We invite you to learn more about each of our lawyers:
1998, Massachusetts; 2001, U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts; 2002, U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
University of Minnesota, J.D., cum laude, 1997
Cornell University, B.S., 1988
G. David Sharp joined Marianne G. Zurn in 2002 at what was then the law firm of Corash, Zurn and Sharp. He is both a litigator and a mediator trained in all aspects of divorce and family law. Divorce and family law is a primary focus of G. David Sharp's practice. This focus complements and underscores the firm's reputation, specialization and expertise in this area of law. He also has extensive experience in employment law, including wrongful termination, discrimination, and employee/employer contract disputes. In addition, G. David Sharp represents clients in general and civil litigation, will contests, real estate transactions, and personal injury.
Hampshire and Franklin County Bar Associations
Massachusetts Bar Association
Association of Family Concilation Courts
Worked as a legislative aide for economic development for Congressman John Olver in Washington, DC, and western Massachusetts
Past member of the Franklin Medical Center's Ethics Committee in Greenfield, MA
Past longstanding board member and president of Western Massachusetts Legal Services, now Community Legal Aid
Certified mediator for all family law matters
Member of Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC)
Past member and former chair of Deerfield School Committee
1998, Massachusetts; 2001, U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts
Western New England University, J.D., cum laude, 1998
Hampshire College, B.A., 1982;
Harvard University, Ed.M., 1988
Mr. Heyman has been practicing law for over 20 years and joined the firm in 2008. His 20-year background in social work and education is an asset in his practice areas of Superior and District court criminal, juvenile and family law matters, including divorce, guardianship and child custody. Mr. Heyman's practice focuses on criminal law, family law, and personal injury and includes some general civil practice.
Hampshire County, Franklin County and Massachusetts Bar Associations
Twenty years working as a social worker with adolescents and families and as a middle school and high school teacher prior to practicing law
Developed and directed a residential program for runaway and homeless teens; developed and directed a youth leadership program
Past officer on the executive committee of the Hampshire Bar Association
Former vice-president of the board of directors for New England Center for Youth and Families
Former member of the Statewide Governor's Juvenile Judicial Nominating Committee
1998, Massachusetts; 2002, U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts
Western New England University, J.D., cum laude, 1998
L.L.M, cum laude, Elder Law and Estate Planning, 2019
Trinity College, B.A. 1991
Sarah Dolven is an experienced lawyer who concentrates her practice on estate planning, estate administration and elder law, having obtained an LLM degree in Elder Law and Estate Planning after nearly two decades spent focusing on criminal defense litigation and appellate advocacy, civil litigation, small business advising and special education law. She works with clients who seek simple or complex estate planning as well as long-term care and Medicaid asset-protection planning, advises young families as they plan for their children's futures and establish philanthropic goals, and helps families through the challenge of probating an estate after the death of a loved one. She has also served as an educational advocate for schools, students and families, and as a member and later Chair of the Leverett School Committee from 2011 to 2017. An avid trail runner, she is currently on the Board of Trustees of the Kestrel Land Trust, working with landowners, governmental entities, and land conservation professionals to protect the woodland trails she loves so much, as well as the premium agricultural land that graces the Valley.
When she’ s not running in the woods with her dog, Sarah loves to spend time with her husband and two children and her stepson and his young family and singing in a soul and funk band.
Hampshire County, Franklin County and Massachusetts Bar Associations
Current Board Member, Kestrel Land Trust
Past member and former Chair, Leverett School Committee
Former Board Member, Collaborative for Educational Services
Texas, 2005; 2007, Massachusetts; 2009, U.S. District Court District of Massachusetts, 2023 First Circuit Court of Appeals
University of Connecticut School of Law, Hartford, Connecticut
J.D., with honors, 2005
Austin College, B.A., 1997
University of Houston, M.A. in Theater, 2002
Marissa Elkins is a deeply experienced criminal defense attorney. She began her career as a public defender, working as a staff attorney for the Northampton Superior Court office of the Massachusetts Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) before launching into private practice in 2009. Marissa continues to focus her practice on criminal defense, Title IX and academic misconduct defense, and appellate advocacy. She represents clients in Superior and District Court throughout Hampshire, Hampden, Berkshire and Franklin Counties, as well is in federal court.
Marissa is a Life Member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and served on the Board of Directors from 2014 to 2020. She is also a member of NACDL's CLE committee and has organized multi-day trainings in Boston and Savannah, Georgia and has presented at national conferences. She is past president of the Hampshire County Bar Association, a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation and the Massachusetts Bar Foundation, and a member of numerous other legal organizations. In 2015, Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly named Marissa a Lawyer of the Year for her advocacy in the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court in Commonwealth v. Dorazio, 472 Mass. 535 (2015).
In addition to her law practice, Marissa has served as a Northampton City Councilor At-large since January 2022. She volunteers for many community organizations including Community Legal Aid, Safe Passage, and the Hampshire County Bar Advocate Program.
1977, Massachusetts; 1979,
U.S. District Court, District
of Massachusetts
Boston University, J.D., 1976
Smith College, A.B.,
cum laude, 1970
After more than 46 years practicing law in Northampton, Attorney Zurn retired in 2023. We thank her for her leadership and friendship and wish her well in her retirement.