(Editor’s Note: This is the second of a two-part column. See part 1 here.) By Alicia J. Samolis and Michael A. Gamboli As detailed in Part I, certain types of noncompetition agreements are now invalid under the new Massachusetts noncompete law (the Act). This is of course a double-edged sword for employers, who will now benefit from...
ArticlesCorporate & BusinessMassachusetts Passes New Law That Restricts Noncompetition Agreements
October 23, 2018
In August of this year, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker signed into law an omnibus economic development law (the “Law”). Of major significance, the Law contains provisions that fundamentally change the way employee noncompetition agreements are regulated in Massachusetts. While the Law does not abolish noncompetition agreements in Massachusetts, it substantially limits the terms upon which...
ArticlesEnergyAmple Opportunities: Financing Options and Ownership Models for Microgrids and Energy Efficiency Projects
October 1, 2018
By Christian F. Capizzo and David M. DiSegna Microgrids have been gaining attention with increased frequency in recent years, and it is expected that the microgrid industry will expand quickly in the years to come. However, financing microgrids can present unique challenges due to the upfront costs of development and the overall complexity of a microgrid’s interwoven...
ArticlesEmployment & LaborAre You Ready To Steal Employees From Your Mass. Competitors
September 28, 2018
(Editor’s note: This is the first of a two-part column. See part 2 here.) By Alicia J. Samolis Massachusetts has recently enacted a law that will render some restrictive covenants unenforceable. The law starts by broadly defining noncompetition agreements as any agreement between a company and a worker in which the worker “agrees that he or...
ArticlesCorporate & BusinessLegal Pitfalls To Avoid In Social Cause Marketing Campaigns
September 21, 2018
Social cause marketing, where a business teams up with a charity to promote a product or a charitable cause, has become increasingly popular over the last few years. As the holiday season approaches these types of campaigns become more visible across all types of media, including television, print and the internet. A social cause marketing...
ArticlesEmployment & LaborCourt of Appeals Upholds Termination of Airport Security Employee
September 20, 2018
PS&H employment partner and Chair of the Labor & Employment Group, Alicia Samolis, provided comment to RI Lawyers Weekly on the recent 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision in Bonilla-Ramirez v. MVM, Inc., et al. The Court’s decision upheld the termination of an employee of a private security company providing services to U.S. Immigration and...
ArticlesCorporate & BusinessSouthcoast Opportunity Zones Provide Opportunities for Investors To Defer And Possibly Exclude Capital Gains From Federal Income Taxation
September 11, 2018
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act signed into law late last year created a tax incentive aimed at increasing economic development in low-income communities. Both real estate developers and investors can benefit from the new Opportunity Zone tax incentive program enacted as part of that legislation, presenting the opportunity for significant tax savings. Developers and...
PS&H employment partner and Chair of the Employment & Labor Group, Alicia Samolis, provided comment to RI Lawyers Weekly on the recent 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision in Richard v. Regional School Unit 57. In a split decision, the Court upheld the lower court judge’s decision, after a bench trial, that the teacher’s termination was not...
ArticlesCorporate & BusinessFollow-On Investment in a Venture Capital Financing – Pros and Cons to Consider
August 28, 2018
Companies that close a venture capital financing usually have multiple investors. Customarily, there will be a venture capital firm or other institutional investor that leads the investment round by investing the most money (referred to as the Lead Investor) and other investors that follow on with smaller investment amounts (referred to as the Follow-On Investors). The Follow-On Investors could...
PS&H Partner Paul Kessimian, Chair of the firm’s Litigation Practice Group, shared his thoughts with RI Lawyers Weekly on the recent adoption of deposition conduct standards by U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell Jr. In the case of Soares v. Prospect CharterCARE SJHSRI, LLC, et al., Judge McConnell found that the rules of conduct, established 25 years...
