Best Lawyers in Connecticut, United States for Employment Law - Management
Lori B. Alexander has extensive experience representing companies throughout Connecticut in a range of labor and employment matters, including: Complex employment litigation Discrimination claims Wrongful discharge Retaliation cases Labor arbitrations Administrative charges Employee Retirement Income Security Act benefits litigation Employment arbitrations Other disputes between employers and employees She represents clients in state and federal courts and before the Equal Employment Opportun...
John G. Stretton is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. John G., who practices law in Stamford, Connecticut, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which John G. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Jonathan B. Orleans, chair of the Labor & Employment Law practice, has over 30 years of experience as a litigator and counselor in a broad range of matters, particularly relating to the employer-employee relationship. He represents businesses and individuals in disputes arising out of employment contracts, non-competition and non-solicitation agreements, and other commercial agreements. Jon litigates cases arising under federal and state statutes governing employment, advises businesses o...
Johanna Zelman’s unique background in health and mental care and in school law results in highly competent, in-depth and knowledgeable advice and representation for her clients. While she has represented a wide variety of private and public sector employers from various industries, Johanna has a specific strength and hands-on experience in the health and mental health fields. Prior to her legal career, she worked for Harvard University’s affiliate hospitals, where she had direct c...
Holly L. Cini is a principal in the Hartford, Connecticut, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. Holly regularly defends clients in employment-related litigation, including whistleblower claims, general retaliation matters, employment discrimination and harassment claims and ADA and FMLA litigation in all forums ranging from trial courts to administrative agencies to the state and federal appellate courts. Holly has extensive experience in every phase of litigation, from discovery to trial to appeal. ...
Richard F. Vitarelli is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management and Labor Law - Management. Richard F., who practices law in Hartford, Connecticut, has been recognized since 2007. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Richard F. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Mike focuses his practice on providing legal guidance to public and private sector employers in managing all aspects of the employment relationship. Mike litigates cases in state and federal courts and has argued numerous cases before the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, the Connecticut Appellate Court, and the Connecticut Supreme Court. He also frequently appears before the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights & Opportunities, the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination...
George E. O'Brien represents and counsels employers on a wide variety of labor matters, including: Collective bargaining Unfair labor practice proceedings Labor representation cases and elections Grievances Injunction proceedings Arbitrations Mediation Union relationships Wrongful discharge Breach of contract Discrimination claims Jury trials He appears in state and federal courts and represents management before the National Labor Relations Board and other administrative agencies, including ...
John P. Shea Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management, Labor Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. John P., who practices law in Hartford, Connecticut, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which John P. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
David R. Golder is a principal in the Hartford, Connecticut, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. He is co-leader of the Class Actions and Complex Litigation practice group. David has extensive experience handling class and complex litigation, including nationwide, high-stakes wage and hour disputes. David defends employers in class-based, multi-plaintiff, and multi-district wage and hour class and collective actions involving claims for employee misclassification, improper payment of wages, off-the-...
Mike Spagnola focuses his practice on solving difficult and complicated labor and employment problems for management clients. Mike represents employers exclusively in connection with all aspects of labor and employment law, and in particular, litigation and preventive counsel. He has appeared on behalf of clients in state and federal courts and before administrative agencies, for cases relating to discrimination, retaliation, harassment, whistleblowing, wrongful discharge, wage and hour law, ...
Mr. Weinstock represents public and private sector employers exclusively in all aspects of labor relations and employment law before state and federal courts, arbitration boards and state and federal administrative agencies, including the State Board of Labor Relations, State Board of Mediation and Arbitration, American Arbitration Association and Freedom of Information Commission. He represents employers in collective bargaining negotiations, grievance and interest arbitrations and prohibite...
Joshua A. Hawks-Ladds is chair of the firm’s Labor, Employment Law and Employee Benefits Department. His practice includes counseling on and litigating business, construction, labor and employment and civil rights matters and municipal law. Attorney Hawks-Ladds has tried cases in numerous state and federal courts, argued before the Second Circuit Court of Appeals and the Connecticut Supreme and Appellate courts and litigates extensively before administrative tribunals. Attorney Hawks-La...
For nearly three decades, the emphasis of Mr. Escalera’s practice has been labor and employment law and litigation. Initially, Mr. Escalera served with the Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps for nine years where he engaged in extensive criminal and civil litigation. Mr. Escalera was last stationed at the Pentagon where he acted as lead counsel for the Army Litigation Division defending the Department of the Army in employment discrimination suits brought by civilian employees in ...
Stuart M. Katz is a principal of Cohen and Wolf and Chair of the firm's Litigation Group. He is also a member of the firm's Employment & Labor and Physicians' Practices Groups. Mr. Katz is highlighted in Chambers USA (2017) for the "superb quality of his counsel and representation." He represents employers of all sizes in defending discrimination and harassment suits and litigating restrictive covenant, breach of contract, business tort and wage claims. Mr. Katz also represents profession...
Patricia E. Reilly represents clients in a range of employment law matters, with an emphasis on the litigation of employment discrimination and related torts; wage and hour issues; and trade secrets, restrictive covenants, and unfair trade practices disputes. She appears in state and federal courts and before administrative agencies, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Department of Labor, the Connecticut Department of Labor, and the Connecticut Commission on Human Righ...
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.