By Nancy Brumback, Contributing Writer
Worcester—Mirick, O’Connell, DeMaillie & Lougee will celebrate a century of providing legal services in the coming year, a significant milestone few companies reach.
“In 1916, a Worcester attorney started the firm, and it remained very much a family firm, both its attorneys and its clients. When I started here 31 years ago, there were still four members of each of the founding families,” recalled David Surprenant, managing partner.
About 45 years ago, the firm began to transition toward a major law firm serving both businesses and individuals throughout Massachusetts, but Surprenant noted it has kept its roots in Worcester, and a son and grandson of two of the founders are still with the firm.
Today, Mirick O’Connell has offices in Boston and Westborough, as well as its Worcester headquarters, with 65 attorneys and major practices in the areas of business law, real estate, probate and estate planning, labor and employment, litigation, family law, bankruptcy and personal injury.
“About 70 to 80 percent of our clients are small, closely-held businesses, and we also work with many individuals,” Surprenant said.
Mirick O’Connell credits its ability to thrive over the decades to a commitment to its founders’ principles.
“Our reputation is providing excellent client service,” Surprenant said. “Clients are dealing with experienced people in our firm and have access to senior people.
“We are trusted counselors, and we understand the reason we are here is that our clients come back and they refer us to others.”
He also noted the firm stresses involvement in the community, with its attorneys encouraged to serve on community and government boards and agencies and to work with local non-profit organizations.
Mirick O’Connell offers a broad range of services where the needs of individuals and businesses overlap, for example, when someone is starting a new business, dealing with an employer, or investing in real estate.
“If someone is forming a business,” Surprenant said, “we can advise them on the type of entity to form, how to structure a partnership, how to protect personal assets from business liability, and leasing arrangements for a storefront or office. We help people think through all the alternatives.”
Small business that will involve two or more partners should seek legal advice from the start, he noted. “The partners need buy-sell agreements, and it’s best to draft those agreements when everyone is working together well. When people try to put it off, I ask them how they would feel about being in business with their partner’s spouse if the partner dies.”
Individuals often need to consult an attorney when dealing with an employer, Surprenant pointed out.
“If people are retiring or have been laid off from a large company, they should have an attorney review any separation agreement to understand non-compete provisions and also to determine the tax consequences of accelerated options and deferred compensation. If you are a scientist who invents things and are asked to sign your intellectual property rights over to your employer, you should understand how that may restrict your rights after you leave the company.”
On the real estate side, the land use practice attorneys can advise on buying commercial property and leasing, but typically refer individuals to other firms to handle most home purchases.
Estate planning is a growing part of Mirick O’Connell’s business. That group helps individuals plan their estates to shelter assets from estate taxes to the extent the law allows. Services include drafting wills and trusts, durable powers of attorney and health care proxies.
Estate planning, Surprenant noted, is not only for the wealthy, but can help most families. Couples with minor children particularly need to make provisions for guardianship and financial support for those children.
The firm’s family law practice works primarily with divorce cases, though it has seen growth in drafting pre-nuptial agreements over the past few years, he said.
Mirick O’Connell is located at 100 Front St. in Worcester, with other offices in Boston and Westborough. For additional information, call 508-791-8500 or visit www.mirickoconnell.com.http://www.mirickoconnell.com