The Latest on the Law: Updates from the Boston Bar

The Motherhood/Caregiver Penalty: A Discussion of Challenges and Solutions

This program is held in remembrance of Hon. Maureen Mulligan, whose collaborative and inspiring leadership as the Chair of the ABA's Commission on Women in Profession from 2020-2023 was integral to the formulation and publication of the ABA's "Legal Careers of Parents and Child Caregivers" report.

Last October, the ABA’s Commission on Women in the Profession issued a report entitled “Legal Careers of Parents and Child Caregivers: Results and Best Practices from a National Study of the Legal Profession”. Based on a national survey of lawyers and a series of national focus groups, this comprehensive study documents the continued pervasiveness of the “motherhood/caregiver penalty” in the legal profession and its negative impact on the advancement of women in the profession. Equally important, the report sets forth thirteen recommendations that lawyers and legal organizations can adopt to create a more equitable workplace.

Join us in conversation with one of the authors of the report and former ABA president, Paulette Brown, and the project’s co-chair, Michelle Browning-Coughlin, to discuss the findings and how to implement the recommendations. This program will offer the attendees an opportunity to more clearly understand the challenges and implications of the “motherhood/caregiver penalty” on women’s advancement in the legal profession and how legal organizations can implement practical policies and practices to remove it.

 

Questions? Inquiries about program materials? Contact Trenon Browne at tbrowne@bostonbar.org

Orange, Purple, and the Drugs Between Them

Panelists will discuss hot topics related to Hatch-Waxman and biosimilar litigation, including recent scrutiny from the FTC over what patents may be listed in the Orange Book. 

 

Questions? Inquiries about program materials? Contact Trenon Browne at tbrowne@bostonbar.org

40T Compliance

Chapter 40T is designed to preserve the stock of affordable rental housing in Massachusetts that is at risk of loss due to expiring affordability restrictions, and to protect tenants in these developments from displacement. It applies to affordable housing properties that are assisted with or funded by any of 16 specifically identified federal and state programs, such as rental assistance (Section 8) and state and federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC). Owners of properties subject to 40T must comply with its statutory and regulatory provisions in the event of a sale/transfer or termination of the rental restriction/subsidy. 

 

Questions? Inquiries about program materials? Contact Trenon Browne at tbrowne@bostonbar.org

Navigating the FTC’s Non-compete Ban

In this program, our esteemed group of panelists will provide an overview of the FTC’s recently-announced Final Rule prohibiting most non-compete agreements. The panel will address the Final Rule and explain what it prohibits, and discuss its exceptions, practical implications for both employers and employees who may be affected, and the ongoing challenges to the Final Rule’s implementation. 

 

Questions? Inquiries about program materials? Contact Trenon Browne at tbrowne@bostonbar.org

A View from the Front Lines – Current Issues in Estate and Gift Tax Audits and Litigation

Join tax litigator Keri Brown for a journey through the IRS’s current (and common) challenges to gift and estate tax audits. This presentation addresses valuation, formula transfers, installment sales, GRATs, penalties, Section 2036, split-dollar life insurance, and more – including how to best help your clients help themselves. 

 

Questions? Inquiries about program materials? Contact Trenon Browne at tbrowne@bostonbar.org

Competency in Criminal Cases 101

How to deal with mental health issues in criminal cases, particularly focusing on client competency but also addressing criminal responsibility, including both the legal framework under chapter 123 and tactical and ethical advice, aimed primarily at students and new lawyers but also relevant to all experience levels. 

 

Questions? Inquiries about program materials? Contact Trenon Browne at tbrowne@bostonbar.org

Update on Privacy Enforcement: View from the States

With comprehensive privacy laws now in effect in states across the country (and close to home), the panel will provide an update on privacy law enforcement, including developments in California, Colorado, Connecticut and other jurisdictions with comprehensive privacy laws in effect. The panel will feature a discussion with Michele Lucan, Chief of the Privacy and Data Security Section at the Connecticut Office of the Attorney General to understand how her office is approaching enforcement, including its recent report on Connecticut Data Privacy Act violations. Kevin Angle from Holland & Knight and Nick Farnsworth from Orrick will also discuss developments outside of Connecticut, including recent investigations in California. 

 

Questions? Inquiries about program materials? Contact Trenon Browne at tbrowne@bostonbar.org

Trusts & Estates Practice Fundamentals: Preparing Estate Tax Returns

Join us in this month's installment of Trusts & Estate's Practice Fundamentals as we go over how to determine whether an estate tax return is required for a decedent’s estate; how to obtain and organize the information needed for an estate tax return and how to prepare an estate tax return. month's installment of Trusts & Estate's Practice Fundamentals as we go over how to determine whether an estate tax return is required for a decedent’s estate; how to obtain and organize the information needed for an estate tax return and how to prepare an estate tax return.

 

Questions? Inquiries about program materials? Contact Trenon Browne at tbrowne@bostonbar.org

What In-House Lawyers, Employment Counsel and White Collar Defense Counsel Need to Know About DOJ’s Pilot Program on Compensation Incentives and Clawbacks, One Year In

In March 2023, the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice announced a three-year Pilot Program Regarding Compensation Incentives and Clawbacks, which seeks to reward companies that incentivize compliance through their compensation systems and hold wrongdoers financially accountable for their misconduct. At the intersection of employment law and criminal law, this panel will discuss DOJ expectations under the program, its application to corporate criminal resolutions during year one, and strategic considerations for companies seeking to maximize credit under the program. Come hear from a leader of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts and seasoned practitioners from the white-collar defense and labor and employment bars. 

 

Questions? Inquiries about program materials? Contact Trenon Browne at tbrowne@bostonbar.org

AI in Estate Planning

This program dives deep into the realm of Artificial Intelligence (AI), scrutinizing its role in estate planning scenarios, and how its potential can be harnessed for greater efficiency. Furthermore, it aims to scrutinize the more human elements of estate planning with AI, observe court reactions to it, and furnish insightful recommendations for advisors working with AI in their practices. 

 

Questions? Inquiries about program materials? Contact Trenon Browne at tbrowne@bostonbar.org