Millennials get a bad rap, often pegged as lazy, entitled and non-committal. However, millennials are an entrepreneurial generation, creating their own jobs when there were no jobs to be had. …
News
Pending Changes to Massachusetts Employment Law
In the current Massachusetts legislative session, a number of bills are pending that have the potential to increase employee protections and, in turn, impose further burdens on employers. Read the …
NH Legal Perspectives: Are Employee Noncompete Agreements Worth the Paper They’re Written ON?
This article was originally published by the New Hampshire Union Leader and can be found here. By: Dave McGrath April 24, 2016 updated March 14, 2020 Employees and employers frequently …
NH Legal Perspective: Questions, Challenges Loom in New Overtime Exemption Rules
IN MARCH 2014 President Obama directed the secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) to update overtime exemptions under federal law by raising the salary threshold and revisiting duties …
Reidy Quoted in Business Management Daily
Sheehan Phinney shareholder James P. Reidy was quoted in the March 31, 2016 online issue of the Business Management Daily, in an article titled “Telecommuting policy needs to address tech”.
Ventola to Speak at North Shore Chamber of Commerce Seminar
Sheehan Phinney shareholder Mark J. Ventola will speak at the North Shore Chamber of Commerce HR and Employer Seminar on April 26, 2016 from 8:00 to 9:30 a.m.
Reidy Quoted in National SHRM Article
Sheehan Phinney shareholder James P. Reidy was quoted in the March 16, 2016 Society For Human Resources (SHRM) article “Massive D.C. Subway Closure Shows Need for Continuity Plans”, which appeared on the national SHRM website.
Sheehan Phinney Hosts 28th Annual Employment Law Review and Update
The law firm of Sheehan Phinney Bass & Green will host the 28th Annual Employment Law Review and Update on Thursday, May 26th, 2016. The theme of this year’s event is Untangling the Mess and Making Sense of Workplace Laws and Regulations.
NH Legal Perspective: Commercial Leasing — A Tenant’s Perspective
THEY SAY the devil is in the details, beware of the fine print. Well, in commercial leases, one needs to be aware of what is not in the fine print, …
Sheehan Phinney Assists Crimson Hexagon in Growth Equity Financing
Sheehan Phinney’s corporate department was pleased to advise our client, Crimson Hexagon, a social intelligence company in the vanguard of social media monitoring and analysis, in their recent $20 million growth equity financing.
NH Legal Perspective: Taking a Look at the Sweepstakes Law
YOUR MAILBOX and email inbox are probably flooded with offers, especially this time of the year, along the lines of “Win a free cruise to Cancun” or “Scratch here to …
Tax Law: IRS Steps Up Audits of Deferred Compensation Plans
Now is an excellent time to review nonqualified deferred compensation arrangements with business clients, before the Internal Revenue Service shows up to audit them. Read the full story here.
In-House Lawyer’s Advice to Competitor Not Barred
Sheehan Phinney Bass & Green PA shareholder Mark J. Ventola was quoted in the February 11th issue of Mass Lawyers Weekly in an article entitled “In-House Lawyer’s Advice to Competitor Not Barred”.
NH Legal Perspective: A Look at Rules Governing Crowdfunding Provisions
LAST OCT. 30, the Securities and Exchange Commission adopted long-awaited final rules that implement the equity crowdfunding provisions of the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, the JOBS Act. …
Harvell Named NH Chair For Supreme Court Historical Society
Sheehan Phinney shareholder Michael C. Harvell has been named the New Hampshire Chair for the Supreme Court Historical Society.
Donald Trump in HR? A Survey
In the first-in-the-nation primary state, Granite Staters have been introduced to many truly interesting people who were seeking their party’s nomination for the highest office in the land. This year …
Hantz Named to Firm Management Committee
Sheehan Phinney shareholder Anna Barbara (Bobbie) Hantz has been named to the firm’s five person management committee as the ‘At-Large’ member, effective immediately. Sheehan Phinney’s Management Committee oversees the administrative and business functions and strategic planning initiatives for the firm’s four regional offices and 60+ lawyers.
HR Takeaways from the Patriots Loss
Monday morning, Jan. 25, in New England after the Patriots loss in the AFC championship to Denver left many fans, in a word, deflated. With the words of coaching legend, …
NH Legal Perspective: Looking at Drainage and Run-Off: Where Does the Water Go?
