THE SLNLAW HILLTOWN LAW OFFICE
FIRST CLASS CREDENTIALSOur team includes attorneys with large law firm experience, public service experience, and experience working with small businesses on a wide variety of matters.
Attorney and founder Emily Smith-Lee has been named to the Massachusetts Super Lawyer list every year since 2013, and was recently named a 2018 Lawyer of the Year by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly. We have literally written the book on two of our core practice areas: "Rules of the Road- What You Need to Know About Employment Law," the "The Road to Peace of Mind- What You Need to Know About Estate Planning." Learn more about our legal team on our slnlaw attorneys page. |
HILLTOWN ROOTSA farm on Kinnebrook Road in Chester, just past Littleville Lake, has been the center of Emily’s family since 1964. Her mother, Shirley Winer, has served on the Gateway School Committee for over twenty years. Her father is buried on the property. She was married there. This is still where the family gathers for holidays, for sugaring, or just to spend time.
It has long been a dream of Emily's to bring quality legal services to this community. Read Emily's message about the opening of our Hilltown law office. 
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PRACTICAL SOLUTIONSMaybe you have a business dispute, an employment relationship that ended badly, or an employer who won't pay you what you have earned. Maybe you have an elderly relative who suddenly can't manage their affairs anymore, or you have just realized you need to create or update an estate plan. Maybe you just know you need help but don't know what kind.
Our lawyers and staff are experienced, creative, compassionate, and dedicated to solving problems. Whatever your issue is, chances are we have seen it- or something very much like it- before. Our primary mission is not to make a name for ourselves, but to solve your problems, and to give you the experience- and the service- that you have a right to expect. Learn more about our core practice areas: Employment Law Business Law Estate Planning |
A MESSAGE FROM THE FOUNDER
"When I started this practice in 2009, I thought I knew all about being a lawyer. I had spent thirteen years at a prestigious international law firm in Boston. I had worked on complex cases involving large companies in many industries, from pharmaceutical to health care to seed companies. What I did not understand then was the true power of being in a position to help ordinary people facing challenges that seem extraordinary to them. I have had the opportunity to help families make sure the people they love the most are protected, small businesses avoid catastrophic lawsuits, entrepreneurs launch their dream without exposing their families to liability, hardworking people protect their right to be paid and treated fairly in the workplace, and more.
Here is what I learned these people have in common: They are facing a challenge in their lives or their businesses that is unfamiliar to them. They do not know what questions to ask. In many cases, they do not have a great experience being heard, or feeling like someone has their back. They may have called a few law firms and, instead of finding solutions, been made to feel small, unimportant, or more overwhelmed.
I've learned that it doesn't have to be that way. We may have seen your problem a hundred times before, but I and my team work hard to remember that it is new to you. We do not have "big" clients and "small" clients- we have clients, whose issues are all important to us. Our mission is to give you the best advice, advocate for your interests, help you ask the right questions, and make sure you have the information you need to make the decisions that are best for you or your business. So that when you come out on the other side of whatever you are facing- and you will- you will have not only a resolution but clarity about how you got there, and how you can avoid that particular problem in the future.
Not sure which way to turn? Give us a call- we'd really like to help."
Here is what I learned these people have in common: They are facing a challenge in their lives or their businesses that is unfamiliar to them. They do not know what questions to ask. In many cases, they do not have a great experience being heard, or feeling like someone has their back. They may have called a few law firms and, instead of finding solutions, been made to feel small, unimportant, or more overwhelmed.
I've learned that it doesn't have to be that way. We may have seen your problem a hundred times before, but I and my team work hard to remember that it is new to you. We do not have "big" clients and "small" clients- we have clients, whose issues are all important to us. Our mission is to give you the best advice, advocate for your interests, help you ask the right questions, and make sure you have the information you need to make the decisions that are best for you or your business. So that when you come out on the other side of whatever you are facing- and you will- you will have not only a resolution but clarity about how you got there, and how you can avoid that particular problem in the future.
Not sure which way to turn? Give us a call- we'd really like to help."
OUR CORE SERVICES
EMPLOYMENT LAW
An employment problem can be one of the most difficult challenges that either the business owner or employee faces, and the employment laws governing those relationships can sometimes be hard to understand. Whether the issue is employment discrimination, wage and hour compliance, sexual harassment, or enforcement of non compete agreements, our labor and employment lawyers have helped both individuals and small businesses protect their legal rights and navigate disputes and difficult situations.
