Contact Us
Posternak Blankstein & Lund LLP
Disclaimer
The materials on the Posternak Blankstein & Lund LLP site are provided for informational purposes only. They do not constitute legal advice, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the firm or any of its attorneys or clients. Neither this site, nor your use of this site, is intended to create, and does not create, an attorney-client relationship, and you should not act or rely on any information within this site without seeking the advice of an attorney.
Firm Profile
Your law firm should be the perfect match for your business. When it is, opportunities open up, obstacles are overcome and deals fall into place.
Opportunities
Posternak Blankstein & Lund LLP welcomes inquiries and resumes from qualified individuals from senior level attorneys to paralegals and support staff. Our collegial atmosphere generates top quality thinking, writing and advocacy for our clients. We generally hire individuals with at least two years of experience in their chosen area of law. We are an equal opportunity employer and encourage diversity in our practice groups.
Certification Of Second Quarter Form 10-Q
Recent media coverage has focused on the SEC?s June 27, 2002 order that the CEOs and CFOs of approximately 1,000 large public companies certify the accuracy and completeness of their 2002 SEC reports. However, a less-publicized but much broader requirement is buried in the sweeping corporate reform legislation that President Bush signed into law on July 30, 2002. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which was rushed through Congress without the care that usually accompanies SEC rulemaking, extends two separate certification requirements to all public companies.
Dealing with Insurance Exclusions in Response to Terrorism
Read Jo-Ann M. Marzullo's award-winning article Dealing with Insurance Exclusions in Response to Terrorism, named Best Cutting Edge Article by ABA's Probate & Property.
Doing Business in Massachusetts? Get Ready for Changes in the Law
New Massachusetts Business Corporation Act
Employee Offer Letters
Our parents? dream was to have one job for life and then collect a pension for retirement. How times have changed. Today the prospective employee targets the ?pre-IPO? employer and hopes to remain for the public offering, or until the employee?s stock options vest and stock restrictions lapse. Perhaps we have not quite gotten to where everyone has fifteen minutes of fame; but it seems that we are moving to a job market of the fifteen minute employee. As the cycle of hiring and termination compresses, the frequency with which employers either hire or attempt to hire prospective employees has greatly multiplied. This raises new and ever more complex challenges for human resources professionals.
Employment News: The New Overtime Rules Go Into Effect
Excluding Officers and Directors From Workers' Comp Promises Savings in Insurance Premiums
Gay Marriage: What Employers Need to Know
Hear From Our Clients
Click here
Insider Trading Education and Prevention for Employees
MCAD Publishes Guidelines Interpreting the Massachusetts Maternity Leave Act
The Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (?MCAD?), the administrative agency responsible for presiding over claims of discrimination, has recently published Guidelines (the ?Guidelines?) interpreting the Massachusetts Maternity Leave Act (the ?MMLA?).
Need A Really High Tech Platform For Your Business?
Check out Rosanna Sattler's comprehensive update on the opportunities and hurdles for commercial activities aboard the International Space Station.
New SEC Fair Disclosure Regulation
The Securities and Exchange Commission?s new rule called Regulation FD, for ?Fair Disclosure?, takes effect on October 23, 2000. This rule prohibits senior officials of public companies from disclosing material information to market professionals and institutional security holders before informing the general public, a process known as ?selective disclosure?.
Our Own Massachusetts Super Lawyers
We're proud to annnounce that 14 Posternak attorneys have been named Massachusetts Super Lawyers.
Our Own Russ Dunning Talks About Relocation Clauses in Commercial Leases
Payment of Deferred Wages Does Not Shield Employer From Additional Liability
Read our employment Client Advisory to learn why deferred wages could cost you.
Posternak counsels in the 'Wild Blue' world of VC
Posternak Welcomes 6 New Attorneys
James P. Hawkins
Practical Suggestions On The New Superfund Amendments
This client advisory is intended to provide practical suggestions for complying with new Federal legislation, The Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act (?the Act?). The advisory offers general information about the steps required to protect against environmental liability under the new statute, explains key exemptions, and discusses anticipated Federal funding for cleanup and redevelopment of ?brownfields? sites. The new statute amends CERCLA (or, as it is more popularly known, ?Superfund?), 42 U.S.C. ? 9601 et seq., and creates and/or codifies certain exemptions to liability for parties buying or selling contaminated or potentially contaminated property. These liability exemptions have major implications for businesses involved in these types of transactions; however, in order to take advantage of the exemptions, there are specific procedures that must be followed, as discussed below.
