Laredo, Smith & Kane Attorney Jessica Conklin Completes Title IX Certification from ATIXA

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Laredo, Smith & Kane attorney Jessica Conklin earned a new certification in Title IX Decision Making for Higher Education (2024 Regulations) through the Association of Title IX Administrators (ATIXA). Conklin has previously completed her certifications in Investigation Report Writing (2023) and Title IX Hearing Advisor (2022). By earning these certifications, Conklin is able to expand her professional skill set as a knowledgeable, credible professional in the evolving field of Title IX compliance and dispute resolution.

Conklin concentrates her practice in white collar criminal defense, government investigations, and school disciplinary hearings. With over a decade of experience, she counsels clients on litigation matters ranging from healthcare compliance and audits to government investigations. She also serves as an advisor for students and their families who attend several local secondary schools, colleges and universities in connection with disciplinary proceedings and Title IX investigations.

ATIXA is the nation’s leading membership organization for Title IX professionals. ATIXA offers in-person, virtual, and eTraining options by top practitioners and regularly updates all courses, workshops, and seminars to reflect evolving regulatory guidance and case law.

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’s Payal Salsburg Appointed to Supreme Judicial Court’s Standing Committee on Lawyer Well-Being

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Laredo, Smith & Kane announces that Partner Payal Salsburg has been appointed to serve on the Supreme Judicial Court’s (SJC) Standing Committee on Lawyer Well-Being for the second year of her three-year term. Her three-year term began on January 1, 2024.

Established in January 2020, the Massachusetts SJC Standing Committee on Lawyer Well-Being is charged with planning and overseeing efforts to enhance the well-being of lawyers, judges, and law students in the Commonwealth.

“Studies continue to show that the legal profession is falling short when it comes to lawyer well-being,” said Salsburg. “I’m honored to be a part of this committee at this critical time  to help bring awareness to the causes of lawyer stress and the advance initiatives that create  a  work/life balance for the current and next generation of lawyers.”

Salsburg is a member of the firm’s management team. As a business and litigation attorney, 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 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 Elevates Two Attorneys

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Laredo, Smith & Kane announces the elevation of Brendan S. Cox to Partner and Darshana Indira to Senior Counsel, effective Jan. 1, 2025.

“Congratulations to Brendan and Darshana,” said Matthew A. Kane, Managing Partner, Laredo, Smith & Kane. “Brendan is an exceptional litigator and criminal defense attorney, and Darshana is a talented employment and business lawyer. These well-deserved elevations reflect their hard work, dedication, and the trust they’ve earned from both clients and colleagues. We look forward to celebrating their continued achievements in the new roles.”

Cox is an experienced litigator and criminal defense attorney. A versatile advocate, he counsels businesses and individuals to build strong cases that provide maximum protection and minimize serious risks. He has extensive experience managing trial court matters for complex civil and criminal cases, as well as advising companies of all sizes on business litigation matters. Cox’s criminal defense experience includes litigating all aspects of the criminal process, from probable cause hearings and arraignments through complex evidentiary motions and trial. He represents clients on a wide range of matters, including minor misdemeanors through serious, life-changing felonies. In addition to managing a full caseload of trial court matters, Cox also serves as a business advisor to companies on a range of matters such as employment agreements, business law, contracts, and intellectual property concerns.

As an accomplished employment and business lawyer, Indira advises company owners, organizational leaders, and C-suite executives across a broad spectrum of employment and commercial litigation matters. With a deep understanding of various industries, including pharmaceuticals, biotech, healthcare, and retail, her expertise spans both transactional and litigation work. In her employment practice, Indira provides strategic counsel to businesses on the complexities of employer-employee relationships. She assists management and senior executives in navigating executive compensation, employment agreements, non-compete clauses, and severance negotiations.

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’s Matthew A. Kane Named a 2024 Massachusetts ‘Go To Business Litigation Lawyer’

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Laredo, Smith & Kane announces that Partner Matthew A. Kane was named a 2024 “Go To Business Litigation Lawyer” by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly. Kane was recognized for his diverse expertise in consumer finance, employment, construction, real estate, and general litigation. Kane and his fellow honorees are featured in the publication’s Dec. 23 edition.

Kane is a current member of the firm’s management team, and the incoming managing partner effective Jan. 1, 2025.  As a business litigation attorney, he focuses on business and commercial law. Representing banks, financial institutions, businesses, and individuals, Kane is a key member of the firm’s business litigation practice. He is 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.

“Go To” Lawyers are nominated by their peers and chosen by a panel from Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly. Honorees are selected for demonstrating in-depth knowledge in their field and deep experience with a record of success, according to the publication.

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’s Darshana Indira Speaks on BBA Panel, “Effective Cross-Cultural Mentoring Relationships”

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Laredo, Smith & Kane Senior Associate Darshana Indira spoke on Boston Bar Association’s (BBA) Dec. 11 panel, Effective Cross-Cultural Mentoring Relationships. The panel covered the importance of building strong relationships with mentors for new lawyers and the challenges many face when senior colleagues may not share their cultural backgrounds or beliefs. Panelists discussed strategies for mentees, mentors, and organizations to navigate and nurture cross-cultural mentoring relationships.

