Laredo & Smith Named to 2021 Edition of U.S. News Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms”

/in , , , , , /by

Laredo & Smith is thrilled to be named to the 2021 Edition of U.S. News– Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” in the Metropolitan Tier 2 Boston for Commercial Litigation. The annual list recognizes professional excellence with consistently high ratings from clients and peers. The firm is also pleased to have 3 attorneys recognized as Best Lawyers this year: Marc Laredo, Mark Smith and Matt Kane.

From proactive prevention of problems to tenacious representation in court when needed, Laredo & Smith attorneys are known for obtaining excellent results for clients. At Laredo & Smith, our attorneys are proactive problem solvers. We work hard to reduce legal risk and get involved quickly to minimize damage and find legal solutions. And, when negotiations are not reasonable or appropriate, our attorneys are strategic and tenacious in court to obtain the best possible result.

ABOUT “BEST LAW FIRMS”

The U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process that includes the collection of client and lawyer evaluations, peer review from leading attorneys in the field, and review of additional information provided by law firms as part of the formal submission process. To be eligible for a 2021 ranking, a law firm must have at least one lawyer recognized in the 26th Edition of The Best Lawyers in America list for that particular location and specialty.

ABOUT U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT U.S.

News & World Report is the global leader in quality rankings that empower people to make better, more informed decisions about important issues affecting their lives. A digital news and information company focused on Education, Health, Money, Travel, Cars and Civic, USNews.com provides consumer advice, rankings and analysis to serve people making complex decisions throughout all stages of life. More than 40 million people visit USNews.com each month for research and guidance. Founded in 1933, U.S. News is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

ABOUT BEST LAWYERS

Best Lawyers is the oldest and most respected lawyer ranking service in the world. For almost 40 years, Best Lawyers has assisted those in need of legal services to identify the lawyers best qualified to represent them in distant jurisdictions or unfamiliar specialties. Best Lawyers rankings are published in leading local, regional, and national publications across the globe.

Payal Salsburg and Matt Kane Present for BBA Webinar on Zoom Litigation

/in , , /by

Payal Salsburg moderates and Matt Kane presents as a panelist for a first-of-its-kind webinar on Zoom litigation. Five months into the COVID-19 pandemic, litigation-by-Zoom has become a reality. This panel includes a Superior Court judge and lawyers who have litigated-by-Zoom at hearings, appellate arguments, and trials. The panel will hold a frank discussion about what’s working and what’s not and share their best practices. The webinar is scheduled for Wednesday, September 30th from 2-3pm through the Boston Bar Association and sponsored through the Business and Commercial Litigation section.

Laredo & Smith Lawyers Named to 2021 Best Lawyers In America

/in , , , /by

Three of Laredo & Smith’s partners are selected by their peers for inclusion in the 2021 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©.

Matt Kane is selected for his work in Commercial Litigation again this year. Matt has been named annually since 2017, a true testament to his work in this area. 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 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 Commercial Litigation. 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.

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 94,000 industry leading lawyers are eligible to vote (from around the world), and we have received over 11 million evaluations on the legal abilities of other lawyers based on their specific practice areas around the world.

Small Business Alert: Congress Clears Major Hurdle and Senate Reaches Agreement on Principle Terms of S.3548, “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.” Phase 3.

/in , , , /by

At 1:00 a.m this morning, Senate leader McConnell announced an agreement in the Senate on the principle terms of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or “CARES” Act, S.3548, subject to minor and technical revisions. A vote in the Senate is expected soon. Much of the relief proposed in the bill would be accomplished through amendments to the tax code, so we urge our clients to consult early and often with their tax professionals.

The Senate bill could affect small businesses in a number of ways.

  1. The bill would expand lending to small business through the SBA and participating lenders. The bill would make “small business interruption loans” available to employers with fewer than 500 employees. Loan payments would be deferred for up to one year, and loan amounts used for “maintaining payroll continuity” March 2020 and June 2020 would be eligible for forgiveness. The amount of loan forgiveness would be reduced pro rata, however, for reductions in workforce.
  2. The bill would provide payments to individuals, including small business owners, in the nature of refundable tax credits. The bill would provide up to $1200 for individuals ($2400 for couples filing jointly). The credit would be reduced by 5% of adjusted gross income in excess of $75,000 ($150,000 for joint returns), but would not be less than $0. And additional $500 credit would be provided per taxpayer dependent.
  3. The bill would provide cheaper access to qualified retirement funds. The bill would eliminate the 10% tax penalty on early withdrawals from qualified retirement plans for coronavirus related distributions, up to a maximum withdrawal of $100,000. If withdrawals are repaid within three years, then the early distribution would be treated as a rollover (i.e., a direct transfer to a trustee) for purposes of capital gains taxes.
  4. The bill could permit certain employers to defer payment of payroll taxes due in 2020 for up to two years.
  5. The bill places some limitations on the recent coronavirus related amendments to Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act, which was passed as part of Congress’s Phase 2 response. If enacted, the bill would cap an employers’ obligation to pay for coronavirus-related sick leave at $511 per day and $5,110 in the aggregate per employee for that employee’s government or doctor ordered self-quarantine or self-care and at $200 per day and $2,000 in the aggregate per employee for that employee’s absence to care for others as a result of coronavirus or coronavirus related school closures.

