Philip Gordon can be reached at pgordon@gordonllp.com
BREAKING NEWS: Gordon Law Group wins $1.1 million verdict for cardio thoracic surgeon after one-week trial. (November 8, 2024)
Gordon Law Group wins $16.95 million verdict in severance pay for tech worker after hotly contested and lengthy trial. (March 12, 2024)
Gordon Law Group Defeats Deval Patrick and Commonwealth, Winning $1.3M Verdict for Saundra Edwards (November 4, 2022) (View Article)
1st Circuit Reopens Door to $11.0M Severance Package for Gordon Law Group Client (February 17, 2021) (View Article)
“Fish rots from the head down,” Gordon dresses down Brockton Mayor (January 21, 2018) (View Article)
Brockton Facing $45.6M punitive damages from Lopes class action brought by Gordon Law Group, and Mayoral candidate calls for removal of Maureen Cruise (October 3, 2017) (View Article)
Florian v. Encompass Medical Care Company, Civil Action No. 1682-cv-00516 (Norfolk Superior, November 18, 2024), verdict reached in a breach of contract employment case on behalf of Dr. Agustin Florian, former Chief of Cardiac Surgery at Norwood Hospital, against Encompass Medical Care for non-payment of profits interest from Dr. Florian’s services. Following a bench trial, judgment entered for our client in the amount of $1.1 million.
Dahua Technology USA, Inc. v. Feng Zhang, 2024 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 43108 (D. Mass., March 12, 2024), a breach of employment contract case in which we secured reversal of the District Court’s grant of summary judgment to defendant before the First Circuit Court of Appeals, and after remand and a subsequent bench trial, the Court found for our client and awarded him final judgment of $16.95 million.
Edwards v. Commonwealth, 2023 Mass. Super. LEXIS 54 (Essex Superior, June 26, 2023), a groundbreaking whistleblower retaliation case against the Commonwealth on behalf of Saundra Edwards, former Chair of the Sex Offender Registry Board, who was fired by Governor Deval Patrick in retaliation for her actions to have his brother-in-law registered as a sex offender. Following a jury trial, final judgment entered for our client for $1.99 million. Judge James Lang remarked that “The court observed first-hand what it considered to be an exceptional performance by Attorneys Gordon and Flamm during the extensive pretrial motion practice and the eight-day trial. … In the Court’s view, given the formidable legal talent and experience of the three layers who opposed them, plaintiff’s counsel would not have prevailed had their performance in all respects not been first rate.”
Waters v. Day & Zimmerman, 23 F.4th 84 (1st Cir. 2022), cert. denied, 142 S. Ct. 2777 (2022), a collective wage and hour action in which the First Circuit held that the federal court can exercise personal jurisdiction over claims outside of Massachusetts added after a defendant has been served, causing a split in the circuits and a rethinking of the territorial restrictions of FRCP 4(k).
DeThomas v. Cumberland Farms, Inc., November 23, 2021 (Middlesex Superior, 1681-cv-03554), a breach of employment contract action on behalf of Dino DeThomas, the former Chief Real Estate Officer of Cumberland Farms, who faced substantial breach of fiduciary duty counterclaims of over $1 million. The jury returned a complete verdict for Mr. DeThomas, and the Court entered judgment for over $650,000 in damages against Cumberland Farms. Judge Christopher Barry-Smith remarked that it was an “exceptionally well-lawyered trial.”
From Judge James Lang (June 22, 2023):
“The Court observed first-hand what it considered to be an exceptional performance by Attorneys Gordon and Flam during the extensive pretrial motion practice and the eight-day trial. They were exceedingly well-prepared on the facts and the law. In the court’s view, given the formidable legal talent and experience of the three lawyers who opposed them, plaintiff’s counsel would not have prevailed had their performance in all respects not been first rate.”
The founding partner of Gordon Law Group, LLP, Philip is recognized as one of the top employment lawyers in the nation by Best Lawyers, and as one of the “Top 100 Lawyers in New England” by Super Lawyers. He is among the most experienced and well-regarded employment attorneys in Boston and beyond.
Judges have noticed, too.
- “outstanding legal work on behalf of the class” – Judge Christopher Barry-Smith, November 18, 2022.
- “extraordinary skill displayed in this litigation” – Judge Daniel O’Shea, December 8, 2020.
- “considerable experience, reputation and ability” – Judge Michael K. Callan, May 31, 2017.
- “extensive experience and success” – Judge Robert C. Cosgrove, July 11, 2016.
- “eminently qualified” – Judge Bonnie MacLeod, June 29, 2015.
