Lisa M. Cukier
Scott H. Moskol
Deb Peckham
Peter F. Zupcofska
Donald E. Vaughan
Ellen J. Zucker
Timothy J. Famulare
Laura R. Studen
burns & levinson’s lgbt group Name>> Lisa M. Cukier Occupation>> Partner at Burns & Levinson LLP Areas of Practice>> Family Law, Estate and Trust Litigation, Guardianship and Conservatorship As a family law attorney, what is your best advice for your LGBT clients who are interested in getting married or starting a family?>> I do not think people realize that the Windsor decision did not totally strike down DOMA, and that marriages, parentage and inheritance rights cannot always cross state lines. Consider this: If your parentage is dependent on Massachusetts law and is based on your marriage, and then you move to a non-recognition state, you may not be recognized as the parent of your child and may thus not have custody rights nor child support obligations. If you die without a will in a non-recognition state, your spouse and children may have no right to inherit from you or your family and vice-versa as to your right to inherit from your spouse. If your marriage sours and you need a divorce while you reside in a non-recognition state, you may not be able to divorce unless you reestablish residence in a marriage equality state. Consult with me before you marry and start a family! Name>> Scott H. Moskol Occupation>> Partner and Vice Chairman of the Financial Restructuring & Distressed Transactions Group at Burns & Levinson LLP Areas of Practice>> Financial Restructuring & Distressed Transactions, Finance and Corporate What are the biggest issues facing LGBT-owned businesses in 2014?>> At Burns & Levinson, the Financial Restructuring Group has been working with many small and mid-size businesses – regardless if the owners are LGBT – in navigating the difficult financial environment that we are faced with today. While there is a wide away of financial or operational restructuring issues upon which we advise our clients, if the Fed does continue its tapering of bond purchases in the near future, it is not unlikely that the interest rates will rise in the next 18 months. While interest rates are low, we advise our clients to explore lending opportunities now before it becomes more expensive to do so in the long run. Name>> Deb Peckham Occupation>> Partner and Co-Chair of the Intellectual Property Group at Burns & Levinson LLP Areas of Practice>> Intellectual Property What are some of your viewpoints on current political issues facing the LGBT community?>> It’s time for Proposition 8 and DOMA to be part of our history and I believe the Court will get it right, even if they do so for narrow reasons. Regardless, the tide has turned in just a few years and it is thrilling to be witness to it.
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