With three new additions to the firm in recent months, the firm has expanded its Estate Planning, Trusts and Probate practice group. Earlier this year, Sheehey merged with the firm Melendy Moritz in Woodstock, Vermont. With that merger, Mark Melendy and Daphne Moritz joined the firm and the firm added an office in Woodstock. In addition, Leigh Phillips has recently joined the firm. David Austin, the firm’s managing attorney, said in a statement that “the addition of Mark Melendy, Daphne Moritz and Leigh Phillips brings great depth and experience to our estate planning practice and to the firm’s services for its business clients.”
Mark’s practice focuses largely on estate planning, business succession planning, estate administration and tax planning. Mark has over thirty years of experience, beginning with work for large international law firms in New York City and Boston. Following his relocation to Vermont, Mark was a principal at Kristensen, Cummings, Phillips, Carroll, and Melendy, P.C. in Brattleboro, Vermont and subsequently Whittington, Melendy & Girdwood, P.C. in Hanover, NH and Woodstock, Vermont. Mark then formed his own firm in 2003. Mark holds a law degree from Fordham School of Law and an LLM (Tax) degree from Boston University School of Law. He also holds an MBA from the University of New Hampshire.
Leigh works with small businesses, nonprofit organizations and individuals in the areas of corporate and commercial law and estate planning and administration. Leigh was admitted to practice in Vermont in 1977, and prior to joining Sheehey, she practiced as a solo practitioner in Burlington. In addition to her legal practice, Leigh has served on the boards of many nonprofit organizations, including current roles on the boards of the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts and the Burlington Country Club. Leigh received a B.A. in International Relations from the University of Pennsylvania in 1972 and a J.D. from the Villanova University School of Law in 1976.
Daphne’s practice focuses on estate planning, elder law, special needs planning, estate administration, and small business start up and succession. Daphne was admitted to practice in Vermont in 1990 and in New Hampshire in 1991, and has a diverse background in private and public practice. She spent many years in the family court as a child support attorney, and served as an acting magistrate. In 2004, Daphne became executive director of the Vermont Child Care Industry and Careers Council, an innovative nonprofit organization that provides early childhood educators professional development opportunities. Daphne received her law degree and Masters in Environmental Law from Vermont Law School in 1990.