YOU ARE THINKING about paving your driveway, adding a parking space, building a deck or patio, installing major landscaping, or building an addition to your home or business. Read the …
Health Law: One Year In: NH Healthcare Surrogacy Decision-Making Law
Adults have the right to make their own health care decisions, unless they are incapacitated. Until 2015, the only people who were able to make health care decisions for an …
Time Is Running out to Participate in a New Hampshire Tax Amnesty Program
CLIENT ALERT By Russell J. Stein New Hampshire taxpayers may have an opportunity to become current on their tax obligations, avoid penalties and pay 50% of outstanding interest on past-due …
Essential Documents for Retirement
This article was originally published in Business NH Magazine and can be found here. January 11. 2016 You are on the verge of retirement. Things to do, people to see, …
NH Legal Perspective: State’s DES Prepares Annual List of Impaired Waters
ON OCT. 14, 2015, the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services issued a draft of its 2014 Surface Water Quality List, which sets forth the New Hampshire waterways that DES …
Regardless of What Your Client Says, As a Builder, You Are Ultimately Responsible for Code Compliance
CLIENT ALERT By John H. Perten In 2006, in Reddish v. Bowen, the MA appeals court affirmed a ruling that a home improvement contractor who installed an in-ground swimming pool …
NH Legal Perspective: Commercial Debtor-Tenants and Their Landlords
THE BANKRUPTCY code offers a commercial debtor many important tools to assist in its reorganization efforts. One such tool at the debtor’s disposal is the ability to either preserve, through …
Business Law & Business Litigation: New States Securities Law Overhauls Offering Practices in NH
On July 27, New Hampshire Governor Maggie Hassan signed into law a comprehensive revision to New Hampshire’s securities laws, which will take effect Jan. 1, 2016. Read the full story …
When Your AdWords Keywords Land You in Court
Google’s AdWords and other programs can be a boon to small online retailers. For a modest fee, a company reserves a keyword on Google. Whenever that keyword or phrase appears …
Ballot Law Commission Throws Out Challenges to Trump’s Eligibility to Appear on GOP Primary Ballot
Bradford Cook featured in a WMUR article. CONCORD, N.H. —The state Ballot Law Commission on Tuesday quickly threw out a former New Hampshire Republican Party chairman’s challenge to Donald Trump’s eligibility …
NH Legal Perspective: Splitting Equity in Jointly Owned Property
IT’S A COMMON story. You were in love, but you weren’t married. You lived in a small rented apartment. One day, one of you said, “Hey, wouldn’t it make sense …
Alternative Dispute Resolution: Lessons from the Trenches: What Makes a Good Mediator
There are mediators who inspire confidence in us and our clients, and those who don’t. With the former, mediations that appear doomed can ultimately succeed. In those instances, one can …
Open Source Software: What You Don’t Know Could Hurt You
Open source (or so-called “free”) software has become a popular tool for software developers and technology companies that write software applications, because the source code is available at no charge …
NH Legal Perspective: Divorcing Fact from Fiction About Adultery in NH
The Ashley Madison security breach has led many to question whether they should allege adultery in their divorce. This article addresses some common questions concerning adultery and tries to debunk …
NH Legal Perspective: Employer’s Obligations Under Pregnancy/Maternity Laws
IN THE PAST year, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“the EEOC”) issued an Enforcement Guidance about pregnancy discrimination and related issues, and this March, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a …
NH Legal Perspective: ADA – What’s Reasonable and to Whom?
THE AMERICANS with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) requires an employer to make certain job accommodations for disabled employees. Because the definition of “disability” was expanded several years ago when the ADA …
Worker’s Compensation & Personal Injury: Beyond the Numbers: Controlling Workers Compensation Costs
When a business encounters a rise in workers compensation costs, the immediate response often focuses on loss control, reducing spending and overall insurance costs. However, given the continued annual rise …
NH Legal Perspective: Benefits of a Well-Designed System for Record Retention and Production
THE RIGHT TIME to get your recordkeeping house in order is well before a subpoena, a visit from a state or federal inspector, or a discovery request in litigation. If …
New Hampshire Legislature Passes, Governor Signs New Securities Law
CLIENT ALERT By Michael J. Drooff The New Hampshire legislature passed and Governor Hassan signed into law on July 27, 2015 a new Uniform Securities Act which comprehensively reforms New …
NH Legal Perspective: Helpful Tips for Compliance with OSHA Requirements
WITH THE MANY changes in the modern workplace there is one constant, employers must protect employees from or correct known workplace safety hazards. The law has changed over the years …
Federal Practice & Bankruptcy: Mediation Use Grows in Bankruptcy Cases
As an effective tool to combat the associated costs and delay in litigation, mediation has gained momentum and popularity as an efficient method to resolve disputes in state and federal …
