Biography

Kevin co-founded Cullen Collimore Shirley after nearly a decade in the litigation department of a storied New Hampshire general practice firm and four years managing environmental and toxic tort litigation nationwide for one of North America’s most successful claims management firms. Kevin is recognized by Best Lawyers for 2023 in the area of construction law.

At Cullen Collimore Shirley, Kevin continues to represent companies and individuals on a range of complex issues, including most recently:

• Prevailing in a construction defect jury trial against an unscrupulous Seacoast building contractor, securing not only damages for the construction defects but also a finding that the contractor had willfully and knowingly violated the New Hampshire Consumer Protection Act (RSA §358-A). That finding entitled Kevin’s clients to recover treble damages as well as their attorneys fees from more than 3 years of contentious litigation.

• Defeating a $289 million lien filed against a New Hampshire town and its police officers, and obtaining an award of attorneys’ fees against the filing party.

• Successfully negotiating settlement of federal CERCLA Superfund claim with EPA and PRP group for client-corporation, reducing the exposure to approximately 1/10th the amount a prior law firm recommended for settlement.

• Obtaining summary judgment for a claim against a New Hampshire lakes region town respecting its building permit approval process.

• Defeating a petition for injunction sought by the former employer of two brokers following their departure from a Boston financial services company.

• Obtaining summary judgment on school employee’s wrongful discharge claim, then obtaining Supreme Court judgment respecting the same employee’s parallel action for alleged wrongful removal from position.

• Securing the dismissal of claims brought in Massachusetts Superior Court on behalf of a Boston renovation contractor, which contractor was sued in a products liability case. It was alleged that the contractor, working on a significant renovation project within a larger residential building, was responsible for extensive water damage throughout the building after a water filtration system failed.

• Obtaining insurance coverage for client under a commercial liability policy to defend against a multi-million dollar paraplegia personal injury claim, to include reimbursement of the attorneys’ fees spent pursuing the coverage.

• Successfully pursuing contractual and common law indemnification for clients’ defenses and other costs in numerous cases filed in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, including for product liability and personal injury, from responsible entity.

• Successfully mediating and arbitrating numerous cases including for claims of business dispute, construction defect, breach of contract, and personal injury.

Kevin is also certified as a New Hampshire Rule 32 mediator and has facilitated more than 450 court-ordered and private mediations and arbitrations since 1999.

A home builder and general contractor in a prior life, Kevin maintains his OSHA certification for construction safety and continues to work on his historic home, built in 1763, and a cabin he personally designed and built by hand on an island in Casco Bay, Maine. Kevin’s diverse professional background and affinity for construction allows him a unique perspective, both as a zealous advocate for clients and when serving as a mediator and arbitrator.

Kevin obtained a bachelor of science degree from Southern New Hampshire University, summa cum laude and valedictorian, and a juris doctorate from Boston University School of Law. He is admitted to practice in New Hampshire and Massachusetts.