Payal Salsburg quoted in Bloomberg Law Article on Massachusetts Simplified Anti-SLAPP Protocol for Retaliatory Suits

/in , , , , /by

Bloomberg Law turned to our partner Payal Salsburg as a resource regarding the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court’s latest overhaul of the process for defeating a retaliatory lawsuit.

The justices revised a process for dismissing cases under the state’s anti-SLAPP law, a law meant to create a quick pathway for courts to throw out meritless lawsuits.

Payal comments on the new framework as “a welcome return to the legislature’s original intent with the law.” She continues, “it was only supposed to be for those very rare, narrow cases where there was no doubt whatsoever that the lawsuit has been brought because you exercised your petitioning activity and solely because of that.”

To read the entire article: Lawyers Hail New Massachusetts Retaliatory Suit Protocol

Laredo & Smith Attorneys Recognized as 2023 “Top Lawyers” by Boston Magazine

/in , , , , , /by

Laredo & Smith announces that three of the firm’s attorneys are recognized as 2023 “Top Lawyers” by Boston Magazine. The publication honors 979 of the region’s Top Lawyers in their December 2023 issue. Included from the firm are:

This is the third year that Boston Magazine recognizes the region’s most respected attorneys. To compile the list of top lawyers, Boston Magazine invited attorneys in the area to nominate up to three of their peers in a select number of specialties. The top vote-getters in each specialty were then reviewed by an advisory board of select lawyers, chosen for their credentials and the high number of votes they received.

Laredo & Smith Named to 2024 Edition of Best Law Firms

/in , , , , /by

Laredo & Smith is pleased to be named to the 2024 edition of “Best Law Firms” in the following categories:

  • National Tier 3 firm for Commercial Litigation
  • Metropolitan Tier 1 firm in Boston for Closely Held Companies and Family Business Law, Commercial Litigation, and Criminal Defense-White Collar.
  • Metropolitan Tier 2 firm in Boston for Employment Law-Management

Laredo & Smith is proud to be highly ranked in this year’s publication. Firms included in the “Best Law Firms” rankings are recognized for professional excellence and have impressive ratings from clients and peers. The Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” rankings are based on client and lawyer evaluations, peer review from leading attorneys in their field, and review of additional information provided by law firms as part of the formal submission process.

 

Payal Salsburg is Panelist for Mass Bar Program on Anti-SLAPP Statute

/in , , /by

Payal Salsburg is a panelist for a program entitled, “Is the Massachusetts Anti-SLAPP Statute Working as Intended.” The program is run by the Massachusetts Bar Association, sponsored by the civil litigation and real estate law sections, and will take place on Tuesday, May 23rd from 4-6pm.

In this program, the panelists will address how to identify and analyze viable special motions to dismiss in the context of the current burden-shifting anti-SLAPP framework as well as whether, and under what circumstances, abuse of process claims may still be brought in light of the statute. The program is important for litigators so that they will be able to identify whether the anti-SLAPP statute applies to a given set of facts.

For more information, please visit massbar.org.

Payal Salsburg Honored at Pioneering Woman of Color Celebration by Women’s Bar Association

/in , , /by

The Women’s Bar Association of Massachusetts and its Women of Color Committee selected partner Payal Salsburg as an honoree for the annual Pioneering Women of Color Celebration which takes place on June 7th.

The WBA recognizes Payal for her long record of service to the community, her deep commitment to empowering women of color in the legal community, and her dynamic mentorship of future attorneys of color. In honoring Payal, the WBA President remarks that Payal is “a leader in the field and amplify the mission of the WBA through her work.”

Payal is joined by fellow honoree, Aziz Ahmed, a professor of law at Boston University School of Law.

 

Payal Salsburg Quoted in Bloomberg Law Article Covering Anti-SLAPP Laws

/in , , /by

Payal Salsburg was quoted in an article entitled, “Broken State Speech Shield Unites Courts, Lawmakers Seeking Fix” which was published by Bloomberg Law in April. The article covers a recent request by Massachusetts lawyers, judges and law makers for clarity on the application of a law that protects First Amendment rights. The article explains that Anti-SLAPP laws create a pathway for courts to quickly remove meritless lawsuits seeking to intimidate people exercising their First Amendment rights. Payal, a business litigator, comments on how people are using the law as opposed to how it was intended: “the law was meant to be used as a shield, but people are using it as a sword.”

