Our Attorneys

John W. Davis

John W. Davis is a graduate of Hamilton College (B.A., 1979) and Emory University School of Law (J.D., 1982) where he was a member of the Board of Editors for the Emory Law Journal.

He concentrates his practice in bankruptcy, loan workout, foreclosure, debtor/creditor rights, and commercial lending and has had substantial experience in estate planning, real estate and banking law over the years.

In his current bankruptcy practice, he represents debtors seeking protection under the bankruptcy laws as well creditors seeking to enforce their rights or protect their interests while a matter is in bankruptcy. He has appeared in federal bankruptcy court in both Massachusetts and Connecticut.

John has been active in civic and charitable organizations over the years; most notably, he was for many years a Co-Chairperson of, and a volunteer in, the western Massachusetts section of The M. Ellen Carpenter Financial Literacy Program, a joint program of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Massachusetts and the Boston Bar Association designed to provide basic financial awareness to area high school students.

John resides in Longmeadow, Massachusetts and, among his interests, has special interests in golf, running and aviation.

PRACTICE AREAS: Bankruptcy; Loan Workout; Foreclosure; Creditors’ Rights; Estate Planning; Real Estate; and Commercial Lending.

Peter W. Shrair

Peter W. Shrair has held the position of Managing Principal at Cooley, Shrair P.C. since 2008. A 1983 graduate of Hobart College, Peter graduated with honors from the Boston University School of Law as an Edward F. Hennessey scholar in 1986 and later earned a Masters Degree in Taxation from the Boston University School of Law.

Peter was admitted to the Bar of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1986, the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts in 1987, the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut in 1998 and to the Bar of the State of New Hampshire in 2012. He is also admitted to practice before the United States Tax Court. Peter is a member of the Hampden County Bar Association, the Massachusetts Bar Association, the New Hampshire Bar Association and the American Bar Association.

After completing his education, Peter returned to Springﬁeld, Massachusetts. He has developed a comprehensive practice in Commercial Real Estate Law, including acquisitions and commercial leasing, Corporate and Business Law, Banking Law, including load documentation, Creditor’s Rights and Commercial Law. He has lectured and written on these subjects.

His goal is helping the ﬁrm’s clients to achieve their objectives in a timely fashion and in a cost-effective manner. His legal knowledge, together with his experience and goal-oriented personality, results in the successful completion of legal assignments. He is known for being direct and always available to get the job done. Peter’s goal is to make each client feel like he/she is the only client of the office.

Peter has served on the Board of Directors and as treasurer of Jewish Nursing Home of Western Massachusetts, Inc., a 200-bed skilled nursing home. He served on the steering committee of Jewish Family Services. He served as President for Longmeadow Montessori International, Inc., was a director and executive committee member of the MacDufﬁe School and a board member of the Academy Hill Center for Gifted Children. Peter is an Officer and Director of the Society of Everett Barney, a 501 (c) (3) tax exempt organization operating to help raise funds for the Springﬁeld Parks system and serves on the Advisory Board of Directors for the Springfield Ronald McDonald House and is on the board of Directors for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Connecticut & Massachusetts. Peter was also on the board for the Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity, and he has donated significant time to various charitable and civic organizations.

Peter enjoys water & snow skiing, hiking and outdoor obstacle course racing. He is a “fitness junkie” and has competed in two Tough Mudders™, Spartain Super, three Spartan Sprints™, The Bone Frog, Warrior Dash, Rugged Maniac, and the World championship course at the Spartan Beast™ in Killington Vermont. Please email Peter if you want information about training for such events.

PRACTICE AREAS: Commercial Real Estate Law including Acquisitions and Commercial Leasing; Corporate and Business Law; Banking Law, including Loan Documentation; Creditor’s Rights and Commercial Law.

