Deirdre Gleason, Esq.
Of Counsel
Deirdre Gleason has been practicing law since 2011, with an emphasis on estate planning and elder law since 2018. As Kate moves toward retirement, Deirdre will become the lead attorney for Western Massachusetts Estate Planning. She serves individuals, couples and families of all ages, and many of her clients have particular concerns related to preservation of assets, estate taxes, and real estate. Deirdre also consults with clients needing guidance related to MassHealth (Medicaid) planning, assisted-living, and skilled-nursing placement, and how those issues relate to her clients’ larger estate-planning needs.
Deirdre has a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Science and Policy (International Studies Stream) from Clark University, earned her Juris Doctor from Western New England University School of Law, and obtained her Masters of Law in Environmental Law, Cum Laude, from Vermont Law School. She is a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association and the New Mexico State Bar (inactive). Prior to her work in estate planning and elder law, Deirdre spent four (4) years practicing civil litigation in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Deirdre also maintains a separate criminal defense practice, representing indigent clients in their criminal matters in Franklin County, both at the trial level and on appeal.
Deirdre lives locally with her partner, their two young children, and their dog, Dixie.
T (413) 625-2482
F (413) 826-7700
Deirdre@WesternMassEP.com
Kate Downes, Esq.
Kate Downes is an estate planning attorney (Wills, Trusts, Durable Powers of Attorney, and health care directives, etc.), specializing in elder law.
Although she serves individuals, couples and families of all ages, many of her clients have particular concerns related to preservation of assets, estate taxes, real estate, long-term care insurance, MassHealth (Medicaid), assisted living, and skilled-nursing placement.
She has been practicing law for over thirty-five (35) years and is a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association, Oregon State Bar (inactive), and the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (Massachusetts and national chapters). Prior to being a sole practitioner, she worked for a non-profit law firm in Oregon (handling domestic relations cases), as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Oregon, and as “Of Counsel” to two Massachusetts estate planning and elder law firms. Her practice has been limited exclusively to elder law and estate planning since 1993. She also speaks regularly at local organizations, including various Senior Centers.
From 1999 until 2013, Kate served as a Board Member, Chair and President of the Board of Directors of the Helen Andrus Benedict Foundation, New York, New York, a charitable foundation which focuses on creating elder-friendly neighborhoods and actively engaging older people in their community. The foundation targets its grant-making primarily to nonprofit organizations in Westchester County, New York, with special attention to the City of Yonkers.
Kate also served from 1999 until 2013 as a Board Member at Andrus-on-Hudson, Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, a non-profit organization operating a 197-bed skilled-nursing facility.
She is also a contributing author to the chapter “Community Medicaid Benefits – Programs for Elders at Risk for Institutionalization” in the MassBar Association’s elder law resource guide, Taking Control of Your Future: A Legal Checkup, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 editions.
Finally, Kate serves on the Board of Trustees of the Arms Library, Shelburne Falls.
Kate lives in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts, with her husband, Ken, who served as her Office Manager for many years and now works on special projects for the office. Their two 20-something children are fully launched in meaningful (and self-sustaining) careers.
T (413) 625-2482
F (413) 826-7700
Kate@WesternMassEP.com
Julie Johnson, Esq.
Of Counsel
Julie Johnson is a cum laude graduate of Massachusetts School of Law and was admitted to practice in Massachusetts in 2016. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Management from Boston University. Julie’s practice focuses on the areas of trust and estate settlement and estate planning. She is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys—including its Massachusetts Chapter—as well as the Massachusetts Bar Association. Julie currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Montachusett Home Care Corporation and, in the past, served on both the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Planning Board in Townsend, where she has resided for the past 18 years with her husband, Eric, and their two daughters.
319 Littleton Rd, Westford, MA 01886
T (978) 396-0555
F (413) 826-7700
julie@johnsonhooper.com
Elizabeth (Liz) Smith
Legal Assistant
T (413) 625-2482
F (413) 826-7700
Liz@WesternMassEP.com
Emily Arsenault
Office Manager
T (413) 625-2482
F (413) 826-7700
Emily@WesternMassEP.com
Pam Guyette
MassHealth Specialist
(413) 522-1024 (cell)
(413) 625-2183 (landline)
(413) 625-2482 (Western Mass EP office)
pmguyette@gmail.com
Kenneth (Ken) Downes
Special Projects
T (413) 625-2482
F (413) 826-7700
Ken@WesternMassEP.com