Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | January 11, 2021 | Worcester Business Journal 13 P R O F E S S I O N A L S E R V I C E S B E S T O F B U S I N E S S BY GRANT WELKER Worcester Business Journal News Editor Mirick O'Connell let clients know of COVID's legal issues T he law firm Mirick O'Con- nell has always had a business focus, known for specialty areas including commercial lending, business litigation, employment and real estate. at means it's been an especially busy past year, with attorneys guiding clients through a range of tricky questions. First it was guidance on layoffs and furloughs as the coronavirus pandem- ic began. en it was how to allow employees to work remotely, or how to manage new regulations on how many people could be inside a business at a given time. Now, it can be a matter of whether businesses can or should require employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19. e state's new Paid Family and Medical Leave law went into effect with the start of the year, giving businesses something else to figure out. "ey've been incredibly busy giving advice around all these issues," David Surprenant, managing partner, said of the firm's business attorneys. "Weaving all that together creates a lot of confu- sion for a lot of employers." Mirick O'Connell has been adjusting to pandemic life itself, with many work- ing remotely and those who'd normally be in courtrooms instead working on litigation cases by Zoom. Only in limited instances have jury trials moved forward. But the firm was used to re- mote work, with employees spread apart at either its largest office in downtown Worcester, another in Westborough, or a small outpost in Boston. What's changed more is attorneys' relationships with clients, which used to be more face-to-face. Today, even some court trials are happening remotely, as are depositions and sale closings, with signatures recorded electronically. While Mirick O'Connell's 2020 was about as busy as the previous year in total, some practice areas were busier than others. Domestic law, which han- dles divorce proceedings, was slower than expected. Bankruptcy lawyers are expecting to be busier as the pandemic continues to upturn many businesses. Mirick O'Connell once had a tagline that reflected its specialty: "In Business for Business Since 1916." Clients find Mirick O'Connell to be just the right size, Suprenant said: Big enough to have attorneys in enough areas of practice but not so big that a client would have a hard time getting in touch with the person they need quickly enough. Mirick O'Connell has 128 employees spread over three offices, although work from home has become more standard during the pandemic. BEST LAW FIRM Mirick O'Connell* Worcester, Westborough, Boston, mirickoconnell.com Top executive: Managing Partner David E. Surprenant Founded: 1916 Employees: 128 Notable runners-up: Bowditch & Dewey, Fletcher Tilton PC BEST ACCOUNTING FIRM Bollus Lynch, LLP Certified Public Accounts and Consultants* Worcester, bolluslynch.com Top executives: Partners Michael J. Bollus, CPA & Stephen A. Lynch, CPA Founded: 1989 Employees: 38 Bollus Lynch has developed a client-first approach, blending years of national firm experience into a local firm setting and offering expertise within specific industry groups. Even as the firm adapted to a remote-office setting in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, it still exceeded its clients expectations during a time that was desperately needed. Notable runners-up: AAFCPAs, Stowe & Degon, Stolberg, Ebbeling & Blanchette, LLP, S&G Business Consultants & Certified Public Accountants n BEST CREDIT UNION DCU – Digital Federal Credit Union* Marlborough, www.dcu.org Top executive: President & CEO James Regan Founded: 1979 Employees: 1,607 For more than 40 years, DCU has maintained a "People helping people" mindset. In response to the financial challenges its members faced in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, DCU implemented special fee waivers, terms changes, and product offerings for those requiring assistance. n BEST FORENSIC ACCOUNTANT McLaren & Associates CPAs, PC* Shrewsbury, DMCLARENCPA.com Top executive: Founder & Managing Partner David S. McLaren, CPA, CGMA, CRFAC, ABGOV, RFI, CRFAU Founded: 2005 Employees: 14 McLaren is a Certified B Corp, incorporating a mission of making a positive difference in all aspects of its operations. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this included staying up to date on all the changes with the CARES Act, helping small businesses navigate stressful times, and putting informative videos on social media. n BEST WOMAN-OWNED BUSINESS PENTA Communications, Inc.* Westborough, www.pentamarketing.com Top executive: Founder & CEO Deborah Penta Founded: 1989 Employees: 17 PENTA has been 100% woman-owned since its founding more than 30 years ago, and the company's commitment to economic development, education and community service has led to its success. During the coronavirus pandemic, PENTA developed new strategies to help clients and offered seven-day-a-week access to clients. Notable runners-up: Trusted Tees Custom Apparel, Sullivan Benefits, Koda Creative Group n Notable runner-up: Central One Federal Credit Union David McLaren, founder and managing partner Deborah Penta receiving the key to the city from Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty. W

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