Attorney Spotlight

Attorney Spotlight: Shehla Syed named to 2024 edition of Best Lawyers 

West Hill is pleased to announce Shehla Syed was recognized by Best Lawyers® in their 2024 edition for Litigation – Intellectual Property. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers follows a peer-reviewed process recognizing lawyers in the U.S. who are demonstrating professional excellence in private practice. Best Lawyers has earned the respect of the profession, the media, and the public as a reliable, unbiased source of legal referrals. The selected lawyers are reviewed by their peers based on professional expertise and undergo an authentication process.

About Shehla Syed

Shehla is a Shareholder and IP Strategist specializing in Intellectual Property, Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution. Ms. Syed counsels clients on all aspects of their intellectual property – trademarks, copyrights, patents and trade secrets – to help maximize the value and enforceability of their content, brands and technology.

Shehla is a member of the Women’s Bar Association of Massachusetts, Boston Patent Law Association and the New England Muslim Bar Association, for which she was one of the founding members. Shehla has also served on the Community Ethics Committee at the Division of Medical Ethics of the Harvard Medical School which provides ethics feedback to Harvard teaching hospitals.

About West Hill

West Hill Technology Counsel is a boutique business and technology law firm. Providing pro-active, practical legal advice to help solve problems before they arise. Our clients are new and growing businesses that create or leverage technology as a core part of their business model.

About Best Lawyers

For the list and more information on Best Lawyers, click here.

ATTORNEY SPOTLIGHT: Louise Kennedy Speaking at the Werth Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Louise Leduc Kennedy has been invited to speak at the Werth Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation F3 Summer Conversations in Entrepreneurial Leadership series at the University of Connecticut. She is an alumna of the University of Connecticut School of Law and will address the cohort of First Year Female Founders.  

The Werth Innovator F3 Cohort pilot launched in 2020 to address the gender gap that exists in the business world when it comes to female-founded ventures. This cohort of Werth Innovators was selected at the beginning of the fall semester from a pool of first-year female-identifying students. The program focuses on building self-confidence through mentorship and peer networking at the beginning of their college career. 

The most dangerous phrase in the language is, “We’ve always done it this way.” 

Louise has been inspired by this quote from Grace Hopper, a pioneer in computer science and mathematics, and it sums up her approach to creating a unique business and technology law firm.  In her conversation with the F3 cohort, Louise will share her story of stepping off the large law firm/in-house path to launch West Hill. Since its founding, West Hill has sought to retain the best parts of sophisticated legal practice, such as constant learning, deep and practical knowledge in its areas of expertise, and commitment to superior client service. But Louise and her team have also worked hard to replace many parts of the typical law firm that weren’t working. The firm’s vision, mission, and values and a commitment to supporting its team members’ commitments to family, community, and self. Louise will discuss her journey of reimagining her industry for the better and not getting bogged down in the way things have always been done.   

West Hill is a certified woman-owned business, actively redefining the concept of private law practice. Diverse hiring practices are important to West Hill and many of West Hill’s clients either because of a corporate commitment to diversity or because hiring a certified woman-owned business assists them in attaining supplier diversity goals. 

The support and empowerment of women – including young women entrepreneurs — is a critical component of the West Hill’s success.

https://entrepreneurship.uconn.edu/wi/

ATTORNEY SPOTLIGHT: Louise Kennedy and Kim Prior join CWE to present Legal Considerations for “Women Owned” Business Certification 

Ready to get Certified as a Women-Owned business? The WBENC application can be daunting – we can help you navigate it. West Hill attorneys Louise Kennedy and Kim Prior join the Center for Woman and Enterprise (CWE) for a live webinar on Legal Considerations for “Women-Owned” Business Certification.  The webinars will live on June 8^th, and on July 13^th with CWE Board Member (and attorney) Deb Thomas and August 7^th with CWE Certifications Manager, Meghan Cunningham,

Sign up for the Live Webinar Today

Join this webinar for an overview of the process and criteria for obtaining WBE/WOSB certification. The process is much easier when you know what materials are required before you begin. 

