Boston Spirit May | June 2013

Page 50

Most profound change you’ve made as a result of your law practice> I cam partner there in 1989. I’ve be n open about my orientation al my care r. Le worked with, both in my practice and in the community at large. I have com to sup ort anti-gay discrimination when someone they know is hurt by it. Scott H. Moskol

Lisa M. Cukier

Donald E. Vaughan

Laura R. Studen

Peter F. Zupcofska

Scott H. Moskol Lisa M. Cukier Donald E. Vaughangroup Laura R. Studen burns & levinson’s lgbt Name>> Scott H. Moskol burns & levinson’s lgbt group

Timothy J. Famulare

Peter F. Zupcofska

Deb Peckham

Timothy J. Famulare

Deb Peckham

Ellen J. Zucker

Ellen J. Zucker

Occupation>> Partner and Vice Chair of the Financial Restructuring & Distressed Transactions Group at Burns & Levinson LLP Name>> Scott H. Moskol Areas of Practice>> Financial Restructuring & Distressed Transactions, Bankruptcy and Corporate Occupation>> Partner and Vice Chair of the Financial Restructuring & Distressed Transactions Group at Burns & Levinson LLP What is your best advice for your LGBT clients who are interested in starting their own business?>> Regardless if someone identifies as LGBT, Areas of Practice>> Financial Restructuring & business Distressedneeds Transactions, andofCorporate anyone who is contemplating starting their own to get anBankruptcy accurate idea start-up costs, including any costs associated withWhat financing thebest operation. budget is clients essential toare create, and the owner should do whatRegardless they can to follow it. identifies If it doesasnot is your advice forAyour LGBT who interested in business starting their own business?>> if someone LGBT, appear that one the necessary financial resources keep the business for a period of start-up time – say 6 months to aany year, assuming anyone whohas is contemplating starting their own to business needs to getafloat an accurate idea of costs, including costs associated verywith conservative estimates then one should re-examine whether this is the rightshould time todo make such ancan investment. financingbusiness the operation. A –budget is essential to create, and the business owner what they to follow it. If it does not appear that one has the necessary financial resources to keep the business afloat for a period of time – say 6 months to a year, assuming very Lisa conservative business estimates – then one should re-examine whether this is the right time to make such an investment. Name>> M. Cukier Occupation>> Partner and member of Burns & Levinson’s Executive Committee Name>> Lisa M. Cukier Areas of Practice>> Family Law, Estate and Trust Litigation, Guardianship and Conservatorship Occupation>> Partner and member of Burns & Levinson’s Executive Committee What do you enjoy about representation of lesbian or gay male couples in divorce and custody matters?>> The Goodridge decision, in Areastoofholding Practice>> Law,inEstate and Trust Litigation, and Conservatorship addition thatFamily all people Massachusetts may enter Guardianship into civil marriages, also requires the Commonwealth to view all statutes, whether not related marriage, with gender neutrality. Thismale givescouples me theinoption to and be highly creative and strategic in using various Whatordo you enjoytoabout representation of lesbian or gay divorce custody matters?>> The Goodridge decision, in lawsaddition to the advantage myall clients in in divorce, non-marital custody and parentage matters. My use of this to gender to holdingofthat people Massachusetts mayseparations, enter into civil marriages, also requires the Commonwealth view neutral all statutes, effectwhether can alterorlegal presumptions and can change the neutrality. outcome ofThis a case in terms ofoption which to adult is considered to a child, who has not related to marriage, with gender gives me the be highly creativea parent and strategic in using various rights to make and religious upbringing decisions for children, who canparentage visit and spend time in whose laws to theeducational, advantage medical of my clients in divorce, non-marital separations, custody and matters. Mywith use children, of this gender neutral homeeffect the children and howand to structure division of assets allocate income towards support and support the who less has can alter will legalreside, presumptions can change the outcome of aand case in terms of which adultchild is considered a parent to a of child, financially stable spouse/partner. rights to make educational, medical and religious upbringing decisions for children, who can visit and spend time with children, in whose home the children will reside, and how to structure division of assets and allocate income towards child support and support of the less financially stable spouse/partner. Name>> Donald E. Vaughan

Occupation>> Partner and Chair of Real Estate Group and member of Burns & Levinson’s Executive Committee Name>> Donald E. Vaughan Areas of Practice>> Real Estate and Estate Planning Occupation>> Partner and Chair of Real Estate Group and member of Burns & Levinson’s Executive Committee Most profound change you’ve made as a result of your law practice>> I came out as a summer associate at my first firm, in 1982, and became a Areas of Practice>> Real Estate Estate partner there in 1989. I’ve been openand about my Planning orientation all my career. Less so today than earlier on, I think that made a difference to those I worked with, both in my practice and in the at law large. I have come to see in associate the sayingatthat is much harder people Most profound change you’ve made as acommunity result of your practice>> I came outthe as wisdom a summer my it first firm, in 1982,for and became a to support know is all hurt it. partneranti-gay there indiscrimination 1989. I’ve beenwhen opensomeone about mythey orientation mybycareer. Less so today than earlier on, I think that made a difference to those I worked with, both in my practice and in the community at large. I have come to see the wisdom in the saying that it is much harder for people to support anti-gay discrimination when someone they know is hurt by it.

legal counsel. business advisors. burnslev.com 617.345.3000 legal counsel. business advisors.

Office Locations: Boston (HQ), Andover, Hingham, New York, Providence, Waltham burnslev.com 617.345.3000

Office Locations: Boston (HQ), Andover, Hingham, New York, Providence, Waltham

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