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

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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.

Navigating Joint Employer Liability in Massachusetts

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The Massachusetts Appeals Court recently affirmed that a management company providing comprehensive services to a car dealership qualifies as a “joint employer,” subject to potential liability for Wage Act violations. This ruling in Tran v. Jennings Road Management Corp., et al. sets a significant precedent for how joint employer status is determined under Massachusetts law.

Summer 2024 Newsletter

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

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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.

Payal Salsburg Awarded Outstanding Faculty Recognition

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Payal Salsburg is recognized with an Outstanding Faculty Award by the National Business Institute.  NBI provides continuing legal education that empowers lawyers and staff with practical legal knowledge and skills necessary to succeed. Payal is selected for her quantity and quality of speaking engagements, including course evaluations from participants.

 

Payal Salsburg Moderates Panel for Well-Being Week in Law

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Payal Salsburg is moderating a program entitled, “Realizing Your True Potential: An Evening with The Performance Whisperer, George Mumford, and Local Attorneys” on May 9, 2024. Following the keynote address, Payal will moderate a panel discussion among lawyers and lawyer-athletes, including Stacey Best, Amanda Rowan, Kelly Cooke, Tasha Marshall, Wendy Tamis Robbins, and Geoffrey Spofford.

The Standing Committee on Lawyer Well-Being joins the Institute for Well-Being in Law to celebrate Well-Being Week in Law, May 6-10, as part of Mental Health Awareness Month in May.

This program features George Mumford, a.k.a. The Performance Whisperer, a globally recognized speaker, teacher, person in long-term recovery, and pioneer in sports psychology and performance. George shares strategies that utilize mindfulness, self-regulation, and self-awareness for those who work in high stress environments, including the practice of law. George will help participants to understand how unlocking these strategies can impact performance and happiness in the profession.

Darshana Indira Moderates BBA Panel on Balancing Personal Health with a Law Practice

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Darshana Indira is moderating a May 7, 2024 panel discussion at the Boston Bar Association entitled, “Balancing Acts: Personal Health and Parenthood in Practice.”

In this program, four accomplished attorneys will share personal journeys and strategies for balancing demanding legal careers amidst significant life challenges. Panelists will discuss managing their professional responsibilities while overcoming personal health obstacles, in addition to sharing candid reflections on their journeys through family planning, providing invaluable insights, and how to maintain personal health and parenthood with their legal careers.

Darshana Indira Presents at University of Massachusetts Law Program

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Darshana Indira was a panelist for an April 2024 University of Massachusetts Law program entitled, “Bias, Barriers, and Belonging: An Evening With Attorneys in Practice.” The panel discussion covered bias in practice, navigating barriers in the profession, creating space to diversify the profession, and why DEI is imperative for all law schools.

Payal Salsburg Presents at BBA’s Women Of Color Attorneys Leadership Forum Roundtable Discussion

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Payal Salsburg facilitates discussion at the BBA’s Women of Color Attorneys Leadership Forum at a program entitled, “Setting Boundaries as Legal Professionals at Work and at Home: Preserving our Mental Health while Advancing our Goals.”

The Forum holds monthly informal roundtable discussions about issues impacting the careers and professional development for women attorneys of color.

As legal professionals, women often struggle to balance the desire to be reliable colleagues, leaders in the field, and valuable team players with the responsibilities of taking care of themselves and their loved ones. In this roundtable, hear from legal professionals who employ boundaries to achieve a healthier work-life balance while advancing their professional and personal goals. Come explore ideas for success in a group discussion setting.

Jessica Conklin Presents Title IX Program

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Jessica Conklin presents as a panelist for a March MCLE New England program entitled “Emerging Issues in Title IX Compliance, Investigations and Litigation.”  Jessica and her fellow presenters share insights on the many facets of sexual misconduct cases on campus. The program will cover assisting colleges and universities in developing and executing campus policies and processes, gathering evidence and preparing for an investigator interview, investigating claims of sexual misconduct in a fair and impartial manner, navigating the “live hearing” and other technical requirements of the regulations, and responding to charges filed with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR). The panel also addresses the latest court opinions addressing legal challenges to student disciplinary proceedings. If your practice involves any Title IX issue or question, this is one seminar you should not miss.

 

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

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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