We Are Here for Your Employment Law, Estate Planning and Business Law Needs
Welcome to SlnlawWe get it.
We understand that no one wants to find themselves in a situation where they need legal assistance. Life can throw unexpected challenges your way, whether you're a small business owner, an individual facing an employment dispute, or a family concerned about estate planning. For Small Business Owners: As a small business owner, you've poured your heart and soul into your venture. When faced with complex legal issues, it's natural to feel a sense of frustration and uncertainty. You may be worried about the immediate cost of addressing the situation, but also the impact on your business's reputation or the well-being of your team. We're here to guide you through these challenges, providing not only legal support but also the peace of mind you need to protect what you've built. For Individuals in Employment Disputes: Facing an employment dispute can be emotionally draining. You might feel betrayed by an employer, confused by the legal jargon, or even a sense of injustice. The stress and anxiety can take a toll on your well-being. Our team understands these feelings, because we have worked through them with literally thousands of people in situations like yours. We're dedicated to helping you get clarity about your rights during this difficult time, and advocating for nyou if those rights were violated. For Families Considering Estate Planning: When it comes to estate planning, it's common to feel a mix of emotions, including concern for your loved ones' future and the fear of the unknown. You may be wondering how to ensure your family's financial security and provide for their well-being. Our estate planning services are designed to ease your worries and help you make decisions that reflect your values and priorities. We'll work together to create a plan that offers peace of mind and a sense of control over your family's future. We've Got ThisAt slnlaw, we're more than just lawyers. We're problem solvers, advocates, and compassionate advisors dedicated to helping you overcome life's legal challenges. You're not alone in this journey, and we've assisted numerous individuals, families, and businesses in finding their way to the light at the end of whatever tunnel they are facing.
Our team comprises top-rated legal professionals with a wealth of experience, creativity, and a genuine commitment to serving your best interests. When you choose us, you're choosing a partner who will stand by your side, providing the support and guidance you need to navigate the complexities of the legal world. Don't let legal challenges overwhelm you. Contact us today, and let's work together to find solutions and ensure a brighter, more secure future for you and your business. |
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Employment Law
Almost everyone encounters an employment law issue at some point in their career, whether it is a job termination, a severance agreement, a non compete situation, issues with payment of wages or commissions, independent contractor classification, or simply understanding the legal ramifications of signing a new employment contract or quitting a job.
We have seen almost every employment law situation imaginable, and helped thousands of individuals navigate the legal and practical issues they are facing. This includes negotiating severance packages, evaluating and pursuing claims for wrongful termination, discrimination or retaliation, and violations of the Massachusetts and federal wage and hour laws. We have also helped many employees understand their options and legal obligations under non compete agreements and defend against claims from former employers for non compete violations.
We're here to help you understand your rights and your options, and help you protect those rights if necessary. From simple contract review to pursuing claims in court, and everything in between, our employment lawyers have the knowledge, skills and experience to guide you through it.
We have seen almost every employment law situation imaginable, and helped thousands of individuals navigate the legal and practical issues they are facing. This includes negotiating severance packages, evaluating and pursuing claims for wrongful termination, discrimination or retaliation, and violations of the Massachusetts and federal wage and hour laws. We have also helped many employees understand their options and legal obligations under non compete agreements and defend against claims from former employers for non compete violations.
We're here to help you understand your rights and your options, and help you protect those rights if necessary. From simple contract review to pursuing claims in court, and everything in between, our employment lawyers have the knowledge, skills and experience to guide you through it.
Estate Planning
Estate planning is often a difficult, yet critical, topic. What will happen to your assets when you are gone, how much of your legacy can be protected against estate taxes or other costs like the costs of long term care, and how to spare your family the time and cost of probate court are some of the most common questions.
There are additional questions people often have, like who you want to have medical and financial decision making power if you are incapacitated, how to handle complex family structures, estate planning considerations for a child with disabilities or special needs, how to take care of a surviving spouse and still ensure key assets are ultimately available for your children, and more.
