Gesmer Updegrove LLP

Sara and Richard McNeil, a dynamic husband and wife leadership team, founded Boston Software Systems in 1985 and run it today with a virtual team operating in 10 states. The company markets the leading scripting software tool (software programming) in the health care industry. It allows easy access to valuable data and saves time, resources and money—all vital to improved fiscal fitness in health care today.

BSS began working with Gesmer Updegrove in 1986 with an initial focus on some early start-up mistakes—undoing an ill-advised C-corp organizational decision, for example—and then traveled a 20+ year winding road with Gesmer that included positioning, selling and then “reacquiring” the company. Twice. No small feat. And subsequently expanding the business after each major transaction. 

On the business front, the firm's advice ranged from revamping the capital structure to structuring the transactions for tax advantages. Related legal work along the way included preparing and negotiating exclusive and non-exclusive software license agreements, marketing agreements, asset purchase agreements, vendor-partner agreements, and strategies to accommodate direct marketing of software products to hospitals. 

Says CEO Sara McNeil, “Gesmer Updegrove was part of each step in our company’s growth. Throughout, Gesmer has helped as we hired employees, established accounting, human resource and operational procedures. The firm has served not only as legal counsel, but as business advisors with each step we’ve taken. They have been as attentive to our needs when there were only two of us as they are now with our whole company."