NH Bar Association’s Midyear Meeting 2025
Schedule
Gender Equality Breakfast
CLE Seminars
Awards
Post-Event Social
Schedule
Schedule at a Glance
| 7:15 – 8:30 a.m. | Gender Equality Breakfast (separately ticketed event) Hon. Arianna J. Freeman, Speaker Presentation of the Philip S. Hollman Award for Gender Equality |
| 8:00 – 8:45 a.m. | Registration and Check-In / Continental Breakfast / Exhibitor Showcase |
| 8:45 – 9:00 a.m. | President’s Welcome / In Memoriam NHBA President Kate Mahan |
| 9:00 – 9:10 a.m. | Opening Remarks Chief Justice Gordon J. MacDonald |
| 9:15 – 10:15 a.m. | CLE: Raising the Bar for Lawyer Conduct: The Case for Mandatory Civility David A. Grenardo, Professor and Associate Director, Holloran Center for Ethical Leadership in the Professions |
| 10:15 – 10:45 a.m. | Refreshment Break / Exhibitor Showcase |
| 10:45 – 11:45 a.m. | CLE: The Lawyer’s Role in Protecting the Rule of Law, Civil Discourse, and the Courts Panelists: Moderated by NHBA President Kate Mahan |
| 11:45 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. | Business Meeting / Honors and Awards Luncheon |
| 1:45 – 2:45 p.m. | CLE: Cybersecurity, AI, and Deep Fakes Mark Lanterman, Chief Technology Officer of Computer Forensic Services |
| 2:45 – 3:15 p.m. | Refreshment Break / Exhibitor Showcase |
| 3:15 – 4:15 p.m. | CLE: Understanding the Beauty of Disagreement Within the U.S. Constitution Professor Sonu Bedi, Dartmouth College |
| 4:45 – 6:00 p.m. | Networking Social sponsored by the NHBA New Lawyers Committee All are welcome! Registration is encouraged but not required. Doubletree Hotel – Penstock Room |
Gender Equality Breakfast
Breakfast Speaker: Judge Arianna J. Freeman
The Honorable Arianna J. Freeman serves as a judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Nominated by President Joseph Biden in January 2022, Judge Freeman became the first African-American woman and the first woman of color to sit on the Third Circuit.
Judge Freeman earned her undergraduate degree from Swarthmore College and her law degree from Yale Law School. Prior to joining the bench, Judge Freeman built a distinguished career as a public defender at the Federal Community Defender Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, specializing in post-conviction litigation for indigent clients in state and federal custody.
Judge Freeman has also contributed to legal education as an adjunct professor at the Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law. She is also deeply engaged in civic work, serving on the boards of the National Clearinghouse for the Defense of Battered Women and First Person Arts.
2024 Philip S. Hollman Award for Gender Equality
The award, established on the occasion of Judge Hollman’s retirement from the Superior Court bench in 2003, honors Judge Hollman’s efforts as a stalwart advocate for gender equality in the legal system.
Emily Gray Rice is the City Solicitor for Manchester, where she leads an office of ten attorneys, providing legal counsel and overseeing all legal matters involving the City, including its Domestic Violence Prosecution Unit.
A graduate of Northeastern University School of Law, Rich previously served as the first woman appointed by the President of the United States to serve as the US Attorney for the District of New Hampshire. She has enjoyed a long career as a trial lawyer and public servant, beginning with her tenure as a member of the New Hampshire Attorney General’s office, where she served as chief of the bureau of civil law.
Rice has been extensively involved in New Hampshire’s civic life, co-chairing the Governor’s Judicial Selection Commission, founding and leading non-profit boards and fundraising efforts, including Red River Theatres and the Campaign for Legal Services, and advancing access to justice for all. She is intensely interested in helping our community shoulder the burdens imposed by substance misuse, violent crime, and unmet behavioral health needs.
She has been an adjunct faculty member at both UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law, where she taught in the Daniel Webster Scholars Program from its inception, and in the UNH undergraduate program in Security Studies. She has been recognized by the New Hampshire Bar Association with the Dufresne Award for Outstanding Professionalism, by the New Hampshire Women’s Bar Association with the Marilla Ricker Achievement Award, and by the New Hampshire Bar Foundation as an Honorary Fellow.
CLE Seminars
Raising the Bar for Lawyer Conduct: The Case for Mandatory Civility (60 NHMCLE Ethics Minutes)
Civility plays a crucial role in the practice of law. A civil bar contributes to the effective administration of justice and improves the quality of life for attorneys and, by extension, their clients. David Grenardo will discuss the current landscape of civility in the law and make the case for mandatory rules of civility.
David A. Grenardo, Professor and Associate Director, Holloran Center for Ethical Leadership in the Professions
The Lawyer’s Role in Protecting the Rule of Law, Civil Discourse, and the Courts (60 NHMCLE Ethics Minutes)
Over the past several years, we have witnessed declining trust in many American institutions, including the justice system. A nationwide deterioration of civility and civics education has challenged the rule of law in our country. A panel of national experts discuss these threats to the rule of law and our obligation as attorneys to uphold the principles of democracy.
Megan Carpenter, Dean and Professor, University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law
Hon. Jeremy Fogel, Executive Director, Berkeley Judicial Institute
David A. Grenardo, Professor and Associate Director, Holloran Center for Ethical Leadership in the Professions
Mary Smith, Immediate Past President, American Bar Association
Kate Mahan, Moderator, New Hampshire Bar Association President
Cybersecurity, AI, and Deep Fakes (60 NHMCLE Minutes)
Mark Lanterman will share his expertise on digital evidence, computer forensics, and cybersecurity. His presentation will highlight the latest and most crucial information on these topics as well as their impact on the practice of law and administration of justice.
