The Vermont Bar Association held its 2025 Annual Meeting at the Hotel Champlain in Burlington on Sept. 26, 2025. A crowd of more than 200 Vermont attorneys, judges, special guest speakers, and 15 meeting sponsors were on hand. The hotel’s lobby had been renovated since our last meeting there and it looked elegant. The sun shone all day on the lake. The mood was good. The business meeting (even the food!) got high marks from attendees.
The day followed the pattern that VBA members and friends have come to expect. It began with a continental breakfast with sponsors followed by CLEs with the Association’s business meeting taking place during lunch.
The Morning
The first CLE block of the day began bright and early at 8:30 AM. Attendees had their choice of one of three programs. There was a novel 90-minute attorney wellness program: “Defibrillators, Narcan, CPR, Choking Relief & You! A Hands-On Wellness CLE.” Also on offer, a panel discussion, including many of Vermont’s pre-eminent employment law experts: “Workplace Watch: Legislative Changes & the Future of Employment Law in Vermont.” Another option was, “Ethical, Practical, Technical: Information and Considerations for the AI-Curious Attorney.” All the sessions were well attended and well received. (All the sessions were also recorded and are now available in the VBA digital library).
The organizers for the wellness session were Priscilla Dubé of Bergeron, Paradis, & Fitzpatrick, Bar Counsel Mike Kennedy, and Tamara McLaughlin. McLaughlin is an EMT and owner of Vermont Safety Net. Her company develops and delivers medical-based training. Dubé was the prime mover behind the session. She got in touch with the VBA to call to our attention that while all our courthouses are equipped with defibrillators, not many people have the first idea what to do with them in the event of an emergency. She also observed that many attorneys have clients and colleagues who may be struggling with addiction or mental health issues that might require intervention. Mike Kennedy gave some insights on his longtime theme of attorney wellness and good Samaritan laws. McLaughlin brought a full complement of training equipment (CPR mannequins, “choking vest” and Narcan for all – a first for a VBA takeway). Hands-on demonstrations and a lively session ensued.
The employment law session was organized by the VBA Labor & Employment Law Section chair Steve Ellis of Paul Frank + Collins and Colette Schmidt, also of Paul Frank + Collins. (Schmidt is also the VBA Young Lawyer Division Secretary). They were joined on their panel by Jeremy Grant from the labor and employment practice at DRM, Raven Rae, Senior Vice President of Legal Affairs and General Counsel at World Learning, and Emily Adams, an Assistant Attorney General in the Civil Rights Unit of the Vermont Attorney General’s Office. The group addressed employment law changes that became effective in Vermont in July, including parental and family leave and pay transparency. They also discussed the motivating factors and policy goals behind changes and shifting priorities and how Vermont’s laws may fit within the larger legal landscape.
The third session in that block was, “Ethical, Practical, Technical: Information and Considerations for the AI-Curious Attorney.” It was led by Ott Lindstrom of Paul Frank +Collins. Lindstrom is also the VBA’s representative on the Vermont Judiciary Committee on Artificial Intelligence and the Courts. He was joined by Mike Servidio of TCI, and Ryan Kriger, attorney with the Federal Trade Commission’s Division of Privacy and Identity Protection and former Vermont AAG. They covered a wide range of topics related to AI in the legal profession – opportunities, concerns, and ethics.
Those sessions wrapped up at 10 AM. After a break to get some refreshment and talk with sponsors (sponsor bingo cards were distributed and winning cards were drawn at the end of the day for prizes) the second CLE block got started at 10:30. Those on hand could choose between an update on the US Supreme Court from Rod Smolla, the past president of Vermont Law and Graduate School and well-known constitutional scholar (note – we have arranged for him to teach us again at our Mid-Year Meeting on March 27), or on the ins-and-outs of real property distribution in divorce. “Yours, Mine, but NOT Ours: Real Estate Issues in Marriage Dissolution,” was led by longtime family lawyer and chair of the Lamoille County Bar Association, Leslie Black, and Jim Knapp, co-chair of the VBA Real Property Section.
At the conclusion of the second block of CLEs it was time for the Association Business Meeting and lunch.
