By Morgan E. Hedly and Michael A. Gamboli Recent amendments to the Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) law now allow employees to use accrued paid leave, such as sick time, vacation time and personal days, to supplement PFML benefits at any time during leave. The Department of Family and Medical Leave (DFML) has...
By Neil Smola Governor Maura Healey signed a tax relief package into law on October 4, 2023, making changes to how the Massachusetts estate tax is calculated. The new law doubles the Massachusetts estate tax exemption from $1 million to $2 million. The new law also removes the so-called “estate tax cliff” so that only...
Client AlertsLand UseNewsBreaking Down the New Legislative Changes to RI Subdivision and Development Process
August 22, 2023
By Michael L. Mineau Following up on a recent PSH Land Use Client Alert, Governor McKee has signed into law a collection of bills which were passed through both houses of the state legislature in June. These new laws, which will mostly become effective January 1, 2024, significantly change many aspects of land use and...
ArticlesClient AlertsCorporate & BusinessNonprofitGifts of Privately Held Company Interests to a Charity
August 11, 2023
By Elizabeth O. Manchester and Lawrence J. Sheh Overview Donors with ownership interests in privately held companies (i.e., limited liability companies, corporations, partnerships) have the ability to utilize the interest to make a charitable gift. This strategy becomes particularly useful and relevant when Donor is selling his or her business to a third party. Donors...
Client AlertsNewsNonprofitThe U.S. Department of Education Launches an Investigation into Legacy and Donor Admissions Practices under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act
August 1, 2023
By Madeline M. Ursini or Elizabeth O. Manchester The U.S. Department of Education launched a civil rights investigation into Harvard University’s (“Harvard”) use of legacy and donor admissions preferences, following the United States Supreme Court’s recent decision to strike down the indication of one’s race as a factor in affirmative action policies related to college admissions....
By Michael A. Gamboli It is that time of year again, when the Rhode Island legislature ends its session and passes a number of laws that affect businesses with Rhode Island based employees. 2023 was no different. Following is a short summary of the more important new laws that Rhode Island businesses must be aware...
Client AlertsEmployment & LaborNewsNonprofitThe Supreme Court Strikes Down Race-Based College Admissions in Landmark Harvard/UNC Decision
July 7, 2023
By Madeline M. Ursini, Elizabeth O. Manchester, and Alicia J. Samolis On June 29, 2023, the Supreme Court of the United States determined the constitutionality of the race-based admissions policies employed by Harvard College and the University of North Carolina in the landmark cases Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard...
Client AlertsEmployment & LaborNewsSupreme Court Clears the Way for an Influx of Religious Accommodation Requests
July 5, 2023
By Michael A. Gamboli and Alicia J. Samolis As is tradition, the United States Supreme Court likes to save its blockbuster opinions until the end of the term. Such is the case with the June 28 ruling in Groff v. Dejoy, where the Court, while indicating that it was merely “clarifying” the existing legal standard, may have...
Client AlertsLand UseNewsNew RI Legislation to Significantly Change Land Use Law and Development Process
June 26, 2023
By Michael L. Mineau and Jeffrey H. Gladstone The Rhode Island General Assembly recently passed a series of bills through both houses which were transmitted to the Governor for signature on June 19, 2023, commonly known as House Speaker Joseph Shekarchi’s housing package. The scope and significance of these bills, assuming they become law (which...
Client AlertsEmployment & LaborNewsEmployers Will Face More Pregnancy Accommodation Requests Under New Federal Law
June 23, 2023
By Michael A. Gamboli and Alicia J. Samolis The new Federal Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (“PWFA”), effective June 27, 2023, purports to expand current federal protections by requiring certain employers to provide “reasonable accommodations” to a worker’s known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, unless the accommodation will cause the employer an...