Philip’s clients know him for his personal touch, crafting tailored approaches with their best interests in mind. And, as a trusted advisor to senior executives in high-stakes matters nationwide, he regularly guides his clients through the most complex employment matters and through every phase of the employment relationship – from negotiating employment agreements and equity grants, to managing position changes and investigations, to handling complex severance arrangements, and ultimately to prosecuting complex litigation and arbitration.
Philip also skillfully advocates for older workers, women, minorities and low wage workers who have been discriminated or retaliated against, wrongfully terminated, harassed, or denied fair pay and accommodation requests.
He is frequently invited to testify before the Massachusetts House and Senate concerning employment legislation, and has authored and contributed to numerous articles and books on employment law, litigation and ethics.
As part of the firm’s class action work, Philip has represented thousands of employees in actions against Wal-Mart, Federal Express, BJs, Ryder and other large employers.
He and his partners have made prevailing in high-stakes litigation cases both at trial and on appeal a hallmark of their practice, and they have been recognized among the very best in the profession.
Most Recently
Philip writes a general employment blog and an executive compensation blog. You can read these blogs at Massachusetts Employment Law Blog and representingexecutives.com
Featured Speaker at Harvard Business School’s Our Aging Market Grand Forum (May 8, 2023) (View Article)
Keynote Presentation at MCLE’s 25th Annual Employment Law Conference (December 2, 2022) (View Article)
Harvard Law School: Philip served as a invited judge in the Harvard Law School First-Year Ames Moot Court Program (April 14, 2022)
Can you top this sky high Father’s Day surprise gift from 1978? (View Article)
Practice Areas
Philip is a trusted employment litigator, trial lawyer and advisor.
Philip and his firm have extensive experience representing some of the nation’s most senior executives in all aspects of the employment relationship – from negotiating executive employment contracts, equity packages, severance provisions, acceleration clauses, non-competition provisions, benefits and bonuses at the front end of the employment relationship, to prosecuting some of the most complex litigation and arbitration at the back end. He is widely regarded for his adept handling of the most confidential matters for his clients, and his keen understanding of the full picture makes him one of their most trusted advisors.
In addition to his work with individuals, Philip represents workers in complex class actions against major companies. He also represents construction workers in prevailing wage and overtime cases, wait staff in wage and tip theft cases, hourly workers in minimum wage and overtime cases, and a landmark group of workers in groundbreaking discrimination cases. He believes that when workers band together, almost anything is possible.
Philip regularly acts as lead counsel in federal and state court bench and jury trials, as well as arbitrations and other direct and facilitated dispute resolution forums.
Philip also frequently works with advocacy organizations on large public interest matters, bringing much-needed class action experience to devastating discrimination and wage abuses.
What Others are Saying
(prior to 2005 available upon request)
Best Lawyers in America, 2016-2023 (inclusion based entirely on peer review; Best Lawyers is the oldest and most highly-respected peer review guide to the legal profession worldwide) (View Article)
Massachusetts Super Lawyer, recognized among the Top 100 Attorneys across all practice areas in New England (View Article), and continuously recognized generally every year since its first publication, 2004-2023 (recognizing the top 5% of the lawyers in Massachusetts, across all practice areas; joint edition of Law & Politics and Boston Magazine) (View Article)
40 Under 40 Award Recipient, 2006 by Boston Business Journal
National Employment Lawyers’ Association
(prior to 2005 available upon request)
Past President, Massachusetts Employment Lawyers Association (View MELA Website) (affiliate of the National Employment Lawyers Association) (2010 – 2012).
Chair, Legislative Committee of the Massachusetts Employment Lawyers Association, Massachusetts Chapter (2008 – present).
Chair, Wage & Hour Committee of the Massachusetts Employment Lawyers Association, Massachusetts Chapter (2006 – present).
Panelist, Class Actions After Dukes & Genesis HealthCare Corp.: The Ongoing Attack On Representative Testimony In Class Actions,” NELA 2014 National Convention (June 25-28, 2014) (View Article)
Author, amicus brief on behalf of the National Employment Lawyers’ Association (Massachusetts Chapter), Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS) and the National Employment Law Project (NELP), Don DiFiore & Others v. American Airlines, First Circuit Court of Appeals, Nos. 10-1108, 10-1167 and 10-1264 (August 27, 2010) – regarding the mandatory treble damages provision of the Wage Act.