Pre-IPO Allocations of Friends and Family Shares
Over the past year, the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, in both public and private statements, has shown increasing concern over perceived abuses in the process of allocating the so-called ?friends and family? or ?directed shares? pools in initial public offerings. While the SEC?s initial concerns related primarily to pressure on company employees, family members and vendors to commit to purchase IPO shares before receiving a prospectus, over the past several months their attention has turned to the allocation of friends and family shares to venture capital investors.
Professional Liability Insurance Issues
Protecting Your Rights With The New ?.biz? And ?.info? Top-Level Domain Names
For some investors these days, ".com" may be an unspeakably dirty word, but for any business advertising or conducting some other aspect of commerce via the Internet, this top-level domain (?TLD?) is likely synonymous with some of its most vital commercial operations. Last month, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (better known as ICANN) announced agreements with two registry operators, NeuLevel and Afilias, for two new TLDs, ".biz" and ".info". We believe these TLDs may become as ubiquitous as ".com". Indeed, ?.biz? was created in response to the overcrowding of the ".com" domain, which had originally been created for commercial use. The ".biz" domain name will be limited solely to business uses; consequently, applicants will be required to certify to NeuLevel that:
Rights of Non-Unionized Employees at Disciplinary Interviews Significantly Expanded
The National Labor Relations Board (the ?Board?), the agency responsible for enforcing the federal laws, recently issued a decision expanding the right of representation during disciplinary meetings to non-unionized employees. In 1975, based on provisions in the federal National Labor Relations Act (?NLRA?), the United States Supreme Court accepted what has now become known as the Weingarten right (named after the Supreme Court case) of a unionized non-supervisory employee to have union representation during a disciplinary interview with an employer. The Board?s action is a meaningful departure from past interpretations of the federal labor laws, and one that will have major implications for non-unionized employees.
Sarbanes-Oxley and the SEC's Proposed Attorney Conduct Rules
On November 5, 2002, my colleague, Mike Andresino, and I made a presentation to the Corporate Counsel Committee of the Boston Bar Association and led a discussion on the new criminal and attorney conduct provisions contained in the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. We examined the variety of new federal offenses created by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, but the bulk of the discussion revolved around our second topic: Section 307 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Section 307 requires attorneys who appear or practice before the SEC to report ?evidence? of a ?material violation? of securities law or breach of a fiduciary duty to the company?s CEO or chief legal officer (?CLO?). Section 307 requires the SEC to adopt final rules by January 26, 2003 in order to implement this provision of the Act. On November 21, 2002, the SEC released a proposed rule for comments that aims to implement the SEC?s mandate under Section 307.
SEC To Propose Accelerated Corporate Disclosure Rules
Two days ago, in a major announcement, the Securities and Exchange Commission said that it intends to propose a number of changes in the corporate disclosure rules as the first in a series of steps designed to improve the financial reporting and disclosure system. Given the nature of the regulatory process, the effective date of any of these changes may be as much as a year away. However, it is clear that the new SEC Chairman, Harvey Pitt, is intent on bringing corporate disclosure into the Internet age.
Securities Advisory: Most Private Equity Funds Exempt from New Hedge Fund Regulation
On July 20, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the ?SEC?) published for comment a proposed new rule (the ?Rule?) that would require an adviser of a ?private fund? to register with the SEC under the Investment Advisers Act if such adviser had 15 or more clients. The Rule is intended to impose some regulatory oversight on the burgeoning hedge fund industry. A ?private fund? is defined as one that: (i) would constitute an investment company but for the exemptions under Sections 3(c)(1) or 3(c)(7) of the Investment Company Act, (ii) permits an investor in the fund to redeem such investor?s interest in the fund within two (2) years of purchase, and (iii) is offered based on the investment advisory skills, ability or expertise of the investment adviser.
