Boston Employment Lawyers
H. James Hartley and Katherine J. Michon
Shilepsky O’Connell’s focus is protecting the interests of our clients and advocating for their rights. We offer three core services: counseling, negotiation and litigation. If you have an employment dispute or any employment-related matter, we have a proven track record of success in advocating for your rights.
As respected Boston employment lawyers, we have expertise in all areas of employment law, including:
Shilepsky O’Connell attorneys are nationally recognized as leaders in the field of employment law and litigation. Our partners have been at the forefront of developing the law – literally writing the books upon which other attorneys rely and bringing cases that have re-written how discrimination claims are handled. Our unparalleled experience and understanding of the nuances of these laws gives individual and corporate clients a tremendous advantage in conflict resolution.
This practice area includes:
Executive and Professional Advocacy:
Shilepsky O’Connell attorneys are pioneers in the area of executive advocacy, a practice that focuses on the unique legal needs of executive level and professional individuals, and offers them a powerful combination of sophisticated transactional services and aggressive trial capabilities.
As trusted Boston employment lawyers, we have the experience and the savvy needed to handle complex employment matters with finesse. Our attorneys understand the underlying business issues, and often provide behind-the-scenes counsel to help clients obtain preemptive business solutions for what might otherwise become legal problems.
Shilepsky O’Connell provides clients with both a shield and a sword. Our transactional lawyers make the case for how clients’ interests are aligned with shareholders’ interests, while our seasoned trial lawyers know what it takes to win the legal battle. Having that recourse gives clients an edge in and out of the courtroom.
This practice area includes:
Verdicts and Awards:
Most employment cases settle prior to trial. The attorneys at Shilepsky O'Connell, including Attorney Hartley and Attorney Michon, have handled thousands of cases and have reached settlements in the high six-figures. Due to the confidential nature of settlements, the specifics cannot be disclosed. Shilepsky O'Connell has a track record of success in the court room, as well as before regulatory bodies. For example:
If you or someone you know in Massachusetts needs the assistance of an experienced Boston Employment Lawyer, call Shilepsky O’Connell today at 866-772-1996, or complete the contact form provided on this site to schedule your initial consultation.
As respected Boston employment lawyers, we have expertise in all areas of employment law, including:
- Executive advocacy
- Workplace discrimination
- Workplace harassment
- Breach of contract
- Separation agreements
- Employment contracts
Shilepsky O’Connell attorneys are nationally recognized as leaders in the field of employment law and litigation. Our partners have been at the forefront of developing the law – literally writing the books upon which other attorneys rely and bringing cases that have re-written how discrimination claims are handled. Our unparalleled experience and understanding of the nuances of these laws gives individual and corporate clients a tremendous advantage in conflict resolution.
This practice area includes:
- Negotiating employment, retention and severance agreements
- Breach of contract claims
- Discrimination claims
- Sexual harassment claims
- Maternity and pregnancy claims
- Reasonable accommodation claims
- Wrongful termination claims
- Whistleblower and Sarbanes-Oxley claims
- Family and medical leave act claims
- Non-competition and non-solicitation disputes
- Compensation claims
- Workplace misconduct investigations and representation
- Expert advice on equitable resolution for workplace disputes
Executive and Professional Advocacy:
Shilepsky O’Connell attorneys are pioneers in the area of executive advocacy, a practice that focuses on the unique legal needs of executive level and professional individuals, and offers them a powerful combination of sophisticated transactional services and aggressive trial capabilities.
As trusted Boston employment lawyers, we have the experience and the savvy needed to handle complex employment matters with finesse. Our attorneys understand the underlying business issues, and often provide behind-the-scenes counsel to help clients obtain preemptive business solutions for what might otherwise become legal problems.
Shilepsky O’Connell provides clients with both a shield and a sword. Our transactional lawyers make the case for how clients’ interests are aligned with shareholders’ interests, while our seasoned trial lawyers know what it takes to win the legal battle. Having that recourse gives clients an edge in and out of the courtroom.
This practice area includes:
- Change-of-control and severance protections
- Defense of employment when termination has been threatened, including corporate founders being forced out
- NASD, AAA, JAMS and contract-specific arbitrations
- Protection of incentive compensation arrangements
- Defeat of overbroad non-competes and other career restrictions
- Employment issues of expatriated executives and professionals, domestically and abroad
- Contractual protections for both long-term and newly hired executives
- Age, gender and other forms of bias
Most employment cases settle prior to trial. The attorneys at Shilepsky O'Connell, including Attorney Hartley and Attorney Michon, have handled thousands of cases and have reached settlements in the high six-figures. Due to the confidential nature of settlements, the specifics cannot be disclosed. Shilepsky O'Connell has a track record of success in the court room, as well as before regulatory bodies. For example:
- New Boston Select Group, Inc. et. al. v. Karen DeMichele: a case in which the client was awarded $2.2 million. The case was tried in the Massachusetts Superior Court and involved claims of sexual harassment, retaliation and breach of contract.
