Lunch with Legends is authored by Taylor Duane attorneys Matthew R. Plain and Elizabeth R. Merritt.

Matthew R. Plain devotes a considerable portion of his practice to advising school boards, administrators and teachers on a myriad of education law issues, including special education, employment, student/staff discipline, and constitutional law. He also assists parents with matters related to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and the Rhode Island Special Education Regulations. He regularly lectures to educators on a variety of school-related issues.

The Providence Business News named Mr. Plain as one of its 40 Under Forty winners in 2011.

Prior to law school, Mr. Plain taught 7th and 8th Grade in the North Carolina public schools for four years and has an Advanced Competencies Teaching License for Social Studies Education (Grades 6-12).

In addition to his education law practice, Mr. Plain serves clients in the health care and insurance industries, handling disputes involving professional liability, products liability and contract disputes. A portion of his practice is also dedicated to personal injury work.

Elizabeth R. Merritt practices in the arenas of civil litigation and domestic relations.  Her clients include professionals, businesses and individuals.  She attended Assumption College in Worcester, Massachusetts prior to heading to Suffolk University Law School.  Ms. Merrit has enjoyed success on behalf of her clients in both Massachusetts and Rhode Island State and Federal Courts.

Ms. Merritt is a member of the Rhode Island Women’s Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Rhode Island Bar Association’s Animal Law Committee and the Rhode Island Bar Journal’s Editorial Committee. She dedicates a portion of her practice to pro bono matters, and also serves as chair of the board of directors of local non-profit organization, The Manton Avenue Project.

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