Crisis Management and Communications
A significant portion of John’s practice involves assisting organizations and individuals in responding to existential crises resulting from a wide variety of events. John has successfully led crisis response and public relations efforts for educational institutions (K-12 and higher education) related to sexual assaults, other felony crimes on campus, sexual harassment, government investigations, and disruption of government relations; corporate entities related to workplace harassment issues, workplace violence and other crimes, embezzlement, theft of corporate assets and intellectual property, business-to-business competition issues, and government relations; and individuals, including corporate executives, politicians, and education leaders confronted with personal and professional reputation concerns. Key elements of John’s ongoing success in positioning clients for reputation and brand protection and rehabilitation include strong investigation and research capabilities, development of asymmetric solutions, instinctive public communications skills, and a large national network of contacts that assist him in working effectively with communities, governments, and media throughout the country.
Education
John is a nationally recognized higher education attorney with extensive experience advising colleges and universities on matters unique to higher education, including Title IX compliance, investigations and litigation; representation in United States Department of Education Clery Act compliance reviews and Office of Civil Rights investigations; and all matters related to student affairs operations. A former police officer, John also provides operations consulting to campus law enforcement agencies throughout the country concerning all aspects of police operations and has led the buildout of two campus policing operations from design to deployment.
John frequently collaborates with higher education industry trade organizations and clients throughout the country to provide Clery Act, Title IX, and campus law enforcement trainings on a variety of matters impacting those areas. In 2014, John’s work on Clery and Title IX matters earned him the honor of being selected to serve on an advisory committee to two delegates from the National Association of College and University Attorneys participating in the federal negotiated rule making process concerning the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 (“VAWA”) regulations. Following publication of the VAWA regulations, John served on a committee advising those same delegates regarding updates to the United States Department of Education’s Handbook for Campus Safety and Security Reporting (2016 Edition).
Litigation
John has been litigating business and employment disputes for over twenty years. He has extensive experience appearing before state and federal courts and administrative agencies (including the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) in defense of claims of wrongful termination, sexual harassment, discrimination, breach of contract, and wage payment law violations. John also has a successful track record representing employers and individuals in non-compete and intellectual property disputes, partnership and shareholder freezeout matters, fiduciary claims, commercial contract disputes, consumer protection litigation, and defense of personal injury claims.
Prior to practicing law and providing private consulting, John was a police officer at Boston University where he worked in various units and was decorated for his service. He is a 1998 graduate of the six-month 29th Municipal Police Officer Class of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Municipal Police Training Committee Academy, was later certified by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in sexual assault investigation, received training in forensic profiling of serial sexual criminals provided by the Massachusetts State Police in conjunction with the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Violent Criminal Apprehension Program (ViCAP), was a member of a community policing unit, routinely worked anti-crime (plain clothes) details, and served a rotation in the detective unit.
During law school, John served as an intern in the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office where he served in the Family Violence Unit, focusing his work on assisting district attorneys preparing cases for indictment and trial of charges involving sexual assault against adults and minors, and domestic violence between relationship partners or family members.
From 2000 to 2006, John served as the Associate Director of Boston University’s Office of Judicial Affairs where he conducted numerous sexual assault, sexual harassment, and domestic violence investigations; contributed to the enhancement of investigation techniques and procedure; and assisted the university’s crisis management team.
From December 2009 through August 2010, John served as interim associate general counsel at Emerson College in Boston, and he served three terms as a member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of College and University Law.
University Risk Management and Insurance Association
Other
LITIGATION
INVESTIGATION
EDUCATION
