Attorneys, Staff and Consultants: Chris A. Milne, Esq., Attorney Milne is a civil trial lawyer and professional lawyer/trustee. Attorney Milne is a 1987 graduate, with honors, from Suffolk University Law School. Attorney Milne has been a practicing trial lawyer for over fifteen years. Attorney Milne has also developed a unique trustee practice to serve children and their families. In this web site you will read about Attorney Milne's notable cases and his extensive writing and lecturing in his areas of expertise. In my trial work I have retained and worked with the leading experts in the world on issues ranging from, standards of care for neonatal infections, sick buildings, product design, lead poisoning, and security for residential communities and abortion clinics. These cases turn largely on the truth of the individual case and my trial skills. In my trustee practice what you will see below is a diverse multidisciplinary group that provides on an ongoing basis support in a wide range of areas that are essential to the proper administration of a trust in the best interest of the beneficiary. Marjorie B. Milne, M.B.A., Financial Manager and Trust Administrator Marjorie B. Milne brings years of experience as a bank examiner and financial analyst for the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston to the Child Trust Department at Milne Law Offices. Ms. Milne manages the firm's finances and helps administrate the firm's trust department. Prior to working at Milne Law offices Ms. Milne worked as a Financial Analyst at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston for seven years. As a Financial Analyst at The Federal Reserve Bank, Ms. Milne's responsibilities included monitoring the condition of a portfolio of Bank Holding Companies. Such responsibilities included evaluating compliance with bank holding companies that were under supervisory agreements, evaluating responses to bank examination recommendations and evaluating dividend payment notifications. Ms. Milne received a B.A. degree with honors in 1985 from Clark University with dual majors in economics and business management. Ms. Milne obtained an M.B.A. with Honors from Suffolk University in 1990. Ms. Milne's past employment includes working as a Bank Examiner for the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, a Budget Analyst for the City of Boston and an Account Administrator for a Boston Investment Company. Ms. Milne is also very busy raising the future principles of the firm, Jane, Lee, Claire and George Milne Christina Gentile, Esq., Special Education Counsel and Associate Attorney A typical trust instrument requires the trustee to administer the trust funds so as to enable the beneficiary to lead the most fulfilling life possible. The trust also requires the trustee to maximize available public benefits, including special education. Thus, hands-on advocacy is required to assist the child and his/her parent/guardian. Attorney Gentile provides special educational advocacy for the trust beneficiaries for whom Attorney Milne serves as Trustee. Educational advocacy can involve the following: assisting families in making an initial referral for a special education evaluation  navigating parents through the process of obtaining a Section 504 plan (a plan for children whose disabilities do not interfere with their ability to progress in the general curriculum, but nevertheless are in need of support) securing funding for an independent evaluation when the school’s own testing is insufficient advocating for increased services, summer services, and placement changes suggesting additional accommodations and modifications for a child’s IEP (Individual Education Plan) ensuring that the school follows proper procedure for disciplining regular and special education students working with the school to brainstorm creative solutions to general academic difficulties targeting transition services and goals for students moving from high school into the post-secondary world; for example, obtaining the services of a college coach You may be interested in the following links: http://www.wrightslaw.com/idea/law.htm: IDEA 2004 (Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act), federal statute and regulations http://www.doe.mass.edu/sped/: the Massachusetts Department of Education’s special education website, which includes the state regulations, as well as policy and guidance Attorney Gentile has been with Milne Law Offices since 2006.  Attorney Gentile supports Attorney Milne in all areas of his civil litigation practice, including, new case screening, coordinating expert reviews depositions and discovery motions. Attorney Gentile is a 2003 graduate of Georgetown Law School.    A former preschool teacher and respite care provider for special education children, prior working at Milne Law Offices, Ms. Gentile represented numerous school districts across Massachusetts in special education disputes. She has attended IEP Team meetings and manifestation determination meetings; litigated due process hearings; and given workshops on the IDEA, the nation’s law that works to improve results for infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities. Additionally, Ms. Gentile worked as an Educational Specialist with the Massachusetts Department of Education’s Program Quality Assurance department, where she advised parents and school districts on compliance with state and federal special education law. Ms. Gentile also evaluated Massachusetts school districts’ special education programs and facilities to ensure quality control and compliance. Steven M. Cohen, Esq, Consultant on Drafting and Administration of Trusts Disability planning requires a familiarity of the intricacies of trust law and public benefits law. For disability planning and drafting of trust instruments Mr. Milne consults with Attorney Cohen, a partner with of the Boston firm Cohen & Oalican, LLP. Attorney Cohen received his undergraduate degree cum laude from Brandeis University and law degree cum laude from Boston University School of Law. