Laredo & Smith Announces Leadership Transition As Part of Growth Strategy; Changes Name to Laredo, Smith & Kane

Boston law firm Laredo & Smith announced a strategic leadership transition as part of the firm’s long-term growth plan. Matthew A. Kane and Payal Salsburg have been appointed to the firm’s management team. Kane was also named Managing Partner, effective January 1, 2025, succeeding Marc C. Laredo. In conjunction with the leadership change, the firm rebranded to Laredo, Smith & Kane, LLP.

“This transition is all part of smart, long-term business planning, which is something we encourage our clients to do regularly,” said Laredo. “Matt and Payal are exceptional lawyers and true leaders who are at the peak of their careers. We are confident they have the skills, experience, and vision to help lead the firm into the future. They have the full support of our clients, lawyers, and staff.”

Kane and Salsburg have been key members of the Laredo & Smith team since 2015 and 2016, respectively. Together, they will help set the strategic direction and priorities for the firm, particularly in the areas of business law and litigation, white collar criminal defense, government investigations, employment law, and school disciplinary and Title IX matters.

“I’m honored to serve as Managing Partner,” Kane said. “Marc has led the firm to a place of stability and success, driven by the strategic needs of our clients and guided by our values. I feel fortunate to take over from this position of strength, and I’m excited for the future.”

Salsburg commented, “We have an incredible group of lawyers and staff, as well as loyal and satisfied clients who put their trust in us to handle their most important legal matters. I look forward to building on that record of success and positioning the firm for continued growth.”

Kane is a seasoned litigator focusing in business and commercial law. Representing banks, financial institutions, businesses, and individuals, Kane is a key member of the firm’s business litigation practice. Kane is known for his extensive experience in consumer finance, employment, construction, real estate, and general litigation. He is also particularly skilled in appellate advocacy, having successfully argued before the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court and the Massachusetts Appeals Court. His experience resolving banking and financial services litigation includes handling complex cases involving mortgage and title disputes, commercial workouts and collections, civil check fraud, and fair debt collection issues. Regularly appearing at all levels of state and federal courts across Massachusetts and Rhode Island, his firsthand advocacy experience couples with his strong appellate experience and strategic approach, making him a trusted advisor in the legal community.

Salsburg 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 contract and business disputes, False Claims Act matters, State Ethics Commission inquiries, and government and internal investigations. Salsburg also advises closely held businesses on corporate and employment matters. Prior to joining Laredo & Smith, Salsburg was a litigator at a large international law firm, in its Florida and Boston offices. She is a sought-after speaker on many topics, including ethics, inclusivity and lawyer well-being. Salsburg is recognized for her deep commitment to volunteerism in the community. Her pro bono experience includes several successful CORI-sealing petitions, petitions for asylum, an appeal from an inmate on Florida’s death row, litigation, and appeal to assist a not-for-profit foundation, and invoking Hague Convention protection to return a child wrongfully removed to the United States by a parent. She was also a bar advocate for criminal matters at the Boston Municipal Court (Central).

About Laredo, Smith & Kane, LLP
For nearly 30 years, Laredo, Smith & Kane has helped clients grow their businesses and resolve legal matters–offering clients big-firm expertise with the client-centered strategy that only a small firm can provide.  The firm’s attorneys successfully combine a strategic approach to running a business with thoughtful, thorough, and protective legal representation. The firm represents clients in matters related to business law and litigation, white collar criminal defense, government investigations, employment law, and school disciplinary and Title IX matters.

Laredo, Smith & Kane Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in 2025 Best Lawyers

Laredo, Smith & Kane attorneys Marc Laredo, Mark Smith, Matthew Kane, Payal Salsburg, William Cosmas and Jessica Conklin are all selected by their peers for inclusion in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©.

Marc Laredo is selected 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.

Mark Smith is selected for his work in Criminal Defense/White-Collar, 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.

Matthew Kane is selected for his work in Litigation/Labor & Employment. 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.

Payal Salsburg is selected 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.

William Cosmas is selected for his work in Commercial Litigation. He handles complex business disputes across many industries including finance, banking, technology, and life sciences, among others. His experience spans business litigation and arbitration, both domestic and international; government investigations and white-collar criminal defense; and real estate matters.

Jessica Conklin is selected for her work in Criminal Defense/White-Collar. She counsels clients on a variety of matters ranging from healthcare compliance and audits to government investigations. She also represents students and their families who attending secondary schools, colleges and universities in connection with disciplinary proceedings and title IX 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. Over 110,000 industry leading lawyers are eligible to vote (from around the world), and they received millions of 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.

Laredo & Smith Attorneys Named to 2023 Super Lawyers List

Laredo & Smith is pleased to announce that many of the firm’s attorneys are named to Super Lawyers for 2023, including:

  • Marc Laredo is recognized in the areas of Business Litigation and Closely Held Businesses
  • Mark Smith is recognized for White Collar Crime
  • Matt Kane is recognized for Business Litigation, Banking, and Appellate
  • Payal Salsburg is recognized for Business Litigation and White Collar Crime
  • William Cosmas is recognized for Business Litigation and General Litigation
  • Jessica Conklin is recognized as a Rising Star in White Collar Crime, Schools & Education, and Business Litigation
  • Darshana Indira is recognized as a Rising Star in Employment & Labor

Each year, no more than five percent of the lawyers in the state are selected by the research team at Super Lawyers to receive this honor. Super Lawyers, part of Thomson Reuters, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The annual selections are made using a patented multiphase process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates and peer reviews by practice area. The result is a credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of exceptional attorneys. The Super Lawyers lists are published nationwide in Super Lawyers Magazines and in leading city and regional magazines and newspapers across the country.