What our employment lawyers can help you with:
What our employment lawyers can help you with:
- Wage and Hour Laws: overtime pay, minimum wage, independent contractor classification, and more.
- Employment Termination: employment discrimination laws, employee illness and disability, employee severance agreements, and what to do if you are a business owner facing a discrimination lawsuit.
- Sexual Harassment: understanding what is and is not sexual harassment. proper investigation of a sexual harassment complaint, and what to do in the face of a harassment lawsuit, and resources for people who believe they have been victims of sexual harassment.
- Non Compete Agreements: what you should know before you sign a non compete agreement, enforcement of non competes in Massachusetts, and responding to non compete cease and desist letters or a non compete lawsuit.
ESTATE PLANNING
You may not know the difference between a will and a trust, but you know you need to make a plan for your family. And it is not as hard as you think to get it done- in fact, thinking about getting started on an estate plan is probably much harder than actually getting it done once you take the first step. Our estate planning lawyers are ready to guide you to a comprehensive plan that is right for you and your family, which will give you peace of mind and allow you to focus on all of the other things that are important to you.
What our estate planning attorneys can help you with:
What our estate planning attorneys can help you with:
- Understanding your family's specific needs and how to achieve your goals with your estate plan.
- Understanding how the Commonwealth of Massachusetts will distribute your assets if you die without a will.
- Minimizing or avoiding Massachusetts Estate Taxes.
- Creating wills and trusts to ensure that your assets are distributed and managed the way you want.
- Preparing a durable power of attorney and health care proxy to make sure medical, financial and legal decisions are made for you by someone you trust if you are ever incapacitated.
- Protecting your child with special needs with a special needs trust.
- Understanding the legal requirements for a valid will under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
BUSINESS LAW
Your business can't afford not to talk to a lawyer once in a while, whether it is for advice about a difficult employee situation, review of significant vendor and other contracts to make sure you are protected, creating or updating your business entities or corporate documents, or any number of other business or employment law issues that may come up. Whether it is a small question or a major problem, our law firm can help you get through it so you can go back to doing what you went into business to do.
What our business attorneys can help you with:
What our business attorneys can help you with:
- Legal Issues for New and Start Up Companies: from choosing a corporate form and creating business entities to developing business contracts to understanding the major issues you will face when you start to bring on employees, we have broad experience both as counselors to other small businesses and as a small business ourselves, and we are here to help.
- Business Contract Basics: what you need to know about your agreements with vendors, business partners, and customers to help you avoid disputes and distractions in your business.
- Dispute Resolution: what to do in the face of a civil lawsuit and understanding alternative dispute resolution options.
- Does your small business need ongoing legal advice? Learn more about our small business membership program.
FROM OUR CLIENTS
BRIAN R.
"Emily, a chief partner, and the two other lawyers at SLN Law who worked on my case were extremely competent and approachable. They were responsive to inquiries and they thoughtfully explained, as needed, complex legal terms. I was very well represented at each stage of a protracted legal case against a major national firm. What stands out to me is that I felt listened to from the start and supported throughout."
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EVELYN WHEELER
"From my first conversation with Emily, I knew I had picked the right law firm to handle my Estate Plan after having procrastinated for some time before I decided it was time to get my estate in order. Previously, I spoke with a couple other lawyers and I did not feel comfortable with their approach prior to calling Emily. Jenna did an excellent job in assessing what I wanted to accomplish and completed my will, trust and other documents in a very short time. I am so happy I made the right choice in choosing slnlaw as my estate team."
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DIANA BAGAS
"Emily is an incredible resource of knowledge on employment law. She helped guide us on how to structure our employee classifications and made adjustments to our consulting agreements so our business is better protected and positioned. She's both law-savvy and business minded - great asset to have when launching/growing a business."
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Read more on our reviews page.
READY TO GET STARTED?
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We can help you get clarity on your rights and obligations under Massachusetts employment law, make sure your business is legally protected, and get you started on an estate plan that protects you and your family. They all start with a free, no obligation consultation with a member of our team. If your issue is one we can help you with, we will lay out your options and help you make a plan for a solution. If it is outside of our areas of expertise, we will make every effort to connect you with a trusted referral who can help. You can use the button below to schedule a call back from a member of our team, give us a call at 413-667-2322, or fill out our web form to let us know a little more about your situation.
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