Best Lawyers in Connecticut, United States for Labor Law - Management
Christopher M. Hodgson is a Senior Partner in the firm’s Labor and Employment Practice Group. He has practiced labor and employment law in Connecticut since 1985. Chris is rated as AV by his peers in Martindale-Hubbell, its highest designation, and has been included in Best Lawyers in America since 2010, New England Super Lawyers since 2008, and Connecticut Super Lawyers since 2007. He is a graduate of Choate-Rosemary Hall, the University of Vermont, and the University of Richmond Schoo...
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...
Jennifer Dowd Deakin is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management. Jennifer Dowd, who practices law in New Haven, Connecticut, has been recognized since 2027. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jennifer Dowd is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
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 ...
Craig Dickinson helps his management clients pinpoint and avoid potential legal risks in their workplaces, and works with them to efficiently and cost effectively resolve issues when they do arise. Craig represents organizations in a range of business sectors, including hospital and healthcare, financial services, retail, restaurant and hospitality, distribution and logistics, and manufacturing and technology. He has in-depth experience handling harassment, discrimination, and retaliation cla...
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...
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.
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 ...
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...
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...
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.
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...
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...
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...
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...
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.