Paul J. Durham | April 12, 2021 Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, lawmakers have provided significant economic assistance to support struggling businesses. Unfortunately, businesses started during the crisis …
News
Big Changes Could Loom for Estate and Gift Taxes
Michael Panebianco | April 23, 2021 U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont recently introduced the For the 99.5% Act, which, if enacted, would likely affect almost all taxpayers in one …
Clouded Post-COVID Workplace? Employers Challenged by Growing Cannabis Use/Accommodation Issues
Jim Reidy and Madeline Hutchings | April 21, 2021 With more than 30 states having legalized cannabis in one form or another employers have been revisiting their drug and alcohol …
Stimulus Relief for Start-Up Businesses
Paul Durham | April 21, 2021 Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, lawmakers have provided significant economic assistance to support struggling businesses. Unfortunately, businesses started during the crisis have …
Everyone Could Be Affected by Proposed Estate Tax Changes
CLIENT ALERT Michael P. Panebianco | April 15, 2021 Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont recently introduced the “For the 99.5% Act.” If enacted, it would likely affect almost all taxpayers …
Sheehan Phinney Named 2021 “Best of Business” in Employment Law
(April 1, 2021, Manchester, NH) – Sheehan Phinney is pleased to announce that it has been selected as a winner in New Hampshire Business Review’s 2021 Best of Business Awards …
IRS Announces More Covid-19 Related Tax Deadline Extensions
CLIENT ALERT Peter Beach | March 30, 2021 The IRS previously extended the federal income tax filing and payment deadline for individuals for the 2020 tax year to May 17, …
Maine, Massachusetts, and Vermont Have Extended Filing and Payment Deadlines for Individual Taxpayers to May 17
CLIENT ALERT Peter Beach | March 25, 2021 Massachusetts, Maine, and Vermont have extended the filing and payment deadlines for their 2020 state personal income tax returns as described below. …
IRS Extends Filing and Payment Deadline for Individual Taxpayers to May 17
CLIENT ALERT Peter Beach | March 18, 2021 The Internal Revenue Service has announced that the federal income tax filing and payment due date for individuals for the 2020 tax …
Legislative Update
Michael Panebianco | March 17, 2020 A busy legislative session includes the following that are likely to be of interest to estate planning attorneys. Advance Directives for Health Care Decisions …
The American Rescue Plan Act
CLIENT ALERT Abbygale Martinen | March 15, 2021 On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act (“ARPA”) of 2021 into law—the third relief package since the …
Sheehan Phinney Expands to Seacoast Area
(Portsmouth, NH, March 15, 2021) – Sheehan Phinney, a business law firm serving regional, national and international clients, is pleased to announce the opening of its Portsmouth office. Located at …
Options for Businesses in Financial Distress
Jim LaMontagne | March 8, 2021 When the COVID-19 pandemic grabbed hold of the economy in late spring of 2020, many predicted a wave of commercial bankruptcy filings. Despite the pandemic …
Intellectual Property Law Basics For Business
Paul J. Durham | March 8, 2021 A basic understanding of intellectual property (“IP”) law issues is not just important for inventors and technology company executives. Understanding the types of …
Marijuana and Drug Testing in the Workplace
James Reidy | February 22, 2021 Attorney James Reidy discusses what the changing state laws regarding marijuana use mean for employers as they establish workplace policies. Watch the video here.
Who benefits from federal housing tax credit changes?
Peter Beach and Jaclyn Fisher | February 19, 2021 On Dec, 21, 2020, Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, a year-end measure that includes a $1.4 trillion omnibus spending bill …
Podcasting to grow your business? Consider these simple legal tips
By: Paul J. Durham | February 8, 2021 Today’s most popular podcasts can attract millions of listeners and generate enormous advertising dollars. Although the vast majority of podcasts accumulate far …
Sheehan Phinney Congratulates New England Solar Garden Corp. on 82 MW Solar Energy Transaction
(February 17, 2021, Manchester, NH) – Sheehan Phinney congratulates its client, New England Solar Garden Corporation (“NESG”), on its closing on a definitive agreement for the development and delivery of …
Is Your Business Eligible for a Second Draw PPP Loan? Applications Are Being Accepted
CLIENT ALERT By: Colleen Lyons | February 16, 2021 For almost a month, certain businesses that previously received a Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) Loan have been eligible to apply for …
NH Supreme Court Reinforces That The Law Means What It Says About Filing For Not-For-Profit Property Tax Exemptions
CLIENT ALERT February 9, 2021 The New Hampshire Supreme Court, in a unanimous ruling dated February 9, 2021, held that in order to get the tax exemption under NH RSA …
Gibson Engineering Acquired by Applied Industrial Technologies
Sheehan Phinney congratulates its client, Gibson Engineering (Norwood, MA) on its recent acquisition by Applied Industrial Technologies (Cleveland, OH). Gibson Engineering is a provider of automation products, services, and engineered …
Living Innovations Partners with Mosaic
Sheehan Phinney congratulates its client, Living Innovations, on combining with Omaha, NE-based Mosaic, a healthcare organization reaching across 10 states and providing support to more than 4,300 people. Their services …
New Subchapter V draws raves from bankruptcy bar
Quote by: Jim LaMontagne | February 8, 2021 While filings have been slower in Massachusetts than elsewhere in the country, a new streamlined form of Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for …
Trade Secrets and the COVID-19 workplace
By: Christopher Cole | February 5, 2021 In the course of the pandemic, nearly every business – mine included – made changes to the manner in which they ordinarily conducted …
2020: It Was Wicked Awful!
