Presently Arbitrator, mediator, Distinguished Practitioner in Residence, Quinnipiac University Law School; teaching arbitration, employment, employment discrimination and labor law.
Since 2002, arbitrator, mediator and law professor; former partner, law firm of Robinson and Cole, Hartford, Connecticut; head of its labor group; represented clients in civil rights, employment, labor relations, business and construction law. Previous National Labor Relations Board attorney.
Education, Background And Recognition
A.B. degree, University of Connecticut; J.D, degree Boston University Law School, Senior Editor of the Law Review; LL.M. degree in Labor Law from Columbia University Law School.
Certificates: Arbitration, plus Mediation from Alliance in Dispute Resolution, Cornell University; Advanced Mediation and Alternative Dispute Resolution certification from American Bar Association; advanced Arbitrator training from American Arbitration Association.
While in full time law practice, listed in all editions of The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward, White, Inc.); in Connecticut Magazine as one of the best lawyers in Connecticut in employment and labor law.
Member, Labor and Employment Section of the Connecticut and American Bar Associations, member of the ABA Dispute Resolution Forum, the Connecticut Bar ADR Committee, and an editor of The Developing Labor Law (BNA Publications).
Neutral Arbitration and Mediation Experience
Former administrative Hearing Judge, Connecticut Commission On Human Rights ; Parajudicial Officer and Special Settlement Master, U.S. Federal District Court.
Certification as neutral Arbitrator and Mediator in commercial, employment and labor matters and disputes, for American Arbitration Association, American Dispute Resolution Center, ADR panel, Cornell Alliance for Dispute Resolution, and the CPR Institute for Dispute Resolution;
Neutral arbitrator and Mediator, Connecticut Department of Education in teacher union/boards of Education disputes; Panel Arbitrator, Connecticut State Employees Review Board; Panel Arbitrator, Connecticut Department of Insurance;
Since 2000, successfully arbitrated and mediated numerous multi and single party disputes involving: stock option agreements and their valuation, multi million dollar executive change in control agreements, employment contracts. collective bargaining contracts, non-competition, trade secrets, trade infringement issues, products liability, commercial and franchise contracts, reduction in force, unfair trade practices, civil rights, Title VII discrimination (race, sex, age, religion, retaliation), FLSA, FMLA, constitutional issues, ERISA, retail installment sales contracts, auto claims, truth in lending, UCC, unfair competition, interference with business relationships and insurance subrogation issues.
Law Practice
In forty year law career, represented business, individual clients in several thousand employment and business disputes. Represented clients in health care, construction, manufacturing, insurance, banking, transportation, textile, nuclear energy, technology, air transport, retail and pari-mutuel racing industries, multi-national corporations, contractor trade associations, non-profit, performing arts organizations, State of Connecticut, municipalities, boards of education, universities.
Regularly litigated cases on behalf of employers and employees in the U.S. District Courts and Court of Appeals, state courts, state and federal labor departments, administrative agencies, state Human Rights agencies and EEOC in employment contracts, unjust discharge, discrimination, wage and hour, affirmative action, labor management relations, sports law, housing matters, class actions in employee benefit and construction contract matters.
Represented clients in union organization campaigns, collective bargaining negotiations and administration of union contracts in the private and public sector. Practiced before the State Board of Labor Relations, State Board of Mediation and Arbitration, the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”) and the National Mediation Board (“NMB”).
Mediation Practice
Represented private and public clients in employment discrimination, civil rights and labor relations, non-competition, breach of employee loyalty, reductions in force, employment agreements, Fair Labor Standards Act, class actions in wage and hour, and employee benefits.
Arbitration Practice
Represented clients in hundreds of public and private employment arbitrations before the American Arbitration Association, Federal Mediation & Conciliation Service, various State Boards of Mediation and Arbitration, and private arbitrators, including union labor contract grievance disputes, interest labor arbitration proceedings, and non-union employer-employee disputes.
Public Service:
Field and trial attorney for National Labor Relations Board under Honors Graduate Program and in Division of Advice advising on and prosecuting cases of national scope, Prior Executive Director and legal counsel for the Connecticut Civil Liberties Union.
Teaching And Training
Presently Distinguished Practitioner in Residence, Quinnipiac University School of Law; former Adjunct Professor of Law, Quinnipiac University.
Teaching Courses: arbitration, employment discrimination, employment and labor law. Former Adjunct Professor, University of Hartford; lecturer, University of Connecticut School of Law, employment and labor law.
Symposium presenter on employment issues, current issues in arbitration law before bar association, 2012 , 2013. Conducted employment related seminars for municipal executives; speaker on arbitration, labor management, discrimination, employment, personnel and civil rights topics before law and business groups.