Brian J. MacDonough concentrates his practice in employment law and executive advocacy. He handles a wide range of matters, including contract negotiation and enforcement, discrimination, whistleblowing, wage and hour issues, and wrongful termination. In particular, Brian counsels and represents executives and professionals regarding sophisticated employment and compensation matters, including employment agreements, change of control agreements, equity and deferred compensation vehicles, non-competition and other restrictive covenants, severance /separation terms, and transition agreements.
A trusted advisor to his clients, Brian often works with them throughout their careers as they transition to new opportunities. As noted by Chambers USA, he “brings a calm demeanor to the table and focuses on the best outcome for his client,” says one interviewee. A client adds: “He is empathetic and very strategic in negotiations.”
In addition to his executive advocacy practice, Brian also litigates cases in both federal and state courts and appears regularly before state and federal agencies, including the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination and U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Highly respected by his colleagues, Brian serves as Co-Chair of the Boston Bar Association’s Labor & Employment Law Section, where he serves as a Council Member. He also served on the committee that prepared draft sexual harassment regulations on behalf of the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination and he assisted in the drafting of proposed revisions of the Commission’s procedural regulations.
Brian is a frequent author and speaker on matters of employment law. He is an editor and co-author of the Massachusetts Employment Law Manual, published by Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Inc. He has also co-authored employment law chapters for the MCLE’s Massachusetts Basic Practice Manual, and sections of the quarterly Commentary for the Massachusetts Discrimination Law Reporter. Brian has chaired several programs sponsored by MCLE, including “What Every Lawyer Needs to Know About Employment Law” and “Preventing and Litigating Wage & Hours Cases.”
More Legal and Business Bylines From Brian J. MacDonough
- Behind the Headlines: Employment Rights Survive Economic RIFs - (Posted On Wednesday, February 22, 2023)
- Not So Fast: A Cautionary Tale Regarding “Mistakes” In Employment Agreements - (Posted On Tuesday, July 20, 2021)
- Offer Letter vs. Employment Agreement, Does it Matter? - (Posted On Monday, April 05, 2021)
- Non-Competition Agreements: The Material Change Doctrine is Alive and Well - (Posted On Sunday, February 21, 2021)
- International Executives: Cross-Border Employment Considerations and Traps for the Unwary - (Posted On Thursday, June 18, 2020)
- The CARES Act and Your Compensation: What Every Executive Should Know - (Posted On Friday, April 17, 2020)
- Sticks and Stones May Break Bones, But Words May Constitute Unlawful Discrimination - (Posted On Wednesday, February 26, 2020)
- Cases to Watch: United States Supreme Court to Decide Whether Title VII’s Prohibition against Sex Discrimination Protects LGBTQ Individuals - (Posted On Tuesday, October 01, 2019)
- Navigating the Job Interview: Spotting and Responding to Potentially Unlawful Interview Questions - (Posted On Tuesday, October 01, 2019)
- The Embattled Executive: Strategies for Protecting Compensation and Careers - (Posted On Tuesday, June 18, 2019)