M A S S A C H U S E T T S
LAW YERS JOURNAL WWW.MASSBAR.ORG
Volume 23 | Number 9 | Sept/Oct 2016
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NEW MBA PRESIDENT: ‘JOIN US IN LEADERSHIP’ T
BY JASON M. SCALLY
his September, Todd & Weld LLP partner Jeffrey N. Catalano begins his year as president of the Massachusetts Bar Association. Just don’t be surprised if it feels more like your year. As one of the cornerstones of his presidency, Catalano is encouraging MBA members to actively join him in leadership. At the same time, he is also looking to groom the next generation of bar leaders through the launch of the MBA’s inaugural Leadership Academy. Catalano has always been heavily interested in advocacy, education and social justice. He came to the MBA many years ago asking if there was anything he could do (see related President’s View column). Now as president, Catalano believes the MBA offers opportunities — particularly, leadership opportunities — in each of these areas for lawyers of all ages, practices and backgrounds around the commonwealth. “What I’m looking to do is have the MBA be an army of leaders from every spectrum of the law,” he says. “People who take on the major issues, deal with them head on, jump into the fray and say: ‘Where can I start? I want to help out.’” The MBA is a lot of things to a lot of people. But Catalano has always seen the MBA as a place where a lawyer can make a difference. That impact begins with MBA leaders, from officers to section councils. But it can also extend to lawyers in the bar, at large — all of whom have a home and a stake in the MBA. In short, he says, “We want the MBA to be the mother ship for everybody who is looking to be a leader in some spectrum of society.”
Empowering the bar The MBA has a solid foundation of leadership to stand upon. Through years of strong officers and a vibrant House of Delegates, the MBA has been at the forefront of so many issues, from inclusivity to advocacy to education. “Sometimes we’re working quietly behind the scenes, but we’re always there showing lead5
2016-17 MBA President Jeffrey N. Catalano is a partner at Todd & Weld LLP in Boston, where he represents victims of catastrophic injuries in the areas of medical negligence, product liability, auto accident, class action and other personal injury cases.
LESSONS FROM 'PFANNENSTIEHL'
READ THE PRESIDENT'S VIEW ON PAGE 2 MEET THE 2016-17 MBA OFFICERS ON PAGE 10
SUMMER SNAPSHOTS PAGE 22
INSIDE
4
NEW DISPUTE RESOLUTION SECTION
PAGE 8
4
FIVE TIPS FOR LAW STUDENTS
18
NEW COLUMN: TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS
SEE PAGE 2 FOR A COMPLETE LISTING OF THIS ISSUE’S CONTENTS.