As an accomplished employment and business lawyer, Indira advises company owners, organizational leaders, and C-suite executives across a broad spectrum of employment and commercial litigation matters. With a deep understanding of various industries, including pharmaceuticals, biotech, healthcare, and retail, her expertise spans both transactional and litigation work. In her employment practice, Indira provides strategic counsel to businesses on the complexities of employer-employee relationships. She assists management and senior executives in navigating executive compensation, employment agreements, non-compete clauses, and severance negotiations.

The mission of the BBA is to advance the highest standards of excellence for the legal profession, facilitate access to justice, foster a diverse and inclusive professional community, and serve the community at large. The well-being of the Commonwealth’s lawyers is critical to meeting the aims of this mission. As a catalyst for change, the Well-Being Advisory Committee supports the well-being of lawyers through member programs and events.

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 Serve as Faculty for MCLE’s 10th Annual Appellate Practice Conference

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Laredo, Smith & Kane attorneys Matthew A. Kane and  Payal Salsburgserved as faculty for  Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education’s (MCLE) 10th Annual Appellate Practice Conference. Kane spoke about a number of issues peculiar in civil matters. Salsburg was conference co-chair and spoke to the newest appellate judges in Massachusetts about their backgrounds and advice for practitioners appearing before them. The in-person conference took place on Dec. 5, and included a live webcast option.

The Appellate Practice Conference covered developments in criminal and civil law, new judges, new clerks of court, and more. The newest appellate judges in Massachusetts provided an overview of their backgrounds and advice for practitioners appearing before them. State and federal appellate court clerks discussed recent developments in each court’s procedures and offered practical tips for litigants.

Kane is a member of Laredo, Smith & Kane’s management team, and is the incoming managing partner effective Jan. 1, 2025.  As a business litigation attorney, he focuses on business and commercial law. Representing banks, financial institutions, businesses, and individuals, Kane is a key member of the firm’s business litigation practice. He 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.

Salsburg is a member of the firm’s management team. As a business and litigation attorney, 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 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.

MCLE is a non-profit corporation that aims to raise the caliber of lawyers’ professional and ethical service to their clients and communities by providing comprehensive and practical continuing legal education of the highest quality to the broadest possible audience.

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.

Darshana Indira Featured in DEI Spotlight

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The Massachusetts Bar Association’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee highlights diverse attorneys within the legal community to recognize achievements and contributions. In honor of Diwali, a Hindu festival and national holiday across India, the DEIC proudly highlighted our very own, Darshana Indira!

To Infinity and Beyond: When a Business Contract is Incomplete

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Parties who decide to do business with each other must be very careful to ensure that the agreement between them contains all the important terms, especially the duration of the contract over which the parties expect to be in business with each other. A recent case from the Massachusetts Appeals Court confirms that in situations where a contract does not have an express duration term, the parties’ intent and circumstances dictate the reasonable duration of the contract, and one party cannot terminate the contract at-will.

Fall 2024 Newsletter

Laredo, Smith & Kane’s Payal Salsburg Spoke on MCLE’s Live Webcast, “Federal Court Civil Practice 2024”

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Laredo, Smith & Kane attorney Payal Salsburg spoke on Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education’s (MCLE) Nov. 14th webcast, Federal Court Civil Practice 2024: Demystifying Litigation in Federal Court. The program covered the basics of taking a case from its inception to trial in federal court and the considerations at play in deciding to bring an action in federal court. The challenges faced at the outset of litigation were also discussed, including preliminary injunctions and temporary restraining orders, the handling of discovery, dispositive motions, alternative dispute resolution, and trial.

Salsburg is a member of Laredo, Smith & Kane’s management team. As a business and litigation attorney, she focuses her practice in the areas of business litigation, corporate advice and counsel, and white-collar criminal defense. Salsburg represents corporations, small businesses, and individuals in contract and business disputes, False Claims Act matters, State Ethics Commission inquiries, and government and internal investigations. She also advises closely held businesses on corporate and employment matters. Prior to joining the firm, 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).

MCLE is a non-profit corporation that aims to raise the caliber of lawyers’ professional and ethical service to their clients and communities by providing comprehensive and practical continuing legal education of the highest quality to the broadest possible audience.

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.

Four Laredo, Smith & Kane Attorneys Recognized by Boston Magazine as 2024 “Top Lawyers”

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Laredo, Smith & Kane announces that four of its attorneys were selected by Boston Magazine for inclusion in the 2024 Top Lawyers list. The exclusive list honors the best attorneys in the region, from corporate to family law.

The four Laredo, Smith & Kane attorneys named to the list include:

●     Marc C. Laredo: Business Law

●     Payal Salsburg: Commercial Litigation

●     Jessica L. Conklin: Criminal Defense/White Collar

●     Darshana Indira: Labor and Employment

Boston Magazine’s annual Top Lawyers list is compiled through peer nominations. Attorneys are invited to nominate up to three of their peers in a select number of law specialties. Top vote-getters in each specialty are reviewed by an advisory board of select lawyers, chosen for their credentials and the high number of votes they received.

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.