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. He is co-author of the Nursing Home Medicaid Eligibility Chapter in Estate Planning for the Aging and Incapacitated Client in Massachusetts published by Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education. Mr. Cohen speaks regularly before senior and professional groups including the American Bar Association, the Boston Tax Institute, Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Harvard Medical School, as well as to health care professionals in hospitals and nursing homes. Alan Schwadron, C.P.A., Consultant for Tax Preparation and Planning Alan Schwadron has been working as a Certified Public Accountant since 1980 when he received his professional license. Mr. Schwadron is currently in private practice but has worked for both national and regional accounting firms in Boston and New York previously. A graduate of Northeastern University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration, Mr. Schwadron also holds an M.B.A from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Mr. Schwadron provides tax planning services to Attorney Milne for the Trust Department at Milne Law Offices. He works in conjunction with Jonathon Milne at SmithBarney Citigroup to make projections and advisories in order to minimize the tax liabilities of the trusts. Mr. Schwardon also prepares all tax returns for the trusts. Melinda Barnes McGinn Second Vice President of Wealth Management Wealth Advisory Specialist Smith Barney, a division of Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. 950 Winter Street Waltham, MA 02451 (p) 781-672-5279 (toll free) 800-344-4495 (fax) 781-672-5199 e-mail mindy.mcginn@smithbarney.com www.fc.smithbarney.com/mindymcginn Susan J. Reardon, Paralegal Susan J. Reardon is a paralegal who brings her vast experience as both a legal and healthcare professional to Milne Law Offices.  Her duties range from litigation and trust management support to advocacy for public benefits for our clients. A 1994 graduate of Loyola University Chicago School of Education, Susan holds a Master's degree in Community Mental Health, a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the College of the Holy Cross, a Gerontology Certificate from the University of Massachusetts Gerontology Consortium and a paralegal certificate from Boston University. With this background Ms. Reardon brings a unique blend of education and experience to Milne Law Offices.  When asked about the seemingly unrelated career paths of mental health and law, Ms. Reardon explains:  "Each field, using its own tools, allows the professional to assist clients meet their own personal goals.  Law and mental health affect all of us in deeply personal ways and one needs to be educated in the other in order to fully serve a client in either endeavor." Ms. Reardon has advocated for and worked with families of diverse ethnic and economic background in Chicago as well as in Massachusetts. She is familiar with workings of many state and federal departments including the Department of Mental Retardation, Department of Mental Health, Social Security and Mass Health.   Ms. Reardon has experience with probate accounting, community and long term care Medicaid applications, obtaining food stamps, fuel assistance, emergency housing and a variety of other public benefits for clients.  She has time and time again been successful in obtaining public benefits for clients when faced with resistance through her knowledge and persistence.  A key element to Ms. Reardon's work at Milne Law Offices is to perform home visits with trust beneficiaries and their families.  Each visit offers beneficiaries: A personal assessment of the beneficiary's financial, social, medical and educational needs and goals.  With this information, Attorney Milne is able to create a unique investment strategy for each beneficiary, initiate education advocacy for children struggling in schools, and identify untapped public benefits. A personal one to one explanation of the previous month's Smith Barney Statement for that particular trust.  Often times, families are unfamiliar with reading a monthly financial statement.  Ms. Reardon goes through the statement page by page ensuring responsible parties are able to identify and read key components of the statement including previous balance, current balance, gains, losses and checks written. A personal discussion with the responsible party to notify them of their rights and responsibilities in reviewing the monthly statements and empower them to ask questions. A detailed review of the policies and procedures of Milne Law Offices including ways to access staff, make requests for funds, and the legal obligations of Attorney Milne to document all trust distributions.  An opportunity to ask questions, clarify concerns and review all previous documents in order to verify current information. Ms. Reardon conducts the initial phone intake of all new clients to obtain the necessary information to create an appropriate trust document.  Frequently, Ms. Reardon uncovers difficult family situations in this first contact and begins advocacy for accessing public benefits at this early stage.  This initial contact creates the first impression of the firm and introduces families to the family friendly focus of Milne Law Offices.   Her unique background enables her to create positive relationships with a variety of individuals- all the while maintaining the focus on the beneficiary's best interest and goals.