Employment Law

We have extensive experience and depth in handling employment law matters, from partnership and closely held corporate break-ups to age, gender and other forms of discrimination to non-competition and severance and bonus agreements.

Bill is an acknowledged expert in employment law and has achieved significant results, primarily for plaintiffs, including work for senior executives, employees and employers.

Together Jim and Bill have handled sensitive and complex employments matters in all courts and administrative agencies in Massachusetts.

Bill’s notable cases include:

$2.5M settlement for discharged COO of multinational enterprise
Bill applied US and international law to argue that his client, the Chief Operating Officer who found himself on the wrong end of a succession dispute, was wrongfully terminated. Per the contractual obligations and other promises made and company policy, the executive successfully enforced his claims for long-term severance, stock option bonuses and benefits. The matter settled before litigation was filed.

$725,000 settlement for client alleging age discrimination:
Senior manager at major insurance company was terminated in alleged performance-related Reduction in Force (RIF). However the record provided strong evidence that the performance allegations were unsubstantiated and that senior management had specifically discriminated against plaintiff on the basis of age and that the RIF – directed primarily to older workers - was improper. The matter settled shortly before trial.

$400K settlement for whistle blower
When an employee, who worked in a manufacturer’s clean room environment, first voiced safety and related concerns, the company undertook corrective steps and an extensive internal review. However, when the employee raised additional concerns, including complaints about harassment, and indicated that authorities could be notified, he was fired. The case settled on the eve of binding arbitration.

250K jury award for senior executive in dispute with public company
A physicist who was instrumental in the formation of a new corporate division was denied a promised retention bonus payment when the division was sold. The company contended that his subsequent employment contract voided the earlier agreement which included the bonus. Careful review of the company records showed independent investment counsel supporting plaintiff’s contention. Plaintiff’s live testimony was also instrumental in conveying the facts to the jury. After a two week trial, the jury returned a verdict for plaintiff, awarding him all of his damages.

$150,000 settlement of sexual harassment claim:
Plaintiff was harassed, both sexually and physically, while working for a private club. As a single parent, she was unwilling - for over a year - to quit her job and seek judicial redress. Finally, the harassment was intolerable and she was constructively terminated and sought counsel. case settled during hearings at the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination.

Bill also achieved successful settlements for:
o Police officer discharged for alleged handicap that was the residual impairment of a stroke
o Manager denied stock options because he was technically not employed full-time due to a leave of absence for a handicap
  accommodation
o Manager at high-technology firm terminated in context of gender discrimination
o Departing manager who disputed terms of non-competition and related agreements and the amount and terms of stock options

Jim’s notable cases include:

Blocked injunction to enable ex-employees to work for competitor
Jim successfully avoided a preliminary injunction on behalf of two former employees of a company which attempted to stop them from working for an alleged competitor, arguing that the noncompete and confidentiality provisions were overbroad and that they did not preclude his clients from their new positions since their new employer was not a true “competitor” of their former employer.

Numerous settlements
Jim has successfully advocated for employers and employees over the course of his career, in the context of preliminary injunctions and through trials and appeals, in employment matters relating to race, ethnic, gender and sexual orientation discrimination and harassment. His cases have also involved many noncompetition provisions in employment agreements, particularly in the context of insurance agencies and brokers.