The principal expertise of the firm is the practice of municipal law. KP Law represents over one-third of the cities and towns in the Commonwealth as their City Solicitor or Town Counsel. In addition, we provide special counsel services, including serving as labor and employment counsel, to other cities and towns, special districts, housing authorities, regional transit authorities and state agencies. The firm’s broad range of practice areas includes labor and employment, contracts, real estate, land use, environmental, town meeting, government information and access, procurement and construction.
2018 Massachusetts Municipal Association Annual Meeting Handouts
Links to each handout from the 2018 Annual Meeting can be found below. Please also visit our Public Records Law Resource Page for a full range of publications and guidance concerning the New Public Records Law.
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Automobile Dealer Licensing |
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Cannabis Control Commission DRAFT Regulations – 935 CMR 500.00 – A Municipal Top 10 List |
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Drug and Alcohol Free Workplace Policy |
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Emergency Powers of Municipalities |
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Entertainment Licensing |
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Equal Employment Opportunity and Anti-Discrimination and Harassment (Including Sexual Harassment) Policy |
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The Evolving Interpretation of Article 97 – Smith v. Westfield |
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General Laws Chapter 40U – Alternate Process for Collection of Certain Fines |
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Non-Medical Marijuana by the Unofficial Numbers |
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Open Meeting Law Update – January, 2018 |
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Proposition 2 1/2 – Part I – A Practical Guide |
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Proposition 2 1/2 – Part II – Contingent Appropriations |
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SJC Affirms Authority of Towns and Cities to Regulate Use of Land for Private Aircraft |
We are pleased to announce that
Christopher J. Pollart
has joined KP Law as a Shareholder
and
Karla J. Doukas
has joined KP Law as a Member
Changes in Massachusetts Marijuana Law
In January, 2018, we updated our Guide to the Revised Law Legalizing Recreation Use of Marijuana. Knowing that communities throughout the state are likely to be addressing this issue in the months to come, we have linked that document here for your use.
Revised January 2018
On January 19, 2018, Attorney Katherine D. Laughman presented at the Massachusetts Municipal Association Annual Meeting in Boston. Attorney Laughman was a member of the panel entitled, Marijuana Law: The Way Forward for Municipalities. Also speaking on the panel, which was moderated by Attorney John Goldrosen, were Cannabis Control Commissioner Katharine Doyle and Chief of the Attorney General’s Central Massachusetts Division Margaret Hurley. Attorney Laughman, presenting to a capacity crowd, provided a comprehensive overview of recent developments in the law governing adult use and medical marijuana, focusing on issues facing municipalities as they consider local regulation of these new uses. Her power point can be found here, and the firm’s most recent guidance can be found here.
KP Law is pleased to report that Attorneys Jonathan M. Silverstein and Michele E. Randazzo, Members at the firm, and Attorneys Deborah I. Ecker and Janet Hetherwick Pumphrey, Counsel at the firm, were named as Super Lawyers for 2017. The designation is bestowed after a rigorous selection process, including independent research and peer nomination and evaluations. The final published list represents no more than 5 percent of the lawyers in the state of Massachusetts.
New – Amendments to Attorney General’s
Open Meeting Law Regulations
On October 16, 2017, we forwarded an eUpdate to our clients entitled, “Important Changes to the Open Meeting Law Regulations,” summarizing the recent amendments to the Attorney General’s Open Meeting Law Regulations. That document can be found at the link below.
Important Changes to the Open Meeting Law Regulations
Public Records Guidelines
As of July 1, 2017, the new Public Records Law requires Records Access Officers (RAOs) to prepare and post guidelines to assist persons seeking public records. If your community has not yet done so, the RAO should prepare and post such guidelines as soon as possible. The guidelines must be posted to the municipal website (assuming that the municipality has a website) and at municipal offices.
We have prepared sample guidelines RAOs may wish to use as an aid in preparing appropriate guidelines for their communities.
SAMPLE – Guidelines for Public Records Requests – PDF version
SAMPLE – Guidelines for Public Records Requests – Word Document version
The firm’s Public Record Law Resource Page can be found here, or for assistance from a member of the firm’s Government Information and Access Group, contact us at 617.556.0007.
Lawyer’s Have Heart!
KP Law sponsored a team in the annual Lawyers Have Heart road race on May 31, a 5K which raised funds for the American Heart Association. Timothy Zessin, with a time of 22:14, led a contingent of nine KP runners along the course, which wound its way along the Innovation District waterfront. The event raised over $297,000 to benefit the American Heart Association. This was the 10th anniversary of the LHH race, and KP Law has sponsored a team in the event every year.
2017 Massachusetts Municipal Association Annual Meeting Handouts
Links to each handout from the 2017 Annual Meeting can be found below. As we issue new materials they will be published on the website. Please also visit our Public Records Law Resource Page for a full range of publications and guidance concerning the New Public Records Law.
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Implications for Public Employers – The Regulation and Taxation of the Marijuana Act – With Sample Policy |
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The Public Records Law – Effective January 1, 2017 |
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KTT, LLC v. Board of Assessors of the Town of Swansea |
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Responding to a Public Records Request – Municipal Timeline – Effective January 1, 2017 |
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Municipal Modernization Act – A Practical Guide |
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Municipal Modernization Act – Public Procurement and Contracting |
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Municipal Modernization Act – Tax Administration |
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Open Meeting Law and Social Media – Potential Pitfalls |
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Public Building Construction Projects – Issues for Consideration When Drafting Warrant Articles |
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G.L. c.41 §111F (Injured on Duty Benefits) FAQ |
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Denial of Licenses for Non-Payment of Certain Municipal Charges – Amendment to G.L. c40 §57 |
KP Law is pleased to report that Attorneys Jonathan M. Silverstein and Deborah I. Ecker were named as Super Lawyers for 2016. The designation is bestowed after a rigorous selection process, including independent research, peer nomination and peer evaluations. The final published list represents no more than 5 percent of the of the lawyers in the state of Massachusetts. This is the second time Attorney Silverstein, a Shareholder at the firm and a member of the Manager Committee, has been so recognized. He was also previously selected as a Rising Star. Attorney Ecker joined the firm as Counsel in 2014, and has greatly contributed to our insurance defense and litigation practice areas.
KP Law congratulates Attorney Janelle M. Austin, a Senior Associate at the firm, on again being named a Rising Star for 2016. The Rising Star selection process mirrors the Super Lawyer selection process, and is for lawyers who are under a particular age or in practice for 10 years or less.
Congratulations Jonathan, Deborah and Janelle on this special achievement!
Want to know more about our eUpdates and how you can get on our distribution list, or about any of our other value-added services? Contact our Managing Attorney Lauren Goldberg at 617-556-0007.