What types of law does your firm handle?
We concentrate our practice in the areas of business litigation,
white collar criminal defense and government investigations, as
well as corporate compliance, business and employment law.
Any particular areas of law where the firm has made a
name for itself?
We are known for preventing problems before they arise and for
our determined representation of our clients in court when needed.
Our approach is simple: we try to get involved quickly to minimize
damage and find a solution.
What firm attribute do clients find most
attractive?
We are large enough to provide our clients with the legal
services they need, but are small enough to be cost-effective and
focused on them. When clients contact us, they hear back from us
promptly.
Describe a recent "win" or client success story that the
firm is proud of?
We recently filed a lawsuit for a client against the
Massachusetts Division of Banks because it was attempting to
regulate a specific aspect of the practice of law. As a result of
our advocacy, the Division of Banks dropped this effort.
We also like to say that some of our best results are the ones
you have never heard about. For example, our efforts have aided
clients in avoiding indictment and/or civil enforcement by federal
and state authorities, kept local college students in school, and
resolved disputes among owners of closely-held businesses.
Describe a recent pro bono project the firm has
undertaken.
We recently successfully assisted a local family in obtaining
special education services for their child who had been diagnosed
with autism, advocating for the child and his family both at
in-school meetings and in mediation.
Is your firm regularly active with any charitable or
civic organization?
The lawyers in our firm have been involved in an array of
charitable and civic organizations, including Middlesex
Partnerships for Youth (an organization closely associated with the
Middlesex District Attorney's Office, which is dedicated to
promoting the health and safety of children in Middlesex County),
youth sports and raising funds for the Jimmy Fund.
Anything to announce in the coming year?
Mark Smith will become the president of the Boston Bar
Association in September.
Name at least one fact about the firm that people might
be surprised to learn?
Marc Laredo and Mark Smith first met in the late 1980s as young
attorneys in the Criminal Bureau of the Massachusetts Attorney
General's Office. Before returning to private practice in 1990,
Marc Laredo indicted a securities fraud case but left it to Mark
Smith to spend that summer preparing for and trying the case (which
resulted in a successful conviction). Despite that long summer,
when Mark Smith left the Attorney General's Office a decade later,
he joined Marc Laredo at the firm where they have practiced
together for over 15 years.
Why is it important to have all the lawyers in your firm
members of the MBA?
We are strong supporters of bar associations and believe that
having all of our lawyers be members of the MBA is valuable to them
both personally and professionally.
In what way do you find the MBA beneficial to the
lawyers in your firm?
The MBA has been a strong voice for the legal community, which
is a benefit to all lawyers, including the members of our firm. We
benefit from its array of educational programs, both as
participants and attendees, and its various publications, including
the Massachusetts Law Review (Marc Laredo serves as its Articles
Editor).
Are there any specific MBA programs you find
particularly helpful to your firm?
The Massachusetts Law Review is an excellent source of scholarly
information on Massachusetts law. The MBA's continuing education
programs are quite valuable.
What would you like to see more of at the
MBA?
We encourage the MBA's continuing efforts to reach out to
lawyers throughout the state. Strong bar associations are good for
individual lawyers and the entire profession.