Overview

Jon represents employers of all sizes and across all industries in federal and state courts, arbitration, and administrative agencies. He defends clients in single-plaintiff discrimination claims, wage and hour disputes, and putative class actions, among other employment-related claims. He also prosecutes and defends claims involving breaches of post-employment restrictive covenants, misappropriation of trade secrets, and other business disputes.

Jon is experienced in all aspects of litigation, including written discovery, depositions, expert testimony, summary judgment, and jury trial. He takes particular pride in his ability to brief complex issues to trial and appellate courts with confidence, candor, and credibility. His written advocacy has won his clients summary judgment and dismissal in complex, high-value cases of the type that are ordinarily expected to head to trial.

In addition to his litigation practice, Jon assists clients with day-to-day counseling, investigations, and crisis management on a variety of employment issues including hiring, discipline, termination, harassment, leave, wage and hour, disability accommodation, and union grievances.

Jon is admitted to practice in the state and federal courts of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.

Honors & Recognitions

  • Thomson Reuters "Stand-Out Lawyers™" (2023)

About Me

Jon lives in Providence, Rhode Island with his wife, the artist Kirstin Lamb. They have three cats who make frequent appearances in virtual client meetings. Jon’s hobbies include travel, hiking, reading, and writing. As of 2023, Jon has been to 46 U.S. states and 849 of the nation’s 3,141 counties.

Representative Matters

Representative Matters

  • Following a three-week jury trial, won a defense verdict for a large insurance company in Suffolk County, Massachusetts (Boston) Superior Court. The plaintiff, alleging race discrimination and retaliation, had claimed lost wage damages in excess of $15 million. In an issue of first impression, the trial court applied Massachusetts law concerning the extent to which an employee’s retaining company confidential documents in support of a discrimination claim constitutes protected activity.
  • Won summary judgment in U.S. District Court for a Boston hospital on gender discrimination and whistleblowing claims filed by a former physician. The court adopted our arguments that the plaintiff’s departure was voluntary and that no adverse action had occurred.
  • Defeated plaintiff’s motion for conditional certification of a putative Fair Labor Standards Act collective action against a national restaurant chain, and obtained dismissal of the bulk of the prospective nationwide class on personal jurisdiction grounds.
  • In a case of first impression, obtained dismissal of the U.S. Department of Labor’s enforcement action against a family farm for purported violations of “corresponding employment” regulations. The Administrative Law Judge adopted our argument that interns participating in seasonal programs at the farm under J-1 nonimmigrant visas were not covered by rules requiring compensation at the same rate paid to H-2A agricultural employees. The ruling was affirmed on appeal by the DOL’s Administrative Review Board.
  • Obtained summary judgment for a college in race discrimination case brought by former instructor; affirmed on appeal by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

News & Analysis

Speaking Engagements & Industry Publications

  • Co-author, Massachusetts Employment Law Sourcebook & Citator 2018 (MCLE 2018)
  • Co-author, Massachusetts Employment Law Sourcebook & Citator 2017 (MCLE 2017)
  • Panelist, “Recent Developments in Labor and Employment Law,” presented to the Rhode Island Bar Association Annual Meeting (June 2017)
  • “In frank expression of conflicting opinion lies the greatest promise of wisdom in governmental action; and in suppression lies ordinarily the greatest peril.”
  • Justice Louis Brandeis

Practice Emphasis

  • Defense of EEOC and State Agency Charges
  • Federal and State Litigation
  • Discipline and Discharge Arbitration
  • Employment Policy Formulation and Advice
  • Enforcement of Post-Employment Restrictive Covenants

Education

University of Connecticut School of Law

  • J.D., with highest honors, 2006
  • Executive Editor, Connecticut Law Review
  • Intern, Hon. Bruce M. Selya, U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, 2004-2005

Brown University

  • B.A., Economics and Political Science, 1999

Bar & Court Admissions

  • Massachusetts, 2006
  • Rhode Island, 2010
  • Connecticut, 2017
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts 
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit 
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
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