John P. McAvoy is an accomplished employment attorney with more than a decade of experience defending employment claims and guiding employers through complex and evolving workplace challenges. A former partner at a midsize, full-service regional law firm in Philadelphia, John has established himself as a versatile trial attorney and trusted advisor to employers, executives, and managers.
John’s litigation experience spans the full spectrum of employment-related claims, including discrimination, retaliation, wrongful termination, wage and hour disputes, class actions, and the enforcement of restrictive covenants. Having represented both plaintiffs and defendants, he brings a balanced perspective to every case, enabling him to anticipate opposing counsel’s strategies and craft practical, results-driven solutions. He has served as lead counsel in numerous jury and bench trials across federal, state, and administrative forums, including five trials in five different tribunals within the 14 months before joining the firm.
John has defended claims before the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights, and the New York Division of Human Rights. He frequently resolves matters through mediation, negotiating favorable outcomes for employers and their insurers. His experience extends across a wide array of insurance carriers and policy types, including Directors and Officers liability, errors and omissions, employment practices liability, and professional liability. He has managed high-stakes matters involving wage and hour claims, whistleblower retaliation, wrongful termination, and business torts from inception through trial and, if necessary, on appeal.
In addition to his litigation practice, John advises employers on compliance, risk mitigation, hiring and termination strategies, internal investigations, executive compensation, and best practices for workplace management. He regularly drafts and negotiates complex separation agreements, leveraging his knowledge of employer and employee rights to achieve strategic and efficient resolutions.
John is a member of Littler’s AI and Technology Practice Group. To supplement his employment practice and to deepen his subject matter experience in emerging legal and technological issues, John is a part-time graduate student pursuing a master’s in data science and generative artificial intelligence at the University of Notre Dame. His studies position him at the forefront of rapidly developing AI issues that increasingly impact employers, including governance, policy development, workplace implementation, and regulatory compliance.
John is also an accomplished legal writer whose publications offer analysis and practical guidance to employers navigating the ever-evolving landscape of employment law. His analytical training began early in his career through service on the Widener Law Review.
Selected Matters
- Argued for appellant before the U.S. Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit on behalf of a national corporation in an arbitration agreement enforcement matter involving class action and significant procedural implications.
- Served as lead counsel in multiple jury and bench trials across federal, state, and administrative forums on claims involving discrimination, retaliation, wrongful termination, wage and hour violations, and commercial litigation disputes.