By: James Reidy | February 2, 2021 Yes, COVID-19 continues to be a devastating virus. Once thought to be no more serious than the seasonal flu, soon after the virus …
Voegele Joins Litigation Group
(Manchester, NH, February 1, 2021) – Sheehan Phinney welcomes Jonathan R. Voegele to its Business Litigation Group. Voegele will work primarily out of the firm’s Manchester and Boston offices. Voegele is …
Lambert Named Chair of Litigation Department
(Boston, MA, February 1, 2021) – Sheehan Phinney has named shareholder Michael J. Lambert Chair of the firm’s Litigation Department. Lambert previously served on the firm’s five-person Management Committee as …
Whitley Named to Firm Management Committee
(Boston, MA, February 1, 2021) – Sheehan Phinney shareholder Karen A. Whitley has been named to the firm’s five-person management committee as the ‘At-Large’ member representing the firm’s Boston office, …
The Potential Impact of the FTC’s Data Privacy Orders
JP Harris and Jennifer Lyon | January 29, 2021 On Dec. 14, 2020, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued orders using powers under Section 6(b) of the FTC Act to …
US Rejoins Paris Climate Agreement
CLIENT ALERT By: Robert Lucic | January 25, 2021 Shortly after his Inauguration on January 20, President Biden signed a series of Executive Orders, many of which dealt with …
Rules Revamp Key Health Laws
Andrew Eills | January 15, 2021 On Nov. 22, 2020, after over two years of evaluating stakeholder comments, the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released final rules that …
New Year’s (corporate) resolutions
Paul J. Durham | January 11, 2021 It’s January, which means New Year’s resolutions are plentiful. For many of us, those resolutions may focus on personal health and wellness. If …
NH DOJ Issues Mask Guidance and Recommendations
CLIENT ALERT Andrew Eills | January 12, 2021 As many retail establishment and other business owners can attest, enforcing Governor Sununu’s Emergency Orders pertaining to mask-wearing creates, on occasion, uncomfortable …
More Covid-19 Tax Changes: An Overview of Key Tax Provisions in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021
CLIENT ALERT By: Peter Beach January 8, 2021 Below is a summary of key business and individual tax provisions included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (the “Act”). While many …
Bouchard Elected Firm Shareholder
(1/5/2021, Manchester, NH) – Sheehan Phinney is proud to announce that Brian J. Bouchard has been elected as a firm shareholder, effective January 1, 2021. Bouchard currently works out the …
A New Year… a New Leave: the latest on the Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave Program
CLIENT ALERT By: Karen A. Whitley January 4, 2021 After more than a year of making contributions to the Family and Employment Security Trust Fund, Massachusetts employers and workers have …
COVID-19 vaccine: Can businesses and employers mandate it?
Brian Bouchard | December 30, 2020 Now that we have two approved vaccines, many businesses are asking whether they can require customers and employees to vaccinate. Can a company offering …
Boston Litigators Try Case in the SDNY, From Boston, and Prevail
(December 29, 2020, Boston, MA) – Sheehan Phinney litigation attorneys Michael Lambert and Michael Stanley, both based in the firm’s Boston office, recently secured a resounding victory for one of …
Overview of New Stimulus Legislation
CLIENT ALERT By: Abby Martinen December 28, 2020 On December 21, 2020, the Senate passed a new emergency economic relief, government funding, and tax cuts package, known as the Consolidated …
Can employees be required to get the Covid-19 vaccine?
