Best Lawyers in Connecticut, United States for Labor Law - Management
About Labor Law - Management
Representation of private employers is subject to federal jurisdictions pursuant to the National Labor Relations Act and Railway Labor Act, and includes: advising and handling representation petitions and disputes, decertification and de-authorization elections, unfair labor practice and carrier interference charges and proceedings, union jurisdictional disputes, negotiation of collective bargaining agreements, arbitration of union grievances and contractual disputes, managing and responding to labor strikes, lockouts, picketing and concerted activities, representation in federal and state court injunction proceedings, and managing and responding to union boycotts and corporate campaigns.
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...
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 ...
Paula Anthony is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management and Labor Law - Management. Paula, who practices law in New Haven, Connecticut, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Paula is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
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, ...
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.
Mr. Dorsey is involved in a wide variety of general and special labor relations and employment issues including union representation elections, contract negotiations and administration, unfair labor practice charges and employment discrimination matters in both the public and private sectors. Mr. Dorsey focuses his practice in the area of labor and education law, representing municipalities and boards of education in all aspects of labor relations and school-related claims, including contract...
Tanya A. Bovée is a principal in the Hartford, Connecticut, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. and a member of the firm’s Board of Directors. Tanya represents employers in a wide range of issues related to employment law, bringing a practical approach that is focused on achieving clients’ goals and based on almost 20 years of employment law experience. Tanya advises employers in a wide range of industries, including life sciences, retail, automotive, manufacturing, and hospitalit...
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...
The emphasis of Mr. Myers’ practice is defending employers in state and federal court and in administrative tribunals on a variety of employment law issues, including claims involving age, disability, sex and race discrimination, sexual harassment, invasion of privacy, free speech, defamation, wrongful or retaliatory discharge, breach of contract, wage and hour violations, workers’ compensation, unemployment compensation and family leave act matters. He counsels employers on a ran...
Allison P. Dearington is a principal in the Hartford, Connecticut, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. Her practice is focused on employment litigation, including class and collective action defense, and preventive counseling. Allison represents employers in state and federal courts, before the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and in arbitration. She defends a variety of employment claims including discrimination, harassment, ret...
Ms. Dixon defends employers in federal and state courts and before administrative agencies against a variety of employment law claims, including workplace discrimination, contract, and tort claims. She also counsels employers on a wide range of employment issues, such as employee discipline, family and medical leave matters, and compliance with various state and federal employment laws and regulations. Ms. Dixon regularly presents seminars on employment-related issues, including sexual harass...
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.
James F. Shea is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. James F., who practices law in Hartford, Connecticut, has been recognized since 2017. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which James F. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
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...
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.
Holly G. Rogers is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management. Holly G., who practices law in Southbury, Connecticut, has been recognized since 2027. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Holly G. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
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.