Smith + Malek, PLLC

Writing an employee handbook? Step away from the fill-in-the-blank template. More than a list of company policies, an employee handbook is a vital tool for legal compliance to protect your business interests.   A generic template likely won’t capture your company’s unique culture and values. It certainly won’t align with your legal business priorities like safeguarding intellectual property and defining remote work protocols.   Employment laws are constantly changing. Our attorneys ensure your handbook reflects the latest federal, state, and local regulations, reducing the risk of costly disputes. And in the event of a dispute, a properly crafted handbook is your strongest line of defense.

A litigator’s most potent tool? At Smith + Malek, we believe it’s diplomacy.   This is more than being courteous. It’s about finding common ground and using open communication to strategically navigate complex legal landscapes to pinpoint the best outcomes for our clients.   Our team at Smith + Malek is skilled in the art of negotiation. We know a well-crafted settlement can often be more advantageous than a risky trial. We know when to push forward and when to pull back.   We prioritize the long-term view of our clients, seeking resolutions that protect their interests while minimizing conflict. 

Meet the new legal operations specialist based out of our Boise office, Matthew Mallard. With a background in research, strategy, and operations, Matthew pinpoints opportunities to optimize and serve our clients more effectively.   Before joining our firm, he worked in both the senior and executive leadership teams of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. Matthew holds an Applied Science degree in Paralegal Studies from Broadview University, a BA in Social Sciences from Washington State University, and a MA in Christian Studies from Denver Seminary.   Welcome to the team, Matthew!

Practicing healthcare or own a healthcare facility in Idaho? Join us on Wednesday, September 4th from 11 am – 12 pm MDT for a free webinar that covers EMLATA and the SB 1329 parental consent law, and their impacts to practices. We designed this webinar based on questions from our Gem State clients. Get legal perspective and join in a live Q&A with Caitlin O’Brien and Hannah Andazola on our healthcare team. 🔗 Register now at the link: https://lnkd.in/gVyHVFYT

Going to court is rarely anyone’s first choice. An unfavorable outcome is always a possibility, but a trial court loss is not necessarily the end of the line. Enter: an appellate attorney.   Appellate law involves appealing lower court decisions to higher courts through the layers of the US judicial system.   A court order must generally be final to be appealable. Our appellate lawyers help identify where you’re procedurally able to appeal a case, then do the legal legwork to see it through. #LitigationLawyer #AppellateLaw #LegalInsights

When major legislation is in the news that impacts Idaho providers and patients, reporters turn to our healthcare team for legal perspective. Attorney Caitlin O’Brien recently spoke with The Idaho Statesman about a new law, SB 1328, that has “wide-sweeping” effects, especially on young patients. She pointed out the broader, perhaps unintended, implications of the bill that could leave a “huge gap” in care for kids. Read more on our website 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gH8RVMDT In a free webinar designed for healthcare providers in Idaho and beyond, get more real-time answers from Smith + Malek. On Wed. Sept. 4 from 11-12 MDT, Caitlin and our healthcare attorney Hannah Andazola will go live with an informative session and Q&A on the latest legal impacts of recent state-wide bills and Supreme court decisions. We’ll cover EMTALA and parental consent. Join in! 👉 Register now: https://lnkd.in/gVyHVFYT

What makes Smith + Malek stand out among other legal firms? Here’s a take directly from co-founder Peter Smith. “Lawyers are typically very risk and change averse. My personal view is: if I’m not changing, I’m not growing, and if I’m not growing, I’m dying. It’s fun to find ways to be more efficient.”   We’re changing the way law is practiced from the inside, out. One efficient idea at a time. #LawFirmLife #InnovativeSolutions #GrowthStrategy

For healthcare-focused legal expertise in real time, register now for our free webinar. Focused on EMTALA and parental consent, this is a live overview and Q&A on the legal updates of the latest state-wide bills and Supreme Court rulings impacting Idaho healthcare. Join us on Wednesday, September 4th from 11 am – 12 pm MDT. 🔗 Register at the link: https://lnkd.in/gVyHVFYT

In April, the Department of Health and Human Services issued a final rule modifying HIPAA privacy. The goal behind this modification? To protect access to and the privacy of legal reproductive health care records in light of the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision that ruled that the Constitution does not guarantee the right to abortion. The 2024 Final Rule prohibits HIPAA-regulated entities from using or disclosing private health information for criminal, civil or administrative investigations when the healthcare is lawful. This is an incredibly nuanced rule, so we go into full detail on our blog. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gQh35uPV We’re here to keep you informed on ongoing legal issues that affect the Northwest and beyond. #HealthcareLaw #LegalInsights #Idaho

Lawyers are skilled at talking about hard things, except for, too often, their own mental health. Working through long hours, tough decisions, and high pressure, a 2023 Reuters study reported that “66% of respondents said that their time in the legal profession had been detrimental to their mental health, and 46% of them said they were considering leaving the profession due to stress and burnout.”   At Smith + Malek, we created a practice that faces this issue head on by giving our lawyers more headspace. Work / life balance is more than a buzz phrase here, it’s built into our firm structure. We prioritize collaboration and mentorship in place of competition and isolation. With a more energized and responsive team, our clients notice the difference, too. #LawFirmLife #CollaborationOverCompetition #LawyerWellness