Finally, you may find yourself needing to understand a loved one's estate plan, either when you are dealing with the aftermath of their passing or helping aging parents with their affairs. Understanding the scope of their durable power of attorney and health care proxy can be critical for you at this stage. It is also in many cases a window of opportunity for them to review their plans and make sure everything is set up to go smoothly after they are gone.
We're here to help you create the documents you need to achieve your goals, whatever they are. Whether you need a comprehensive estate planning package (a will, a trust, a durable power of attorney and a health care proxy) or something simpler, we can help you make a plan.
There are additional questions people often have, like who you want to have medical and financial decision making power if you are incapacitated, how to handle complex family structures, estate planning considerations for a child with disabilities or special needs, how to take care of a surviving spouse and still ensure key assets are ultimately available for your children, and more.
Finally, you may find yourself needing to understand a loved one's estate plan, either when you are dealing with the aftermath of their passing or helping aging parents with their affairs. Understanding the scope of their durable power of attorney and health care proxy can be critical for you at this stage. It is also in many cases a window of opportunity for them to review their plans and make sure everything is set up to go smoothly after they are gone.
We're here to help you create the documents you need to achieve your goals, whatever they are. Whether you need a comprehensive estate planning package (a will, a trust, a durable power of attorney and a health care proxy) or something simpler, we can help you make a plan.
Business Law
Whether you are starting a business, looking for ways to protect an existing business by creating the right contracts or documentation, or navigating a dispute with a customer, vendor, or another business, effective legal advice and assistance is often critical. You want to be sure your personal assets are protected from business liabilities, and that you have clear and documented expectations with the people you do business with. If you are partners in a business, having the right documents in place to address things like decision-making and exit is also critical to avoiding disputes in the future.
If you have employees, you also want to be sure your hiring, firing and compensation practices are in line with state and federal employment laws so that you can avoid or minimize risk and disruption to your business. There are many mistakes that are easy to avoid but all too common that leave business owners vulnerable to a disgruntled employee or former employee. These include misunderstanding overtime exemptions, employing people as independent contractors who do not qualify for that status under the law, missing statutory deadlines for payment of wages and commissions, and mishandling the employment termination process.
We're here to help you put the legal and practical strategies in place that you need to protect yourself and your business, avoid the cost and distraction of unnecessary legal battles, and vindicate your legal rights if needed.
If you have employees, you also want to be sure your hiring, firing and compensation practices are in line with state and federal employment laws so that you can avoid or minimize risk and disruption to your business. There are many mistakes that are easy to avoid but all too common that leave business owners vulnerable to a disgruntled employee or former employee. These include misunderstanding overtime exemptions, employing people as independent contractors who do not qualify for that status under the law, missing statutory deadlines for payment of wages and commissions, and mishandling the employment termination process.
We're here to help you put the legal and practical strategies in place that you need to protect yourself and your business, avoid the cost and distraction of unnecessary legal battles, and vindicate your legal rights if needed.
Meet Our Attorneys
Emily Smith-Lee is the owner and founder of slnlaw. She is a 1996 graduate of Boston College Law School. She was previously a partner at the Boston office of a large international firm, where she worked for thirteen years with a focus on business litigation. In 2009, she started the firm that since became slnlaw, and has grown it from a solo practice to a five-attorney firm with multiple practice areas. She has been recognized as Massachusetts Superlawyer each year since 2013, and in 2018 earned recognition as one of Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly's Lawyers of the Year. She has written a book on employment law: Rules of the Road, What You Need to Know About Employment Laws in Massachusetts, and helped hundreds of small business owners with contracts, business transactions, employment law advice, business incorporation, and risk management. She has also litigated business disputes in state and federal courts.