A common reason that applications for WBENC certification are delayed or denied, is that the owner does not have the proper documentation about their business entity. Join us for an overview of the process and criteria for obtaining WBE/WOSB certification, including an explanation of the supporting materials that must be submitted for different business types. This is a live webinar and you will be able to ask the attorneys questions. 

“As a WBENC-certified woman-owned business, we know the benefits of certification.  The networking, education, and business development opportunities are unrivaled. But we also appreciate the challenges of pulling together the right documents for your application and renewal submissions.  We look forward to demystifying this process for woman-owned businesses with CWE.” 

Sign up today at the following links:  June 8^th, July 13^th and August 7^th.  

About CWE:

Established in 1995, the Center for Women & Enterprise (CWE) is a non-profit organization that  empowers women to launch and grow their business – so they in turn can drive economic growth, lift up their communities, and create a more equitable world.  CWE also operates the Veterans Business Outreach Center of New England (VBOC of NE) that equips veteran and active duty service members and their families with the resources to help them start and run their businesses.  

To learn more about CWE visit, www.CWEonline.org.  Find CWE on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CenterforWomenandEnterprise , Instagram at www.Instagram.com/CWETalk , Twitter at www.twitter.com/CWETalk , and LinkedIn, Friends of Center for Women & Enterprise.  

About West Hill:

West Hill Technology Counsel is a boutique business and technology law firm. Providing pro-active, practical legal advice to help solve problems before they arise. Our clients are new and growing businesses that create or leverage technology as a core part of their business model. 

ATTORNEY SPOTLIGHT: Louise Kennedy Will Judge the 2023 Draper Competition for Collegiate Women Entrepreneurs

Our Founding Attorney and Smith College alum, Louise Kennedy, will judge the annual Draper Competition for Collegiate Women Entrepreneurs on April 13-15 at Smith College in Northampton, MA. This competition has been ranked #7 in the Times of Entrepreneurship Top 20 University Competitions.

The Draper Competition is designed to hone skills that undergraduate women need to advance from idea to venture creation. Through multiple rounds of competition, students demonstrate an understanding of a problem, why the problem requires a new venture to address it, and how their idea presents the best solution to the problem.

“This is my 2nd year judging the Draper Competition, and I really look forward to seeing these teams present and answer questions about their entrepreneurial vision,” said Louise Kennedy. “As counsel to several women-led companies and an alumna of Smith College, I am inspired by these young women in STEM who are leading the way for the next generation of women founders.”

West Hill is a WBENC-certified woman-owned business, actively redefining the concept of private law practice. Diverse hiring practices are important to many of West Hill’s clients either because of a corporate commitment to diversity or because hiring a certified woman-owned business assists them in attaining supplier diversity goals.

ATTORNEY SPOTLIGHT: Shehla Syed presents, “What You Should Know About Doing Business Online.”

Shehla Syed presented a webinar for the Enterprise Center at Salem State University, on February 28, 2023, titled: “What You Should Know About Doing Business Online.”

Since the pandemic, the shift to more on-line business is everywhere. As beneficial as it is to conduct business online, it is also challenging to navigate the changing landscape, understanding your obligation & responsibilities and legal pitfalls.

This presentation discussed how you can protect your business, avoid the pitfalls, and answer questions such as:

• How do I work with contractors and use third party content on my website in a way that limits my liability?
• Can I use the names or logos of other companies on my website?
• How can website terms of use protect my business?
• How can I prevent others from copying me?
• How do I protect my customers information? 

This presentation also provided an overview of intellectual property (patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets) and how you can use these tools to increase your competitiveness and create value in your business. Shehla Syed is an experienced attorney who counsels clients on all aspects of their intellectual property – trademarks, copyrights, patents and trade secrets – to help them maximize the value and enforceability of their content, brands and technology.

The Enterprise Center Salem State University welcomes entrepreneurs, business owners and professionals of all ages and experience levels to come in and learn something new. As an advocate and voice for the North Shore small business community, the Enterprise Center is a leader in helping business start and grow in the region.

This informative workshop was sponsored in partnership with the North Shore Alliance for Economic Development, Salem Chamber of Commerce and the Massachusetts Office of Business Development (MOBD).

