The Landy Law Letter

On our last podcast, Understanding Medicare Secondary Payer Compliance, we explored Medicare Secondary Compliance and how to avoid pitfalls in your practice. On this edition of The Landy Law Letter, host John L. Torvi, from the Herbert H. Landy Insurance Agency of Needham, Massachusetts follows up with Attorney Michael E. Civittolo from Lawrence & Associates, to talk about some of the new developments in Medicare Secondary Compliance.

The mandatory insurer reporting program instituted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has received quite a bit of attention among practitioners in the liability and workers compensation cases. On The Landy Law Letter, host John L. Torvi, from the Herbert H. Landy Insurance Agency of Needham, Massachusetts welcomes Attorney Michael E. Civittolo from Lawrence & Associates, to take a look at Medicare Secondary Compliance and how to avoid pitfalls in your legal cases. They discuss some of the issues to be concerned about with MSP compliance and the importance of to complying with MSP laws.

The downturn in the economy has rattled law firms nationally and internationally, leaving many firms to pick up the pieces. On The Landy Law Letter, host John L. Torvi, from the Herbert H. Landy Insurance Agency of Needham, Massachusetts welcomes Attorney Charles H. Kaplan, a partner in Sedgwick LLP’s New York office, to take a look at the current issues law firms are facing when it comes to labor and employment. John and Charlie discuss the latest business trends in how law firms and attorneys are dealing with the realities of downsizing, employment practices and retirement and what a law firm can do to stay ahead of the game regarding employment practice problems, downsizing or staff cuts.

Numerous studies indicate that there are more women and minorities entering law school and going on to practice law. On The Landy Law Letter, host John L. Torvi, from the Herbert H. Landy Insurance Agency of Needham, Massachusetts welcomes Attorney Catherine M. Stanton from the law firm, Pasternack Tilker Ziegler Walsh Stanton & Romano, LLP, to take a look at the current dynamics of women and minorities in the law. Cathy talks about the current conditions for women and minorities entering into a law practice, the obstacles for minorities or women in advancing to the higher echelons of the profession and what law schools and the legal profession are doing to create greater opportunities for minorities and women lawyers.

Getting involved in practice groups or your local bar association can be a huge benefit to your solo practice or law firm. On The Landy Law Letter, host John L. Torvi, from the Herbert H. Landy Insurance Agency of Needham, Massachusetts welcomes Attorney Andrew J. Reinhardt, partner in the Richmond, Virginia law firm of Reinhardt & Harper, to explore benefits of getting involved in specialty practice groups and bar associations. Andrew points out the general differences between a State Bar Association and a Specialty Practice Group, practical reasons why an attorney would want to join a Specialty Practice Group and how his involvement has impacted him professionally.

On this edition of The Landy Law Letter, host John L. Torvi, from the Herbert H. Landy Insurance Agency of Needham, Massachusetts welcomes Attorney Mike Bottaro, owner of the Bottaro Law Firm, LLC, to talk about "going solo" and what attorneys need to know in the new year. Attorney Bottaro discusses how to develop a successful business model, helpful outside resources and offers key recommendations to attorneys who are considering establishing their own practice.

On this edition of The Landy Law Letter, host John L. Torvi, from the Herbert H. Landy Insurance Agency of Needham, Massachusetts welcomes Dan Reed, Second Vice President of Travelers Bond & Financial Products, Professional Liability and Mary King from Travelers Bond & Financial Products Claim, to talk about Lawyers’ Malpractice Insurance claims issues. They discuss the recent economy’s impact on malpractice claims, look at what’s new in claim trends and what law firms should look for when evaluating malpractice insurance from a claims standpoint.

On this edition of The Landy Law Letter, host John L. Torvi, from the Herbert H. Landy Insurance Agency of Needham, Massachusetts welcomes Attorney Patrick Barry, from the firm Morowitz & Barry, Ltd. in Providence, Rhode Island, as they take a look at the latest in medical malpractice law and law firm management. John and Patrick discuss the challenges attorneys can face when taking on medmal cases, the importance of specialized experience and skill when it comes to medmal law and how attorneys can prepare for medmal cases and benefit their client.

On this edition of The Landy Law Letter, host John L. Torvi, from the Herbert H. Landy Insurance Agency of Needham, Massachusetts welcomes Attorney Kathy Farrell, owner and principal of a real estate law practice at the law firm of Deschenes & Farrell, P.C. John and Kathy discuss the unique issues in successfully managing a law practice focused on real estate law and the challenges of real estate law in today’s turbulent real estate market.

Hear how to be a great business owner in the practice of law on this edition of The Landy Law Letter. Host John L. Torvi, from the Herbert H. Landy Insurance Agency of Needham, Massachusetts welcomes Rodney S. Dowell, Director of the Massachusetts Law Office Management Assistance Program (LOMAP), to explore the principles of law office management and key indicators that can help a law firm determine when to hire more staff and important resources for attorneys.