Smith Kane’s Darshana Indira Presents on MCLE’s “Checklist for Involuntary Employee Separations” Webinar
Smith Kane, LLP announces that Partner Darshana Indira served as a faculty member for the Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education’s (MCLE) webinar, “Checklist for Involuntary Employee Separations,” held May 12.
The program provided a comprehensive overview of best practices for minimizing legal risk and safeguarding rights during the employee separation process. Indira and fellow panelists addressed the complex legal landscape surrounding involuntary separations, including obligations under employment agreements, considerations regarding layoffs and reductions in force, performance management processes leading to separation, strategies regarding separation agreements, as well as potential claims arising under state and federal law and common law.
The discussion highlighted common legal pitfalls employers face, such as discrimination and retaliation claims, whistleblower protections, statutory violations, and potential claims under FMLA and PFML. Panelists also examined procedural risks, including compliance with wage payment laws at termination and the proper handling of post-employment restrictive covenants.
In addition to employer considerations, the webinar explored the employee perspective, emphasizing how the separation process can be overwhelming and unclear—particularly regarding the legal rights employees may have or be able to assert.
Indira is an accomplished employment and business lawyer who advises company owners, organizational leaders, and C-suite executives across a wide range of employment and commercial litigation matters. Her practice spans both transactional counseling and complex disputes, with particular experience in industries including pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, healthcare, and retail.
Indira provides strategic counsel to businesses navigating the complexities of employer-employee relationships. She regularly advises management and senior executives on executive compensation matters, employment agreements, restrictive covenants, and severance negotiations.
In addition to her employment law practice, Indira is a trusted advisor to startups and emerging companies in Massachusetts and across the country. She works closely with founders and leadership teams to form entities, draft foundational corporate documents, and establish employment frameworks that support long-term growth. As those businesses evolve, she continues to serve as a key legal resource, advising on disputes and litigation when they arise.
Indira is an active leader in the legal community. She is co-chair of the BBA’s Labor & Employment Section, a member of the Women’s Bar Association’s Board of Directors and co-chair of its Women of Color Committee. She also serves as vice chair of the Massachusetts Bar Association’s Business Law Section Council. In 2025, Indira was named an Excellence in the Law: Up & Coming Lawyer by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly.
About Smith Kane, LLP
Celebrating 30 years, Smith Kane, LLP has built a reputation for helping clients grow their businesses, manage risk, and resolve complex legal matters. Founded in 1996, the firm offers big-firm expertise paired with the strategic, responsive, and client-focused approach of a boutique practice. Smith Kane represents clients in business law and litigation, white collar criminal defense, government investigations, and employment law matters from its Boston office.
