The Newsletter You’ve Been Waiting For: ConnKavaNews Spring 2023

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Dear Clients, Friends, and Colleagues,

Welcome to the inaugural edition of ConnKavaNews. We promise to bring you useful and informative articles, updates about the firm, and some content that is just for fun. Because law firm newsletters do not need to be boring! The articles here describe courtroom battles involving iconic rock bands, recent changes to DOJ enforcement policies that encourage companies to self-report, and the circumstances in which saying “I’m sorry” can hurt you or help you in fending off a lawsuit. We also alert you to some upcoming CLE opportunities, including an upcoming presentation by our partner Carol Starkey on the DOJ’s new enforcement policies. Finally, we introduce you to some new faces at the firm, and celebrate recent accomplishments and appointments, including Glen Tagliamonte’s elevation to partner. There are a lot of great things happening at the firm, not the least of which is that we continue to work with terrific clients who are doing their part to keep our economy humming, in Boston and beyond. Let’s keep it going.

Best,
Erin Higgins
Managing Partner

BACKSTAGE PASS

What Lawsuit Pleadings Tell Us About Life in a Rock and Roll Band

By Michael J. Rossi

In addition to being talented and sometimes iconic, rock stars are also litigious. The cases discussed here are just an introduction. The legal battles of bands like the Eagles, Pink Floyd, and Fleetwood Mac are the stuff of rock legend. Even the Beatles, the most successful band in history, spent nearly as much time in the courtroom as they did in the recording studio.

"CORPORATE CITIZEN, POLICE THYSELF"

How the DOJ Is Changing Its Corporate Enforcement Policy
to Encourage Self-Policing

By J.P. Christian Milde, Esq.

Few executives expect to interact with the Department of Justice (DOJ) during their careers, but the current DOJ has given companies some homework, and the assignment applies to everyone. Recent changes to the DOJ’s corporate enforcement policy are designed to encourage companies to self-monitor for illegal activity and to self-report misconduct to authorities. Given the implications of the changes, even smaller companies and those in lightly regulated industries should be paying attention.

THINK TWICE BEFORE APOLOGIZING

Can a “Benevolent Gesture” become an Admission of Liability?

By Kaitlyn L. Stone, Esq.

One of the golden rules that we are taught as children is to apologize when we have hurt or wronged someone. And while the words “I’m sorry” do not mitigate the actual harm done, we understand that they can go a long way in expressing regret and sympathy to the people suffering from our actions – even if those actions and the harm caused weren’t intentional.

So it makes sense that this basic rule of playground etiquette has been codified in many states, including Massachusetts, to encourage people to apologize and express sympathy when they have done something wrong without fear that those statements will be used against them down the road.

N E W S

News from the Technology and Outsourcing Team:
Major Healthcare Imaging Transaction Finalized by Technology & Outsourcing Team

Technology & Outsourcing Team Helps Set Industry Standards

Glen A. Tagliamonte elevated to partner
The Management Committee and all his colleagues at Conn Kavanaugh are delighted to announce that Glen Tagliamonte was elevated to partner of the firm as of January 1, 2023.

Carol A. Starkey Appointed as ABA delegate
Carol was appointed by the governing Council of the Boston Bar Association (BBA) and the American Bar Association (ABA), for a two year term as a member of the House of Delegates of the ABA, representing the BBA’s 13,000 members at the national association (2022-2024)

Kate R. O’Toole selected to participate in the WBA 2023 Women’s Leadership Initiative
Conn Kavanaugh Employment Law Partner Kathleen R. O’Toole was selected to participate in the 2023 WBA Women’s Leadership Initiative.

Marie E. Chafe elected to DRI Board as National Director
We are pleased to announce the election of Product Liability Defense partner Marie Chafe as a National Director on the Defense Research Institute Board.

Nicole Levesque Selected to the Public Interest Leadership Program Class of 2023
The Boston Bar Association selected Conn Kavanaugh Construction Attorney Nicole Levesque for the 2023 class of the Public Interest Leadership Program (PILP).

E V E N T S

MAY (date TBD)
Carol Starkey to serve as panelist in Mass Lawyers Weekly Webinar
As a new policy was recently released by the Department of Justice, the topic will be “When should companies self-disclose misconduct?”
Check our events page for registration info coming soon.

MAY 18
Michael J. Rossi to speak at IADC on May 18 in New York City
Mike was invited to speak at the International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC) Professional Liability Roundtable at the Cornell University – New York City Conference Center.

Entitled “Cautionary Tales from Recent Malpractice Cases,” this panel will present both current and recent legal malpractice cases, giving insights from the unique perspectives of the defense, coverage, and ethical standpoints.

JULY 13
Erin Higgins takes the stage at IADC Annual Meeting in Hawaii

A panel of successful female lawyers will share insights and lessons learned along their journeys to the top levels of their field and into key leadership roles at their firms.

NEW FACES AT CONN KAVANAUGH

Alyssa M. Kelly

Emily J. Slaman

Kaitlyn L. Stone

Brendan P. Kelley

Shane F. Rice

Sydney R. Powers

Ryan O. Forgione

JUST FOR FUN

Who has 36 first cousins?

"Having 36 first cousins all around your age is like having a really large number of siblings. Here’s a photo of about half of them at my wedding. And we’re planning a cousin trip to Ireland in 2024." - Erin Higgins

Behind this great lawyer is a “Barrister.” Alexis Theriault derives help and inspiration from her well-groomed mini-poodle named Barrister.

Paralegal Sarah got a new dog the day she started working here. In a complete coincidence, her family named the dog “Kavanagh”….after the whiskey!

CK Book Club has recently enjoyed reading American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins and River of the Gods by Candice Millard.

Records Manager Jeff compared hairstyles with Louis XIV at Dublin Castle (strangely enough) in Dublin earlier this year.

Kurt Fliegauf and his wife Heidi were invited to the White House Easter egg roll this year! Kurt let the kids collect the candy, but he came home with a commemorative wooden egg.

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