Read the full article: Bloomberg Law: Broken State Speech Shield Unites Courts, Lawmakers Seeking Fix

Payal Salsburg quoted in Mass Lawyers Weekly on Issues to Watch for in Business Litigation in 2023

/in , , , , /by

Payal Salsburg is quoted in a Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly article, “Snap Judgements: Local Lawyers Offer Issues to Watch for in 2023” on December 30th:

In the area of business litigation, courts across the commonwealth will continue to grapple with applying the anti-SLAPP statute to dismiss claims that may be based on petitioning activity. Given the number of cases in the Superior Court and the Appeals Court in 2022 that deal with this issue, the SJC may have to again clarify the correct application of the standard first set out in Duracraft Corp. v. Holmes Prods., Corp. (1998), and subsequently augmented by 447 Harrison Ave., LLC v. JACE Boston, LLC (2019), and Blanchard v. Steward Carney Hosp., Inc. (2019).”

Darshana Indira Joins Laredo & Smith

/in , , , , /by

Laredo & Smith is pleased to announce the firm has added Darshana Indira as a Senior Associate to the firm. Darshana is an employment and business lawyer advising company owners, organizational leadership and c-suite executives in a broad range of employment and commercial litigation matters. In her employment practice, Darshana handles both transactional and litigation matters spanning issues related to the complex employer-employee relationship. With an ability to quickly understand client needs and industries, Darshana’s work spans many sectors, including pharmaceuticals, biotech, healthcare, and retail.

Firm Managing Partner, Marc Laredo states, “Darshana is an excellent addition to our team. She has critical trial experience, including the full range of litigation preparation, discovery, depositions and smart case analysis.”

Laredo & Smith Lawyers Named to 2023 Best Lawyers List and Ones to Watch

/in , , , , , , , , /by

Four Laredo & Smith’s partners Matt Kane, Marc Laredo, Mark Smith and Payal Salsburg are selected by their peers for inclusion in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©. Senior Counsel Jessica Conklin is named to the Best Lawyers: One to Watch© list.

Matt Kane is selected for his work in Commercial Litigation again this year, an area he is named for annually since 2017. Matt represents banks and other financial institutions, businesses and individuals in an array of business law matters and disputes concerning consumer finance, employment, construction, real estate and general litigation as part of the firm’s business litigation practice. He also has considerable experience in consumer financial services litigation, including mortgage and title litigation, civil check fraud, and fair debt collection matters.

Marc Laredo is selected again this year for his work in both Commercial Litigation and Employment Law/Management. Marc represents clients in disputes among owners of closely held businesses and a wide array of other business litigation matters including commercial contract cases, business torts, employment and non-competition litigation, government investigations and construction cases. Additionally, Marc serves as counsel to closely held businesses, advising them on issues such as the initial formation and maintenance of the business entity, contract and employment matters, crisis situations and exit strategies.

Payal Salsburg is selected this year for her work in Commercial Litigation and Criminal Defense: White Collar. She focuses her practice in the areas of business litigation, corporate advice and counsel, and white collar criminal defense. She represents corporations, small businesses and individuals in connection with an array of matters including contract and business disputes, False Claims Act litigation, and government and internal investigations.

Mark Smith is selected again this year for his work in Criminal Defense: White Collar. He is also recognized for work in Commercial Litigation, Closely Held Companies and Family Business Law. Mark is retained by businesses and individuals during all stages of criminal and other government enforcement actions. National law firms also choose Mark to handle a wide range of Massachusetts-specific litigation and regulation matters as outside counsel on behalf of their clients.

Jessica Conklin is selected to the Ones to Watch list this year in the area of Commercial Litigation and Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Jessica concentrates her practice in white collar criminal defense, government investigations, and school disciplinary hearings. Jessica counsels clients on a variety of matters ranging from healthcare compliance and audits to government investigations.

Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers® has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Best Lawyers lists are compiled based on an exhaustive peer-review evaluation. Almost 108,000 industry leading lawyers are eligible to vote (from around the world), and they received over 13 million evaluations on the legal abilities of other lawyers based on their specific practice areas around the world. Lawyers are not allowed to pay a fee to be listed; therefore inclusion in Best Lawyers is considered a singular honor.

Dot Your I’s and Cross Your T’s Before Terminating an Employee

/in , , , , /by

Employers in Massachusetts should be aware of a recent case out of the Supreme Judicial Court that cautions employers to ensure that before terminating any employee, full payment is made for all unpaid wages on or before the date of termination. A failure to do so may subject the employer to multiple damages under the Massachusetts Wage Act.

June 2022 Newsletter