Nicholas Anastasopoulos
Partner
Legal Administrative Assistant Jessica K. Rubin
Nick is a member of the Firm's Labor, Employment and Employee Benefits Group and former chair of the Higher Education Group. His practice includes traditional private- and public-sector labor law, litigation of employment disputes, and counseling on labor, employment and human resource matters. While maintaining a diverse practice, he has developed a significant emphasis on labor relations. Nick regularly counsels clients on traditional labor issues, including election campaigns, complex contract formation disputes, grievance adjustment and arbitration, unfair labor charges, strikes, picketing, and other work stoppage issues and reduction-in-force planning. Nick has negotiated over 175 collective bargaining agreements and successfully represented public sector/public safety clients at the JLMC. He has appeared before numerous state and federal agencies including the National Labor Relations Board, the Massachusetts Division of Labor Relations, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
In 2017 and in 2018, Human Resource Executive Magazine and Lawdragon have recognized Nick as being one of the “Top 20 Lawyers in Traditional Labor & Employment Law.” Boston magazine and Law & Politics have recognized Nick as one of Massachusetts “Super Lawyers” every year since 2013 and a Massachusetts “Rising Star” from 2006 to 2010. He was also selected by the Worcester Business Journal as one of the “40 Under Forty” young professionals honored for their professional achievements and community service.
Prior to joining the Firm, Nick was labor counsel for the City of Boston and an Assistant District Attorney in Suffolk County.
Bar & Court Admissions
- Massachusetts
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
- U.S. District Court for Massachusetts
- New England School of Law JD (1996)
- Northeastern University BS (1993)
Publications/Presentations
- “NLRB General Counsel Expresses Views on Non-Competes Violating the NLRA,” Mirick O’Connell Client Alert, June 6, 2023
- “The National Labor Relations Board Strikes Back: Examining the Latest Developments & Trends Under the Biden Administration,” Mirick O’Connell Labor, Employment and Employee Benefits Annual Seminar (May 4, 2023)
- Labor, Employment and Employee Benefits Legal Update: “The NLRB Pendulum Swings Back: Employers Face Increased Liability for Damages, While It’s Once Again Easier for Smaller Worker Groups to Organize,” Mirick O’Connell Client Alert, December 16, 2022
- Quoted in “Labor’s long fight in Worcester,” Worcester Business Journal, May 30, 2022
- Charter Schools Legal Update: “Don't Delay: MA Employers Are Now Strictly Liable for Three Times the Amount of Wages for Late Payments With No Safe Harbor for Paying in Full Prior to Suit,” Mirick O’Connell Client Alert, April 8, 2022
- Charter Schools Legal Update: “Remote Public Meetings Authorized Through July 15, 2022,” Mirick O’Connell Client Alert, February 22, 2022
- Labor, Employment and Employee Benefits Legal Update: "OSHA's COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) - Temporarily Blocked," Mirick O'Connell Client Alert, November 8, 2021
- “Handling Public Comment and Public Records Requests in Light of Critical Race Theory, COVID-19 and Other Contentious Issues,” Mirick O’Connell Client Alert, October 14, 2021
- “OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard,” Mirick O’Connell Employment Law Webinar (August 5, 2021)
- "COVID-19 Mandates in the Workplace," Mirick O'Connell Client Alert, April 21, 2021
- “Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Adopts Emergency Regulations Addressing Student Learning Time," Mirick O’Connell Client Alert, December 18, 2020
- "How Do Business Owners Protect Themselves, Their Employees and Clients as Businesses Start to Reopen?,” On Air with Mirick O’Connell legal podcast (June 19, 2020)
- "COVID-19: OSHA’s Updated Guidance - Face Masks in the Workplace,” Mirick O’Connell Client Alert, June 18, 2020
- “Update on COVID-19 Workplace Health and Safety Enforcement by OSHA and the Massachusetts Attorney General,” Mirick O’Connell Client Alert, May 22, 2020
- “Employer-Union Relations During COVID-19," On Air with Mirick O’Connell legal podcast (April 7, 2020)
- “National Labor Relations Board Ends 2019 by Overturning Multiple Obama-Era Labor Decisions,” GGI Insider, March 2020
- Labor, Employment and Employee Benefits Legal Update: “OSHA Increases Penalties and Reminds Employers to Post OSHA 300A Summary of Injuries,” Mirick O’Connell Client Alert, January 29, 2020