Securities Regulation Update
As we often do in the fall, we have participated in a number of conferences involving members of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The SEC uses these opportunities to explain its current priorities and upcoming initiatives. Following are a few of the take-aways from this year?s conferences:
September 11 Disclosure: The Y2K That Never Was?
The tragic events of September 11, 2001 and their aftermath have had a measurable financial impact on the American economy, and the shock waves felt over these last few weeks will continue to ripple through the economy for months or even years to come.
Setting Executive Compensation
Hear Michael L. Andresino speak on Executive Compensation.
Tenants Get a New Weapon in Massachusetts Commercial Leases
The Accumulation of Orbital Debris Law
The New Corporate Reform Legislation: An Executive Summary For Public Company Directors, Officers and Advisors
On July 30, 2002, President Bush signed into law the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, a sweeping public company and accounting reform measure. Whatever else can be said, one point is incontestable: it is the most significant piece of securities legislation since passage of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Hurriedly passed by Congress and enacted by the President in the wake of public outcry over the well-publicized corporate and accounting scandals involving companies like Enron and WorldCom, the Act will change ?business as usual? for all public companies in the United States.
The New Section 16: An Action Plan for Next Week's Two-Day Reporting Requirement
As we have previously advised, on July 30, 2002, President Bush signed the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, a sweeping public company and accounting reform measure. Among its other far-reaching provisions, Section 403 of the Act completely rewrites Section 16(a) of the ?34 Act, the insider reporting rule. The Act directs the SEC to implement rules effective as of next Thursday, August 29, 2002, that require insiders to report changes in their beneficial ownership of company stock in near-real time.
US Commercial Activities Aboard the International Space Station
US Supreme Court Broadens Reach of Age Discrimination Law
What's New at Posternak
Posternak recently assisted its client The Holmes Group, Inc. in completing a refinancing of its outstanding credit facilities and a tender offer for its approximately $100 Million in its outstanding 9-7/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due in 2007. The Holmes Group, Inc., a fully integrated consumer products company, obtained a new senior credit facility comprised of $340 million of Senior Secured First Lien Debt and an $85 million Senior Secured Second Lien Term Loan. Holmes's existing bank credit facility was completely repaid with the proceeds from the new financing, which also provided sufficient funds to
What's New at Posternak
We recently closed a $60M stock sale of Diversified Optical Products, Inc. (DiOP) to Axsys Technologies. Our client, DiOP, is a leading supplier of high-end thermal surveillance cameras and lenses servicing the U.S. Border patrol, Air Force, CoastGuard and various Port Authorities. The Posternak team involved in this sophisticated transaction includes Donald H. Siegel , Brian R. Marinelli and Matthew Sherrill. Our team worked closely with DiOP's investment bankers Houlihan, Lokey, Howard & Zukin in this auction sale process.
Banking & Commercial Lending
Posternak has an active banking and commercial lending practice, representing banks and other institutional lenders in a broad range of financing transactions, documenting both secured and unsecured credit facilities, agency and participation arrangements and providing advice to bank officers in structuring new loans and restructuring troubled loans. We also represent our corporate clients in a variety of borrowing transactions, involving single and multiple lender relationships, secured and unsecured facilities, ESOP transactions and equipment lease financing.
Bankruptcy & Reorganization
The firm maintains a diverse and sophisticated bankruptcy and workout practice. On the workout side, the firm has considerable experience in the representation of both lenders and borrowers in all phases of the negotiation and resolution of troubled loans, in and outside of bankruptcy.
Business Counseling
Our corporate attorneys act as outside general counsel for many of our business clients, including clients with in-house legal capability. We advise our clients on the diverse issues that arise as a result of doing business in today?s competitive, litigious and highly regulated business environment. Most of our corporate clients treat their Posternak attorney as a trusted member of the senior management team, seeking advice on the broad range of contract, conflict resolution, employment, intellectual property and other matters that arise on a daily basis. In order to provide the best service to our clients, we learn as much as we can about the people and operations that make their business unique ?then apply this knowledge to our ongoing representation. We view our clients? questions as business questions, and apply our judgment and business acumen, as well as our years of legal expertise, to each matter.
