connection with the negotiation and sale of the company to a national pest control company with over 330 locations. The acquisition was part of the acquirer’s strategy to expand its pest control business within the greater New York City area.
Whitman Breed Attorneys Recognized as 2022 Best Lawyers in America
Whitman Breed is pleased to announce that five of our attorneys have been selected for inclusion in the 28th Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©.
Libby Grant, Charlie Pieterse, Jim Riley, George Smith, and Luke Tashjian were each named to this year’s “Best Lawyer” list in their respective areas of practice: Libby for “Trust & Estates”, Charlie for “Litigation – Trusts and Estates”, Jim for “Commercial Litigation”, George for “Trusts and Estates”, and Luke for “Trusts and Estates, Tax Law”.
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. The methodology is designed to capture the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographic area and legal practice area.
