Sherilyn Burnett Young

Shareholder and Chair

603-410-4309

Sherry Young is a founder, shareholder and past President of the law firm of Rath, Young and Pignatelli, P.C. She heads the firm’s Environmental Practice Group, and assists clients on federal and state environmental matters, real estate transactions, and business and finance transactions.

Sherry focuses her practice on environmental law and environmental litigation, including environmental compliance, permits and approvals, and real estate transactions involving contaminated properties. She has extensive experience in litigation with state and federal regulators and has achieved numerous successful settlements for industrial, commercial and municipal clients in a variety of cases. Sherry also has considerable experience in general corporate law, public and private financing, and estates and trusts. She is general counsel for a large, non-profit health care foundation, and advises several non-profits.

Sherry serves on the Board of Directors of Walden Mutual Bank (in formation), the Board of Directors of the University of New Hampshire Foundation, the Dean’s Advisory Board of the University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law, and is Chair-Elect to the Board of New Hampshire Public Radio. She is past-Chair of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation and the New Hampshire Supreme Court Society. Sherry served on the 2009-2010 Death Penalty Study Commission as an appointee of Governor Lynch. She served as Legislative Counsel to then-Governor Judd Gregg in his first term as Governor. In 2000, Sherry was the first woman to chair SCG Legal, a world-wide network of leading law firms.

A recipient of a number of legal awards and recognitions, Sherry lives in Concord, New Hampshire with her husband Gary and their two golden doodles. She enjoys hiking, skiing, and spending time with her grandchildren.

Sherilyn Burnett Young

Shareholder and Chair

Sherry Young is a founder, shareholder and past President of the law firm of Rath, Young and Pignatelli, P.C. She heads the firm’s Environmental Practice Group, and assists clients on federal and state environmental matters, real estate transactions, and business and finance transactions.

Sherry focuses her practice on environmental law and environmental litigation, including environmental compliance, permits and approvals, and real estate transactions involving contaminated properties. She has extensive experience in litigation with state and federal regulators and has achieved numerous successful settlements for industrial, commercial and municipal clients in a variety of cases. Sherry also has considerable experience in general corporate law, public and private financing, and estates and trusts. She is general counsel for a large, non-profit health care foundation, and advises several non-profits.

Sherry serves on the Board of Directors of Walden Mutual Bank (in formation), the Board of Directors of the University of New Hampshire Foundation, the Dean’s Advisory Board of the University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law, and is Chair-Elect to the Board of New Hampshire Public Radio. She is past-Chair of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation and the New Hampshire Supreme Court Society. Sherry served on the 2009-2010 Death Penalty Study Commission as an appointee of Governor Lynch. She served as Legislative Counsel to then-Governor Judd Gregg in his first term as Governor. In 2000, Sherry was the first woman to chair SCG Legal, a world-wide network of leading law firms.

A recipient of a number of legal awards and recognitions, Sherry lives in Concord, New Hampshire with her husband Gary and their two golden doodles. She enjoys hiking, skiing, and spending time with her grandchildren.

Education and Bar Admissions

Education:

  • University of New Hampshire School of Law, J.D., 1982
  • Cornell University, B.A., 1975

 

Bar Memberships/Court Admissions:

  • Member, United States District Court, District of New Hampshire
  • Member, United States Tax Court
  • Member, New Hampshire Supreme Court
  • Member, American Bar Association
  • Member, New Hampshire Bar Association

Representative Matters

  • Advising a municipality in the renewal of its wastewater treatment facility’s NPDES permit and on MS4 stormwater issues.
  • Assisting businesses in managing the environmental liability risks related to the acquisition of industrial plants with historic soil and groundwater contamination.
  • Advising operators of an electric generating facility on green house gas emissions monitoring requirements and Acid Rain Program compliance.
  • Defending a Fortune 100 company in multi-party toxic tort litigation involving claims of personal injury and property damage.

Community Involvement

  • Member, Board of Directors, New Hampshire Public Radio, 2018–present
  • Member, Board of Trustees, Kimball Jenkins, Inc., 2009–present
  • Member, Board of Directors and Past Chair, The New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, 2012–2020
  • Founding Board Member and Past President, The New Hampshire Supreme Court Society, 2008-2019
  • Member and Past Chair, Board of Trustees, New Hampshire Historical Society, 2001–2007
  • Member, Board of Governors, New Hampshire Public Television, 2003–2004
  • Director and Former Vice President, Concord American Little League, 1999–2002
  • Member, Board of Directors, David’s House, 1998–2002
  • Member, Concord Hospital Board of Trustees, 1991–1997
  • Member and Past President, Concord Hospital Associates, 1991–1997
  • Director, Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce, 1988–1991
  • Director, Concord Regional Development Corporation, 1988–1991
  • Directors, Concord New Hampshire Chapter of American Red Cross,1988–1991
  • Former Coach, Concord Youth Girls’ Basketball and Softball

Noteworthy

  • Co-presenter, “Motivating Attorneys in 2020”, #SCGGlobalSpin, November 23, 2020
  • Member, The Trial Lawyer Honorary Society 2019-present
  • Member, Diversity Law Institute 2019-present
  • Member, Trial Law Institute 2019-present
  • Member, The Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, 2014-present
  • Included in Corporate Counsel Top Lawyers since 2010
  • Member, The Litigation Counsel of America since 2009
  • Included in Chambers and Partners USA since 2008
  • First woman Chair of the State Capital Group, an international association of independent law firms from around the globe, October 2000
  • Super Lawyers Magazine – highlighted as one of the “Super Lawyers” in environmental law
  • New Hampshire Magazine – named as one of the top environmental lawyers in New Hampshire
  • Recipient of the Marilla M. Ricker Achievement Award 2007, for women lawyers who have achieved professional excellence or paved the way for other women lawyers
  • Recipient of Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce Athena Award, April 2001, presented to an individual who has demonstrated excellence in her business or profession, served the community in a meaningful way and assisted women in reaching their full leadership potential
  • Included in The Best Lawyers in America since 1999
  • Merrimack County Lawyer of the Year–1997
  • Included in Who’s Who in American Law since 1995
  • New Hampshire Editions – included as one of “NH’s 10 Most Powerful Women” June 1997, and one of “New Hampshire’s Lawyers’ Lawyers”, July 1994

Awards and Recognitions

  • BIA’s Lifetime Achievement Award, 2023