Family Law

• Divorce
• Child Support
• Child Custody and Visitation
  When litigation is required, we aggressively pursue your rights in court in matters related to child custody, asset valuation, pre- and postnuptial agreements and other potentially contentious issues. In other instances, however, alternative approaches such as mediation or conciliation, may yield a more cost-effective and equally equitable result. During mediation, we can act as a neutral mediator or as an advisor to one party.
• Adoption
• Paternity
• Premarital Agreement
  We understand that each situation is unique and that the strategies to protect and transfer wealth are not  one-size-fits-all. Whether it’s an intergenerational trust or a prenuptial agreement that protects family wealth, we tailor our strategies to align with your present needs and future goals.
• Guardianship
• Spousal Support

Criminal Law

• Criminal Defense
  Whether you are faced with a complex, high-stakes business dispute or are involved in a smaller-scale conflict, we are committed to providing vigorous representation in all types of civil, commercial, and criminal matters. Additionally, our experienced appellate practice has the unique skills and strategies required to mount a successful appeal, whether to preserve a favorable result or overturn an adverse ruling. We incorporate this expertise from the outset to effectively craft our strategies and arguments for trial.
• Restraining Order
• Money Laundering
  As a reminder, the CTA is a new federal law that took effect on January 1, 2024. It was enacted to combat money laundering, and under the CTA, all companies that are “reporting companies” must file beneficial ownership reports (“BOI reports”) with the Department of Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”). Additional background information on the CTA and its requirements and exemptions can be found in our previous client alerts of January 31, 2024 and October 15, 2024.

Business and Corporate Law

• Corporate Law
  Douglas-Steele provides a wide array of legal services to nonprofit entities, including assistance with formation, day-to-day operations and tax-exempt status. She also advises clients on a range of for-profit corporate matters such as formation, mergers and acquisitions, contract drafting and negotiation, licensure requirements, and corporate governance. Douglas-Steele is a member of the American Bar Association and the Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers. She received her J.D. from Duke University School of Law and her B.A. from Amherst College.
• Mergers and Acquisitions
  Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are often transformative business events and our M&A team is committed to smoothly guiding your deal from initial negotiations through closing. We work with domestic and international buyers and sellers, private equity groups and other deal sponsors in an extensive assortment of financings and strategic transactions.
• Business Formation
  From venture financing and intellectual property advice, to business formation and M&A, to multimillion-dollar asset sales, we advise large and small businesses at every stage of the business life cycle. Our clients include emerging, family-owned and other closely-held businesses across industries...
• Business Disputes
• Trade Secrets
• Intellectual Property

Employment Law

• Employment Discrimination
• Employment Litigation
  With substantial employment litigation experience, we can represent you before state and federal courts, and the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission as necessary.
• Severance Agreement
• Sexual Harassment
  We represent employers and executives in companies of all sizes and often act as outside employment counsel to address the spectrum of day-to-day employment issues. Members of our team are available to conduct customized trainings and seminars—whether virtually or at your place of business—on various employment-related topics, including sexual harassment and discrimination avoidance, and best practices for finding leadership for startups.

Property Law

• Real Estate Litigation
  Best Lawyers’ “Best Law Firms” rankings are based on client and lawyer evaluations, peer review from leading attorneys in their field and review of additional information provided by law firms as part of the formal submission process. To be eligible for a ranking, a law firm must have at least one lawyer listed in
• Construction Litigation
  Construction delays and disputes can cost your company hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars. When disputes arise, we are there to help you resolve contentious issues in both state and federal courts. We can develop, present and defend construction claims, as well as those for complex contractual and extra-contractual delay, productivity, and efficiency entitlements.
• Easement

Health Law

• Personal Injury

Trusts and Estates

• Estate Planning
  Our lawyers practice in the business, employment and estate planning areas, bringing to bear a full suite of resources to represent startups, emerging growth companies and larger enterprises across a wide range of industries.
• Wills
  Working collaboratively with your financial, accounting and insurance advisors, we partner with you to review your ownership and disposition of assets and develop techniques to minimize your tax obligations. And, when necessary, we draw on the talents of our Casner colleagues in complementary practice areas to handle fiduciary litigation, including will contests and other types of probate controversies.
• Trusts
  We represent individuals and families, privately held businesses, family charitable trusts and foundations, and professional fiduciaries. Our expertise spans estate planning, philanthropic endeavors, estate and trust administration, and related gift and estate tax matters. We are also experienced in long-term care planning techniques, elder law matters, and establishing estate plans for disabled individuals.  We collaborate with our colleagues to plan for your family’s real estate, philanthropic, and business interests.
• Probate

Finance Law

• Bankruptcy
• Foreclosure
• Tax Law
  With extensive experience in handling tax matters and backed by the firm’s full range of business counseling and litigation expertise, we provide sound counsel for large and small business entities, individuals and families, estates and trusts, and tax-exempt organizations in tax planning, compliance and controversy. Clients count on us in the areas of...