Greater Newburyport

Bar Association

2026 Schedule​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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Beyond the Judgment: Addressing High Conflict Family Systems

Tuesday, April 7, 4:30-6:30

Newburyport Art Association, 65 Water Street, Newburyport

 

Attorneys are often the first—and sometimes the only—professionals families rely on during high-conflict separations. But what happens when legal orders, expertise & strategy isn’t enough? 

 

Join a panel of legal & clinical professionals for this interactive training, inviting legal professionals to explore and better understand the hidden emotional dynamics that derail progress, even in well-structured parenting plans. Through real-world insight, experiential learning, and cross-disciplinary resources & tools, participants will gain a deeper understanding of mindset, emotional paralysis, and how to talk with clients about support options beyond litigation. 

 

Expect to leave with more than just knowledge—expect to leave with language, clarity, and a renewed approach to your role in safeguarding families during the divorce process, leading to lasting resolutions.

 

Attend & Learn

• How to recognize signs of emotional paralysis in clients that may hinder legal resolution or compliance with court orders.

• How to differentiate between therapeutic, coaching, mediation, and collaborative law interventions, and identify when each is most appropriate in high-conflict cases.

• How to use emotionally attuned, non-clinical language to guide clients toward the right support resources—without the need to overstep legal scope.

• About your role within family systems 

• What are the opportunities to reduce litigation

• The core features of the BeH2O® co-parenting model, and how it complements court orders by addressing mindset, communication, and accountability.

 

About the Faculty

Kimberly Hutchins, LMHC, MA, CMHC, NH, Child & Family Psychotherapist & Collaborative Law Divorce Coach, Mardi Balcom-Chadwick, Family Law Attorney, Holistic Coach & Mediator, Maria Natapov , Certified Co-Parenting Coach, Aiko Suyemoto, Attorney, OFW

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To Register: https://gnba.ticketbud.com/beyond-the-judgment-addressing-high-conflict-family-systems

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The Annual John C. Stevens Family Law Symposium: Benched, 

Wednesday, May 6, 5:00 (networking) program 5:30-7:30, live only at the Firehouse Center for the Arts, Newburyport

 

Faculty

Hon. Brian J. Dunn, Chief Justice, Probate & Family Court

Hon. Michael D. Anderson

Hon. Theresa A. Bisenius

Hon. Caryn Mitchell-Munevar

Hon. Evelyn Patsos

Hon. Jennifer M. Ulwick

 

Topics

Justice Dunn on State of the Court & Goals for the Next 4+ Years

High-Conflict Litigation & Case Management

Financial Issues, Support, & Alimony Trends

Guardianships, DCF Interface, & Protective Orders

Contempt Actions, Compliance, and Judicial Expectations

Trial Advocacy, Evidence, & Courtroom Presentation

Settlement, ADR, and Creative Resolution in Family Law

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To Register: https://gnba.ticketbud.com/annual-john-c-stevens-family-law-symposium-benched-0482b2a1edf1

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9th Annual CLE by the Sea: NE Conference for Solos and Small Law Firms

Greater Newburyport Bar Association in partnership with The Maine State Bar, Massachusetts Bar, New Hampshire Bar, Women’s Bar of MA, Essex County Bar, Starting Out Solo, Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers, MA

Thursday, July 16, 2026

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NH: Each workshop has been approved for 75 minutes general NHMCLE credits; Workshops A & I, 75 minutes ethics credits

Maine Overseers approved 2.5 General Credits, 2.5 Ethics credits, and 1.5 H&D Credits for a total of 6.5 credits.

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SCHEDULE/AGENDA

 

8:00-8:50 Registration & Breakfast  

8:50-9:00 Welcome, Gary Todd, GNBA President

 

9:00-10:15 Concurrent Workshops 

 

A. The Modern Law Firm in 2026: Mobile Practice, A.I .Tools, and Cybersecurity, Todd C. Scott | VP Risk Management, Minnesota Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company

• How to work securely from anywhere 

• How to use artificial intelligence responsibly

• How to protect client data against today’s most common cyber threats

• How to build safer workflows for mobile devices and remote access

• How to evaluate AI tools without compromising client confidentiality

• How to recognize the real-world tactics behind phishing, credential theft, and ransomware incidents targeting law firms 

• What are your core ethical duties implicated by modern practice technology 

• What are actionable steps for firm policies, training, and risk controls that support competent, secure representation.

