To clients, friends, and business partners of Prince Lobel Tye LLP:
It’s February. The holiday decorations have been taken down and stored; the Patriots have performed their Super Bowl magic; and the calendar tells us that spring is around the corner. Our nation and our community, poised for a time of change, are immersed in discussions about what is yet to come.
At Prince Lobel, we have begun 2017 with a bang: the much-ballyhooed addition of a group of some of the finest patent, trademark, and intellectual property lawyers our region has to offer. In our new office space at One International Place, our lawyers and staff are buzzing with activity and excitement about serving our clients with undivided loyalty and a commitment to excellence.
At this time of anticipation, we wish to pause to express our sincere gratitude to you, our loyal partners, for allowing us to help you achieve your business and individual goals. I also want to highlight for you some of the behind-the-scenes initiatives that make us proud to be Prince Lobel.
Commitment to Community and Diversity
We have regularly updated you on our public successes in court and at the deal table. I am taking this opportunity now to share with you a different kind of achievement: Prince Lobel’s continuing efforts to make good on the firm’s long-standing commitment to community, diversity, and public service.
At Prince Lobel, we contribute to worthy charities and encourage all of our employees to give back to the community. Unusual among Boston law firms, we actually pay our attorneys and staff to engage in a day devoted to public service. And every Friday, we permit our employees to dress in denim in exchange for their cash contributions, matched by the firm, to a wide array of worthy non-profit organizations.
Most recently, we have strengthened the firm’s commitment to community and diversity by partnering with Cristo Rey Boston’s Corporate Work Study program. Prince Lobel has hired a team of students from Cristo Rey High School to assist in departments throughout the firm. The students are given the opportunity to cultivate valuable skills and professionalism, while also experiencing firsthand the value that the firm places on giving back to the community.
In 2016, our record of pro bono work and community philanthropy earned us one-of-a-kind recognition, when Prince Lobel received one of several Excellence in the Law awards granted by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly. It marked the first time that the legal journal has selected an entire firm for dedication to community.
Under the auspices of Prince Lobel’s innovative Volunteer Time Off program, our employees in 2016 forged particularly strong affiliations with three Boston organizations:
- Greenway Conservancy – Partnering with our new neighbor, Prince Lobel sponsored the annual Greenway Gala, with our employees volunteering to spend a day gardening on the Greenway.
- Boston Nature Center – As lead sponsor of the Massachusetts Audubon “Rockin’ with Raptors” fundraiser, we rolled up our sleeves and joined with the Boston Nature Center for a Fall Cleanup.
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston – Through our annual holiday gift drive, we not only provided gifts for families in need–our teams even spent a day wrapping gifts in order to make the holidays particularly special for underprivileged children and families.
In 2016, no fewer than 47 different charitable organizations received monetary donations raised through Prince Lobel’s weekly Denim Day initiative. The firm and its employees contributed over $100,000 to non-profit charitable groups. Our attorneys donated the equivalent of $400,000 in pro bono legal services. We provided 1,500 meals to families in need during the holidays, and dozens of children received holiday gifts thanks to the caring contributions of Prince Lobel employees.
Attorney Growth
The past year has been one of unprecedented growth for the firm. We were proud to elevate litigator Heather Gamache and domestic relations attorney Kristin Kuperstein to partnership. We also added attorneys in a wide range of strategically important practice areas: business litigators Joe Curtin, Joe Messina, and Michael Kippins; media and data privacy attorney Katie Stone; domestic relations attorney Kelly Griffin; and real estate lawyer Stephanie Haughey.
We also vastly expanded our patent, trademark, and other intellectual property services with the hiring of partners Bob Gilman, Jim Foster, Tom Bordner, Paul Hayes, Tom O’Konski, Dean Bostock, and Kevin Gannon, as well as associates Aaron Jacobs, Michael Ercolini, and Dan McGonagle.
Client Outreach and Education
In June, after settling into our new offices at One International Place, we showcased our space in a celebration with family, friends, colleagues, and clients. We also opened our doors throughout the year in order to host a wide variety of conferences and networking events, including:
“What Keeps You Up at Night?” Our Closely Held Business Group hosted an interactive discussion in March addressing some of the most anxiety-producing issues faced by owners of small and medium-sized businesses. The evening’s theme was how to create, keep, and protect the value of one’s business. The roundtable discussion featured Prince Lobel attorneys Patricia Annino, Bob Maloney, and Dan Tarlow.
“What They Never Taught You in General Counsel School.” This breakfast panel presentation addressed some of the more unexpected legal questions that can cross an in-house attorney’s desk: kids in trouble, a key stakeholder’s death, medical marijuana and the workplace, imposter websites, and social media gaffes, among others. Moderated by Prince Lobel Partner Steve Gans, the panel included partners Patricia Annino, Rob Bertsche, Jim Lawson, Laurie Rubin, and Pasquale DeSantis.
“Making the Case for Boston.” We were particularly proud of this October program, in which Boston-area law school students joined in an evening of conversation and networking with general counsel from some of the area’s most exciting and innovative businesses. Focusing on issues of diversity and inclusion, the panelists–including moderator Walter Prince—discussed why Boston is an especially inviting place for newly minted lawyers of color to launch their careers.
“The State of Solar in Massachusetts.” In December, Prince Lobel hosted the Climate Action Business Association’s State of Solar Energy in Massachusetts event, facilitated by partner Julie Barry. The evening featured a wide-ranging expert discussion on the state’s rapidly growing solar industry and the efforts of legislators to keep up.
Recognitions and Awards
As you can probably tell, I’m proud of the work of our attorneys and the growth of our firm. So I hope you’ll forgive me if I brag a little:
- Prince Lobel was recognized on the “Best Law Firms” survey for 2017 by U.S. News and Best Lawyers.
- Eleven attorneys were recognized as Best Lawyers in America® by Best Lawyers.
- Twenty-seven attorneys were recognized as “Massachusetts Super Lawyers” or “Rising Stars.”
- Craig Tateronis was nominated for the 20th Annual Rosoff Award in recognition of Prince Lobel’s diverse workforce and inclusive environment.
- Partners Hugh Gorman and Jeff Pyle were named “Lawyers of the Year” by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly.
- Partner Walter Prince was named one of Boston’s 100 Most Influential People of Color.
- Partner John Markey was the first-ever recipient of the Sister Margaret Leonard Hope Award, established to honor compassionate and tireless efforts to end family homelessness.
- Our rebranded website received special recognition from CSS Design Awards and Web Design Pub.
We look forward to our continued work with you throughout 2017. Should you have any questions or comments about our legal services and activities, please feel free to contact me directly. I am always eager to hear how we can improve our services both to our clients and to our community.