Business Litigation
Posternak attorneys regularly and successfully try cases for our business clients in courts, in arbitrations, and before administrative and governmental tribunals. Our business litigation clients range from international corporations to sole proprietors. We litigate disputes relating to contracts, intellectual property rights, real estate and environmental issues, unfair business practices, non-competition covenants, employment relationships, securities transactions, regulatory and non-regulatory health care matters, bankruptcy proceedings, and many other commercial concerns. We are skilled both in prosecuting claims when our clients? rights have been violated and in defending our clients when they have been accused of violating another business?s rights.
Business Planning & Formation
Our Business Practice Group counsels clients in all aspects of business formation and development, drawing on the firm?s tax, employment, intellectual property and real estate practice groups as needed. Working closely with each client, we encourage all parties to think ahead and plan for the future. Our goal is not just to create new business structures but, with careful planning, to structure business arrangements that in the future will avoid unnecessary problems and enhance growth and personal satisfaction. We do this by listening to our clients and developing a clear understanding of their needs and goals.
Employee Benefits
Posternak maintains an active practice in employee benefits law, made up of partners and associates with experience in a wide variety of matters. We advise clients on the tax, ERISA, securities, accounting, and business implications of all types of employee benefits, including qualified retirement plans, non-qualified deferred compensation plans, stock option plans, and fringe benefit plans.
Employment
Members of the Employment Law Group use a proactive approach to guide our clients through the complex maze of employment and labor law issues. Our emphasis is on litigation avoidance and creative problem solving in an efficient, common sense manner.
Environmental
Our team of litigators has a national reputation for representing clients in determining responsibility for the release of hazardous substances, representing parties in proceedings and negotiations before state and federal environmental agencies, negotiating settlements culminating in the issuance of administrative orders and consent decrees for the clean-up of hazardous waste sites, and defending environmental services companies, engineers and consulting firms against malpractice claims.
Export Controls
Posternak?s Export Controls Group specializes in counseling domestic and foreign clients regarding the broad range of United States export control laws. We are capable of handling all export compliance matters, including State Department controls on defense articles, Treasury Department trade embargoes, and Commerce Department controls on exports of commercial and dual-use technologies, goods and services. We assist our clients with jurisdictional determinations, licensing, internal compliance procedures, observing restrictions on the overseas activities of U.S. companies and their foreign subsidiaries, and defending export enforcement investigations. Our focus is always on providing practical and timely solutions to the complex problems and procedures involved in export compliance.
General Liability Defense
Since the firm's founding, Posternak has handled a wide variety of general liability defense matters for business, individual and insurance clients, including personal injury, wrongful death, toxic torts, commercial products, civil rights, lead paint poisoning, consumer protection, construction, negligent supervision, property damage, negligent security, dram shop and landlord-tenant claims. The firm also has successfully handled many of these cases on appeal.
Health Care
Our attorneys assist clients in a number of areas unique to the health care industry, including regulatory matters, third party reimbursement issues, licensure matters, certificates of need and counseling in the avoidance of fraud and abuse.
Insurance Coverage & Bad Faith
Posternak has successfully resolved many complex insurance coverage and bad faith cases since the firm?s founding in 1980. The Insurance Coverage Group is staffed by attorneys who try major coverage cases for insurers and who have extensive experience in providing prompt and comprehensive coverage opinions.
Intellectual Property & Technology
Our attorneys draw up on diverse backgrounds and disciplines to assist clients with all aspects of the protection, ownership, transfer and use of intellectual property and technology. The firm acts as counsel to a wide variety of technology companies as well as more traditional companies such as publishers, manufacturers, advertising agencies and retailers who face intellectual property and technology law issues as part of their business activities.
International Trade
Posternak's International Trade Group offers a full range of legal services to clients engaged in international commerce. The Group focuses on helping clients maximize the benefits of participating in the global marketplace, while avoiding the pitfalls of international trade. As an added benefit to clients, Posternak is the exclusive member firm for Massachusetts of Mackrell International, a leading worldwide association of independent law firms. Mackrell International members are present in more than 75 countries, states and provinces, covering virtually every business market worldwide. Our firm's membership in Mackrell International provides us with the global reach and access to legal resources that enhance our ability to serve our clients' needs around the world.
