Wealth Management
Hemenway & Barnes partners with individuals and families to enhance, preserve and protect their investments – while reducing risk and making informed, tax-advantaged decisions. We deliver counsel and guidance with an independent and experienced point of view on important and often emotional decisions so you can chart a course that is right for you and your family. Ours is a tailored, personalized approach, and we welcome the opportunity to discuss how we can meet your needs for comprehensive wealth and asset management.
Family Office
Our goal is to be your most trusted advisor, your first call when you have a question. There is no “one size fits all” family office. Each family comes with unique needs and requirements, and these needs change over time. As a result, we place a high value on getting to know each family and remaining flexible. Our family office services can provide an effective way to coordinate the stewardship of family assets and organize philanthropic and personal interests. Our family office services can provide an effective way to coordinate the stewardship of family assets, to organize philanthropic and personal interests, and to preserve a sense of family values.
Philanthropic Advisory
Hemenway & Barnes offers a distinctive blend of legal, fiduciary, philanthropic advisory, and grant-making services to private foundations, trusts, individuals, families, and other entities. We advise over 100 charitable clients, ranging in size and complexity from modest to some of the largest family foundations in the region. There is no "one size fits all" solution. We tailor solutions to meet our clients’ individual needs and vision for philanthropy.
Estate & Tax Planning
Our approach to estate and tax planning is comprehensive, comprising an understanding of a client's financial situation, family, goals, values, risk tolerance and more. Since families are unique, so too are the estate and tax-planning services they seek from us. For some, this might be a straightforward plan involving a will, healthcare proxy, durable power of attorney or revocable trust. For other families, it might require more sophisticated approaches, such as split interest trusts, limited liability companies, private foundations, and more. Our advisors are constantly assessing new planning techniques and the ever-changing tax landscape to help you make a plan that aligns with your goals and values.
Trust & Estate Administration
Our Estate Administration and Trust departments are essential elements of our practice. The Trust Department is responsible for the safekeeping of trust assets, the collection and distribution of income, preparing income tax returns for trusts and estates, bill payment, and more. Our estate administrators manage all aspects of the settlement of an estate, including supervision of probate proceedings, disposition of real estate and preparation of estate tax returns. Working seamlessly with our lawyers and trustees, our trust and estate professionals have the experience, expertise and breadth of skills that you require and that your family deserves.
Nonprofit Representation
We represent a diverse group of tax-exempt institutions across New England and beyond, ranging in size and complexity from modest to some of the largest nonprofit institutions in the region, including colleges and universities, cultural and performing arts centers, religious organizations, hospitals and healthcare plans, private foundations and charitable trusts, community foundations, donor advised funds (DAFs), publicly supported entities, and human services providers. The group provides a full range of services, including corporate governance, institutional advancement, tax planning, government relations, foundation management, real estate and conservation, and philanthropic advisory services.
Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Our attorneys are seasoned litigators who have helped clients navigate and prevail in some of their most sensitive, high-stakes, and complex business and personal disputes. In every case, we strive to understand our client’s objectives and achieve them in the most practical and efficient manner possible, whether that be an early negotiated resolution or litigation all the way through trial and appeal. The group is frequently named among the “Best Law Firms” by U.S. News – Best Lawyers.
Business Law
We provide comprehensive representation in all aspects of business law with an independent and experienced point of view, so you can make decisions with confidence and focus on creating business value. Our clients include owner-led and family businesses, start-up enterprises, and nonprofits across a range of industries. A cornerstone of our practice is the personal, partner-level attention and immediate access clients receive.
Real Estate Law
Hemenway & Barnes provides comprehensive representation in all aspects of sophisticated commercial and residential real estate law. Our real estate clients range from individuals to large corporations. Among our clients are enterprises that focus on investment and ownership as well as on the development and operations of real estate. We also serve commercial lenders, businesses and nonprofit organizations.
Government & Election Law
From government entities to elected officials, businesses, nonprofits, and individuals, we help clients navigate the bustling intersection of law, public policy and government action. Our attorneys have deep roots in public service, previously holding legal and policy-making positions in the Massachusetts Legislature, Massachusetts Department of Revenue, and Internal Revenue Service. We routinely work with government agencies at all levels and counsel clients on administrative law matters, policy issues, litigation and appellate advocacy, election law, ballot and campaign finance issues, and the operation of social welfare and other advocacy groups.