Mark Lanterman, Chief Technology Officer, Computer Forensic Services
Understanding the Beauty of Disagreement Within the U.S. Constitution (60 NHMCLE Minutes)
A scholar on the science of the Constitution, Professor Bedi joins us to delve into the rich and sometimes contentious history of disagreement inherent in the United States Constitution. Looking at fundamental functions of the Constitution, Supreme Court opinions, and arguments as “part of the science” of the Constitution, Professor Bedi illustrates how these very disagreements remain key to what the Founders intended.
Professor Sonu Bedi, Professor of Government, Dartmouth College
Awards
Vickie M. Bunnell Award for Community Service
This award was instituted in 1998 to honor the memory of Vickie M. Bunnell (“A Country Lawyer”) and to applaud the community spirit that is a hallmark of our profession. It is presented to an attorney from a small firm (four or fewer attorneys) who has exhibited dedication and devotion to community by giving of their time and talents, legal or otherwise.
Tony Naro
Naro Law, PLLC
Tony Naro is a criminal defense and domestic relations attorney in private practice at Naro Law, PLLC, in Nashua. He graduated from the University of Massachusetts – Boston with a BA in political science with a certificate in international studies and a minor in African studies. After college, Naro worked on state political campaigns before attending Suffolk University Law School where he graduated with high honors.
Prior to entering private practice, Naro was a staff attorney for the New Hampshire Public Defender for 12 years. During that time, he worked in Rockingham County, Hillsborough County, and as an Assistant Appellate Defender in Concord. He has argued multiple cases before the New Hampshire Supreme Court, tried dozens of cases before juries across the state, and appears in all 10 New Hampshire counties. His domestic relations practice includes divorce, parenting, child support, restraining order, and guardianship matters in the Family Division.
Naro is proud of his strong pro bono practice and regularly volunteers for the DOVE Project representing victims of domestic violence and 603 Legal Aid assisting indigent clients with annulment petitions. He also volunteers his time on the Friends of New Hampshire Drug Courts Board of Directors, the NHBA Board of Governors, and is a member of the Hearings Committee for New Hampshire’s Attorney Discipline System.
Distinguished Service to the Public Award
This award is presented to the nominee who best exhibits service to the public on behalf of the administration of justice.
The New Hampshire Public Defender
Founded in 1972 as a pilot project of New Hampshire Legal Assistance, the New Hampshire Public Defender (NHPD) has grown into an independent, non-profit corporation dedicated to providing high-quality legal representation to indigent defendants across the state. Initially operating from a single office in Concord, the program now has offices in every county and serves clients in all state courts.
The NHPD expanded its mission in 1981 by collaborating with the Franklin Pierce Law Center to create the Appellate Defender program, offering representation to defendants appealing convictions to the New Hampshire Supreme Court. While the Appellate Defender now operates independently, the NHPD remains a cornerstone of indigent defense in New Hampshire.
The organization’s dedicated team includes attorneys, legal assistants, paralegals, investigators, social service advocates, IT specialists, and support staff. Together, they provide comprehensive representation for adults and children accused of misdemeanors, felonies, or facing post-conviction matters such as probation or parole violations.
With 10 trial offices and an appellate office, the NHPD ensures accessible legal support throughout the state, bridging the justice gap for those who cannot afford representation. Grounded in its mission to serve the indigent and safeguard their rights, the New Hampshire Public Defender stands as a critical lifeline for those facing criminal charges.
Award for Outstanding Service in Public Sector/Public Interest Law
The Public Sector/Public Interest Law Award is presented to a member of the Bar, or an organization employing eligible members, with at least five years of service in government, military, law enforcement, or public interest law services (including prosecution, public defense, legal advocacy in low-income communities, or for individuals with disabilities at a nonprofit organization), or at another nonprofit organization.
Paul Halvorsen
Merrimack County Attorney
Paul Halvorsen serves as the Merrimack County Attorney and has more than two decades of experience as a prosecutor. After receiving advanced degrees in forensic science from George Washington University and public administration from Golden Gate University, he earned his JD from Franklin Pierce Law Center.
Before entering the practice of law, Halvorsen dedicated over 21 years to active duty in the United States Air Force, where he worked with the DEA and Customs to interdict drugs destined for the United States. He was also a twice-elected Concord City Councilor.
Halvorsen’s professional background includes teaching graduate and undergraduate courses in personnel management, financial management, and criminal justice. As a forensic science researcher, he worked with the US Secret Service Forensic Laboratory and completed forensic training at the FBI Academy. His contributions to the field include publishing original research in a peer-reviewed journal and authoring a quick-reference summary of statutory and case law research used by many New Hampshire prosecutors.
Halvorsen is a member of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and the National District Attorney’s Association and holds lifetime memberships at Disabled American Veterans, the American Legion, the Air and Space Forces Association, and the Military Officers Association of America.
Post-Event Social
Midyear Meeting After-Hours Social
Sponsored by the New Lawyers Committee
Penstock Room – DoubleTree Hotel
This event, which is open to all attendees and their guests, begins immediately following Midyear Meeting. Appetizers will be provided, and a cash bar will be available. Registering for the event is encouraged but not required.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Check it out now by clicking the cover image.
In registering for and attending an NHBA-sponsored CLE or other meeting or event, participants agree to the NHBA COVID protocol.
Registration is now closed. There will be limited on-site registration on Friday.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
Wifi Sponsor
Program Sponsor
Break Sponsor
Tote Bag Sponsor
Law Student Table Sponsor
Please Visit Our Exhibitors!
