The Latest on the Law: Updates from the Boston Bar

This program will offer an overview of the bankruptcy process as it relates to individuals and businesses from both the debtor and creditor perspectives. The presentation will describe the parties to a bankruptcy proceeding, how the various chapters of the Bankruptcy Code work, how creditors are paid, and litigation in bankruptcy court.  Substantive topics will include property of the bankruptcy e...

This one-hour program features two critical and evolving topics for practitioners of nonprofit and exempt organization law in advising their clients. Both presentations will be led by widely-recognized leaders in the field and will focus on recent and proposed changes.   Susan Abbott, Chair of Goodwin Procter LLP’s Tax-Exempt Organization Group, will present on the IRS’s current position regarding...

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. (4/25/2023) Questions? Inquiries about program materials? Cont...

Jury selection can mean victory even in the most difficult cases. Hear from experienced attorneys, judge, defense attorney, and prosecutor about effective tips and strategies for selecting a jury for your criminal case. This program is meant to demystify jury selection, providing guidance on how to effectively communicate with prospective jurors. (4/20/2023) Questions? Inquiries about program mate...

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 or...

Learn the ins and outs of the Selling property in Bankruptcy Proceedings. You will learn about the Bankruptcy Code’s §363 sale process, the Court’s requirements under the Local Rules, good draftsmanship of Motions, Notices and Orders, and what to prepare for to pass title standards.   Questions? Inquiries about program materials? Contact Alan I. Johnson at ajohnson@bostonbar.org

Join us for a discussion about important residential real estate concepts, including residential leasing transactions, residential condominium law, and the title clearing process for buyers and lenders. Questions? Inquiries about program materials? Contact Alan I. Johnson at ajohnson@bostonbar.org

A panel of grassroot organizers/leaders and pro bono practitioners reflect on what they would do differently, what they would want people to know, and what they would need, in a pro bono relationship in which all parties engaged intentionally and in a culturally sensitive manner. Questions? Inquiries about program materials? Contact Alan I. Johnson at ajohnson@bostonbar.org

Are you interested in learning more about what it means to be In-House Counsel? Hear from a diverse panel of In-House attorneys who will share what it means to be a part of In-House Counsel. This program will discuss the various types of In-House Counsel, their similarities and distinctions, and what you should consider if you are thinking about making a transition to, or joining, In-House Counsel...

The Divorce Fundamentals Training Series is designed to provide new lawyers or attorneys new to the practice of family law with an overview of the “life of a divorce case.” This training series will cover topics such as the divorce client interview; filing the divorce complaint; child support and alimony; custody and parenting plans; discovery; motion practice; separation agreements and post-judgm...

Environmental and Social Governance (“ESG”) has become a fast-growing topic in environmental law and a top priority for companies.  Come hear from lawyers practicing in this space, as they provide a general overview and a look ahead into the future for ESG. (4/11/2023) Questions? Inquiries about program materials? Contact Alan I. Johnson at ajohnson@bostonbar.org

Are you struggling to keep up with the rapid shift in online marketing? We'll reveal the top four essentials of successful online marketing for law firms--and give you concrete steps to improve your website, maximize social media, gather reviews, and stay top-of-mind with clients and referrals. Don't fall behind your competitors - these marketing strategies are now a must-have for any successful l...

This program will provide an overview of the federal laws and regulations governing registered investment companies and investment advisers. (4/11/2023) Questions? Inquiries about program materials? Contact Alan I. Johnson at ajohnson@bostonbar.org

Join the BBA for a training that will cover the basics of preparing and filing U Visa petitions with USCIS for eligible non-citizens. Immigrants who are victims of qualifying crimes and who are helpful to a law enforcement agency are eligible to petition for U nonimmigrant status with USCIS.  This training will provide a basic overview of the U visa eligibility requirements and filing process, how...

The panel will discuss the mechanics and impact of a Lis Pendens on property, from both the transactional and litigation perspectives. (4/6/2023) Questions? Inquiries about program materials? Contact Alan I. Johnson at  ajohnson@bostonbar.org  

This program will provide an overview of the federal estate tax return (Form 706) and the federal gift tax return (Form 709), which are used to report and pay tax on bequests and lifetime gifts and are an integral part of estate planning and administration. This presentation will cover the general purposes and structure of the forms, as well as provide tips for preparing them. (4/5/2023) Questions...

Bias incident reporting has proliferated on campuses across the nation. Bias response teams serve as a clearinghouse for these incidents and provide support to students and community members who may have experienced a bias-motivated incident. While bias teams have been generally well-received, there are some who are concerned that many reported bias incidents involve speech protected under the Fir...

Join us at the BBA for a lunch program that will cover the SEC’s and DOJ’s continued focus on insider trading, tailored to reflect current trends, including novel legal theories (like shadow insider trading), areas of emphasis (such as 10b5-1 trading plans), and new rules (such as insider trading policy and procedures disclosure obligations).  The program will be led by two SEC Market Abuse Unit (...

Many employees and job applicants have had interactions with the criminal legal system at some point in their lives. State and federal laws provide rights and limitations in this area. What options are available to workers if a background check will show CORI information, and what are best practices for employers in deciding what questions to ask and what to do with criminal history information? T...

Content moderation on social media platforms has been a hot topic since 2016. Social media platforms struggle to balance respect for free speech with the need to create a compelling social space that minimizes toxicity and misinformation. The complexity of content moderation is partly driven by user demand and political pressure, but ultimately by the social media platform's need to ensure that us...

Insurance requirements in real estate documents are sometimes glossed over by transactional lawyers. However, this language is critical to the indemnification and other risk allocation goals of the parties, and miscommunications between clients regarding insurance requirements can lead to delays in closing dates and other deadlines. This program will walk attendees through common insurance issues...

If you're a law student or new lawyer interested in energy law, don't miss this event! A panel of experienced energy practitioners focused on issues including solar development, climate change, and electrification will discuss their roles and perspectives in the always evolving field of energy law in Massachusetts. (3/28/23)   Questions? Inquiries about program materials? Contact Alan I. Johnson a...

An expert panel will provide a high-level overview of the applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in cutting-edge research, and the related patent challenges. The discussion will include the use of AI in applications such as cancer detection, autonomous vehicles, surgical robotics, clinical trials, and other industries such as financial services, consulting and advertising. The panel will als...

Join experts from Hogan Lovells’ Global Regulatory team for a review of the foreign direct investment (“FDI”) regimes in three key countries: the US, the UK, and Germany.  The panel will compare these three FDI regimes; address national trends, including mitigation measures/remedies employed; and highlight best practices for managing transactions involving multi-jurisdictional FDI assessments – to...

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 inc...