Melick & Porter, LLP

?? #Didyouknow Massachusetts law places limitations on the use of non-compete agreements, but they remain an important tool for protecting your business interests. ??? Employers must carefully draft these agreements to ensure they are enforceable and reasonable in terms of duration and geographic scope. ???? Failure to comply with state laws can render your non-compete unenforceable. ?? What to Include in a Non-Compete Agreement: ? Clear definitions of protected interests (trade secrets, client relationships, etc.). ? Reasonable time limits (typically no more than one year). ? Narrow geographic scope to avoid overreach. ? Consideration (such as continued employment or compensation) for the employee. ? Compliance with Massachusetts non-compete laws, which limit enforceability in certain circumstances (e.g., layoffs). #EmploymentLaw #NonCompeteAgreements #BusinessProtection #StephanieSolvesIt Melick & Porter, LLP

We are thrilled to share the success of the IICF Boston Associate Board's annual Fall Gathering, held on Wednesday at Night Shift Brewing's Lovejoy Wharf location. The event raised over $40,000, benefiting two remarkable organizations: Haley House and Room to Grow. Haley House provides direct services, affordable housing, urban agriculture, and social enterprise initiatives in Boston's South End and Roxbury neighborhoods. Room to Grow supports low-income families with babies aged zero to three, offering coaching, material goods, and community connections to ensure children thrive from the start. A special thank you our Title & Gold Sponsor, CNA Insurance; Title Sponsors, Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance, Chubb; Platinum Sponsor, The Hartford; Gold sponsors, Allied World, Arch Re, HUB International, Intact, Melick & Porter, LLP, The Andover Companies, WTW, Zurich North America, and the support of all contributors as your generosity exemplifies how #insuranceindustrygivesback! To learn more about how you can support your neighbors in need through IICF, please visit:?www.IICF.org/northeast #IICF30yearsofimpact #IICFboston #IICFnortheastdivision #philanthropicleadership #insuranceindustry #bettertogether #communityinvolvement

Women's Bar Association of Massachusetts Gala

Super excited for our UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law Entertainment Law Conference this Saturday, October 5! We appreciate the generous support of our sponsor, Melick & Porter, LLP, especially senior partner and top sports and entertainment attorney Michael J. Mazurczak. The topic of our event is "Practicing Entertainment Law: Diverse Pathways & Realistic Careers" and it will be offered both in-person and via live webinar. Outstanding work by our student organizers, especially Sydney Brazile, Nicole Sterste and Kendall Zonghi. Our Sports and Entertainment Law Society is amazing. I'm honored to speak at the event, which will have an all-star roster of panelists. More details below and registration here: https://lnkd.in/eHUzeSZn

Super excited for our UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law Entertainment Law Conference this Saturday, October 5! We appreciate the generous support of our sponsor, Melick & Porter, LLP, especially senior partner and top sports and entertainment attorney Michael J. Mazurczak. The topic of our event is "Practicing Entertainment Law: Diverse Pathways & Realistic Careers" and it will be offered both in-person and via live webinar. Outstanding work by our student organizers, especially Sydney Brazile, Nicole Sterste and Kendall Zonghi. Our Sports and Entertainment Law Society is amazing. I'm honored to speak at the event, which will have an all-star roster of panelists. More details below and registration here: https://lnkd.in/eHUzeSZn

We're honored and proud to have had eight of our attorneys recognized by Best Lawyers in its 2025 edition of Best Lawyers in America and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch.

Welcome to the team!

Melick & Porter Persuades Massachusetts Appeals Court That Allegations Of Intentional Business Torts Are Excluded From Personal And Advertising Injury Coverage: Carrier insured EL Group and its members against "personal and advertising injury."?EL Group sought coverage for a lawsuit, alleging that it conspired to produce knockoffs of a its former business partner’s goods and falsely marketed his designs as its own.?A summary judgment motion in favor of insurance carrier finding that the allegations did not state a claim for “personal and advertising injury” was reversed by the Massachusetts Appeals Court.?It ruled that the allegations by the former business partner met the definition of personal and advertising injury because EL Group’s statements "tended to lower [his] reputation as a craftsman in the community interested in his products."?The court remanded for a determination of whether coverage was nevertheless excluded. On remand, M&P’s Syd Saloman prevailed on behalf of the insurance carrier.?EL Group again appealed urging that a duty to defend existed because it denied the allegations of intentional misconduct.?The Appeals Court stated that "[a]n insured's denial of the underlying allegations has no bearing on whether a duty to defend exists, because coverage turns on the nature of those allegations, not on whether they are true." The court observed that "for an exclusion to negate an insurer's duty to defend ab initio, the facts alleged in the [underlying] complaint must establish that the exclusion applies to all potential liability as matter of law." M&P argued that coverage was excluded for personal and advertising injury "caused by or at the direction of the insured with the knowledge that the act would violate the rights of another and would inflict 'personal and advertising injury.” The claim against EL Group alleged intentional conduct.?It did not allege in the alternative that EL Group acted recklessly or negligently. Given that the pleading only contained allegations of intentional conduct, the Appeals Court agreed that insurance carrier did not have a duty to defend EL Group. Melick & Porter is widely recognized for its excellent insurance coverage practice.?If you have questions about the EL Group decision, or need insurance coverage advice, please contact Syd at [email protected] or Bill Rose at [email protected].

We were incredibly proud to sponsor three candidates in the 2024 Ladder Down 2.0 program that concluded last week. The 6-month program is tailored towards helping women claims professionals rise through the ranks within the insurance and risk management industry to reach new heights. The program is led by incredible mentors @Elizabeth Fitch and @Deborah Saunders. Congratulations to all the graduates and best of luck in your bright futures. #education #mentoring

Brian Davis, the future is in good hands!