 

B. Deciphering Tax Returns in Divorce Cases

David Consigli, Jr. CPA, ABV, CDFA, Partner FAZ Forensics and Attorney Maureen Booth, TurcoLegal, MA

• How to determine income from a tax return

• What is the difference between income for tax and income for support

• How to find hidden assets on a tax return

• Red flags and forensic indicators

 

C. The Entrepreneurial Lawyer, Building a Law Firm That Lasts

Attorney Leonard Spada, Managing Partner, SpadaLaw

• A practical, high-level framework for starting, stabilizing, and scaling a law firm as a sustainable business. 

• Designed for both attorneys considering launching their own practice and firm owners navigating growth challenges, this session focuses on the foundational systems that support long-term stability, ethical growth, and professional satisfaction.

• Attendees will leave with a clear blueprint covering finance, marketing, sales, legal services, ethics, and human resources, along with curated resources for continued learning.

 

10:15-10:35 Networking Break

 

10:35-11:50 Concurrent Workshops

 

D. Coparenting: Beyond the Orders: Transforming High-Conflict into Healthy Lasting Outcomes for Families. 

Kimberly T. Hutchins, LMHC, Child & Family Psychotherapist and Collaborative Law Coach; Attorney Mardi Chadwick-Balcom, Divorce Mediator & Coach; Maria Natapov, BeH2O, Certified Co-Parenting Coach; Rita Morris, M.Ed, LMHC, CPCP; Patricia Brady, LMFT, LMHC; Attorney Sonja Starins, Moderator.

• Identify the limitations of traditional legal interventions in addressing high-conflict co-parenting dynamics and the emotional impact on children and learn how to bridge the gap between the orders and living out the agreement.

• Distinguish between therapeutic, coaching, and legal roles in high-conflict family systems—and recognize when each is most appropriate.

• Understand the core components of the BeH2O® model, including mindset transformation, structured coaching, and the Co-Parenting Commitment (CPC) framework and apply principles to support out-of-court resolution, reduce re-litigation, and improve family functioning in complex parenting disputes.

• Evaluate how the learned supports and strategies align with court mandates and ADR statutes, and explore ways to integrate them into legal recommendations and family court procedures.

 

E. Top Ten Employment Law Mistakes Small Businesses Make 

Attorney Kyle Cullen, MA & NH

• Learn how to identify the top ten employment law mistakes that small businesses make 

• Gain practical insights into how small businesses can minimize exposure to risky employment law compliance practices 

 

F. The Price Is Right: Cheap & Effective Tools for Solo Lawyers

Attorney Jared D. Correia, CEO Red Cave Law Firm Consulting

• Getting the most out of the products you’re already using

• Selecting new tools for speed and productivity

• How to choose AI products & upgrades

• How to use AI products

• Use cases for solos

 

11:50-1:00 Lunch (Included for all)

 

1:00-2:15 Concurrent Workshops

 

G. A Local Permitting Attorney’s Responsibilities in Order to Be Successful with the Local Permitting Authorities

Attorney Lisa Mead, Mead, Talerman & Costa, LLC, Newburyport

• How to prepare your client and the importance of understanding your client’s expectations

• The importance of preparation and coordination with experts

• What does the Board expect from you

• How to effectively present to a board

• After the Board hearing, your job isn’t done yet

• Implementation of the Permit

 

H. Domestic Violence & Technology: Become Aware of Misuse

Attorney Aiko Suyemoto, Our Family Wizard & Attorney Michael Xavier, Prince Lobel, MA

• How batterers use phone technology, social networking and GPS to circumvent injunctions for protection, supervised visitation, and child custody. 

• Recognize the ways social media technology, such as Facebook applications, tweets, text and sext messages, cyberbullying, and geo---tagged images impact cases;

• Identify evidentiary issues/problems/concerns regarding the use of social media in litigation;

• What tools are available to advocates, courts and law enforcement to reduce cyber stalking and abuse.

 

I. Ethics Risk Management for Lawyers: Claims, Complaints, and 

Multi-jurisdictional Traps, Todd C. Scott | VP Risk Management, Minnesota Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company

• What are current malpractice claim trends, including which practice areas are reporting the highest claim volume and the most common errors alleged against lawyers? 

