Member Firm Profile

Skoler, Abbott & Presser, P.C.

Firm Profile

Address:

Skoler, Abbott & Presser, P.C.
One Monarch Place
Suite 2000
Springfield, Massachusetts 01144

Phone: (413) 737-4753
Fax: (413) 787-1941

Firm Size:

11 Lawyers

Primary Contact:

Marylou Fabbo
mfabbo@skoler-abbott.com

255 Park Avenue, 10th Floor
Worcester, Massachusetts 01605

Phone: (508) 757-5335
Fax: (413) 787-1941

173 Interstate Drive
Waterbury, Connecticut 06705

Phone: (203) 630-1175
Fax: (413) 787-1941

Attorneys Admitted to Practice In:

Connecticut
Massachusetts
New Jersey
New York
Ohio
Pennsylvania

Firm Description

From its inception in 1964, Skoler, Abbott & Presser, P.C. has concentrated its practice in the field of labor relations and employment law practicing exclusively for management. The firm serves both public and private sector employers throughout New England and in many other states. The firm's clientele are engaged in all forms of business enterprise, including health care, manufacturing, banking, higher education and non-profit organizations in any matter relating to the employment relationship. The firm has also been approved as defense counsel by numerous insurance companies providing Employment Practice Liability Coverage to employers.

Each of the firm's lawyers has a broad-based background in the resolution of employment-related problems. Generally, each client chooses one attorney who has primary responsibility for their account. However, to enhance greater expertise and efficiency, when it best serves the client's needs, other attorneys might become involved with any specific client. Skoler, Abbott prides itself on its responsiveness to clients and its practice of "preventive labor/employment" relations, where it has long assisted employers in matters arising under the National Labor Relations Act, including representation elections, defending against unfair labor practice charges, as well as collective bargaining and grievance arbitration.

Skoler, Abbott & Presser has extensive experience in defending employers at trials both before administrative agencies and federal and state courts throughout Massachusetts and Connecticut. The firm's attorneys are admitted to practice in Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York. Over the years the firm has successfully defended employers in virtually every type of employment dispute. While its success rate at trial is outstanding, the firm strongly believes that its greatest litigation successes are not the trial "wins", but rather, the far greater number of times that it has avoided litigation or promptly and efficiently resolved employment-related disputes at the early stages of a lawsuit or administrative charge. This may include use of alternative dispute resolution or creative problem solving. Recognizing that its clients are not in business to "make laws", but rather, that lawsuits are an undesirable drain on a company's resources, the firm attempts to manage litigation from the client's own business perspective, providing expert and cost efficient handling of employment litigation.

The firm provides training in a wide variety of employment-related areas, including sexual harassment, ADA, FMLA, COBRA, Workers Compensation, attendance, hiring/firing issues, and assists clients in developing, reviewing and updating policies and procedures for personnel manuals, guidebooks and affirmative action plans.

  

To learn more, visit http://www.skoler-abbott.com.

Firm Representatives

Marylou Fabbo

413-737-4753

mfabbo@skoler-abbott.com

Marylou Fabbo represents employers in employment litigation before state and federal courts as well as state and federal agencies in Massachusetts and Connecticut. She is a Partner and heads the firm’s litigation team. Marylou has extensive experience working with employers to reduce the risk of legal liability that they may face as the result of illegal employment practices. Marylou is a frequent speaker on employment-related topics and also conducts extensive management training and employment practices audits.

Practice Specialties

  • Employment Litigation Defense
  • Discrimination/Human rights
  • Sexual Harassment
  • Wrongful discharge/Wrongful dismissal
  • Class, collective and representative actions (defense of)
  • EEOC/EEO investigations
  • FMLA
  • Retaliation/Whistleblower claims
  • Internal complaint investigations
  • Wage and hour/FLSA defense/Employment standards
  • Responses to administrative agency charges
  • Employment Counseling and Advice
  • Supervisor and harassment/violence training
  • Handbook Review
  • Leave laws
  • Personnel policies
  • Wage and hour audits
  • WARN Act/Plant closings/RIF Planning
  • Employment Contracts and Litigation
  • Non-compete/non-solicit agreements
  • Confidentiality and trade secret agreements
  • Trade secrets and non-compete agreements
  • Executive employment agreements (including change of control)
  • Defamation
  • Occupational Health and Safety
  • OSHA inspection and compliance (US)
  • Employee Benefits and Compensation
  • Executive compensation
  • Pay equity
  • Workplace Privacy
  • Human Rights
  • Workers Compensation

Erica Flores

413-737-4753

eflores@skoler-abbott.com

Erica E. Flores joined Skoler, Abbott & Presser in 2013.  She has successfully defended employers in single-plaintiff and class action litigation in state and federal courts and administrative agencies.  She also regularly advises clients with respect to day-to-day employment issues, and is a regular contributor to the Massachusetts Employment Law Letter.  Erica previously spent seven years working for prominent law firms in New York City and Philadelphia, and was a clerk to Justice Russell Nigro of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.  She received her J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania and her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Practice Specialties

