John P. Shea, Jr.

John P. Shea, Jr. is a member of the firm. While the primary focus of his practice is the representation of public and private employers in labor and employment matters, he also performs a significant amount of general municipal work.

Attorney Shea routinely represents public and private entities in employment litigation, including the defense of claims alleging: discrimination, retaliation and harassment; whistleblower retaliation; wage and hour violations; constitutional violations against public employers and their employees; the negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress; and breach of contract. His trial experience includes matters submitted to arbitration, numerous courtside trials to judgment and jury trials to verdict in both state and federal courts.

On the labor front, Attorney Shea has handled grievance arbitrations before both the State Board of Mediation and Arbitration and the American Arbitration Association, assisted in the negotiation and arbitration of collective bargaining agreements and defended unfair labor practice claims before the Department of Labor.

Attorney Shea’s municipal practice involves drafting municipal ordinances and regulations, providing counsel and training on the effective enforcement of legislation and defending the implementation of this legislation in state and federal courts and before administrative agencies. He has handled a wide variety of municipal matters, including those involving civil rights, public health, public safety, construction, competitive procurement/public purchasing, contract, tax assessment and collection, land use, FOIA requirements and municipal tort liability under Connecticut General Statutes §§ 52-557n, 7-465, 7-101a and 13a-149.

Attorney Shea is admitted to practice in the state of Connecticut and before the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut and the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. He is a member of the Labor & Employment and Litigation sections of the Connecticut Bar Association, the Connecticut Association of Municipal Attorneys, and the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities.

Attorney Shea attended Fairfield University, where he majored in Political Science and English, and received his B.A. in 1990. He went on to receive his J.D. in 1993 from Washington and Lee University School of Law in Lexington, Virginia, where he served as President of the legal fraternity Phi Delta Phi.

He practices in the Hartford, Connecticut office.

Contact Attorney Shea at

• William R. Connon
• Michael P. McKeon
• Roseann G. Padula
• Victor Schoen
• Zachary D. Schurin
• Susan L. Scott
• John P. Shea, Jr.
• Mark J. Sommaruga
• Catherine M. Thompson