Litigation
As trial attorneys, we resolve the most contentious problems our clients face, as efficiently as we can. We do so before trial, if possible, or at trial, if necessary. Posternak attorneys enjoy trying cases and regularly litigate a wide range of business disputes, employment issues, professional liability matters, insurance coverage and bad faith cases, and other civil suits. We encourage our clients to take an active role in the resolution of their cases. We believe that our clients ought to be involved in all significant aspects of a case and that a knowledgeable client?s input is critical to a successful outcome.
Mergers & Acquisitions
Posternak?s mergers and acquisitions practice, a key component of the firm?s Business Practice Group, is comprised of knowledgeable and highly regarded corporate, tax and securities lawyers with extensive experience in corporate transactions of every nature. The types of transactions in which we are involved range from modest asset and stock acquisitions and divestitures to multimillion dollar leveraged buy-outs, cross-border mergers, joint ventures, reorganizations, going private transactions and tender offers.
Product Liability Defense
Posternak?s Product Liability Practice Group is focused principally on the defense of product manufacturers, either as self-insureds or through their liability insurers. Posternak has handled a wide variety of product liability claims, including medical devices, pharmaceuticals, industrial machinery, electrical appliances, construction products and automotive equipment. We have represented clients in state and federal courts in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, New Jersey, Iowa, and Rhode Island, and before federal administrative agencies in Washington, DC.
Professional Liability and Errors and Omissions
Since the Firm?s founding, Posternak attorneys have been defense counsel of choice for complex legal malpractice litigation insured under bar association sponsorship. Posternak currently handles a sizable percentage of all legal malpractice claims against Massachusetts attorneys covered under the Massachusetts Bar Association program. Posternak attorneys have argued many of the most significant appellate decisions in Massachusetts in the field of legal malpractice and have been responsible for much of the favorable law that has developed.
Real Estate
The firm maintains a diverse real estate practice that represents clients in all aspects of real estate law, including development, land use and permitting, leasing, project finance, acquisitions and dispositions. We have represented clients in nearly every type of large and small-scale commercial project, including shopping centers and malls, office buildings, and mixed-use urban centers, as well as residential developments and industrial facilities.
Real Estate Development & Operation
The firm?s real estate practice is broadly based, both as to types of matters dealt with and geographical location of properties. We represent clients in all aspects of real estate development and operation, including matters regarding acquisition and disposition of both vacant and developed parcels, permitting, environmental issues, financing, tax planning, leasing for all types of residential, commercial, retail and industrial real estate uses and establishment of entities such as joint ventures and limited liability companies to hold title to and operate the property.
Real Estate Leasing
A significant portion of Posternak?s real estate practice is devoted to representing landlords and tenants in commercial leasing transactions of every kind and description.
Securities
Our Securities practice includes both securities offerings and ongoing compliance with federal and state securities laws.
Space Law
The firm has noteworthy experience in the space industry including having one of its partners act as a Co-Investigator for the Space Frontier Foundation project for NASA, addressing assessment, outreach, and future research of environmental safety factors related to space solar power.
Tax
Posternak tax attorneys provide advice and counsel on a wide range of tax issues relating to the application of the federal income tax laws to individuals, corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies, and other entities, both for-profit and not-for-profit.
Trusts & Estates
Our Trusts & Estates Group is made up of attorneys with many years of experience in a wide range of estate planning and estate and trust administration matters.
Venture Capital & Private Equity
Posternak?s Business Practice Group participates in all aspects of venture capital and other types of private equity transactions, providing companies, investors, and entrepreneurs with a broad range of advice and representation in transactions, including start-up financings, venture capital financings, buyout financings, investment fund formation and institutional investment in funds.
Christina Egan Shvartsman
Associate
Christina Egan Shvartsman is a member of the firm's Real Estate and Business Groups. She practices in all areas of commercial real estate with an emphasis on financing, acquisitions and dispositions, as well as general business matters.
Donald H. Siegel
Partner
Donald H. Siegel is a founding member of the firm and has practiced as a corporate lawyer for over 30 years. He has developed a sophisticated business practice, drawing on his experiences as a Managing Partner and practicing attorney, with a broad understanding of the business and legal issues common to growing businesses.