• What are emerging ethics and liability concerns created by the modern, mobile practice environment? 

• What are multi-jurisdictional practice risks—including unauthorized practice of law concerns

• Understand how claims develop, where risk concentrates, and how to build safer workflows, documentation habits, and firm policies that support compliant, defensible practice in 2026 and beyond.

 

2:15-2:30 Break

 

2:30-3:45 Concurrent Workshops

 

J. Setting the Stage and Performing Successful Negotiations 

Attorney Sally R. Gaglini, Gaglini Law Group LLC, Boston

• Preparation and Strategy; 

• Script writing the plays before negotiation days; 

• Watch yourself! Learn, Adjust; 

• Probe; 

• Phrases to Embrace and Avoid; 

• Protect relationships; 

• Propose; 

• Prioritizing expectations; How to manage the curve ball and unexpected slider during negotiations; 

• Meeting, exceeding or assuaging client expectations for a successful negotiation

 

K. How to Use Forensics in Your Cases, Robert Adams, Owner, Frontier Consulting Solutions and Attorney Nicole Reilly, MA

• How data from phones, computers, video, and online services can be preserved, analyzed

• How digital evidence can be presented in cases involving divorce, estate disputes, human resources investigations, insider threats

• What constitutes intellectual property theft

• How to apply the fundamentals of mobile, computer, and video forensics

• How to recognize common sources of digital evidence

• How to Identify how digital forensics supports divorce, estate, workplace investigations, and intellectual property disputes

• What is the role of metadata, hidden assets, and deleted files in uncovering key facts

 

L. Spinning the Mediator, Hon Patricia Gorman (ret), Attorneys Judith Cowan, MA, Katherine Morneau, NH; Dana Prescott, ME & Eric Schutzbank, MA 

• Framing facts and law to influence mediator perception

• Ethical persuasion versus manipulation: where the line is

• Managing mediator bias and assumptions

• Using caucus effectively to shape negotiation dynamics

• Common mistakes that weaken credibility in mediation

• Mediation differences MA, ME & NH

 

3:45-5:15 Concurrent Workshops

 

M. Avoiding Claims of Harassment and Discrimination in Your Law Practice

Attorneys Maureen Pomeroy, MA & Anne-Marie Storey, ME

• Review potential legal issues relating to harassment and discrimination claims by clients and employees

• Laws applicable in your jurisdiction 

• Best practices to avoid such claims 

• Review of policies to implement for your practice 

• Inherent bias

 

N. Challenging Valuation in Marital Dissolution Matters

Hon. Jennifer Bingham, Probate & Family Court, MA, Marc Bello, Partner Strive Partners & Attorney Gary Todd, Todd & Weld, MA

• Importance of understanding the Company, dealing with challenges of discovery

• Understanding the nature of a business entity and correlation of owner's spouse involvement to determine annual compensation and identification and quantification of personal goodwill. An overview of industries such as medical practices, partnership interests in service entities, and sole proprietorships

• How Standard of Value can impact the selection of an appropriate valuation method

• An overview of key characteristics to consider when valuing minority interests in private companies for martial dissolution purposes

 

O. Today in Immigration Law: the Good, the Bad, & the Ugly

Attorneys Losmin Jimenez Gregory, Salem, MA, Moderator; Ronald L. Abramson, Shaheen & Gordon P.A., NH; Shannon McKinnon, McKinnon & Lee, Maine and Stephen Roth, Law Office of Stephen Roth, MA

• Recent developments and how they apply

• Special juvenile immigration status-state processes

• What to do if your client is picked up by ICE

• Who is at risk

 

5:15 Networking Gourmet Reception at Surf Side. Sponsored by the Greater Newburyport Bar Association. All are invited

CONFERENCE INFORMATION Tuition includes, continental breakfast, lunch, gourmet reception and materials. Parking is provided by GNBA for free in the Blue Ocean Parking Lot. Nearby hotels: https://www.google.com/search? client=safari&rls=en&q=hotels+near+blue+ocean+music+hall&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8#ip=1 

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https://gnba.ticketbud.com/9th-annual-cle-by-the-sea-ne-conference-for-solos-small-firms