Shareholder
E-mail: jfair@k-plaw.com
Phone: 617.654.1708
Practice Areas: Labor and Employment, General Municipal, Litigation
Attorney Joseph S. Fair has more than 25 years of experience in labor and employment law, including negotiating and drafting collective bargaining agreements, employment contracts, grievance and arbitration settlements, and other agreements. He has considerable experience proactively counseling and advising clients on a multitude of labor and employment subjects with an aim toward minimizing and potentially avoiding liability altogether. His experience includes representing clients before state and federal courts, various state agencies including the Civil Service Commission, Department of Labor Relations, Joint Labor Management Committee, Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, and labor arbitrations.
Attorney Fair has a well-rounded background in labor and employment law having represented public employers, labor unions, and individual employees. Prior to joining the firm, he was an associate for approximately six years at a Boston labor and employment boutique law firm where he represented labor unions and individuals in litigation and collective bargaining matters. He also served as a field representative attorney for the local chapter of a large union. His experience working on both sides of the labor and employment table has provided him with a unique perspective on ways to approach and deal with the various issues that can arise in the workplace.
Attorney Joseph S. Fair also practices General Municipal Law, assisting clients with a variety of issues including Town Meetings, Municipal Charters and By-Laws, Conflict of Interest, Public Records, Open Meeting Law, and Municipal Finance.
- Has negotiated hundreds of collective bargaining agreements and other agreements with numerous public employee unions that included concessions on wages, overtime, sick leave buyback and increases in employee health insurance contribution rates, co-pay amounts, and other health insurance changes, including the transfer of several communities’ coverage to the Group Insurance Commission.
- Favorably defended or resolved arbitration matters involving such subjects as suspensions, terminations, layoffs, vacation pay, detail pay, sick leave buyback, promotional bypasses, out of grade pay and uniform allowance payments.
- Successfully represented municipal clients before the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, Joint Labor Management Committee, Department of Labor Relations, Civil Service Commission and Division of Unemployment Assistance.
Dwyer, Duddy, and Facklam, P.C., Boston, MA
Associate
Represented clients in labor, employment and litigation matters in various state and federal forums. Drafted and responded to discovery requests, dispositive motions, and other pre-trial matters. Conducted and defended depositions. Prepared and presented case-in-chief of cases assigned. Drafted appellate briefs and delivered argument on appeal. Advised clients on labor and employment matters and provided them with written opinions. Negotiated collective bargaining, settlement, and other agreements.
Service Employees International Union, Local 254, Boston, MA
Field Representative/Attorney
Represented collective bargaining unit members at disciplinary, grievance, and arbitration hearings. Assisted with contract negotiations. Principal administrator of all bargaining units assigned.
- Massachusetts Bar Association
- Massachusetts Municipal Lawyers Association
- Massachusetts Bar
- U.S. District Court (Mass.)
- U.S. First Circuit Court of Appeals
Boston College Law School
Juris Doctor, 1997
Northeastern University
Bachelor of Science, summa cum laude, 1994