About Brian C.
Brian C. Shaughnessy has spent more than three decades at the center of legal work in New Hampshire. His career is rooted in a steady progression from law student to law firm partner. Colleagues describe him as a steady presence in the office and the courtroom. He is the partner whose name appears on the firm letterhead at Kazan Shaughnessy Kasten & McDonald, PLLC.
He earned his J.D. from Boston University School of Law in 1989 after completing a B.S. at Northeastern University in 1986. Those years set a foundation in both academic rigor and practical thinking. The sequence of degrees also places his entry into the profession at a time when the legal landscape in New England was shifting, which shaped the kinds of matters attorneys handled and the approach they took to client advocacy.
Over the years he has taken on responsibilities that partners typically carry: managing complex matters, overseeing case strategy, and advising clients on procedural and substantive issues that arise in state practice. Within the firm he has been involved in mentoring junior attorneys and helping to steer team efforts on cases that require coordinated work across practice areas. He has also spent time preparing filings and appearing in court for matters arising under New Hampshire law.
Shaughnessy’s practice unfolds against the practical realities of a regional law firm. Work there tends to combine litigation, negotiation and client counseling. His role as a partner means he balances casework with administrative duties. That balance includes client intake, supervising associates, and helping to set firm priorities. He is known among peers for tackling the detailed legal work that underpins litigation and transactional matters alike.
Outside the office he stays connected to developments in state law that affect his clients. He keeps up with rulings and procedural changes in New Hampshire courts and integrates that knowledge into case planning. He also participates in firm discussions about how to serve clients efficiently while preserving the legal principles at issue.
As of 2026, Brian C. Shaughnessy continues to practice in New Hampshire as a partner at Kazan Shaughnessy Kasten & McDonald, PLLC. He currently focuses his practice in New Hampshire as a partner at Kazan Shaughnessy Kasten & McDonald, PLLC.