This article was originally published in the New Hampshire Business Review and can be found here. Madeline Hutchings, Jim Reidy | December 16, 2020 With as many as three vaccines on …
Main Street Relief Fund and Self Grant Recipients: Watch for Final Reporting Obligations
Paul Durham | December 7, 2020 Many New Hampshire businesses benefited from a variety of federal and state aid programs in 2020, utilizing loan proceeds and grants to weather the …
Reread Your Contract Before You Terminate It
Paul Durham | November 10, 2020 Businesses must position themselves to be flexible in unpredictable times. For many decision makers, that means cutting costs by carefully reevaluating the terms of …
If a Picture Paints a Thousand Words, Why Can’t I Zoom Interview?
This article was originally published in the New Hampshire Business Review and can be found here. Jim Reidy | November 5, 2020 Those who remember the ‘70s group Bread might recall the lyric, …
SBA Mandates New Paycheck Protection Program Loan Necessity Questionnaire for PPP Loans in Excess of $2 Million
CLIENT ALERT By: Colleen Lyons and Paul Reuland November 10, 2020 The U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) recently released two forms of loan necessity questionnaires which borrowers who received Paycheck …
Governor Baker Issues Stay at Home Advisory and Three Orders Aimed at Curbing Rising COVID-19 Cases
CLIENT ALERT By: Michael J. Lambert November 3, 2020 On November 2, 2020, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker issued a series of sweeping but “targeted” new measures to help curb the …
Cybersecurity Experts Issue Ransomware Alert for Healthcare Industry
CLIENT ALERT By: JP Harris and Jason Gregoire November 2, 2020 On October 28-29, 2020, the United States Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and …
New Hampshire Main Street Relief Fund 2.0 – Application Due by October 30, 2020
CLIENT ALERT By: Paul Durham October 28, 2020 Earlier this year, we summarized the qualification criteria and application deadlines for grants under the New Hampshire Main Street Relief Fund (“MSRF”). …
Massachusetts Makes $50.8 Million in Grants Available to Small Businesses Hit Hardest by the Pandemic
CLIENT ALERT By: Jason Gregoire October 26, 2020 On October 22, 2020, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker announced the intent to issue $50.8 million in grants to small businesses who have …
Evaluating Financially Troubled Tenants: Bankruptcy Risks and Lease Termination Agreements
CLIENT ALERT Christopher Candon & Jaclyn Fisher | October 23, 2020 In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic and the uniquely challenging obstacles it has created for our economy, the reliability …
Why to Avoid Probate, and How
By: Madeline C. Hutchings | October 23, 2020 This week is National Estate Planning Awareness Week. If you have ever wondered why everyone is trying to “avoid probate,” take one …
Powers of Attorney and Health Care Directives
By: Michael P. Panebianco | October 20, 2020 When people think of “estate planning” they often think that it means deciding what happens to their assets when they die. However, …
Business Litigation Team Succeeds After 3-year Battle
(October 19, 2020, Manchester, NH) – Sheehan Phinney’s Business Litigation team successfully represented the Town of Pembroke Zoning Board of Adjustment, in a 3-year sign ordinance battle. Team members included …
First Circuit Affirms Bankruptcy Court’s Relief From Stay Decision
The United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit affirmed the Bankruptcy Court’s granting of relief from stay to Sheehan Phinney client, Schleicher & Stebbins Hotels LLC (“S&S”), to …
It’s National Estate Planning Week—Have you done yours?
By: Brad Cook | October 19, 2020 This is National Estate Planning Week! That should be a reminder to everyone that estate planning is essential for all individuals and families—this …
Sheehan Phinney Attorneys Selected as Super Lawyers® for 2020
(October 13, 2020, Manchester, NH) – Sheehan Phinney is pleased to announce that thirty-one attorneys have been selected for inclusion on both the 2020 New England and Massachusetts Super Lawyers® …
Pivoting Your Business Online? Don’t Forget to Mind the Details
Paul J. Durham | October 13, 2020 Despite all of the hardships that businesses have endured in recent months, many business owners in New Hampshire have come up with innovative …
SBA Provides New Guidance For PPP Loan Borrower Ownership Changes
CLIENT ALERT By: Paul Reuland and Colleen Lyons October 8, 2020 Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loan borrowers continue to consider their options as COVID continues to impact the economy. For some, …
Preparing for Cyberattacks
This article was originally published in Business NH and can be found here. Mark Dobson and James P. Harris | September 15, 2020 Cyberattacks, from data breaches to ransomware, are …
Treasury Department Issues Guidance Regarding Trump Administration’s Payroll Tax Deferral Program
CLIENT ALERT By: Peter Beach August 31, 2020 On August 8, 2020, the Trump Administration issued an Executive Memorandum on the deferral of employee payroll tax obligations. On August 28, …
COVID-19 and Massachusetts Retail Leases
This article was originally published in Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly and can be found here. Damon M. Seligson | August 13, 2020 Retail tenants and commercial landlords are both experiencing business-threatening circumstances …