Nancy J. Puleo
Associate
Nancy J. Puleo is an Associate in the firm's Litigation and Employment Departments. Ms. Puleo represents clients before state and federal courts and agencies, including the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. She is admitted to practice in Massachusetts, Connecticut and the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts.
Brian R. Marinelli
Associate
Brian R. Marinelli is a member of the firm?s Corporate Department. His diverse practice includes mergers and acquisitions, business planning and organization, commercial lending and venture capital financing and general corporate matters.
Ruselle W. Robinson
Of Counsel
Ruselle W. Robinson is a member of the firm?s Health Care and Business Groups. He represents health care service companies, individual health care providers, manufacturers of health care equipment and nursing homes.
Kristine Dimitrova Schreiber
Associate
Kristine Dimitrova Schreiber is a member of the Corporate Department, and is engaged in a general corporate practice, with particular focus on venture capital financings, private placements of debt and equity securities, and venture capital fund formation.
Basilios E. Tsingos
Counsel
Basilios E. (Bill) Tsingos is a member of the firm?s Corporate Department and Securities Practice Group. His practice focuses on the federal securities regulations and corporate law matters confronting private and publicly-traded companies in a wide variety of industries.
Rosanna Sattler
Partner
Rosanna Sattler is a member of the firm?s Litigation Practice. She concentrates her practice in the areas of complex civil litigation, employment law, environmental law, insurance coverage and defense, and space law. Ms. Sattler is Co-Chair of the Employment Law Group and the Environmental Law Group.
Valerie C. Samuels
Partner
Valerie C. Samuels is a partner in the firm and co-chairs the Employment Law Group.
Steven A. Meyer
Partner
Steven A. Meyer is a member of the firm?s Corporate Department. He practices in the areas of business law, taxation and domestic and international estate planning. Mr. Meyer is a commentator on tax issues for the Boston Globe, Business Week and other publications.
David L. Woronov
Partner
David L. Woronov is a member of the firm?s Corporate Department. He practices in the areas of domestic and international business law, corporate and project finance and private equity. Mr. Woronov works very closely as a ?general counsel? with clients, and assists them with all phases of business planning, structuring, development and management.
Robert M. Schlein
Partner
Robert M. Schlein is a partner in the firm?s Real Estate and Environmental Practice Groups, where he concentrates in commercial real estate leasing, real estate financing and use and environmental permitting and compliance matters.
Robert O. Resnick
Of Counsel
Robert O. Resnick is a counselor in the field of bankruptcy. He counsels business clients on all aspects of bankruptcy and has been involved in numerous cases on behalf of secured and unsecured creditors, creditors? committees, Chapter 11 and Chapter 7 trustees, debtors-in-possession, landlords, equipment lessors and property owners. He also assists clients in acquiring assets from bankruptcy estates, restructuring loans and structuring transactions in order to minimize risk in the event of bankruptcy.
Joseph W. Corrigan
Associate
Joseph W. Corrigan is an associate in the firm?s Litigation Department. His practice focuses on business litigation, computer and Internet law and white-collar criminal defense.
Kerry T. Scarlott
Partner
Kerry T. Scarlott is a member of the firm?s Corporate Department. His practice is focused on business law and international trade law, with particular expertise in assisting technology-based companies. Mr. Scarlott serves as general outside counsel to companies and entrepreneurs, providing guidance in connection with entity formation, debt and equity financings and private offerings, mergers and acquisitions, day-to-day commercial contract matters, strategic alliances, private label manufacturing, and intellectual property protection and utilization.
Matthew Sherrill
Associate
Matthew Sherrill is a member of the Corporate Department. His diverse practice includes business planning and organization, venture capital financing, venture capital fund formation, mergers and acquisitions, public company representation and general corporate matters.
Theodore A. Lund
Of Counsel
Theodore Lund is Of Counsel in the firm?s Litigation Department, concentrating on the litigation and trial of complex commercial business disputes, trademark and insurance coverage issues. He represents clients in Federal and state courts, and in arbitration proceedings. Mr. Lund also has experience advising smaller business clients concerning a range of litigation and non-litigation issues that small businesses face.
