John C. Petrella

Specialization

Employment Law & Litigation

About John's Practice

John C. Petrella is a principal in the Berkeley Heights, New Jersey, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. and is an experienced labor, employment and commercial litigator at both the trial and appellate level. He concentrates his practice on representing management in all areas of labor and employment-related matters.

John has litigated numerous state and federal high-stakes multi-plaintiff cases involving all categories of discrimination, hostile work environment, restrictive covenants, theft of trade secrets, breach of employment contract, whistleblower, employment related torts, and retaliation claims.

John also represents private and public employers before the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, New Jersey Division on Civil Rights, New York Division of Human Rights and other federal, state and local fair employment practices agencies. He represents leading private employers in a wide range of industries, including technology, healthcare, automotive, construction, banking, insurance and telecommunications.

John also counsels clients on preventative measures to help avoid litigation, such as reductions in force, trade secrets, post-employment restrictive covenants, complex family leave issues as well as drafting employee guidelines, handbooks and best practices to resolve internal complaints of harassment and retaliation.

John frequently writes and lectures on employment law matters and is the co-editor of Business and Legal Resources' (BLR) New Jersey Employment Law Letter which serves as an HR and employment law resource helping employers understand new laws, regulations and court cases.

Education

• Boston University School of Law, J.D.,1988

• State University of New York at Geneseo, B.A.,1985, magna cum laude

Major Publications & Speaking Engagements

• Editor, New Jersey Employment Law Letter
• Contributing Editor, Mid-Atlantic Employment Law Letter
• Co-Author, "Princeton pays $1M in gender-based pay discrimination settlement," New Jersey Employment Law Letter, January 2021, and HR Daily Advisor, December 30, 2020

Professional Recognition

• Listed in New York Magazine’s Best Lawyers in the area of Labor and Employment Law since 2008.
• Selected annually since 2009 for inclusion in the New Jersey Super Lawyers List.
• Listed in the Best Lawyers in America since 2011 in the areas of Management for Employment Law and Labor Law.

Admitted to Practice

• New Jersey, 1989
• U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey, and U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit, 1989