With the new year, two prominent local Berkshire County law firms, Donovan & O’Connor, LLP and DeRosa Dohoney, have merged. The combined entity will retain the Donovan & O’Connor name. This merger represents the unification of two leaders of the Berkshire County legal community.
Founded in 1913 and with 15 actively practicing attorneys, Donovan & O’Connor, LLP is the region’s oldest and largest law firm with offices in North Adams, Pittsfield, and Springfield, Massachusetts as well as in Bennington, Vermont.
DeRosa Dohoney is the successor to Freedman, DeRosa & Rondeau, which was founded in 1976 by Morton Freedman, John DeRosa and Patrick Rondeau. In addition to representing private clients, DeRosa Dohoney has a visible profile in Berkshire County, playing a lead role in the development of Mass MoCA and other initiatives across the county. In addition, DeRosa Dohoney has represented the City of North Adams since 1983, which the firm will continue to do.
Attorneys John DeRosa and Richard Dohoney, former partners at DeRosa Dohoney will be joining Donovan & O’Connor along with several staff members. Attorney Dohoney, who was recognized as a “Rising Star” by Superlawyers Magazine from 2010 through 2012, will work primarily out of Donovan &O’Connor’s Pittsfield office, while Attorney DeRosa will work out of North Adams.
According to Attorney DeRosa, “joining offices creates a law firm second to none. We are excited to join our exceptional team of lawyers and to build on our hallmark traditions which emphasize client service and getting the right results for our clients.” Both firms are committed to quality representation for their clients and both have strong western Massachusetts roots, so merging “made a lot of sense practically and from a client service point of view” according to Attorney Chris S. Dodig.
The “new” Donovan & O’Connor, LLP will continue to engage in the general practice of law with an emphasis on business and commercial representation, trust and estate planning, divorce and family law, and serious personal injury representation.