Co-Author, amicus brief on behalf of the National Employment Lawyers’ Association (Massachusetts Chapter), Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS), Centro Presente, Chelsea Collaborative, Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA), Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health (MassCOSH), Massachusetts Jobs with Justice (JwJ), Metrowest Immigrant Worker Center (MWIWC), Project Voice, American Friends Service Committee, and National Employment Law Project (NELP), Don DiFiore & Others v. American Airlines, Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, SJC-10313 (April 3, 2009) – regarding class action rules in wage and hour cases and retroactivity of the mandatory treble damages provision of the Wage Act (View Article)
Author, amicus brief on behalf of the National Employment Lawyers’ Association, (Massachusetts Chapter), Electronic Data Systems Corp. v. Attorney General, Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, SJC-10260 (October 24, 2008) – regarding the treatment of vacation time as wages (View Article)
Co-Author, amicus brief on behalf of the National Employment Lawyers’ Association (Massachusetts Chapter), Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS), Brazilian Immigrant Center (BIC), Centro Presente, Chelsea Collaborative, Chinese Progressive Association (CPA), Irish Immigration Center (IIC), Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA), Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health (MassCOSH), Massachusetts Jobs with Justice (JwJ), Metrowest Immigrant Worker Center (MWIWC), Project Voice, American Friends Service Committee, and National Employment Law Project (NELP), Salvas v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, SJC-10108 (April 28, 2008) – regarding the use of class action rules in wage and hour cases (View Article)
Co-Author, amicus brief on behalf of the National Employment Lawyers’ Association (Massachusetts Chapter), Eigerman v. Putnam Investments, SJC-09854 (Nov. 5, 2007) – regarding the covenant of good faith and fair dealing in employment contracts (View Article)
Recent Lectures / Panels / Government Testimony
MCLE Keynote presentation by Philip Gordon at 25th Annual Employment Law Conference (December 2, 2022) (View Article)
Harvard University, Mock Trial Competition (November 12-13, 2022). Philip Gordon and Elizabeth Rogers served as Judges in the Harvard university Mock Trial competition featuring 20 teams from schools across the nation.
(prior to 2005 available upon request)
Recent Publications
(prior to 2005 available upon request)
Recently Quoted or Featured In
“Fish rots from the head down,” Gordon dresses down Brockton Mayor. (View Article)
WBZ’s Kendall Buhl interviews Gordon about Matt Lauer and sexual harassment in the workplace and the issues particular to executives (November 29, 2017) (Listen)
The Washington Post quotes Gordon on the employment ramifications of Weinstein allegations (October 20, 2017) (View Article)
Brockton Facing $45.6M punitive damages from Lopes class action brought by Gordon Law Group, and Mayoral candidate calls for removal of Maureen Cruise (October 3, 2017)
(View Article)
Enterprise News reports on breaking news of decision by Judge REJECTING Brockton’s attorney’s plea to overturn $4M jury verdict won by Gordon and Rodgers (June 26, 2017) (View Article)
(prior to 2005 available upon request)
Recent Television and Radio Appearances
(prior to 2005 available upon request)
FOX – Jacqui Heinrich interviews Philip Gordon for feature story, “Man Loses Job Opportunity After Threatening Remarks on Dating App” (August 4, 2016) (View Video)
MSNBC – Ronan Farrow Daily – Philip Gordon and Dr. Kimberly Theidon interview with Ronan Farrow (May 5, 2014) (View Video)
ABC Boston – Team 5 Investigates – Philip Gordon, Elizabeth Rodgers and Dr. Kimberly Theidon interview with Karen Anderson (April 29, 2014) (View Video)
FOX – Maria Stephanos interviews Philip Gordon to discuss lying on resumes (March 6, 2014) (View Video)
WBZ News – Interview with Christina Hager (December 21, 2010) (View Video)
Fox News – Interview with Maria Stephanos (November 26, 2010) (View Video)
WTAG – Jordan Levy, “The Jordan Levy Show”
WBZ – Paul Sullivan, “The Paul Sullivan Show”
WBIX – Barry Armstrong, “Money Matters”
WBSM – Pete Braley, “Mornings with Pete Braley”
WPEP – “Hometown”
WBNW – Gina Ghioldi, “The Brass Ring”
Experience
After his judicial clerkship to Justice Charles Fried of the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, Philip served in the following capacities before founding Gordon Law Group:
WilmerHale LLP (formerly Hale and Dorr LLP) – Associate, Corporate Department
GenuOne, Inc. – General Counsel and Executive Vice President. GenuOne was one of the world’s leading anti-counterfeiting companies. It was acquired by OpSec Security, traded on the London Stock Exchange
Community / Pro Bono Work
American Bar Association, Committee on Federal Labor Standards Legislation
National Employment Lawyers Association, Class Action Committee
Massachusetts Immigrant & Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA), Board Member
Wage and Hour Project of the Volunteer Lawyers Project, Member, Senior Partners for Justice
Maccabi Games 2004, Chairman of Hockey