Women in Business

Attorney Spotlight: Louise Kennedy Selected to 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).

Community Involvement: Organizations We Proudly Support

West Hill believes in giving back to others and supporting local charities in the Greater Boston community that share our values. Each year West Hill makes a donation on behalf of our Clients, some of the organizations we have supported include:

• The YMCA of the North Shore – For over 160 years, YMCA’s have been meeting the community’s needs and in this past year families are experiencing a number of situations that required more support. The YMCA of the North Shore has risen to the occasion and helped the people in our community who need help the most.
• Beverly Bootstraps -provides critical resources to families and individuals so they may achieve self-sufficiency.
• Essex County Habitat for Humanity – brings people together to build affordable homes, strengthen families and communities and foster hope.
• The Victim Rights Law Center – gives free, comprehensive legal services to sexual assault victims in Massachusetts with legal issues, including privacy, safety, education, immigration, housing, employment, LGBTQ specific services, criminal justice advocacy and financial stability.
• The American Cancer Society – A nationwide, community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem.
• Rosie’s Place – the first women-only shelter in the United States. Provides a safe and nurturing environment that helps poor and homeless women maintain their dignity, seek opportunity and find security in their lives.

A key component of the West Hill Mission is for our team members to “fuel the growth of our business clients and the success of our communities.”  One way we do this is through an annual gift to an organization making an impact in our community of Greater Boston. We are also supporters of organizations promoting women in business, including the Center for Women and Enterprise.