David M. Saltiel
Partner
David M. Saltiel combines over 40 years of experience as a business lawyer with a concentration in business counseling and commercial real estate leasing, development and financing, franchising, project finance and privatization of governmental services.
Russell K. Dunning
Partner
Russell K. Dunning is a a member of the firm?s Real Estate Department. He has been practicing law in the public and private sectors for 30 years.
Ira J. Deitsch
Partner
Ira J. Deitsch heads the firm?s Tax and Wealth Transfer Groups. His practice concentrates on tax law, estate planning and general business law, with a particular emphasis on tax and estate planning for owners of closely held businesses.
Deborah DiVerdi Carlson
Partner
Deborah DiVerdi Carlson is a partner in the firm?s Corporate Department. Her practice focuses primarily on business counseling and transactional work with extensive experience in the creation of, and strategic venturing by companies and individuals in, corporations and limited liability companies. She also counsels purchasers and sellers in private equity financings, mergers and acquisitions and business dispositions.
James M. Lyle
Partner
James M. Lyle is a partner in the firm?s Real Estate Department. His practice is focused in the areas of general real estate, finance and business law.
Denise Hui
Associate
Denise Hui is an associate in the firm?s Trust and Estates Department. Her practice focuses on estate planning for high net worth individuals and families.
Nicholas J. Nesgos
Partner
Nicholas J. Nesgos is a partner in the firm?s Litigation Department.
Erik Lund
Senior Counsel
Erik Lund is Senior Counsel to the firm?s Litigation Department, which constitutes roughly half the firm. Mr. Lund?s extensive litigation practice spans 40 years. He has been responsible for a wide range of general business and commercial disputes, including cases involving contractual disputes and non-competition covenants, product liability, real estate and environmental matters, intellectual property, employment matters and anti-trust litigation. He has also concentrated in the representation of professionals, including officers and directors, attorneys and accountants.
Jo-Ann M. Marzullo
Partner
Jo-Ann M. Marzullo is a member of the firm?s Real Estate Department. Her practice involves leasing, sales and acquisitions, development, construction and design professional contracts, telecommunication leases, construction loans and permanent loans.
Richard K. Blankstein
Senior Counsel
Richard K. Blankstein, a founding partner, has built a 40-year legal career concentrating in real estate and corporate law.
Lauren Jennings
Managing Partner
Lauren Jennings is the firm?s Managing Partner and a member of the Corporate Practice Group. She is engaged in a general business practice, with particular focus on structuring of strategic relationships, mergers and acquisitions, entity formation and planning, and contracts, including both transactional and ongoing company representation.
Kathryn Groothuis Graber
Associate
Kathryn Groothuis Graber is a member of the firm?s Real Estate and Business Departments. Her practice concentrates in general commercial real estate matters, including commercial real estate financings for both lenders and borrowers, retail and commercial leasing (representing both landlords and tenants), acquisitions and dispositions, as well as general business matters.
Donald M. Bloch
Of Counsel
Donald Bloch joined the firm?s Real Estate and Business Practice Groups in 2001, following 35 years of practice at Boston?s Lane Altman & Owens LLP.
Gary W. Smith
Partner
Gary Smith is a member of the firm?s Corporate Department, and leads its Intellectual Property and Technology Practice Group. His practice includes protecting and licensing intellectual property, negotiating and drafting Internet related agreements, counseling clients on technology and e-commerce matters, franchising, and general corporate representation. He also handles complex litigation, including patent infringement, trademark and copyright actions.
Gerald J. Billow
Partner
Gerald J. Billow is the chair of the firm?s Health Care Group. He represents institutional and individual providers of health care services, including health maintenance organizations and managed care companies, hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living facilities. He also serves the legal needs of home health care companies, clinics and physician group practices.
Lawrence L. Athan, Jr.
Partner
Lawrence L. Athan, Jr. has been practicing law for 25 years in the areas of wealth transfer, probate law, estate and trust administration, employee benefits law and tax law.
Frank D. Aronson
Partner
Frank D. Aronson joined the firm?s Business and Real Estate Departments in 2001, following almost 30 years of practice at Boston?s Lane Altman & Owens LLP.