  • Employment Litigation Defense
  • Employment Counseling and Advice
  • Employment Contracts and Litigation

John Gannon

413-737-4753

jgannon@skoler-abbott.com

John S. Gannon is an associate with Skoler, Abbott & Presser, P.C., and practices in the firm’s Springfield, Massachusetts, office. Since joining the firm in 2011, John has defended 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 frequently assists employers in litigation avoidance strategies. He has reviewed numerous employee handbooks and related polices for compliance, as well as employment and non-compete agreements. 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.

Practice Specialties

  • Employment Litigation Defense
  • Discrimination/Human rights
  • Sexual Harassment
  • Wrongful discharge/Wrongful dismissal
  • EEOC/EEO investigations
  • FMLA
  • Retaliation/Whistleblower claims
  • Internal complaint investigations
  • Wage and hour/FLSA defense/Employment standards
  • Responses to administrative agency charges
  • Employment Counseling and Advice
  • Supervisor and harassment/violence training
  • Handbook Review
  • Compliance/Compliance audits
  • Leave laws
  • Personnel policies
  • Wage and hour audits
  • Employment Contracts and Litigation
  • Non-compete/non-solicit agreements
  • Confidentiality and trade secret agreements
  • Trade secrets and non-compete agreements
  • Executive employment agreements (including change of control)
  • Termination provisions (statutory requirements and reasonable notice)
  • Occupational Health and Safety
  • OSHA inspection and compliance (US)
  • Employee Benefits and Compensation
  • Employee benefits
  • Executive compensation
  • Pay equity
  • Workplace Privacy
  • Immigration

Amelia Holstrom

413-737-4753

aholstrom@skoler-abbott.com

Amelia's practice is focused in labor law and employment litigation. Amelia assists clients in remaining union-free; represents clients at arbitrations; and defends employers against claims of discrimination, retaliation, harassment, and wrongful termination claims, as well as actions arising under the Family Medical Leave Act, state and federal wage and hour law, and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Additionally, Amelia regularly advises clients on handling difficult employee situations and avoiding litigation, as well as policy development and supervisor training.

Practice Specialties

  • Employment Litigation Defense
  • Discrimination/Human rights
  • Sexual Harassment
  • Wrongful discharge/Wrongful dismissal
  • Class, collective and representative actions (defense of)
  • EEOC/EEO investigations
  • FMLA
  • Retaliation/Whistleblower claims
  • Internal complaint investigations
  • Wage and hour/FLSA defense/Employment standards
  • Responses to administrative agency charges
  • Employment Counseling and Advice
  • Supervisor and harassment/violence training
  • Handbook Review
  • Compliance/Compliance audits
  • Leave laws
  • Personnel policies
  • Wage and hour audits
  • Labor Unions/Labor Relations
  • Union avoidance and elections
  • Supervisor training
  • Arbitration
  • NLRB/Labor Relations Board Proceedings
  • Unfair labor practices
  • Employment Contracts and Litigation
  • Non-compete/non-solicit agreements
  • Confidentiality and trade secret agreements
  • Trade secrets and non-compete agreements
  • Employee Benefits and Compensation
  • Pay equity
  • Workplace Privacy

Tim Murphy

413-737-4753

tmurphy@skoler-abbott.com

Tim Murphy, Partner in the firm, joined Skoler, Abbott & Presser, P.C., in 2001 after serving as General Counsel to an area labor union. Tim represents and advises both union and non-union employers in a wide range of labor and employment matters. He regularly represents employers in matters before state and administrative agencies and courts. His work includes assisting employers to remain union-free, defending unfair labor practices, negotiating collective bargaining agreements, and handling grievance arbitrations.

Practice Specialties

  • Employment Litigation Defense
  • Discrimination/Human rights
  • Sexual Harassment
  • Wrongful discharge/Wrongful dismissal
  • Retaliation/Whistleblower claims
  • Internal complaint investigations
  • Responses to administrative agency charges
  • Employment Counseling and Advice
  • Supervisor and harassment/violence training
  • Handbook Review
  • Compliance/Compliance audits
  • Leave laws
  • Personnel policies
  • Wage and hour audits
  • Labor Unions/Labor Relations
  • Union avoidance and elections
  • Collective bargaining
  • Supervisor training
  • Arbitration
  • Mediation
  • NLRB/Labor Relations Board Proceedings
  • Unfair labor practices
  • Construction labor relations
  • Employment Contracts and Litigation
  • Non-compete/non-solicit agreements
  • Termination provisions (statutory requirements and reasonable notice)
  • Workplace Privacy