Rebecca Rogers: Rebecca is a 2006 graduate of Boston College Law School, and has worked with slnlaw since 2013. She previously worked as an intellectual property litigation attorney for Fish & Richardson in Boston, Massachusetts, and clerked for the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. Rebecca has helped clients with business contracts, employment contracts, and employment law advice.
Jenna Ordway: Jenna is a 2013 graduate of Quinnipiac Law School, and also earned an LLM in Taxation from Boston University in 2015. She has been affiliated with slnlaw since 2011, first as a law clerk and then as an attorney. Jenna has been recognized since 2019 as a "Rising Star" by Massachusetts Superlawyers. Jenna has helped many small business owners with simple and complex business incorporation, contract review, advice and analysis regarding business disputes, employment law advice, and advice about business succession considerations as part of estate planning.
Elijah Bresley: Eli is a 2014 graduate of Seton Hall Law school, and has worked with slnlaw since 2020. He previously worked for a boutique employment law firm outside of Boston, and then for the Labor and Employment department of a large Boston firm. He also spent a year clerking for the judges of the Superior Court in Hartford, Connecticut. Eli has helped our small business clients with employment law advice and defense of employment-related lawsuits in MCAD and state and federal courts.
Sharleen Tinnin: Sharleen is a 2010 graduate of Northeastern University School of Law, and has been with slnlaw since 2023. Prior to joining slnlaw, she worked with King, Tilden, McEttrick & Brink, P.C. on complex civil litigation matters. She previously worked for the United States Department of Justice, and received an "Excellence in Justice" award in 2017. Sharleen has helped clients litigate business disputes in state and federal courts, and advised business owners about succession considerations as part of their estate planning.
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Jenna Ordway
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MESSAGE FROM THE FOUNDER
"When I started this practice in 2009, I thought I knew all about being a lawyer. I had spent thirteen years at a prestigious international law firm in Boston. I had worked on complex cases involving large companies in many industries, from pharmaceutical to health care to seed companies. What I did not understand then was the true power of being in a position to help ordinary people facing challenges that seem extraordinary to them. I have had the opportunity to help families make sure the people they love the most are protected, small businesses avoid catastrophic lawsuits, entrepreneurs launch their dream without exposing their families to liability, hardworking people protect their right to be paid and treated fairly in the workplace, and more.
Here is what I learned these people have in common: They are facing a challenge in their lives or their businesses that is unfamiliar to them. They do not know what questions to ask. In many cases, they do not have a great experience being heard, or feeling like someone has their back. They may have called a few law firms and, instead of finding solutions, been made to feel small, unimportant, or more overwhelmed.
I've learned that it doesn't have to be that way. We may have seen your problem a hundred times before, but I and my team work hard to remember that it is new to you. We do not have "big" clients and "small" clients- we have clients, whose issues are all important to us. Our mission is to give you the best advice, advocate for your interests, help you ask the right questions, and make sure you have the information you need to make the decisions that are best for you or your business. So that when you come out on the other side of whatever you are facing- and you will- you will have not only a resolution but clarity about how you got there, and how you can avoid that particular problem in the future.
Not sure which way to turn? Give us a call- we'd really like to help."
Here is what I learned these people have in common: They are facing a challenge in their lives or their businesses that is unfamiliar to them. They do not know what questions to ask. In many cases, they do not have a great experience being heard, or feeling like someone has their back. They may have called a few law firms and, instead of finding solutions, been made to feel small, unimportant, or more overwhelmed.
I've learned that it doesn't have to be that way. We may have seen your problem a hundred times before, but I and my team work hard to remember that it is new to you. We do not have "big" clients and "small" clients- we have clients, whose issues are all important to us. Our mission is to give you the best advice, advocate for your interests, help you ask the right questions, and make sure you have the information you need to make the decisions that are best for you or your business. So that when you come out on the other side of whatever you are facing- and you will- you will have not only a resolution but clarity about how you got there, and how you can avoid that particular problem in the future.
Not sure which way to turn? Give us a call- we'd really like to help."