Professional / Community Affiliations
- Department of Labor Relations Advisory Council, chair, re-appointed by Governor Baker
- National Association of College and University Attorneys
- Labor and Employment Relations Association, Board member
- Town of Sherborn, Personnel Board, Chair
- Massachusetts Education and Career Opportunities, Inc., Board of Directors
- Massachusetts Municipal Association, Personnel and Labor Relations Policy Committee
Dartmouth College Men’s Basketball Team Held to Be Employees of Institution and Allowed to Unionize
In the Matter of Trustees of Dartmouth College & Service Employees International Union, Local 560, Case 01-RC-325633 (2024), the Regional Office of the National Labor Relations Board (the “NLRB” or the “Board”) has provided yet another expansion of the Board’s on-going …
[ load webpage to read more ]New California Non-Compete Law Prohibits Almost All Non-Compete Agreements and Requires Notice to Certain Current and Former Employees by February 14
California has long taken an extremely strong position against non-compete agreements, but new laws which took effect January 1, 2024 make that prohibition even stronger and impact employers nationwide who have any employees in California. California now expressly prohibits any …
[ load webpage to read more ]Navigating Pay Transparency Laws: What Employers Need to Know
Over the last several years, in an effort to close the gender pay gap, several states and localities across the country have enacted pay transparency laws that, generally, require employers of certain sizes with employees in those locations to disclose …
[ load webpage to read more ]Private Employers Take Note: Overbroad Non-Disparagement & Confidentiality Restrictions in Severance Agreements Run Afoul of the National Labor Relations Act
As many employers well know, it is customary to include non-disparagement and confidentiality provisions in severance agreements that prohibit departing employees from (i) making disparaging, critical, or otherwise detrimental comments concerning the employer and (ii) disclosing information concerning the substance, …
[ load webpage to read more ]Is Your Company in Compliance With Executive Order 13706?
In September 2015, Executive Order 13706 was signed, requiring employers that enter into covered contracts with the federal government to provide covered employees with up to seven days (56 hours) of paid sick leave annually, including paid leave allowing for …
[ load webpage to read more ]SJC Finds Public Meeting Comment Restrictions Unconstitutional
Government boards and committees should review their public comment policies following a decision this week by the Supreme Judicial Court holding that a “civility code” violated the Massachusetts Constitution’s Declaration of Rights and the Massachusetts Civil Rights Act. In Barron v. …
[ load webpage to read more ]The FTC’s Proposed Ban On Noncompetes – Predictions
Following his election, President Biden issued “The Biden Plan for Strengthening Worker Organizing, Collective Bargaining and Unions,” in which he promised to work with Congress to “eliminate all non-compete agreements” with very limited exceptions. While a bipartisan bill, the Workforce …
[ load webpage to read more ]Update Policies to Comply with the Massachusetts CROWN Act
At the end of October 2022, the Massachusetts Act Prohibiting Discrimination Based on Natural and Protective Hairstyles (the “CROWN Act”) went into effect. The CROWN Act expands the definition of “race” under Chapter 151B to include “traits historically associated with …
[ load webpage to read more ]2023 Changes in Massachusetts Employment Laws
Beginning January 1, 2023, changes to the Massachusetts Minimum Wage Law, retail premium pay, and Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave Law take effect. Changes to Minimum Wage & Premium Pay Changes to Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) …
[ load webpage to read more ]Employers Must Remember Their Obligations under the Massachusetts Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
The Massachusetts Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (the “Act”), which went into effect on April 1, 2018, amended Massachusetts General Law c. 151B to include “pregnancy or a condition related to pregnancy, including, but not limited to, lactation, or the need …
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