West Hill’s Louise Kennedy Receives “Top Women of Law” Honor at Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly 2022 Reception

On Wednesday, November 16^th, 2022, our Founding Attorney, Louise Leduc Kennedy, was honored for her extraordinary achievements in the legal profession, by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly as a 2022 “Top Women of Law.” Each year, this highly coveted honor recognizes exceptional women lawyers who are pioneers, educators, trailblazers and role models throughout the state of Massachusetts. This award goes to attorneys who are making significant contributions to the legal profession while also serving as role models for young women entering law. 

Louise founded West Hill Technology Counsel with a twofold mission: filling a need in the market for tech-savvy counsel for growing companies and creating a firm that would help keep women attorneys in the practice. Kennedy’s interest in technology began when she was a junior associate on a case that resulted in the first published opinion in Massachusetts holding electronic mail was discoverable.  In 2008, Louise established West Hill, based on the simple premise that you need lawyers who understand and care about your business’ success. Louise is still passionate about helping entrepreneurs and growth-oriented businesses succeed and continues to cultivate a team of like-minded attorneys to support this vision.   

Louise is well-known for her work advising technology companies on a variety of strategic and commercial matters including: software licensing and commercialization, cloud computing, strategic alliances, preparing for and facilitating mergers and acquisitions and all aspects of on-line business and contracting.  

Louise is an alumna of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program and is a regular speaker at bar associations, the Salem State University Enterprise Center, the North Shore Technology Counsel, the Center for Women and Enterprise and other industry groups.   

Prior to forming the firm, Louise worked for many years as in-house counsel at IBM Corporation, including as brand counsel for Lotus Notes. She received her B.A. in Economics from Smith College and her J.D., with honors, from the University of Connecticut School of Law.  

Louise and fellow award recipients were celebrated at the Top Women of Law reception at the State Room in Boston on Wednesday, November 16. The Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly Top Women of Law feature on Louise Kennedy can be found at this link and a full list of 2022 Top Women of Law Honorees is available here.

Louise Leduc Kennedy to be Honored Among Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly Top Women of Law

West Hill is pleased to announce that our Founding Attorney, Louise Leduc Kennedy, was named to Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly 2022 Top Women of Law for her extraordinary achievements in the legal profession. This highly coveted honor celebrates the exceptional accomplishments of female attorneys as leaders, pioneers, educators, trailblazers, and role models.  

In 2008, Ms. Kennedy established West Hill, based on the simple premise that you need lawyers who understand and care about your business’ success. Louise is still passionate about helping entrepreneurs and growth-oriented businesses succeed and continues to cultivate a team of like-minded attorneys to support this vision.  

Louise is well-known for her work advising technology companies on a variety of strategic and commercial matters including: software licensing and commercialization, cloud computing, strategic alliances, preparing for and facilitating mergers and acquisitions and all aspects of on-line business and contracting.

Louise is an alumna of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program and is a regular speaker at bar associations, the Salem State University Enterprise Center, the North Shore Technology Counsel, the Center for Women and Enterprise and other industry groups.  

Prior to forming the firm, Louise worked for many years as in-house counsel at IBM Corporation, including as brand counsel for Lotus Notes. She received her B.A. in Economics from Smith College and her J.D., with honors, from the University of Connecticut School of Law. 

Louise and fellow award recipients will be celebrated at the Top Women of Law reception in Boston on Wednesday, November 16. 

The full list of 2022 Top Women of Law Honorees is available here.

Attorney Spotlight: Jennifer Hoenig Selected to the Expert Team for USA 500 Small Business M&A Resources Roundtable

Jennifer Hoenig was selected by USA 500 to serve on the expert team for the Small Business M&A Resources Roundtable. She is part of the team of professional service providers who specialize in the nuances of working with small business owners in M&A deals. USA 500’s vision for this Small Business M&A Resources Roundtable: “When small business owners contemplate a sale (or acquisition) of a business in the $500,000 to $3,000,000 price range, it is sometimes a lonely path forward. They rarely have an internal team in place ready to help them with the process; often they don’t have a skilled outside team ready to step in either. And yet, they need those resources at a very important time in their business…to turn [their] hard work into the liquid assets required to move forward into Phase II of their life. Passionate, patient, persistent professional resources are key to helping those successful small business owners close the deal.”

Click here, for information on West Hill’s M&A practice.