Employers and employees alike look to Conn Kavanaugh’s employment lawyers for advice in navigating the increasingly complex web of state and federal statutes, regulations, and court decisions that impact the workplace.

We regularly advise clients on “best practices” so that risks can be minimized, and companies can focus on their core business operations. Whether litigating disputes in court or counseling clients on compliance issues, we are committed to providing employers and employees with practical, timely business-focused solutions to problems that arise in the workplace.

Because Conn Kavanaugh’s clients are representative of the businesses based here in New England, our lawyers understand that a “one size fits all” approach won’t work. Instead, we work with each client to understand the specific business environment to develop the most suitable policies and strategies.

Lawsuits arising from employment matters require experienced counsel. Our attorneys regularly handle cases involving state and federal discrimination claims, ERISA, state and federal wage and hour claims, wrongful termination, and other employment-related contract and tort claims. Also, our attorneys have substantial experience in litigation arising from noncompetition and nondisclosure agreements, often working with clients to prevent the misappropriation of confidential and trade secret information and the raiding of key employees and customers.

Representative Matters

  • A large Boston-area employer learned that two senior sales executives subject to non-competition agreements with access to substantial amounts of confidential and proprietary information had accepted senior sales positions with a direct competitor.  We succeeded in obtaining a court order preventing the former executives from working for the competitor for one year, and ultimately in recovering substantially all of our client’s attorneys’ fees.
  • Conn Kavanaugh represented a large Boston-area property management company accused by employees and regulatory authorities of intentionally failing to pay earned overtime pay, and succeeded in negotiating a global, private settlement of the matter, thus enabling the client to avoid the publicity that would have resulted from a formal court proceeding.
  • We obtained a defense verdict in a one-week jury trial, where the plaintiff alleged our client had engaged in race discrimination and unlawful retaliation.
  • Conn Kavanaugh defended a start-up company and its founder against claims brought by the founder’s former employer for misappropriation of trade secrets.  We succeeded in defeating an application for preliminary injunction which, if allowed, would have effectively shut down our client’s business.  We ultimately obtained a dismissal of all claims prior to trial.
  • Conn Kavanaugh successfully defended an employer in an age discrimination case in a jury trial in the Massachusetts Superior Court.  The case arose from the termination of a middle manager.  Conn Kavanaugh lawyers obtained a jury verdict in the employer’s favor
  • Conn Kavanaugh has obtained summary judgment decisions in numerous state and Federal court cases in favor of employers sued for discrimination based on age, gender, race, religion, and ethnicity.
  • Conn Kavanaugh was retained by a Fortune 500 company after that company had lost a jury trial and been ordered to pay substantial damages to the plaintiff in an age discrimination case.  We prosecuted an appeal of that decision to the Supreme Judicial Court and obtained its reversal, with the result that the case was dismissed and judgment entered for the employer client.
  • Conn Kavanaugh lawyers obtained a favorable judgment for a large company client in a disability discrimination case arising from an employment termination.  Conn Kavanaugh lawyers tried the case in the United States District Court, with the Court deciding in favor of our client and dismissing the discrimination claim.
  • Conn Kavanaugh tried a race and ethnicity discrimination case to a verdict in favor of the employer client.  The case arose out of the termination of the plaintiff’s employment for reasons of misconduct.

ERISA Litigation

  • In many cases Conn Kavanaugh has obtained summary judgments on ERISA claims made against our client plans and plan fiduciaries. In a number of these cases, Conn Kavanaugh has successfully defeated attempts to overturn these judgments in the United States Circuit Court of Appeals.
  • We obtained a defense judgment in favor of an ERISA pension plan administrator in a case involving alleged misrepresentations to an employee. The judgment was affirmed by the First Circuit Court of Appeals, which agreed with our argument that the employee’s claims were preempted by ERISA. We successfully opposed the employee’s request for review at the U.S. Supreme Court.
  • Conn Kavanaugh represented a Fortune 100 company in Federal court, at both the District Court and appellate levels, to defeat claims of handicap discrimination, ERISA violations, retaliation, and other claims.

How Can We Help?

Contact us today for a solution best suited to your legal needs.