The Business Meeting
Bar Association President Josh Diamond took the podium, and, after getting through the preliminaries (accepting the minutes from the previous meeting and approving the treasurer’s report) he read the names of those Vermont lawyers and judges lost since our last meeting. Josh asked the crowd to observe a moment of silence for them. (Brief remembrances of all the departed were included in the meeting packet).
Josh moved on to recognizing the emeritus members. Emeritus membership is conferred on attorneys who have been VBA members for 40 years and are 75 years of age or older. This year’s emeritus members were listed on the meeting agenda and invited to the meeting. Those who were able to be present came to the podium to get their award from Josh. New emeritus member David Rath took the opportunity to encourage the crowd to sign up for the Guardian ad Litem program, in which he participates. He got a warm round of applause as did all the other new emeritus members.
Josh then moved on to the President’s Awards. These are bestowed in the discretion of the VBA president each year to recognize those who have made exceptional contributions to the Bar.
The first award went to the very recently retired Vermont Supreme Court Associate Justice, Karen R, Carroll. Justice Carroll retired from the court at the end of August. Her long and distinguished career encompassed work as a state prosecutor, a U.S. Attorney, and as a Vermont superior court judge. She was sworn in as an Associate Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court by Governor Scott in April 2017. Josh noted Justice Carroll’s contributions, particularly to access to justice efforts in the state. Justice Carroll, noting that she had to pull her work clothes out of the closet once more, graciously accepted the award. She offered words of encouragement for carrying on the important work of making justice available to all Vermonters.
The next two President’s awards were made to honor groups of attorneys in Vermont who have responded to the challenges to laws and norms that have been introduced by the Trump administration.
The first of these two awards was presented to three stand-out immigration law attorneys: Jill Martin Diaz, executive director of the Vermont Asylum Assistance Program, Dawn Siebert of the Defender General’s office, and Brett Stokes, Assistant Professor of Law and Director of the Center for Justice Reform Clinic (CJRC) at Vermont Law and Graduate School. All three have assisted individuals, trained attorneys, and answered the need for immigration legal assistance this last year.
The third President’s Award went to the organizers of the Vermont Lawyers March, which took place on May 3, 2025, in Burlington. The March was organized by an ad-hoc group of Vermont attorneys in response to the unprecedented challenges to the rule of law and legal norms that began in January. The Award was given to all the organizers of this signal event which brought some 700 lawyers and their supporters out to defend the rule of law. These included: Ron Fox, Craig Jarvis, Mark Kolter, P. Scott McGee, Tom Nuovo, Mary Beth Nuovo, Herb Ogden, Tony Roisman, Richard Rubin, Brian Sawyer, David Silver, Mary Welford, Amelia Silver, Natalie Silver, and Leslie Black. Leslie Black and David Silver were on hand that day to accept the award on behalf of the group.
Reports and Updates
The program was then handed over to Deanna Hartog, the current poverty law fellow, whose position is supported by the Vermont Bar Foundation. She gave an update on her work combatting homelessness in Vermont. Next, Bessie Weiss, interim executive director of Vermont Legal Aid and Sam Abel-Palmer, executive director of Legal Services Vermont, addressed the crowd. Their organizations are the largest providers of legal services to marginalized Vermonters and recent funding cuts have threatened what they will be able to provide. In addition to raising awareness of these challenges, they urged everyone to buy tickets to the upcoming Justice Gala (Nov. 5, Echo Center in Burlington. The Gala is being co-sponsored by VBF, Legal Aid and Legal Services Vermont to benefit their programs. (More information is available here: https://vtbarfoundation.org/events/)
Next Rob MacDougall, Vermont Deputy Attorney General, took the podium to announce the results of the ninth annual “Lawyers Fighting Hunger Food and Diaper Drive.” During the two weeks of this year’s food drive, which is sponsored annually by the AG’s Office, the Vermont Paralegal Organization, and the VBA, professionals across the Vermont legal community raised $14,304. This will supply more than $57,216 worth of food to Vermonters. All funds donated went directly to the important work of the Vermont Foodbank. More than 1,600 food donations, diapers, and other items were brought to local food shelves or meal sites partnered with the Vermont Foodbank. In the nine-year history of the food drive, the Vermont legal community has raised more than $99,000 and collected over 14,600 items. Many law firms and related entities participated again this year. The “winner” (biggest contributor) this year was Downs Rachlin Martin, PLLC.
