Robert A. Backus, now Of Counsel, was born in Goffstown, New Hampshire and graduated from Wesleyan University and Harvard Law School. He is a designated Mediator for The New Hampshire Superior Court. He has tried numerous cases in New Hampshire District and Superior Courts and in U.S. District Court, including personal injury, product liability, insurance coverage issues. He also has litigated hazardous waste issues, environmental compliance and energy siting matters, and has appeared before both State and Federal Administrative Agencies and the New Hampshire Supreme Court.

Personal Injury, Mediation/Arbitration, Insurance Law, Environmental Law

 Barry Scotch, a partner with the firm, practices in various areas of civil law with emphasis in litigation, insurance coverage and defense, and personal injury law. Barry received his A.B. degree from Columbia College of Columbia University and his J.D. from Columbia University Law School. He is a Superior Court Mediator, a member of the American and New Hampshire Trial Lawyers Associations and the Defense Research Institute. Barry is a past-chair of NHBA's Cooperation with Other Professions Committee, and is a member of the Continuing Legal Education Committee, the Supreme Court Minimum Continuing Legal Education Board, and the Dispute Resolution Committee.

Personal Injury, Business Law, Insurance Law, 

  bscotch@backusmeyer.com

Jon Meyer,  a partner graduated from Harvard Law School, clerked for a judge, taught at Univ. of Miami Law School, and worked on civil rights cases for the NH Affiliate of the ACLU before joining the firm in 1981. He has won cases before the United States and New Hampshire Supreme Courts. He has been Chair of the New Hampshire Bar Association's Labor and Employment Law Section and devotes a large part of his practice to representing employees in employment cases. He also works in the areas of school law, civil rights, personal injury law, and business litigation. He is recognized in the book "Best Lawyers in America" in the fields of employment and first amendment law.

Employment Law,  Mediation/Arbitration,

 B.J. Branch joined the firm on August 1, 1986 and became a partner in the firm in January of 1990. He was born in Manchester, New Hampshire and attended local schools. He received his B.A. from UNH in 1982 and his law degree from Vermont Law School in 1986. He concentrates his practice in the areas of personal injury and workers' compensation law. He was a member of the Hooksett Town Council 1987-1991 and Hooksett Town Moderator from 1993 to 1997.

Personal Injury, Workers' Compensation

bbranch@backusmeyer.com   

Earl S. Carrel joined the firm as a partner on July 1, 2000. He has over 15 years of residential real estate experience representing buyers, sellers and lenders. He also has extensive experience in probate law including wills, estates and trusts as well as guardianship and involuntary commitments for hospitalization. He received his B.A. (1970) and J.D. (1973) from the State University of New York at Buffalo and holds an M.A. from Rivier College.

Wills, Trusts & Guardianships, Residential Real Estate/Zoning & Landlord/Tenant, 
Small Business Law

ecarrel@backusmeyer.com

John A. Wolkowski - Born and raised in New Hampshire, John has been practicing since 1986 after graduating from Franklin Pierce Law Center.  As a native, John is quite familiar with the local community.  In addition to a statewide New Hampshire practice in District and Superior Courts, John is licensed in the United States District Court of New Hampshire, and has been a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association since September of 1994.  John is also a member of the American Bar Association, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, the New Hampshire Trial Lawyers Association as well as being a certified Superior Court Mediator.  He concentrates in Worker’s Compensation, Family Law, Personal Injury, as well as civil and criminal litigation.  With his years of experience, John will establish and head the firm’s Family Law Department.  John will continue his commitment to offer quality legal services to provide clients prompt, courteous and aggressive, yet professional, representation, maintaining high standards to ensure each client receives the attention and representation their individual matter require and deserve.  

Family Law,  Criminal Matters,  Personal Injury,  Workers Comp

jwolkowski@backusmeyer.com

Steven E. Hengen graduated from the Joint Program at Harvard Law School and Harvard Business School and worked at Foley Hoag in Boston before moving to New Hampshire in 1983.  He practiced in Concord at as a Partner at Ransmeier & Spellman, primarily defending physicians, other healthcare providers and professionals in other fields in malpractice cases and licensing and disciplinary proceedings.. He has also represented both plaintiffs and defendants in employment matters and labor negotiations and disputes, personal injury and civil rights matters.  Steve has tried numerous cases in New Hampshire Superior Courts, and has appeared before the New Hampshire Supreme Court and the US District Court.  He has also represented clients in proceedings before a variety of state agencies, boards, commissions and licensing and disciplinary panels.   He is licensed in both Massachusetts and New Hampshire.  He has been a member of the American Bar Association and the Defense Research Institute, a Barrister of the Daniel Webster Chapter in Bedford of the American Inns of Court, and a past president of the Merrimack County Bar Association.  

Malpractice Defense, Personal Injury, Employment Law                

 sehengen@backusmeyer.com

Ellen Purcell an Associate, joined the firm in March of 2004.  Born in New York City, she received her BA from the University of New Hampshire (2000), and her law degree from Franklin Pierce Law Center (2003).  Ellen practices in the area of Employment Law, and General Litigation.

 Employment Law, General Litigation

Epurcell@backusmeyer.com