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Partners Katherine Hesse, Mary Ellen Sowyrda, and Peter Mello were recognized as Massachusetts’ 2026 Super Lawyers by Massachusetts Super Lawyer Magazine. Attorney Hesse was acknowledged for her proficiency in Employment & Labor law, Attorney Sowyrda was recognized for her expertise in Schools and Education law, and Attorney Mello was selected for his excellence in State, Local & Municipal law. It is no surprise to the firm that these talented lawyers received recognition in their respected area of practice.

Katherine Hesse is known throughout the U.S. and Canada. Ms. Hesse concentrates her practice primarily in labor, employment and employee benefits law serving as counsel to individuals, business, government, and tax-exempt organizations including hospitals, colleges, churches, and major private and public retirement and health plans. She has litigated numerous employment and benefits cases before the state and federal trial and appellate courts, administrative agencies and arbitrators. She is also an active practitioner in all forms of alternative dispute resolution, including mediation, conciliation, fact finding and various forms of arbitration.

Mary Ellen Sowyrda heads MHTL’s Special Education Department. The firm currently represents more than 125 school districts and educational collaboratives in the practice area of Special Education Law. She is involved in all aspects of litigation and alternative dispute resolution at the Bureau of Special Education Appeals, including representing clients at hearings, settlement conferences, pre-hearing conferences and mediations.  She provides clients with daily advice on school-related legal issues including all aspects of special education, Section 504, student discipline, student records and anti-bullying laws, and deals with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and other state agencies that are associated with the provision of special education services to students.

Peter Mello focuses his practice in municipal law and general civil litigation, including in the areas of construction, land use and zoning, wetlands and school law, among others. He has advised private clients and governmental entities alike regarding myriad and diverse issues, including employment, energy-related issues, licensing, procurement, public records, meeting procedures, conflict of interest, and many others. He practices routinely before state and federal courts and state agencies in Massachusetts and has written and presented extensively on wetlands, construction and labor issues for organizations such as REBA, the Massachusetts School Building Authority, the Massachusetts Municipal Lawyers Association and the Massachusetts Bar Association.

We applaud Attorneys Hesse, Sowyrda and Mello for their hard work and look forward to future success and recognition for these dedicated attorneys.