Outside General Counsel

The new Massachusetts Equal Pay Act goes into effect on July 1, 2018.  The basic concept of the statute is that you cannot pay employees differently based on gender.  You are busy running your business, but don't ignore this statute.  You could face lawsuits that result in high damages awards and an award of the plaintiffs' attorneys' fees and litigation costs.  There are attorneys who will be actively targeting your company to find violations.  The statute will be irresistible because any employee will be able to show a prima facie case if he or she is paid less than employees of another gender for comparable work.  The statute is unclear on the employee's burden of proof, but it may fall to the employer to justify any discrepancies in pay.

An LLC (Limited Liability Company) Member in Massachusetts has a right to inspect certain records of the LLC. This includes basic information, such as the certificate of organization, the names and addresses of all Members and Managers, and a copy of the operating agreement.

Big companies have their own attorneys on payroll and at the ready. As likable as most attorneys are, businesses would not keep them on the payroll unless they added value. A general counsel acts as a strategic partner. She understands the business, puts it in the best legal position, and protects it from potential liability. When a dispute arises and a business needs immediate legal action, things go much better when an attorney who is already familiar with the business and issues is ready for action.

Severance agreements, also called separation agreements or sometimes settlement agreements are legal documents that can greatly impact legal rights and obligations. Some may consider these standard legal documents. While there are many standard provisions, careful drafting and review are in order. Even experienced attorneys make mistakes when drafting these documents. While they seem simple and straightforward, they are more complicated than one would think and there are many traps for the unwary.

Synopsis: This new statute amends Chapter 151B, Section 4 and provides substantial rights to employees and applicants based on pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions.