McLane Middleton

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.
Credits
McLane Middleton will be offering HRCI and SHRM credits for this event.
Cost
$175 – Registration includes continental breakfast, an I-9 workbook, and HRCI and SHRM credits.

Employee Handbook Refresher Course for Independent Schools 2026
2026-04-15 13:00 - 14:00 | Webinar, Webinar
As independent schools head towards the close of the academic year and prepare for summer, now is the right time to dust off your employee handbook for a fresh review. Schools have fortunately settled into a new normal following several years of pandemic-related turbulence, allowing for the opportunity to review various policy areas, or your handbook as a whole.
Join McLane Middleton Education Group attorneys as they review essential updates for employee handbooks. This webinar will cover the foundational policies for an employee handbook, such as policies relating to non-discrimination, accommodations, investigations, professional boundaries, progressive discipline policies, and clear polices and procedures for reporting and responding to harassment or workplace misconduct. We will provide attendees with a sample table of contents to help schools ensure that they are covering all the policies that generally apply to independent schools.

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:
$199.00
Registration includes continental breakfast, lunch, and electronic copies of materials.

Navigating the Current Market: Economic Outlook and Insights
2026-05-07 12:00 - 13:30 | McLane Middleton’s Woburn Office, 300 TradeCenter, Suite 7600, Woburn, MA, 01801
As markets continue to navigate economic uncertainty and shifting policy dynamics, staying informed is critical.
Join guest speaker, Ellen Hazen from F.L. Putnam, who will offer a timely overview of current market conditions highlighting recent economic developments, market performance, and factors influencing investor sentiment.
Gain practical insights into how today’s economic environment may impact future market opportunities and risks. Ellen will provide perspective on the current state of the global and U.S. markets, key economic indicators influencing investment decisions, and emerging trends shaping the remainder of the year.
This session will help attendees better understand today’s market environment and consider what it may mean for portfolios moving forward.

What's Her Story with Susan Martore-Baker
2026-05-28 17:30 - 19:30 | One Hundred Club, 100 Market Street, Portsmouth, NH, 03801
What’s Her Story is a networking series designed to connect business owners and executives through the power of shared experience. Join Susan Martore Baker, President of Cambridge Trust New Hampshire, as she sits down with McLane Middleton attorney Jennifer Parent for a candid conversation about her career path, leadership lessons, and professional growth. Susan will share insights and inspiration shaped by her work helping individuals, corporations, nonprofits, and municipalities clarify their goals and build lasting financial success.

2026 NH 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
Presenters: Patrick Closson, McLane Middleton; Ramey Sylvester, McLane Middleton; John-Michael Girald, Peloton; Chris Annand, Baker Tilly
The M&A landscape continues to evolve amid shifting economic conditions, regulatory scrutiny, and changing buyer and seller expectations. This session will provide a timely overview of the current state of the market, highlighting key trends shaping deal activity across industries. Topics will include valuation dynamics, the impact of interest rates and capital availability, buyer and seller motivations, deal structures, and what market participants are seeing in today’s transactions. Attendees will gain practical insights to help assess opportunities, manage risk, and position themselves effectively in an increasingly competitive M&A environment.
9:45 a.m. – Powering the Deal: Financing Strategies in M&A Transactions
Presenters: Kimberly Kramer, McLane Middleton; Mike Kent, BellMark Partners; Joseph Alberghini, Eastern Bank; Alvin Reynolds, Woodland South Capital.
Financing is a critical driver of successful M&A transactions and can significantly influence deal structure, timing, and risk. This session will explore the financing options commonly used in today’s M&A market, including institutional lender debt financing and private credit debt financing. Speakers will discuss how market conditions, interest rates, and lender expectations impact deal financing, key considerations for buyers and sellers when negotiating terms, as well as how these credit facilities are currently being structured and the additional legal requirements necessary to obtain the facility. Attendees will gain practical insights into structuring and securing financing to support transaction goals and power deals to the finish line.
10:30 a.m. – Break
10:45 a.m. – Preparing for Liquidity Before the Deal Starts
Presenters: Kendall Spencer, McLane Middleton; Whitney Alexander, McLane Middleton; Mitchell Stagnone, TSS Advisors; Connor McGuirk, Merrill Lynch
Successful transactions are often determined long before a deal is on the table. This session will focus on the critical legal, financial, and tax steps business owners and stakeholders can take to prepare for a future liquidity event. Speakers will discuss advance planning strategies to enhance value, address potential red flags, align internal teams and advisors early in the process, and ensure the seller has adequately planned for the liquidity event. Attendees will gain practical guidance on how thoughtful advance preparation can help ensure equity ownership is held optimally from an estate planning perspective, and put a business owner or stakeholder in an optimal financial and tax standpoint after the liquidity event takes place.
11:30 a.m. – Understanding Key Tax Structures in M&A Transactions
Presenters: John DeWispelaere, McLane Middleton; Amy Drake, McLane Middleton, Cory Vargo, Wipfli; Brian Corrigan Baker Tilly
Tax structure plays a pivotal role in shaping the economics and outcomes of M&A transactions for both buyers and sellers. This session will provide an overview of the most common tax structures used in M&A, including asset sales and stock sales, and examine how each impacts deal value, risk allocation, and post-closing outcomes. Speakers will address key considerations such as F- Reorganizations, tax elections (including 338(h)(10) elections), and how state corporate and personal income tax issues can impact transactions and transaction structures. Attendees will gain practical insight into how federal and state tax matters can impact and dictate the outcomes of various M&A transaction structures.
12:30 p.m. – Lunch
1:30 p.m. – Aligning Buyer and Seller: Driving Alignment Throughout the M&A Process
Presenters: Jesse Angeley, McLane Middleton; Stephanie Lee, McLane Middleton; John DeWispelaere, McLane Middleton; Scott McKenzie, Baker Newman Noyes; David Schneider, River Birch Partners LLC; Kohl Geibel, Bigelow LLC; Matt Nadeau, Nathan Wechsler
Successful M&A transactions require alignment between buyers and sellers on all aspects of a transaction. This session brings together attorneys, accountants, investment bankers, and private equity professionals to discuss how key transaction issues are viewed from both the buyer’s and seller’s perspective. The conversation will explore how different deal professionals analyze common friction points, where expectations tend to diverge, and how experienced advisors help parties navigate those differences to keep transactions moving toward closing.
3:00 p.m. – Networking Reception

COST:
$399 (Registration includes continental breakfast, lunch, reception, electronic copies of materials, CPA and CLE credits.)

2026 Massachusetts Employment Update
2026-09-24 08:00 - 12:30 | Danversport, 161 Elliott Street, Danvers, 01923, United States
McLane Middleton’s annual Massachusetts Employment Law Update will take place on September 24, 2026 at the Danversport in Danvers, MA.
AGENDA

8:00 a.m. – Registration and Welcome
8:30 – 9:30 a.m.
News You Can Use: Massachusetts and Federal administrative, legislative and case law update
Presenters: Adam Hamel and Jennifer Parent
9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Review of ADA Accommodations Best Practices
Presenters: Peg O’Brien and Brian Garrett
10:30 – 10:45 a.m. – Break
10:45 – 11:15 a.m.
Immigration Update
Presenters: Shiva Karimi & Andrea Hellrigel
11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Retaliation and Whistleblower Claims: Working through Fact Patterns
Presenters: Adam Hamel, Brian Garrett, and Amanda Brahm
12:15 – 12:30 p.m. – Q&A and Wrap-Up
Cost:
Early Bird – $125.00 (thru August 2, 2026)
Regular Rate – $150.00 (beginning August 3, 2026)
Registration includes continental breakfast, electronic copies of materials, and credits.

2026 Seacoast Employment Law Bootcamp Event
2026-09-30 08:00 - 12:30 | The Venue at Portwalk Place, 22 Portwalk Place, Portsmouth, NH, 03801, United States
Employment Law Boot Camp
A Little Prevention – A Lot Less Litigation
The best way to win an employment lawsuit is to prevent it from happening. Every day, employers face decisions that can either reduce legal risk or unintentionally create it. Most employment claims don’t arise from bad intentions. They stem from well-meaning managers making difficult decisions without understanding the legal implications.
Join us for this interactive half-day Employment Law Boot Camp designed to provide practical strategies that help employers avoid costly mistakes before they become legal problems.
Using real-world examples and practical guidance, we’ll focus on the questions employment attorneys answer every day.
During this program, we’ll cover:
Pay Correctly
Wage and hour compliance
Overtime and travel time
Employee classification and common payroll mistakes
Document & Discipline
Effective performance management
Documentation that supports employment decisions
Conducting workplace investigations and avoiding retaliation claims
Accommodate with Confidence
ADA accommodations
Medical leaves and return-to-work issues
Managing difficult conversations involving health and disability
Terminate Without Regret
Preparing for termination decisions
Reducing litigation risk
Best practices for final pay, severance, and post-employment issues

Who Should Attend?

Human Resource Professionals
Business Owners
Executives
Managers and Supervisors
In-House Counsel
Anyone responsible for making employment decisions

Cost:
Early Bird – $125.00 (Thru August 11, 2026)
Regular Rate – $150.00 (Beginning August 12, 2026)
Registration includes continental breakfast, electronic copies of materials, and credits.