Alison E. Shimel

Alison E. Shimel joined Cooley Shrair as an Associate Attorney and is the most recent attorney to join our firm. Alison graduated with honors from the University at Albany in 2017 with her B.A. in English. She also graduated with honors from Albany Law School of Union University in 2019 after completing an accelerated law program.

Alison focuses her practice on the areas of general business law and commercial real estate and works with a broad range of clients, including developers, landlords, banks and general business clients. Alison is a member of both the Massachusetts Bar Association and the Connecticut Bar Association.

In her free time, Alison is an avid reader and enjoys hiking with her Golden Retriever, Maya. Alison is a life-time resident of the Pioneer Valley and currently resides in Wilbraham, Massachusetts.

PRACTICE AREAS: Commercial Real Estate Law including Acquisitions and Commercial Leasing; Corporate and Business Law; Banking Law, including Loan Documentation; Creditor’s Rights and Commercial Law.

Leonardo

Leonardo Shrair

Firm Mascot February 4, 2018 – Present

Leo took the office by storm following Motzart’s death. He is a 68 pound Bernadoodle. Hailing from Grand Rapid’s Michigan Leo was quickly indoctrinated to working in the quick paced environment at Cooley Shrair. His passion for paper-work was demonstrated early on after eating an original $27,000,000 promissory note at a closing. That habit has been broken and we are proud to say that he is office friendly in all respects. He thinks of himself as a lap dog and he is happy to attend even the most difficult of meetings where he often is found snuggling up the person(s) who need it most.

If not at the office he can be found at the beach or hiking in the mountains.

Motzart

Motzart Shrair, a 90-pound Golden Doodle, was born on September 4, 2007, in Missoula, Montana and was appointed mascot of Cooley, Shrair P.C. shortly after relocating to Springfield. Since that time, he has been a fixture in the law firm. Motzart has developed a long list of loyal clients who often come to visit him to scratch him behind his ears or rub his belly. Motzart is especially fond of attending contract negotiations and he is happy to assist with the cleaning of a conference room if food drops during a meeting. He is full of life, love and can help take the edge off of many difficult situations.

He enjoys hiking, swimming and snowshoeing.

David A. Shrair

David A. Shrair joined the firm of Cooley and Cooley in 1960, after graduating with honors from Boston University School of Law; where among other successful scholastic accomplishments, he was a Senior Editor of the Boston University Law Review. In 1978, David became Managing Principal of the firm, a position he held for the next 30 years. In 1991, the firm transitioned to its current name, Cooley, Shrair P.C.

David was admitted to the Bar of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and to the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts in 1960 and is a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association.

David chairs the business practice group of Cooley Shrair. His primary emphasis is on the areas of business law, commercial real estate development and ﬁnancing, and institutional and educational not-for-proﬁt law. For the past 30 years David has been actively involved in all legal aspects of the food distribution business. His clients included the major private independent food distributor east of the Mississippi, and currently include the largest privately owned food distributor to convenience stores in New England as well as supermarket companies of all sizes, including the largest privately owned supermarket chain in New England.

His activities take him throughout New England and across the country. In connection with his representation of a medium-sized private college, David is an active member of the National Association of College and University Attorneys.

In counseling business clients, David will structure the type of entity, all forms of governance agreements between the various owners, as well as the necessary vehicles for the succession plans of those businesses, including the use of family limited partnerships and dynasty trusts.

David serves on many charitable and public boards including the Springﬁeld Library and Museums Association, the Springﬁeld Performing Arts Development Corporation “City Stage” as well as serving as past president and current Executive Committee member of Jewish Geriatric Services, Inc. He also served as a Trustee of the Jewish Endowment Foundation of Western Massachusetts for 12 years.

David is an avid golfer and spends free time during the warm weather trying to improve his game when he is not servicing the needs of his clients.

PRACTICE AREAS: Mergers and Acquisitions Law; Corporate Law including Charitable Corporate Law; Tax Law; Commercial Real Estate Law; Private Education Law.