Matt Kane Moderates Boston Bar Association’s Business Litigation Session Year in Review

Matt Kane  moderated a CLE program for the Boston Bar Association, “Business Litigation Session Year in Review,” in June 2023. This is the signature annual event of the BBA’s Business and Commercial Litigation Section, where Matt serves as a member of the section steering committee. In this educational and insightful program, Matt helped to guide judges from the Massachusetts Superior Court’s Business Litigation Session (“BLS”) through a lively discussion of important BLS decisions from the past year. The event was an invaluable opportunity for our business litigators to meet and familiarize themselves with the Commonwealth’s BLS judges, and to educate themselves about the current trends and significant legal devlopments at the BLS.

Matt Kane and Payal Salsburg Reappointed by the Board of Bar Overseers as Hearing Officers

Matt Kane and Payal Salsburg have each been reappointed as hearing officers by the Board of Bar Overseers for a second three-year term. Established by the Supreme Judicial Court as an independent administrative body to investigate and evaluate complaints against attorneys, BBO hearing officers preside in panels of three over disciplinary proceedings brought against individual attorneys by the Office of Bar Counsel. In this role, Matt and Payal hear evidence, make findings of fact, and, where appropriated, provide sanctions recommendations to the Board of Bar Overseers.

Laredo & Smith Lawyers Named to Annual Top Lawyers List Published in Boston Magazine

The firm is pleased to be well represented in the Boston magazine’s annual Top Lawyers list. Marc Laredo, Mark Smith, Payal Salsburg, Brendan Cox and Jessica Conklin are all named to the 2022 list.

The firm’s attorneys were listed in the following categories:

Boston magazine, in partnership with DataJoe Research, invited lawyers representing the publication’s readership area to nominate up to 3 of their peers in a select number of law specialty areas. The top vote-getters were reviewed by an advisory board of select lawyers, chosen for credentials and the high number of votes they received.

Firm Attorneys Named to 2022 Super Lawyers Annual List

Laredo & Smith is pleased to announce that many of the firm’s attorneys are named to Super Lawyers for 2022. Marc Laredo is named to the Top 100 Super Lawyers in Massachusetts list this year. In addition, Mark Smith, Matt Kane, Payal Salsburg, Jessica Conklin and Darshana Indira are all named to the 2022 Super Lawyers list in the following categories:

  • Marc Laredo is recognized as a Top 100 Massachusetts Super Lawyers and in the area of Business Litigation
  • Mark Smith is recognized for White Collar Crime
  • Matt Kane is recognized for Litigation
  • Payal Salsburg is recognized for White Collar Crime
  • Jessica Conklin is recognized as a Rising Star in White Collar Crime
  • Darshana Indira is recognized as a Rising Star in Employment & Labor

Each year, no more than five percent of the lawyers in the state are selected by the research team at Super Lawyers to receive this honor. Super Lawyers, part of Thomson Reuters, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The annual selections are made using a patented multiphase process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates and peer reviews by practice area. The result is a credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of exceptional attorneys. The Super Lawyers lists are published nationwide in Super Lawyers Magazines and in leading city and regional magazines and newspapers across the country.

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

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.

The Business of Litigation Session Orders the Return of an Inadvertently Disclosed Draft Letter

Marc Laredo and Matthew Kane co-authored a Boston Bar Journal article published by the Boston Bar Association.  Entitled: “The Business Litigation Session Orders the Return of an Inadvertently Disclosed Draft Letter,” it discusses the recent ruling regarding what happens when an attorney inadvertently discloses a privileged document to the opposing side. Read the full article. 

 

Laredo & Smith Attorneys Named to Annual Super Lawyers Listing in Massachusetts

Laredo & Smith is pleased to announce that many of the firm’s attorneys are named to Super Lawyers for 2021. Marc Laredo, Mark Smith, Matt Kane, Payal Salsburg, Jessica Conklin and Brendan Cox are all named to the 2021 Super Lawyers list in the following categories:

  • Marc Laredo is recognized for Business Litigation and Closely-Held Business
  • Mark Smith is recognized for Business Litigation and Criminal Defense: White Collar Crime
  • Matt Kane is recognized for Business Litigation, Banking, Appellate and General Litigation
  • Payal Salsburg is recognized for Business Litigation and Criminal Defense: White Collar
  • Jessica Conklin in recognized for White Collar Crime, Schools and Education and Business Litigation

Each year, no more than five percent of the lawyers in the state are selected by the research team at Super Lawyers to receive this honor. Super Lawyers, part of Thomson Reuters, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The annual selections are made using a patented multiphase process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates and peer reviews by practice area. The result is a credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of exceptional attorneys. The Super Lawyers lists are published nationwide in Super Lawyers Magazines and in leading city and regional magazines and newspapers across the country.