Effectively Navigating an Evolving Federal Education Policy Landscape: One Year Check-In
2026-02-25 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Webinar, Webinar
McLane Middleton’s Education Law Practice Group will conduct a comprehensive one-year check-in on the current administration’s approach and modifications to education policy. This webinar will cover the significant changes that have taken place over the past year in the federal government’s position on various issues impacting educational institutions, including those made through executive orders, agency guidance, and announced future policies. This presentation will provide independent school administrators and decision-makers with practical guidance on these developments in the federal landscape to help ensure compliance.
Key Topics:

Overview of executive orders impacting education policy
Analysis of agency guidance from the IRS, DOJ, and other agencies
The implication of that guidance for independent schools
Future policy considerations and potential changes
Relevant and ongoing litigation that could impact schools

Beyond Succession: Strategic Planning for Multi Generational Business Continuity
2026-02-26 12:30 - 13:30 | McLane Middleton’s Woburn Office, 300 TradeCenter, Suite 7600, Woburn, MA, 01801
Ensuring the long-term success of a family business requires more than preparing the next generation to lead. It demands a thoughtful, coordinated approach to succession, trust and estate planning, and corporate structuring. This panel discussion will explore how families can effectively align these key planning areas to preserve their business, protect their wealth, and support a smooth transition of leadership and ownership.
Our session will cover critical topics including managerial and succession planning, corporate and family governance best practices, trust structures, estate planning strategies, wealth integration and preservation, and corporate considerations that support continuity and reduce risk. Attendees will gain practical guidance and actionable insights to help navigate the complex personal, financial, and corporate dynamics inherent in family enterprise planning.
Whether you are a business owner, next generation successor, or advisor to family owned companies, this seminar will provide valuable tools to support a stable and sustainable future for your family business.
Panel members include:

John Colucci, Managing Director of McLane Middleton (moderator)
Kimberly Kramer, Director and Vice Chair of McLane Middleton’s Corporate Department
Ryan Swartz, Director and Chair of McLane Middleton’s Trust & Estates Department
Doug Baumoel, Founder of Continuity Family Business Consulting

Planning and Managing Divorce
2026-03-19 12:00 - 13:30 | McLane Middleton’s Woburn Office, 300 TradeCenter, Suite 7600, Woburn, MA, 01801
Divorce is not just an emotional transition it’s a major financial and legal turning point. This informative seminar is designed to help individuals or advisors help their clients plan proactively, protect their assets, and make informed decisions for themselves and their families.
McLane Middleton attorneys Dave Tencza and Phil Tizzano will focus on what to expect, what decisions matter most, and how planning ahead can help protect what you’ve worked hard to build. Topics include:

The financial impact of divorce
Common client blind spots and planning gaps
Property settlement considerations
How divorce affects wills, trusts, beneficiary designations, and fiduciary appointments
Estate and financial planning considerations when minor children are involved and addressing blended family and step-family challenges
The use of planning documents to preserve client assets and the risks of outdated documents and unintended asset distribution
Proactive planning strategies to protect assets and reduce conflict

Student Handbooks - Essential Updates for the New School Year
2026-03-25 13:00 - 14:00 | Webinar, Webinar
With spring break around the corner for most schools, it is a signal to administrators that it is time to focus on summer projects, including updating the student handbook for the 2026-2027 school year. Join attorneys from McLane Middleton’s Education Practice Group as they provide guidance on how to tackle this project. They will focus on hot topics and other trending issues that we have seen in our practice over the past year as a guide for schools about which policies warrant attention. This program will examine policies and suggested language addressing student discipline, sexual conduct and consent, gender identity (documentation, dress code, and living arrangements for boarding schools), student records, the impact of artificial intelligence on academics, and harassment and cyber-misconduct, among others.

Immigration Compliance Workshop
2026-04-14 08:00 - 12:30 | Grappone Center, 70 Constitution Ave, Concord, NH, 03301, United States
Understanding Policies on Forms I-9 and ICE Visits in an Aggressive Enforcement Environment
As federal agencies continue to prioritize immigration compliance, employers are facing greater exposure to audits, investigations, and penalties stemming from I‑9 errors—many of which are unintentional and avoidable.
Join members from McLane Middleton’s Immigration Practice Group as they present an in‑depth Immigration Compliance Workshop focused on the most current and critical Form I‑9 challenges facing employers, particularly in light of increased worksite enforcement and heightened government scrutiny.
This session is designed to help employers understand today’s enforcement landscape and equip HR and hiring teams with the practical tools needed to reduce risk and maintain compliance.
Our panel will break down the fundamentals of I‑9 compliance and share practical tips and best practices. Topics include:

General I-9 News
Issues with TPS and EAD Extensions
Remote Completion Options for Eligible Employers
Overview of Form I-9 and Acceptable Document List with In-Depth
Information and Hands-On Completion Training
Retention Rules
I-9 Audit Readiness
Issue Spotting
ICE Visits at the Worksite and Beyond

This workshop is recommended for HR professionals, hiring managers, and anyone involved in worksite compliance.