Robert L. Dambrov

Robert L. Dambrov is a 1969 graduate of the University of Massachusetts and a 1972 graduate of Boston College Law School.

Robert has developed a comprehensive practice in Public Education, Labor and Employment Law, and Discrimination Law (as well as Social Security Disability and Personal Injury Law) which includes practices in both the private and public sectors before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the National Mediation Board (NMB), and the Commonwealth Employment Relations Board, formerly the Massachusetts Labor Relations Commission, regarding union representation/decertification elections and defense of unfair labor practice charges; the negotiation and administration of collective bargaining agreements including participation in grievance meetings and arbitration hearings; equal employment opportunity matters including

discrimination complaints before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD), the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO), and the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP); wage and hour issues before the U.S. Dept. of Labor and related state agencies; state unemployment compensation hearings; matters before the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and related state agencies; issues under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA); other employment matters including terminations and other discipline; review and preparation of personnel policies and employee handbooks; presenting seminars; conducting training sessions for supervisors; and performing risk management audits.

Robert is admitted to the Bar of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, the First Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court. He is a member of the Hampden County Bar Association and the Massachusetts Bar Association, including its Labor and Employment Law section.

Robert serves on the Board of Directors of the Willie Ross School for the Deaf and Temple Beth El and is a member of the Springfield Rotary Club, the latter of which he is a Paul Harris Scholarship Award recipient.

Bob enjoys the outdoors – hiking, golfing and gardening. Contact him for good hiking trails.

PRACTICE AREAS: Public Education; Labor and Employment Law; Social Security Disability; Personal Injury; Discrimination Law.

Dawn D. McDonald

Dawn D. McDonald, partner with Cooley Shrair, graduated from Westfield State College with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management in 1991. In May of 2000, she received her Juris Doctor from Western New England College School of Law. Attorney McDonald was admitted to the Bar of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in January 2001; to the Bar of the State of Connecticut in May 2001; to the United States District Court of Massachusetts in February 2001; to the United States District Court of Connecticut in November 2002; and to the First Circuit Court of Appeals, June 2004. She is a member of the Litigation and Employment Law Sections of the Massachusetts Bar Association and a member of the Hampden County Bar Association.

Dawn manages Cooley Shrair’s complex litigation in the areas of Employment and Labor Law, Commercial Litigation, Bank Litigation, Connecticut Foreclosures, Personal Injury, Insurance Defense, Product Liability, Civil Rights, Civil Litigation and Divorce and Family Law. She has represented both private and public sector clients in matters involving employment law, labor law and education law. Dawn is currently handling matters involving corporate freeze-outs, partnership disputes, consumer protection, contract disputes, employment discrimination, personal injury, bank litigation, commercial litigation, fraud, divorce and family matters and violations of state and federal civil rights. She has negotiated labor contracts, conducted internal investigations into allegations of employment discrimination and advised clients in contract administration and employee discipline matters. Dawn has also conducted trainings and seminars related to employment matters.

In addition, Dawn has represented clients before both Federal and Massachusetts State Courts, the Massachusetts Court of Appeals, the First Circuit Court of Appeals, the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, Massachusetts Civil Service Commission, Massachusetts Labor Relations Commission, Massachusetts Department of Industrial Accidents, Massachusetts Department of Employment and Training, Connecticut State and Federal Courts, the Connecticut Commission for Human Rights and Opportunities, and the State of Connecticut Department of Labor, Employment Security Appeals Division.

In her free time Dawn enjoys traveling and is an avid scuba diver and underwater photographer both in New England and abroad. If you are looking for a diving hot spot, feel free to give Dawn a call to ask her about her favorite destinations.

PRACTICE AREAS: Labor and Employment Law; Discrimination Law; Commercial Litigation; Bank Litigation; Personal Injury; Product Liability; Complex Civil Litigation; Insurance Defense; Civil Rights (State and Federal); Domestic Relations Law; Connecticut Civil Litigation and Foreclosure, Divorce and Family.

