About Howard

I have concentrated in the areas of education law, collective bargaining, employment/labor relations and municipal law for almost 40 years. I regularly advise clients concerning their labor relations including collective bargaining, grievance and arbitration and unfair labor practices. I also provide advice concerning personnel issues such as reduction in force, discipline, compliance with state and federal laws, managing employees with medical conditions, sexual harassment investigations and wage and hour laws.

In addition, I have represented clients and defend them against claims before state and federal agencies including the Massachusetts Division of Labor Relations, Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, Civil Service Commission, Division of Unemployment Assistance, as well as the Joint Labor Management Commission. I have also represented clients in civil litigation at the Superior Court and Appellate Court level. In 2015 I successfully represented a school committee in a case before the Massachusetts Appeals Court that has had a statewide impact affirming that the Education Reform Act of 1993 provides the exclusive remedy for a teacher with professional teacher status to arbitrate a termination decision. I also successfully represented a town in the Appeals Court upholding a Chief of Police’s right of assignment as a non-delegable management right which could not be limited in a collective bargaining agreement.

Education

• American University – B.A. May, 1974
• Suffolk University Law School – J.D. May, 1977

Bar Admissions

• Massachusetts-1977
• Washington, DC-1978
  US District Court for the District Court of Massachusetts