2026 New Hampshire Employment Law Update
2026-05-05 08:00 - 16:30 | Castleton Banquet & Conference Center, 58 Enterprise Drive, Windham, NH, 03087
McLane Middleton’s annual New Hampshire Employment Law Update will be on May 5, 2026 at the Castleton Banquet & Conference Center in Windham, NH.
Join our employment attorneys as we discuss the latest trends in employment law. As always, we will share “news you can use,” along with presentations on topics affecting employers today.
Agenda:
8:00 a.m. – Registration
8:30 a.m. – News You Can Use: Court Decisions, Legislative Changes, and Federal Agency Updates
Presenters: Adam Hamel & Jennifer Parent
9:30 a.m. – Employee Benefits Update
Presenter: John Rich
Overview: This session will provide an update on new laws, administrative guidance and court decisions that impact retirement and other workplace benefit plans offered by New Hampshire employers.
10:00 a.m. – Break
10:15 a.m. – Managing Litigation Risks During Performance Management and Termination Decisions
Presenters: Jennifer Parent & Amanda Brahm
Overview: This session is designed for HR professionals and supervisors who are directly involved in managing performance, documenting concerns, and making termination decisions. We will discuss the most common litigation risks that arise from performance management—such as inconsistent documentation, poorly timed discipline, comparator issues, and retaliation claims—and how those risks are evaluated by courts and federal and state agencies. Participants will learn practical strategies for creating defensible performance records and coordinating HR and legal review at key decision points.
11:00 a.m. – Review of ADA Accommodations Best Practices
Presenters: Margaret (“Peg”) O’Brien & Brian Garrett
Overview: Latest developments from the EEOC and federal courts on reasonable accommodation issues and the importance of training supervisors on possible triggers to the interactive process, what supervisors and HR personnel should be trained to say and document in response to employee requests, practical developments on the meaning of the term “reasonable,” particular accommodation questions, such as remote work, whether/how much “leave” (including a repeated leave extension) is required, how this interplays with the FMLA, whether reduced workloads, a “fragrance or chemical free” environment, shift changes, or supervisor changes, are required, and whether discipline must be rescinded as an accommodation.
12:00 p.m. – Lunch
12:45 p.m. – Immigration Law Update – Preparing for an I9 Audit or ICE Raid
Presenter: Andrea Hellrigel
Overview: Would your business be ready to respond to ICE or other government actions? Workplace immigration compliance and enforcement are under scrutiny now more than ever. This session provides HR professionals and business leaders with practical guidance on Form I-9 compliance, audits, inspections, and broader business immigration considerations. Participants will gain actionable strategies to avoid compliance pitfalls, respond effectively to ICE visits or government inquiries, and maintain secure lawful hiring practices while protecting employees and the organization.
1:15 p.m. – Federal and State Wage and Hour Compliance
Presenter: Margaret (“Peg”) O’Brien
Overview: The latest federal law guidance with respect to the white collar and other exemptions; new exemption and misclassification decisions including under the highly compensated and salary basis rules; remote work, off-the-clock, expense reimbursement and compensable time challenges; actual or constructive knowledge of time worked; and the explosion of new state laws on salary transparency; and the status of state and federal independent contractor tests and new developments involving independent contractors workers.
2:15 p.m. – Break
2:30 p.m. – FMLA Compliance and Best Practices for Multistate Employers
Presenters: Adam Hamel & Amanda Brahm
Overview: Keeping up with rapidly changing state leave laws can be a challenge. This session will examine FMLA compliance issues for multistate employers, with an emphasis on coordinating federal FMLA obligations with related state leave laws. We will address coverage and eligibility analyses, concurrent vs. non‑concurrent leave designation, notice and certification timing, intermittent leave tracking, reinstatement rights across jurisdictions, and challenging employee communications.
3:00 p.m. – Retaliation and Whistleblower Claims: Working through Fact Patterns
Presenters: Adam Hamel, Amanda Brahm, & Brian Garrett
Overview: Employers are seeing an uptick in retaliation and whistleblower claims. Identifying and responding correctly to protected activity can be a challenge and this session is designed to test your knowledge through real-life scenarios. Come ready to discuss!
4:00 p.m. – Q&A & Wrap-Up

Credits
McLane Middleton will be offering HRCI and SHRM credits for this event.

Cost:
Special Early Bird Rate: $175.00 (through March 22, 2026)
Regular Rate: $199.00 (After March 22, 2026)
Registration includes continental breakfast, lunch, and electronic copies of materials.

2026 Mergers & Acquisitions Conference
2026-06-04 09:00 - 15:00 | Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club, 135 Congress Street, Portsmouth, NH, 03801, United States
McLane Middleton and the New Hampshire Society of CPAs are excited to partner once again and host the New Hampshire Mergers & Acquisitions Conference on June 4 at Jimmy’s Jazz Club in Portsmouth.
This conference returns for its second year, bringing together leading legal, tax, finance, and business experts from diverse industries to explore the evolving M&A landscape. Building on the success of last year’s event, this year’s conference will feature dynamic panel discussions on innovative strategies and offer unparalleled opportunities for professional networking. Panelists will share actionable insights, in-depth analysis, and proven strategies to help you thrive in today’s competitive M&A market. Join us for this premier event and gain the knowledge and connections you need to navigate the ever-changing world of mergers and acquisitions with confidence.

AGENDA:

8:30 a.m. – Registration and Welcome
9:05 a.m. – State of the Market: Key M&A Trends
9:45 a.m. – Powering the Deal: Financing Strategies in M&A Transactions
10:30 a.m. – Break
10:45 a.m. – Preparing for Liquidity Before the Deal Starts
11:30 a.m. – Understanding Key Tax Structures in M&A Transactions
12:30 p.m. – Lunch
1:30 p.m. – Aligning Buyer and Seller: Managing Each Phase of the M&A Lifecycle
3:00 p.m. – Networking Reception

COST:
Early Bird Rate: $350 (thru March 31, 2026)
Regular Rate: $399 (as of April 1, 2026)

Registration includes continental breakfast, lunch, reception, electronic copies of materials, CPA and CLE credits.
