NARBLA Conference Meeting  Summary - April 5, 2025, at Babson College.

Leslie Garbarino (Program Chair) welcomed the NARBLA attendees.  Thank you Leslie for your time and hard work setting up the conference.   

Denise Clinton (Aspen Publishing) displayed Business Law related texts and other materials. 

Attendees enjoyed refreshments, socialized, and settled down for a special tribute.

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Marie Hansen, Editor in Chief of the Business Law Review, gave a special tribute for NARBLA founder, William (Bill) Read.

William "Bill Read" Jr. 89, passed away January 28, 2025.  He was born in Springfield, MA., the son of William Bliss Sr. and Eleanor Louise Read.  

Bill was a long time professor at Husson University, teaching for more than 50 years.  He continued overseeing internships of students in undergraduate and graduate programs up until the year before his passing.

In 1968, he started the North Atlantic Business Law Review.  He was Editor in Chief of the Journal, supporting new and well as experienced authors with printing articles, for close to 50 years.  He stepped down to Editor in Chief Emeritus, but continued to be active in knowing everything happening with the Journal.  As of 2024, the Journal had printed 55 editions.

In 1980, he was selected for the Outstanding Educator in America award,  and in 2017 he was selected for the Teacher of the Year award.  He was awarded the title of Professor Emeritus on his retirement, and received an honorary doctorate degree from Husson University.  Bill was an avid swimmer over those 50 years, and enjoyed teaching others to swim.

He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Jean; special sister-in-law, Donna Jackson; his son, Thomas, and wife, Elizabeth, and their children, Emily and Sadie; and special niece, Lori and husband, Peter; his daughter, Ana, and husband Rob, and their daughter, Brianna; and three great-grandchildren.  In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his sister, Sally.

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Presentations covered numerous topics:

Liminal Discrimination: Using Risk Factors to Strengthen the Borders of Employment Law 

(Liz Brown)

The Patchwork of U.S. Federal Laws Governing Service and other Dogs  

(Marianne Kulow)

Let the Sunshine In:  Ending Secrecy in Massachusetts(and other States) Common Interest Communities

(David Silverstein)

Regulating AI Psychotherapy: Risks and Benefits of Therapy Bots

(Maria Granik)

Cannabis Social Media Advertising

(Hanna Weiser and Jackson Harris)

Building a Culture of Legal Knowledge in the Organization

(Robert Bird)

Addressing Entry-Level Housing Market Inequality after Burnett v. Nar

(Matthew Cummings)

Purpose and Process: Analyzing Subgroup Sentiment in Response to the SEC's Proposed Climate Disclosure Rule

(Henry Dao and Christian Savastano)

Tax Consequences of Wrongful Termination Settlement

(Donald J. Correa and Olivia T. Miller)

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Lunch Break

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Business Meeting

Marie Hansen, Editor in Chief of the Business Law Journal, monitored a discussion on the future of the Business Law Journal.  She was concerned about the lack of submissions for publication in the Journal.  The decision was reached to take a pause on the Journal.  Thank you, Marie, for your years of service as Editor in Chief of the Business Law Review.

Liz Brown held a discussion on the future of NARBLA.  It was agreed that the conference for next year will be held on Saturday, April 11, 2026.  The location will be forthcoming.

Mattew Cummings will be the NARBLA representative for the ALSB.

Walter Toomey will continue as Treasurer.

The President for next year will be Leslie Garbarino.  For the past 30+ years, William Greenspan has been the administrator for the NARBLA Webpage, as well as the monitor for the NARBLA mailing list, keeping the mailing list and Webpage up to date.  Liz Brown thanked William for his years of service and announced that Leslie Garbarino will now be the editor for the NARBLA Webpage as well as the monitor for the NARBLA mailing list.  Leslie is very excited about assuming this new responsibility, having previously run a media company.  

So, NARBLA members and friends, look for updates and the latest NARBLA news at www.narbla.org from Leslie Garbarino.