NH Legal Perspective: Governor Hassan Signs Law Allowing Hospital Patients to Designate Aftercare Giver
MANY SENIORS rely exclusively on family, friends and community members to provide care once they are discharged from a hospital. According to a recent study published by AARP, family caregivers …
Dress Codes and Discrimination – Motive the Key in Abercrombie Supreme Court Case
On June 1, the U.S. Supreme Court in an 8-1 decision ruled that Abercrombie & Fitch could be liable for religious discrimination for refusing to hire a Muslim teenager because …
NH Legal Perspective: Social Media and the Employee – From Hiring to Departure
EMPLOYEES CONTINUALLY encounter new ways that social media impacts their workplaces. Social media touches on the entire lifecycle of employment as employers more frequently turn to social media to advertise …
Attorney General Issues Final Regulations under Massachusetts Earned Sick Time Law
CLIENT ALERT By Mark J. Ventola and David L. Hansen On June 19, 2015, Attorney General Maura Healey issued the final regulations (the “Regulations”) further defining the provisions of the …
Sheehan Phinney Attorneys Win Significant Bankruptcy Case
(June 19, 2015, Boston, MA) – Sheehan Phinney attorneys Charles M. Waters and Christopher M. Candon won a significant dismissal of claims asserted by a Chapter 7 bankruptcy trustee alleged …
What is a Farm? Zoning Laws Need Updating
A Henniker Christmas tree farmer has lost before the state Supreme Court in a case that could spell the end for some struggling New Hampshire farms. Citizens who don’t want …
Seven Deadly Sins for Design Pros
Here are some of the most important issues commonly encountered by design professionals in basic owner-design professional agreements: Read the full story here. …
NH Legal Perspectives: There’s More to Horse Ownership Than Checking Its Teeth
MANY CHILDREN view a pony as the ultimate holiday gift. They close their eyes and blow out birthday candles with the hopes that when their eyes open, they will see …
CEO on the Go: David McGrath
As the newly appointed leader of one of NH’s largest law firms, clients and employees alike look to David McGrath for help. When McGrath needs to resolve his own issues, …
Attorney General Issues Final Regulations Under Massachusetts Earned Sick Time Law
CLIENT ALERT By: Mark Ventola and David Hansen On June 19, 2015, Attorney General Maura Healey issued the final regulations (the “Regulations”) further defining the provisions of the new Massachusetts …
NH Legal Perspectives: When Does the Work Day End? It Depends
WHEN IT COMES to wages, employees and employers are often at odds. Employees generally want to be compensated for all the time they are required to be at work. Employers, …
Real Property Law: Environmental Risks in Real Estate Transactions
At every step along the way and for every party involved, contamination and even potential contamination can pose significant and expensive risks Environmental contamination can pose multi-faceted risk to those …
NH Legal Perspective: Key Consideration to Using Staffing Companies to Find Temp Workers
EMPLOYERS TURN to staffing companies to locate temporary workers with increasing frequency. Staffing companies generate savings for their employer/clients by locating temporary workers to fill employers’ needs. There are, however, …
IRS Amnesty Program Available to Minimize Significant Taxes and Penalties from the Misclassification of Workers as Independent Contractors
CLIENT ALERT By Russell J. Stein Classifying a worker as an employee or an independent contractor is one of the first questions a company faces when establishing, retaining or increasing …
Marijuana Legalization Clashes with Drug Testing in the Workplace
James Reidy featured in The Guardian article. At a Society for Human Resource Management conference in Washington DC last month, a session on drug testing in the workplace was so heavily attended …
NH Legal Perspective: Planning to Sell Your Most Prized Possession
A MAJORITY of the businesses in New Hampshire are closely held, meaning these businesses are each owned by one or a few owners, sometimes by a family. Read the full …
Land Use Regulation, Codes and Business Planning
Assume for a moment that your highly successful business needs to expand. Whether looking for land on which to build, expanding up or out from your existing space, or renovating …
Employee Verification Roulette, By the Rules
In recent months, immigration has reemerged as a hotly-contested political issue. Although the ultimate resolution is difficult to predict, the potential for millions of undocumented immigrants to obtain deferred action …
NH Legal Perspective: Guide to Bankruptcy Preference Payments and Creditor’s Defenses
MOST BUSINESSES will, at one time or another, open the mail to find a demand letter or worse, a lawsuit, demanding that the business return money to a bankruptcy estate …
Sheehan Phinney Named 2015 “Best of Business”
(March 16, 2015, Manchester, NH) – The law firm of Sheehan Phinney Bass & Green PA was selected as a winner in New Hampshire Business Review’s 2015 BOB Awards, which honor …
The Newest Arrow in the Health Care Collection Quiver?: New Hampshire Legislature Introduces Bill to Allow Special Conservatorships for Medicaid
Over the past several years, New Hampshire health care facilities have lobbied the New Hampshire Legislature to pass measures to help solve the chronic problem of patients or residents who …