Laredo & Smith’s Matt Kane is closely monitoring any additional changes and will keep you informed of emerging items that could impact you and your business. Please do not hesitate to to reach out to any Laredo & Smith attorney with questions or concerns about your small business. We are here to help.

Two Laredo & Smith Partners Appointed Hearing Officers for the Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers

/in , , /by

Matthew Kane and Payal Salsburg have each been appointed to three-year terms as hearing officers for the Board of Bar Overseers. Both attorneys will act as uncompensated volunteers on behalf of the Board of Bar Overseers, an independent administrative body established by the Supreme Judicial Court to investigate and evaluate complaints against attorneys in Massachusetts. 

In their roles, Matthew and Payal will participate in fact-finding tribunals for disciplinary proceedings brought against individual attorneys by the Office of Bar Counsel. They will hear testimony, take evidence, make adjudicatory rulings, and with the assistance of a Board attorney, prepare written reports and recommendations of action for the Board of Bar Overseers.

Their colleagues at Laredo and Smith are pleased to have both partners selected for this important position. Marc Laredo comments: “Payal and Matthew are very dedicated individuals and they will be excellent in these roles. I speak on behalf of all of us at the firm that we are proud to see them devote their time to public service, preserving the integrity of our very profession in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.”

Matthew Kane 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 has considerable experience in consumer financial services litigation, including mortgage and title litigation, civil check fraud, and fair debt collection matters.

Payal 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 connection with an array of matters including contract and business disputes, False Claims Act litigation, and government and internal investigations. She also routinely advises closely-held businesses on corporate and employment matters.

Super Lawyers Recognizes Laredo & Smith Attorneys

/in , , , , , /by

Laredo & Smith is pleased to announce that many of the firm’s attorneys are named to Super Lawyers for 2019. Marc Laredo, Mark Smith, Matt Kane, Payal Salsburg, and Jessica Conklin are all named to the 2019 Super Lawyers list in the following categories:

Super Lawyers is a rating service for lawyers from more than 70 practice areas. To be included in the list, attorneys must attain a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The selection process includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations. Rising Stars are selected using the same criteria as Super Lawyers, but each attorney must be either 40 years old or younger, or in practice for 10 years or less. This recognition is awarded to no more than 5% of lawyers in the state.

Attorney Matt Kane Recognized by 2020 Best Lawyers®

/in , , , /by

Matt Kane is selected by his peers for inclusion in the 2020 edition of The Best Lawyers in America© for his work in Commercial Litigation. Matt has been named annually since 2017, a true testament to his work in this area.

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.

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 94,000 industry leading lawyers are eligible to vote (from around the world), and we have received over 11 million evaluations on the legal abilities of other lawyers based on their specific practice areas around the world.

For the 2020 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©, 8.3 million votes were analyzed, which resulted in more than 62,000 leading lawyers being included in the new edition. Lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be listed; therefore inclusion in Best Lawyers is considered a singular honor. Corporate Counsel magazine has called Best Lawyers “the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice.”

Matt Kane Named to Best Lawyers Again in 2019

/in , , , /by

Matt Kane was selected by his peers for inclusion in the 2019 edition of The Best Lawyers in America© for his work in Commercial Litigation. Matthew has been named annually since 2017.

Matthew 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.

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. 87,000 industry leading attorneys are eligible to vote (from around the world), and we have received almost 10 million evaluations on the legal abilities of other lawyers based on their specific practice areas around the world. Inclusion in Best Lawyers is considered a singular honor and Corporate Counsel magazine has called Best Lawyers “the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice.”

Matt Kane Selected to Best Lawyers List for Commercial Litigation

/in , , , /by

Matthew Kane was selected by his peers for inclusion in the 25th edition of The Best Lawyers in America© for his work in Commercial Litigation.

Matthew 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.

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. 83,000 industry leading attorneys are eligible to vote (from around the world), and we have received almost 10 million evaluations on the legal abilities of other lawyers based on their specific practice areas around the world. Inclusion in Best Lawyers is considered a singular honor and Corporate Counsel magazine has called Best Lawyers “the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice.”

Five Laredo & Smith Attorneys Named to Super Lawyers

/in , , , , /by

Laredo & Smith is pleased to announce that five of the firm’s attorneys were named Super Lawyers in 2017! Marc Laredo, Mark Smith, Matt Kane, Eric Sigman and Payal Salsburg have all been named to the 2017  Super Lawyers list. They were named in the following categories:

Super Lawyers is a rating service for lawyers from more than 70 practice areas. To be included in the list, attorneys must attain a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The selection process includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations. Rising Stars are selected using the same criteria as Super Lawyers, but each attorney must be either 40 years old or younger, or in practice for 10 years or less. This recognition is awarded to no more than 5% of lawyers in the state.