Frank “Fritz” Langrock, who is currently serving as Treasurer for the American Bar Association, stepped up next to give an ABA report. In addition to highlighting the resolutions with reports to the ABA House of Delegates (noted on the agenda), Fritz spoke about the important work the ABA is doing in support of the legal profession in these times and encouraged us all to join the ABA if we hadn’t already.
Josh then called for any new business or old business. Hearing none, he moved on to the passing of the gavel. Normally, at the VBA Annual Meeting, the outgoing President presents the gavel to the incoming President. Our President Elect this year was the storied Richard T. Cassidy. Rich, however, succumbed to a long illness in April of this year. To recognize him and all his service, the VBA passed the gavel ceremoniously to his wife, Becky Cassidy. Becky and Rich were ever a team and Becky was on hand at the meeting. She accepted a plaque, decorated with a gavel. on Rich’s behalf. In her moving, brief address, Becky spoke of Rich’s compassion for others and love and dedication for his work. Josh announced that the Board of Managers had voted the day before to fill Rich’s term with a six-month addition to his own term and a six-month early start for the term of incoming president, Jordana Levine.
With that, as the apple pie was consumed and plates cleared, the afternoon programs begain.
The Afternoon and Close of the Day
Again, attendees could choose among three CLE programs after lunch. On offer was, “Community Intereventions to Keep Children and Families Together,” taught by VBA Juvenile Law Section co-chairs Sarah Star and Julianne Woolard and Matthew Bernstein, the first Child, Youth, and Family Advocate for the State of Vermont. Another option was the “Immigration Law Roundtable” with one of the largest panels ever assembled for a VBA Meeting. Panelists included VBA Immigration Law Section co-chairs, Jill Martin Diaz and Becky Fu von Trapp along with Leigh Cole, Leslie Holman, Emily Kenyon, Brett Stokes, Hillary Rich, Dawn Seibert, and Sidney Collier. Rounding out the offerings was, “Bankruptcy as a Strategic Business Tool: A Practical Guide for Non-Bankruptcy Attorneys.” It was led by VBA Bankruptcy section Co-chairs Greg Fox and Ryan Long. (Ryan is also President this year of the Young Lawyers Division). Greg and Ryan were joined by Adam Prescott and Michael Fisher, both of whom traveled from out of state to present at the meeting.
When those CLEs wrapped up, there was a brief break for attendees to chat with sponsors and grab cookies or brownies before the final CLE of the day: a plenary sessio
n led by Kevin Lumpkin, partner at Sheehey Furlong & Behm P.C. Kevin presented an engaging hour on Professional Responsibility Lessons from Other Jurisdictions.
With that, the formal part of the day ended. Winners of sponsor bingo picked up their prizes and attendees headed for their cars.
As has been the practice since in-person VBA meetings resumed post-pandemic, however, we followed the hotel meeting with our Basic Skills programs via Zoom the following week. Basic skills was sponsored once more by ALPs, and each of the six programs were very well attended.
The series kicked off the following Monday (Sept. 29) with the Basic Skills course on Professionalism and Ethics. It was ably taught again by Eileen Blackwood, Mike Kennedy, and Mary Ashcroft. The Civil Litigation Overview was next, and it was very well presented by Court Administrator Teri Corsones and David Casier. Jim Knap
p once again taught the Real Property Overview with his characteristic wit and impressive depth of knowledge. On Tuesday, we started with the Family Law overview, taught by Amber Barber (who stepped in when the original presenter needed to go to court. Thank you Amber). The Administrative Law Overniew followed, presented by fan favorites Ryan Kane and Kyle Landis-Marinello. A new offering on Appellate Law rounded out Basic Skills programming with an excellent presentation by Al Dean on Tuesday afternoon.
Thanks to all our presenters, sponsors, and to all who attended on Sept. 26 or the Basic Skills sessions. We will be back at the Hilton on March 27, 2026 for the VBA Mid-Year meeting. Again, we will follow the in-person meeting with Basic Skills taught remotely the following week. Save the date. Recordings of the CLEs presented at the Annual Meeting are now available in the VBA digital library – check our website www.vtbar.org. 
