Women in Business

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.

West Hill Selected to Mass Lawyers Weekly Inaugural Empowering Women Awards List

West Hill is proud to be recognized in the inaugural Empowering Women Awards list by Mass Lawyers Weekly. We congratulate fellow recipients for their shared commitment to the support and advancement of women in the legal community.

The Empowering Women Award recognizes a law firm’s commitment to hiring and promoting women, providing mentoring and opportunities for professional advancement to women attorneys, and establishing programs and policies to help women attorneys thrive professionally.

“We are both delighted and proud to be awarded this designation and recognized for our firm’s continued commitment to supporting and elevating women in the legal community,” said Louise Leduc Kennedy, Founding Attorney, West Hill. 

A Better Way to Practice Law

West Hill was founded on and remains committed to hiring and professional development for women attorneys and support staff.  Louise Kennedy established West Hill in 2008, after working in the Boston office of a regional law firm and as in-house counsel at IBM. When Louise attended her 10^th law school reunion, she was the mother of two daughters and was distressed to learn how many women in her class had abandoned the practice of law because the pressures of large firm practice were incompatible with the needs of a growing family. Louise was looking for a better way to practice law and allow attorneys to integrate their commitments to family. She created a cutting-edge law practice that is dynamic, challenging, and innovative.   

West Hill Values

Louise built a team of motivated and upbeat legal professionals looking for flexibility while still practicing law at a high level. West Hill values innovation, integrity, open and honest communication, and diversity. These values shape the positive and inclusive firm culture. West Hill believes – and clients have affirmed – that happy lawyers = happy clients.   

Certified Women-Owned Business

West Hill is a WBENC- and SBA-certified women-owned business actively redefining the concept of private law practice. Diverse hiring practices are important to West Hill and many of its clients.

Empowering Women Awards

For more information about Mass Lawyers Weekly and the Empowering Women Award list, click here.

The support and empowerment of women is a critical component of the West Hill vision and mission. 

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. 

Event Sponsorship: West Hill Sponsors the BIPLA’s 3rd Annual Symposium

West Hill sponsored the Boston Intellectual Property Law Association’s (BIPLA) 3rd Annual Symposium. The event took place on May 3-4, 2023 at Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP, One Federal Street in Boston. It was a fun, engaging and educational experience for all. Here is a link to photos from the event: https://lnkd.in/ey999VT8

About BIPLA:
The goal of the BIPLA is to provide educational programs and a forum for the interchange of ideas and information concerning intellectual property (IP) including patent, trademark, trade secret, and copyright laws. Through a volunteer Board of Governors and its various committees, the BIPLA organizes and hosts educational seminars, social events, and other programs. The Association promotes public understanding and appreciation for IP through education of the judicial, executive, and legislative branches of government by providing amicus briefs, regulatory comments, and feedback to policymakers.

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).

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.