John S. Gannon

John S. Gannon
(413) 737-4753 v-card download

Attorney John S. Gannon wants to solve your problems early before they spiral out of control. This is critical in employment law, as lingering employment disputes often lead to time-consuming litigation. Every business, small or large, will be tested by employment law problems. The key is making sure these complications don’t become commonplace. John Foster Dulles, former Secretary of State, said: “The measure of success is not whether you have a tough problem to deal with, but whether it is the same problem you had last year.” That is good advice for employers.

My goal when meeting with a new client is to find out as much as I can about the business. This way, I understand your challenges and am better equipped to solve your problems. One of my favorite things to do is to take a walk through a client’s facility so I can see what makes a business tick.

Unfortunately, some legal problems need to be resolved by a judge and jury. John is familiar with this process. He has defended numerous employers against claims of discrimination, retaliation, harassment, and wrongful termination, as well as actions arising under the Family Medical Leave Act and wage & hour law. John also has experience with lawsuits seeking to enforce restrictive covenants and protect trade secrets.

John prefers avoiding costly litigation for his clients if and when possible. To that end, he frequently assists employers in litigation avoidance strategies. He has reviewed countless employee handbooks and related policies for compliance, and he does lots of training for employers. John has also conducted comprehensive wage & hour and employment practices audits. He regularly counsels employers on compliance with state and federal laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act, Fair Labor Standards Act, and Occupational Health and Safety Act.

John is a frequent speaker on employment-related legal topics for a wide variety of associations and organizations, and including appearances on Western Mass News and the Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly podcast sessions. John was selected by BusinessWest as a 40 Under Forty honoree for the Class of 2016, and was also selected as a Super Lawyers Rising Star, an exclusive list recognizing no more than 2.5 percent of lawyers in Massachusetts.  Johhn currently serves as a board member for Riverside Industries, Inc., and the Chicopee Chamber of Commerce.  In addition, he is a past board member of Educational Resources for Children, Inc., and when he has the time serves as the Springfield District Court lawyer for the day.

When John’s not working on employment law problems, there is a decent chance you can find him on the local tennis courts or golf courses.