- An arbitration panel issued an award in favor of a senior compliance executive on his claim for breach of the terms of a change of control agreement. Including fees and costs, the award was in excess of $1 million.
If you or someone you know in Massachusetts needs the assistance of an experienced Boston Employment Lawyer, call Shilepsky O’Connell today at 866-772-1996, or complete the contact form provided on this site to schedule your initial consultation.
Professional Profiles
If you or someone you know in Massachusetts needs the assistance of an experienced Boston employment lawyer, please call Shilepsky O’Connell today at 866-772-1996, or complete the contact form provided on this site to schedule your initial consultation.
ADDRESS OF THE FIRM:
Shilepsky O'Connell Hartley Casey Michon Yelen Robb LLP
One Financial Center, 15th Floor
Boston, MA 02111
Telephone: 866-772-1996
Fax: 617-447-2800
MEMBERS OF THE FIRM:
H. James Hartley
H. James Hartley, Shilepsky O'Connell’s co-managing partner, brings acute expertise to the representation of executives, professionals and small businesses in employment matters. He has particular experience in complex executive transition and litigation matters, including mergers and acquisitions, change-in-control agreements, non-competition provisions and incentive/ equity compensation. Mr. Hartley has extensive experience advising individuals and companies regarding all aspects of the employment relationship, such as drafting and enforcing agreements, compensation disputes, wrongful discharge, retaliation, discrimination and whistle blowing. His practice also includes employment-related litigation in agency and court proceedings, as well as arbitration.
Prior to co-founding Shilepsky O’Connell, Mr. Hartley was a partner at Perkins, Smith & Cohen, LLP, where he co-chaired the executive advocacy group. Before that, Mr. Hartley was lead employment law counsel for a Fortune 100 company with over 35,000 employees. In that capacity, he counseled executives and human resource professionals on high-level executive compensation and transition matters, as well as day-to-day employment law compliance issues, and was responsible for handling all employment-related litigation and disputes.
Mr. Hartley is a member of the American, Massachusetts and Boston Bar Associations, and is a frequent author and speaker before both business and legal audiences. He has served as Co-Chair of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee of the Boston Bar Association Labor and Employment Section. Mr. Hartley has also authored numerous articles in the executive advocacy field, including “Negotiating Executive Severance: Five Factors for a Better Package” and “Taking Stock of the Implied Covenant of Good Faith & Fair Dealing.” He co-authored, with Barbara A. Robb, “Monitoring and Controlling Inappropriate Behavior in the E-Workplace: Strategies for Avoiding Potential Liability.”
Mr. Hartley is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst (B.A. cum laude) and Boston College Law School (J.D. cum laude).
Katherine J. Michon
Katherine Michon is a leader in the employment law field, well known for her work in executive transition matters and sexual harassment cases. She was named by Boston magazine as one of Boston’s Best Employment Lawyers and described as “one of the best negotiators in the business.” Ms. Michon has substantial experience in a wide range of employment disputes, including discrimination, wrongful termination and contract enforcement. She also counsels her clients on non-litigation matters such as drafting and negotiating execute employment, severance and non-compete agreements.Ms. Michon is co-author the Commentary for the Massachusetts Discrimination Law Reporter. Currently, she serves as co-chair of the Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education Employment Law Advisory Committee. One of her past accomplishments includes co-chairing the committee that drafted sexualharassment guidelines for the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination.
Ms. Michon is a frequent author and speaker on matters of employment law, and she co-authored the “Employment Law 101” chapter of Winning Legal Strategies for Employment Law (2005). Ms. Michon has published a number of articles in publications such as Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly and has contributed to a leading employment law text, Drafting Employment Documents in Massachusetts, a publication of Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Inc. She is a frequent panelist on a number of employment law seminars, including “How to Try Your First Case at the MCAD.”
Prior to co-founding Shilepsky O’Connell, Ms. Michon was a partner at Kimball, Brousseau & Michon. Previously in her career, she practiced employment law at Dwyer & Collora LLP and at Shilepsky, Messing & Rudavsky, P.C. Ms. Michon received her B.A. from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and her J.D. from the New England School of Law.
Additional Questions or need further information?
Megan A. Fitton
Shilepsky O'Connell Hartley Casey Michon Yelen Robb LLP
One Financial Center, 15th Floor
Boston, MA 02111
Phone: 866-772-1996
Fax: 617-447-2800
