School board hires new law firm

0
80

BEACON FALLS — The law firm Shipman & Goodwin is now the Region 16 Board of Education’s legal counsel.

The firm was hired at the board’s July 18 meeting. The firm has 150 attorneys and offices in Hartford, Stamford, Greenwich, Lakeville and Washington D.C.

Partners Richard Mills and Anne Littlefield along with associate Jessica Ritter comprise a three-member team that will be the board’s main legal counsel. However, the entire firm will be available to the board.

Interim Superintendent of Schools Tim James said the board will pay by the hour for legal services. The fee for Mills is $360 an hour, Littlefield’s fee is $335 an hour, and Ritter’s fee is $220 an hour, he said.

Shipman & Goodwin was chosen over the law firms of Berchem, Devlin & Moses and Sullivan, Schoen, Campane & Connon, which was the board’s previous legal counsel.

James said the depth of expertise and services Shipman & Goodwin can offer made the firm an attractive choice for the board.