Partner Nicholas Holland will be speaking on a distinguished panel of experts, providing practical guidance to those advising high net worth clients. Attendees will include trust and corporate service providers, private banks and wealth managers.

Please find more information on the event here.

Kristina Bieker-Brady presents “Commercializing the Microbiome: Classic Bacterial Genetics Deployed to Treat Orphan Disease” at the Genetic Approaches to Understanding Complex Biological Problems at Princeton University.

Partners Peter Faber and Alysse McLoughlin spoke on the topic ‘New York State Budget / Legislative Review and Comment / Federal “Conformity” & Mitigation’ at The Business Council’s 2018 Annual Conference on State Taxation,  hosted on May 3, 2018 in New York, New York.

MassBio’s second annual Medical Device Event will focus on opportunities and advances in drug delivery, including the unique developmental and regulatory challenges these products face, the many scientific advances in the space and new opportunities for funding. Panelists will discuss innovation and commercialization strategies. Kristina Bieker-Brady will moderate the “Innovation” track.

Partner Vernessa Pollard and counsel Jana Grieb presented at the FDLI Annual Conference, held at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, DC, on May 4-5, 2018.

Vernessa moderated the panel, “Medical Device Innovations: Welcome to the Future,” where experts in the field shared the regulatory challenges and benefits experienced with transformative technologies including machine learning and 3D printed technologies for surgical planning and diagnosis, and artificial intelligence in medical software.

Jana presented on, “EU Medical Device Regulation: Implementation and Compliance,” where panelists discussed the recent passage of the new Medical Device Rule (MDR) in the EU, which requires action from manufacturers with regards to regulatory pathways and development timelines. This session offered an analysis of requirements and practical advice for companies operating in the US and EU.

Partner Kristina Bieker-Brady moderated the ‘Innovation & Development Panel’ at MassBio’s second annual medical device event, which continued the vital conversation around the convergence of medical devices and drugs, critical to improving the safety and efficacy of new and existing therapies for patients.

The success of many new therapies in development is contingent on the development of effective delivery systems. The panel for this session addressed the innovation of novel approaches to drug delivery from the perspective of a physician, entrepreneur, IP attorney and venture capitalist. Panelists discussed the unmet needs, opportunities for development, as well as the challenges and strategies in bringing innovative products to market.

Women in Bio (WIB)-Greater Boston’s Leadership Ready Program—a seminar series focused on career development and leadership topics—on May 3, 2018, with “Solving for X in the Y Domain: Strategies for Women to Thrive Within Male-Dominated Fields,” with partner Kristin Connarn providing the welcoming remarks and session introduction.

The Leadership Ready Program provided an opportunity to address gender diversity and implement actual steps to effect change. Women who attend a designated number of sessions and have enrolled in our mentoring (MAPS) program earn a “Leadership Ready” certification from WIB. Our first seminar will focus on the behaviors that have been shown to help overcome gender-based barriers and to enable women in male dominated professions to achieve professional goals.

View further information on WIB-Greater Boston: Leadership Ready Seminar, Solving for X in the Y Domain here.

Partner Erin Turley will be moderating two panels at the ‘New Era of Material Wealth Creation with ESOPs’ event, hosted by Bloomberg Tax.

The event is tailored for business owners, tax, finance directors, in-house counsel, bankers and investment professionals including PE & hedge fund managers to help them learn how employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) can provide more than just an exit strategy – they may be an opportunity for a growing business and its employees.

ESOPs are commonly used by owners seeking to retire, but beyond that their utility is not well understood. However, with tax reform and in today’s changing business environment there is a greater opportunity to consider them earlier in the lifecycle of the company. ESOPs, when properly done, can position a company for financing, allow for acquisitions, help attract and retain top talent in a competitive environment and create wealth for owners and employees. In addition, ESOPs have a unique application with alternative firms & business roll-ups. These benefits require an understanding of what conditions should exist before pursuing an ESOP as well as the impact of the 2017 Tax Act and consideration of the best approach for your company.

Erin will act as moderator for the below sessions:

• Wealth Creation, Succession Planning, Plan Design & Keynote Conversation
• ESOP Opportunities for Alternative Firms & Roll-Ups – A Panel Discussion

Partner Stephen Kranz presented “Wayfair Oral Argument Summary and Status Update” at the Streamlines Sales Tax Governing Board (SSTGB) Spring 2018 Meeting in Jackson Hole on May 2, 2018.

On April 17, 2018, Supreme Court justices listened to both sides of the case of South Dakota v. Wayfair, Inc. as South Dakota argued to repeal a 1992 decision from the case Quill v. North Dakota which ruled that companies only had to collect sales tax in states where they are physically located. South Dakota argued that the state, along with many other states, had been robbed of billions of dollars as a result of the decision. Stephen discussed how this case, which the Supreme Court is expected to decide in June, is very important.

Read more on the Streamlines Sales Tax Governing Board (SSTGB) Spring 2018 Meeting here.