Susan A. McCoy

Susan A. McCoy, partner with Cooley Shrair, manages our Estate Planning department. An Agawam native, Susan brings a diverse background of legal experience assisting clients with their personal and business planning.

She is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst (B.A., English) and the Western New England College School of Law (JD, 1996, cum laude). Susan received the American Jurisprudence Award in Torts in 1994, and was a member of the Law Review from 1994-1995.

Susan is a member of the National Association of Elder Law Attorneys, the Massachusetts Bar Association, the Hampden County Bar Association, Western Mass Eldercare Professionals Association and the Estate Planning Council of Hampden County. Susan was a 2010 recipient of BusinessWest’s “40 Under Forty” award and was recognized in 2012 as one of the top twenty-five “Women To Watch” by Western Massachusetts Woman’s Magazine.

Susan provides a broad spectrum of estate and trust planning services for our clients, ranging from simple plans for young families to more sophisticated estate tax plans and planning for children with special needs.

She also focuses her practice on meeting the needs of elders in our community, providing elder law planning for those preparing for the increasing costs of nursing home care, as well as assistance with Medicaid/MassHealth applications.

Representing small, closely-held businesses, Susan provides assistance with formation, financing, succession planning and general business needs.

In addition to assisting with planning needs, Susan also provides her clients with assistance in all matters of residential and commercial real estate, including purchases, sales and refinances.

Susan has spoken on many topics in the community, including the annual Elder Law Education Program, sponsored by the Massachusetts Bar Association and to the National Association of Tax Preparers, Massachusetts Chapter, as well as many local libraries and senior centers.

She is involved in community activities, serving on the Board of Trustees for the Mason-Wright Foundation, as well as Secretary, on the Board of Directors for the United Way of Pioneer Valley, Inc., as a founding member of the Women’s Leadership Council for the United Way, as well as having assisted the Thomas J. O’Connor Animal Shelter in the formation of a non-profit fundraising foundation.

Susan enjoys exploring the outdoors, hiking and mountain biking, with her two children. She currently resides in Agawam, where she can frequently be found on the sidelines, supporting her children in their sporting activities.

PRACTICE AREAS: Estate Planning; Elder Law; Medicaid Planning; Estate Administration; Probate; Real Estate; Corporate Law.

Rona S. Fingold

Rona S. Fingold is a 1973 Boston University graduate and a 1978 graduate of Boston University School of Law. In addition, Rona received a Master of Science in Taxation from the Boston University Graduate School of Tax program in 1983. Rona, formerly a tax partner at Cooley Shrair, is now Of Counsel, providing valuable estate and tax planning advice and consultation for our clients from her home in Florida. Rona’s areas of focus for more than 25 years have been general tax, estate planning and tax exempt organizations.

Prior to joining Cooley Shrair, Rona was Tax Counsel to the Massachusetts Department of Revenue Rulings and Regulations Bureau. She was also employed by the Boston office of PricewaterhouseCoopers (formerly Coopers & Lybrand), a multinational CPA firm. Since her departure from Cooley Shrair in 2001, Rona served as an estate tax planner for RSM McGladrey, a multinational CPA firm, that focuses on closely held businesses and their owners and she continues to provide estate planning consulting services to RSM McGladrey. In addition, she is a consultant to Lexington Family Office Services, an organization that provides comprehensive financial, tax and asset protection planning to high net worth individuals.

She is admitted to the Massachusetts Bar. She is a board member of the Council on Aging in Volusia County and the Volusia County Jewish Federation.

Rona is a frequent speaker at seminars regarding tax, estate planning, charitable giving and elder law.

She received her BA degree (magna cum laude) from Boston University, M.S.W., Specialty in Gerontology from the University of Michigan, and law degree and Master of Taxation (LLM) from Boston University School of Law.

PRACTICE AREAS: Estate and Trust Planning; Taxation; Business Succession Planning; Elder Law.