The Latest on the Law: Updates from the Boston Bar

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...

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 Connec...

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 whethe...

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 exp...

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.    Ques...

Clients sometimes get ahead of themselves. They can become so excited about a new thing they’ve discovered that they forget to ask whether they should do it. When those questions involve personal data and privacy, smart clients eventually approach their attorneys and ask “This new thing we can do, is it creepy or cool?” That new thing might involve using algorithmic analysis of existing data to in...

This will be a primer on Subleasing, covering topics from reasons for subleases to market considerations to documenting the transaction.    Questions? Inquiries about program materials? Contact Trenon Browne at tbrowne@bostonbar.org

Dissolution is the last part 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 Dissolution program will describe the legal requirements and the steps involved for tax-exempt...

This program will provide an overview of state and federal wiretap law, practice pointers for both criminal defense attorneys and prosecutors, and will discuss pending litigation. Hear from experienced prosecutors and defense attorneys about the unique aspects of any case involving wiretap evidence.   Questions? Inquiries about program materials? Contact Trenon Browne at tbrowne@bostonbar.org

Dissolution is the last part 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 Dissolution program will describe the legal requirements and the steps involved for tax-exempt...

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 introd...

This program will provide an overview of the basic steps to administer the estate of a deceased person, including probate, paying debts, satisfying creditor claims, preparing income and estate tax returns, accountings, and the distribution of the decedent’s assets.   Questions? Inquiries about program materials? Contact Trenon Browne at tbrowne@bostonbar.org

Massachusetts has a well-developed body of law on ROFRs. The panel will provide both a transactional and a litigation perspective on what they are, why they exist and what this body of law tells us (and does not tell us) about how courts will handle disputes over them. Additionally, the panel will address the still-open question of how to handle “unique” offers.   Questions? Inquiries about progra...

Employers and employees are learning how to best utilize AI and tools like ChatGTP in the workplace. Along the way they are being confronted, for the first time, with the legal issues that arise with the use (and misuse) of the new technology. This program will focus on the issues that AI and related tools pose for labor and employment attorneys and their clients, address the coming challenges, an...

Panelists will discuss creative visa options for professionals not selected in the H-1B CAP, detailing relevant considerations, practical experiences, common questions, and potential implications for each option. Attendees will gain insight on “go to” approaches for each option and how to leverage new and existing immigration policies.   Questions? Inquiries about program materials? Contact Trenon...

This panel will focus on the mental health inequities that incarcerated individuals face within the prison system in Massachusetts. Panelists will also share strategies on how they are addressing these inequities and provide ways for others to get involved in pro bono efforts.    Questions? Inquiries about program materials? Contact Trenon Browne at tbrowne@bostonbar.org

Our group of panelists are prominent bankruptcy practitioners deeply involved in several cutting-edge decisions on these issues. Attendees will receive primer materials on this critical area of law, including summaries of recent opinions and references to helpful scholarship and additional practice materials. The panel will conclude with Q&A and debate among the panelists concerning, among oth...

The need to address health equity in the delivery of care is of paramount importance for providers and payors alike, as the health care industry seeks to increase access to care, improve patient outcomes, and lower costs. This panel will address innovative payment incentives being implemented in Massachusetts to help promote equity, including new services and initiatives that are reimbursable by M...

What is a Pretrial Conference?  When are they held?  What are the procedures?  Do they vary from county to county and judge to judge?  What is expected of parties and lawyers?  What is needed at a Pretrial Conference?   Questions? Inquiries about program materials? Contact Trenon Browne at tbrowne@bostonbar.org

This program will provide an overview of the federal laws and regulations governing registered investment companies and investment advisers.    Questions? Inquiries about program materials? Contact Trenon Browne at tbrowne@bostonbar.org

After an introductory refresher on diversity jurisdiction and removal protocol, this program will primarily focus on two frequently litigated, but perhaps not widely understood, issues that may arise when federal courts exercise diversity jurisdiction: certifying salient dispositive questions to state supreme courts, and overcoming unique challenges to establishing complete diversity when closely...

Under the United States Sentencing Guidelines, loss is a critical factor in calculating a sentence for a defendant facing white-collar criminal charges. Yet methods of calculating loss can be far from clear. This panel of current and former federal prosecutors will walk through the basics of loss calculations and other financial penalties facing white-collar defendants. In addition, the panel will...

Recently, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts received power from its first large scale offshore wind development, which was many years in the making. Large scale offshore wind projects are critical to the nation’s energy future and the cornerstone of regional and state efforts to achieve legislatively mandated clean energy implementations. These projects have also proven to be some of the most diff...

Many human trafficking survivors are coerced to incur consumer debt at the behest of their traffickers. This destroys the survivor’s credit and imposes significant barriers to housing, education and other important resources. The new federal Debt Bondage Repair Act provides a mechanism for survivors of trafficking to block this adverse information from their credit reports.    This webinar will pr...

This panel will discuss new developments in eDiscovery and Artificial Intelligence for 2024, including continued evolution of eDiscovery protocols, collaboration tool and related collection strategies, as well as the integration of Artificial Intelligence into eDiscovery and related document review technologies. Speakers will feature plaintiff and defendant expert attorneys who specialize in eDisc...