Michael L. Andresino
Partner
Mr. Andresino is a member of the firm?s Corporate Department, and leads its Securities Practice Group. His diverse practice includes public offerings and private placements of equity and debt securities, venture capital fund formation and investing, mergers and acquisitions, public company compliance issues such as corporate disclosure and insider trading, executive compensation, stock plan design and administration, contracting and licensing, and representation of early stage companies.
Kevin J. O'Connell
Partner
Kevin O?Connell is a member of the firm?s Corporate Department, and is engaged in a general corporate practice, with particular focus on transactional representation including mergers and acquisitions, the structuring of joint ventures and strategic relationships, and financings. Mr. O?Connell also counsels clients on a broad range of business issues, including licensing, contracts and commercial matters.
David Y. Li
Partner
David Y. Li is an environmental attorney, serving both the private and the public sectors, with a legal career that spans over 20 years. He is the co-chair of the firm?s Environmental Law Group.
Suzanne Dooley
Associate
Suzanne Dooley is a member of the firm's Real Estate and Business Groups. She practices in all areas of commercial real estate with an emphasis on financings, acquisitions and dispositions, as well as general business matters.
Dustin F. Hecker
Partner
Dustin F. Hecker is a member of the firm?s Litigation Department and concentrates his practice on the prosecution and defense of business-related disputes. He represents corporations, individuals and partnerships in litigations, arbitrations and negotiations involving contracts, business torts, securities law violations, real estate rights, covenants not to compete and other commercial matters.
Jennifer L. Finger
Associate
Jennifer Finger, an associate in the firm?s Litigation Department, is in her fourth year of practice. She concentrates her practice in business litigation.
John Egan
Partner
John Egan is a senior litigation partner experienced in the defense of personal injury, wrongful death, property damage, and other tort claims, including product liability, exposure to toxic substances, premises liability, professional liability, consumer protection claims, and related appellate work. He has been practicing law for 22 years, has tried over 50 cases to verdict, and is admitted to practice in Massachusetts and the District of Columbia.
Jon C. Cowen
Of Counsel
Jon C. Cowen is an attorney in the firm?s Litigation Department. Mr. Cowen has been practicing law for 12 years and formerly served as Associate Counsel at Cummings Properties in Woburn, Massachusetts.
John F. Cohan
Partner
John F. Cohan is a member of the firm?s Corporate Department. He has extensive experience in corporate financings, venture capital financings, private placements of equity and debt securities, mergers and acquisitions and intellectual property and technology law. His practice ranges from multi-million dollar corporate acquisitions and corporate loan and venture capital financing transactions to representing and advising early stage companies and technology entrepreneurs in connection with their contracting, licensing, business planning and general corporate compliance.
Catherine J. Savoie
Partner
Catherine J. Savoie is a partner with the firm, where for the past 18 years, she has concentrated her practice in the areas of real estate litigation, civil litigation, land use litigation and professional liability.
Steven S. Broadley
Partner
Steven Broadley is a member of the firm?s Litigation Department. He practices in the area of commercial litigation, representing businesses and individuals in contractual disputes, tax abatement issues, landlord-tenant disputes, collections, and other business litigation matters. His practice also includes plaintiffs? personal injury actions, defense of general liability cases, and defense of attorneys and other professionals who are the subject of professional liability claims.
James P. Hawkins
Partner
James P. Hawkins is a partner the firm?s Healthcare Practice Group. Mr. Hawkins has a broad range of experience in mergers, acquisitions, reorganizations, joint ventures and general corporate representation of health care businesses, insurance and managed care companies, tax exempt organizations and closely-held businesses. He is familiar with the state and federal regulatory and tax implications of transactions for such organizations.
Joseph P. Crimmins
Partner
Joseph P. Crimmins is a partner in the firm?s Litigation Department, concentrating in professional liability defense, insurance coverage, insurance bad faith litigation, and business and commercial litigation. He represents clients in Federal and state courts, before administrative agencies, and in arbitration proceedings. Mr. Crimmins also represents individuals in a variety of personal injury matters.
Noel G. Posternak
Founding Partner
Noel G. Posternak is a founding partner of the firm and heads the Business Department.