Attorneys George B. Brush, Caroline R. Flanders and Timothy M. Moriarty provide superior legal services to year-round and seasonal residents of Martha’s Vineyard through a commitment to client services and a collaborative team approach. As Islanders who have or are now raising families here, they bring deep community ties and understand the special qualities inherent in Vineyard life.
As the founder of the firm, George Brush brings a balanced approach to client problem solving. A successful Island businessman, George can quickly assess the actual value of a case and accurately determine its costs, strengths and viability. These are invaluable assets to clients who often confront a system that can delay progress and stymie conflict resolution. This can involve courtroom advocacy and utilizing the full force of the judicial system or skilled negotiation that focuses parties toward the best outcome in light of the forecasted costs of both time and money.
George specializes in all property matters, whether real estate or personal, including: navigating local, state and/or federal regulations; zoning and environmental land-use issues; property development; highest-and-best use analysis; partitions, divisions and subdivisions; land titles; landlord-tenant disputes; probate matters; business entities and partnerships; construction law; and tax-sensitive estate planning and trust administration services, fully accommodating the delicacies often inherent in family situations.
Caroline Flanders specializes in the detail-oriented work of a transactional, property-based practice. She offers and executes complete services in residential and commercial property transactions including: entity formation; offer and acceptance; options, purchases and sales; purchase-money mortgages, refinances and lender representation; title insurance, leases, easements, and private restrictions; conservation easements; tenants-in-common agreements; homeowner and road association formation; lien enforcement, petitions to partition, and Land Court petitions. Coupled with the firm’s extensive knowledge of Island land titles and the intricacies of county and municipal government, her practice offers clients tremendous value. In addition, Caroline handles post-death matters, such as trust and probate administration, personal representative petitions, inventory and accountings, appraisals, estate taxes, and the full range of issues involved in settling trusts and estates.
Working with George and Caroline on client issues, Tim Moriarty effectively applies active courtroom pressure when necessary. His civil litigation practice covers the full range of issues such as contract actions, landlord-tenant disputes, hazardous materials, restraining orders, paternity actions, land encroachments, land use, zoning and regulatory disputes, construction, employment, easements, adverse possession, real and personal property disputes, and all nature of property right issues.
As a seasoned criminal defense attorney, Tim focuses on OUI/DUI defense, possession offenses, domestic disputes, and restraining orders. With an extensive grasp of developing law, Tim always seeks to mitigate the collateral consequences which can have a devastating impact on an individual’s ability to retain or seek employment, drive, and to provide for the family. Tim works to reduce or eliminate the risks of those adverse consequences whenever and however possible, whether through trial or negotiation, always striving to provide clients with the best possible outcome.
Law Areas of Practice
CIVIL LITIGATION
ESTATE PLANNING
TRUST, ESTATE AND PROBATE ADMINISTRATION
REAL ESTATE LAW AND DEVELOPMENT
CRIMINAL DEFENSE
OUI/DUI DEFENSE
LANDLORD-TENANT LAW
BUSINESS ENTITY TRANSACTIONS AND FORMATIONS
CONSTRUCTION LAW
REAL ESTATE CONVEYANCING
ZONING AND LAND USE
APPLICATIONS AND APPEALS
Conservation Commissions
Planning Boards
Zoning Boards of Appeal
