The Latest on the Law: Updates from the Boston Bar

Join colleagues with expertise in health, non-profit and corporate law for a discussion about these intersecting areas of law in health care transactions. Bring your questions about the distinctions between charitable and non-charitable activities, use of transaction proceeds, entity conversion, board governance and more to explore in an open conversation with our speakers Emily Gabrault (Deputy Chief of the Non-Profit Organization/Public Charities Division of the Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General), Sheryl Howard (Partner at Krokidas & Bluestein LLP) and Michael McGrath (Partner at Ropes & Gray). 

 

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

The BBA, in collaboration with Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers (LCL) is offering a three-part series directed at helping leaders improve their skills in three key areas-building connections, building capacity for difficult conversations, and building capacity for innovation. We strongly encourage BBA leaders and all BBA members that are leaders within their firm or organization to watch the introductory recording linked here and attend all three sessions. The series will end with a celebration during our June Community Connections Breakfast.

 

Building Connection: Growing Your Leadership Skills for the Wellbeing of Your People and Your Business

 

In addition to emotional intelligence, leaders build rapport and relationships through connection to improve the quality of followership. This session provides the framework for leaders to develop methods to get to know their people (colleagues, associates, legal assistants, legal staff) and let them know you care. We will start with an overview of active listening, empathy, and paying attention and discuss how this creates a more cohesive workplace. Through experiential exercises, leaders will have an opportunity to practice active listening skills and refine their ability to stay present and connected with people in their workplace.           

 

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

Watch a lively discussion of recent decisions from the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court and the United States Supreme Court affecting Labor & Employment law. Topics include important updates in discrimination and accommodation laws, procedural standards, affirmative action, Prevailing Wage Act claims, collective bargaining, and claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”). The panel will examine the implications of these high court rulings on employers, employees, and the workplace environment.

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

Taxes for Tax-Exempt Organizations is the fifth in our six-part Fundamentals Series on public charities and private foundations.  The series will provide a basic overview geared toward new attorneys and attorneys new to the practice area on forming, operating and dissolving a tax-exempt organization in Massachusetts.  The Taxes for Tax-Exempt Organizations program will cover unrelated business income tax (UBIT); Massachusetts-specific taxes; IRS intermediate sanctions rules and excise taxes; and executive compensation excise taxes. 

 

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

Join us for an overview of title insurance and its place within commercial real estate transactions. Learn the basics of title insurance policies and their differences from other types of insurance products. The program will focus on the practicalities of ordering and reviewing title for commercial real estate, selecting endorsements, negotiating commercial owners’ and loan policies, the title company’s role in closing a transaction, and some of the different considerations for commercial policies from residential.

 

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

Join our panel of financial and elder care experts to discuss financial planning considerations for your aging clients. Topics include optimizing Social Security, using retirement plans effectively, and how to plan for future care costs such as assisted living and long-term care. 

 

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

Discussion of the Alimony Reform Act and the Child Support Guidelines, including a discussion of tax consequences of each and the methodologies for calculating support which have both a child support and alimony component. Discussion will include timing, emancipation and dependency exemptions.

 

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

Learn about how the DOR agency operates and the various programs it offers to better enable practitioners to make use of those programs and navigate those processes to better serve their clients, whether child support recipients or payors. Also learn about recent changes to how DOR conducts hearings.

 

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

You can do this! Hear from the government lawyers who review the new student loan discharge forms on behalf of the Department of Education as well as the lawyers that prepare the forms on behalf of debtors. This presentation will discuss the process for discharging student loans in light of new guidance issued by the Department of Justice in coordination with the Department of Education. The presentation will review step-by-step instructions for completing the new required form and supporting documents intended to streamline the fact-gathering process. The presentation will also discuss how counsel can identify cases in which the government may stipulate to facts demonstrating undue hardship. The discussion will be moderated by Grace Brockmeyer, Bankruptcy and Consumer Staff Attorney at the Volunteer Lawyers Project, and the panelists are Steffani Pelton of Madoff & Khoury LLP, and Brendan Mockler and Raquelle Kaye, Assistant United States Attorneys in the Asset Recovery Unit who handle bankruptcy litigation on behalf of the United States. 

 

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

Eric Shupin, the Director of Public Policy for the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities will present an overview of the Affordable Homes Act, a $4.12 billion housing bond bill filed late last year by Governor Maura Healy. This legislation is a comprehensive package of spending, policy, and programmatic actions that would represent the largest housing investment in Massachusetts history.

 

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