Quarterly Legal Education Programs
All half day quarterly MA Forum Educational programs are free for current members in good standing. The fee for non-member attorneys is $50 per person. All attendees should register ahead of time for a proper head count for planning purposes.
Meanwhile, if you have any questions, please send a message to us via: board@maforumepa.com. Please recall that we are a purely volunteer-only Board of actively-practicing attorneys. We thank you in advance for your (and your team/staff members') courteous patience while you wait for our reply.
Winter 2018
Friday, February 9, 2018 8:30 AM - 12:30PM
Hot breakfast, hot, coffee and warm, friendly networking.
Attorney Heidi Alexander with the Massachusetts Law Office Management Assistance Program (MA LOMAP) presented information regarding risk avoidance and mitigation, best practices, and breach preparedness for law firm data security, file management, evolving technology, and the Massachusetts data security law.
Insurance industry expert Christine Cunning with the independent, Massachusetts agency of Sullivan, Garrity & Donnelly Insurance, and Christine's colleague who specializes in data security and serves as a resource to her firm, explained data security and breach coverage options, potential gaps, and some of the differences between commercial and malpractice insurance coverages.
We then engaged in a roundtable discussion about issues of importance to the group, including the newly enacted tax act and what it means for our clients' estate plans and businesses as well as for own law firm businesses.
Spring 2018
Friday, 5/11/18 8:30am-12:30 pm at the Hilton Garden Inn in Waltham, MA.
Topic: How the new tax act of 2017 impacts planning our clients' estates, businesses, & our law firm businesses.
Long time MA Forum member, current Board Member, and Past President, Attorney Allen J. Margulis will lead the discussion about the new tax act and what it means for our clients, their businesses, and our law firm businesses.
We will also explore planning recommendations, opportunities, and pitfalls to avoid. This program is still taking shape now and we welcome your suggestions.
Summer 2018
Our Summer Quarterly Meeting is scheduled for:
Friday, 7/20/18
8:30am-12:30 pm
Hilton Garden Inn in Waltham, MA.
Sara Goldman Curley and Andrew M. Golden from Nutter, McClennen, and Fish, LLP have graciously agreed to present for us about spotting, understanding, and using disclaimers and powers of appointment. We plan to cover:
- Elements of a qualified disclaimer under IRC § 2518 and requirements for disclaiming under MGL c. 190B, §2-801
- Use of disclaimers in planning (including when and why to use a plan that anticipates disclaimers)
- Use of disclaimers in administering an estate or trust (including when and why to consider disclaiming)
- Issues when considering disclaimers in a fiduciary capacity
- Practical tips (and traps) for disclaiming in Massachusetts
- Types of powers of appointment and significance from tax perspective
- Use of powers of appointment in planning (including giving a third party the ability to grant a power, and when and why to grant powers of appointment)
- How and when to exercise powers of appointment
- Practical tips (and traps) for use of powers of appointment, including Delaware tax trap
Following the disclaimers and powers of appointment presentation, we will have an open Roundtable Discussion. We encourage you to send your questions to us in advance (board@maforumepa.com) or come ready to raise them for some fabulous group problem-solving. What practice management or substantive legal challenges are you facing? What patterns are you recognizing in your practice?
Fall 2018
Our Fall Quarterly & Annual, full-day meeting, is scheduled for:
Friday, 10/19/18
Babson College Executive Conference Center in Wellesley.