Robinson+Cole is pleased to announce the election of five new partners, effective January 1, 2017. The new partners are Brian M. Flaherty, Michael W. Kaufman, Virginia E. McGarrity, Rickie M. Sonpal , and  Brian J. Wheelin.

“The development and advancement of our more junior lawyers is critical to our continuing success,” said Stephen E. Goldman, Robinson+Cole’s Managing Partner. “The advancement of these five new partners is representative of the ways in which the firm continues to grow and be successful. It gives me great pleasure to congratulate our new partners as well as our R+C community for helping them to be successful.” 

Brian M. Flaherty – Mr. Flaherty is a member of the firm's Business Transactions Group and is located in the firm’s Boston office. His practice involves representing privately and publicly held companies in all aspects of corporate and transactional law, including mergers and acquisitions, private equity and venture transactions, debt financings, joint ventures, and general corporate matters.

Michael W. Kaufman – Mr. Kaufman is a member of the firm's Finance Group and is located in the firm’s Stamford office. His practice involves all aspects of secured and unsecured bank, mezzanine and other senior and subordinated lending. He represents borrowers, banks, funds, and other lenders. Mr. Kaufman guides clients through the complexities of subordination and intercreditor arrangements, the negotiation of financial covenants, and the perfection of collateral.

Virginia E. McGarrity – Ms. McGarrity is a member in the firm's Employee Benefits and Compensation Group and is located in the firm’s Hartford office. She represents governmental, corporate and tax-exempt employers with regard to their retirement and welfare benefit programs, executive compensation matters, and benefits issues in corporate transactions. Ms. McGarrity is a frequent speaker and author on employee benefit issues, especially on the impact of health care reform on strategic employee benefit planning. Ms. McGarrity is the past president and a current member of the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Hispanic Bar Association (CHBA). Most recently, she was recognized as a New Leader in the Law by the Connecticut Law Tribune.

Rickie M. Sonpal – Mr. Sonpal is a member of Robinson+Cole's Business Transactions Group and is located primarily in the firm’s Providence office. His practice is focused on corporate and transactional law, including mergers and acquisitions, private equity and venture capital transactions, financing transactions, partnerships and joint ventures, commercial contractual matters and general corporate counseling. Mr. Sonpal is also a member of the firm’s Finance Group and Sustainability Group.

Brian J. Wheelin – Mr. Wheelin is a member of the firm's Business Litigation Group, where he focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation in the firm’s Stamford office. He has first-chaired cases to verdict as well as argued appeals before the United States Second Circuit and state appellate courts in Connecticut and New York. Mr. Wheelin represents both individuals and companies in commercial litigation matters encompassing business torts, contract breaches, and disputes related to employment, real estate, and intellectual property. Most recently, he was recognized as a New Leader in the Law by the Connecticut Law Tribune.

About Robinson+Cole

Robinson+Cole is a service mark of Robinson & Cole LLP, an Am Law 200 firm with more than 200 lawyers in nine offices serving regional, national, and international clients, from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies. For more information, please visit www.rc.com.