Daily News

Skoler, Abbott & Presser Attorneys Feted by Best Lawyers in America

SPRINGFIELD — Four lawyers from Skoler, Abbott & Presser, P.C. were honored recently among the Best Lawyers in America 2016, including partners Jay Presser and John Glenn, named Lawyers of the Year in Springfield in the categories of management and arbitration, respectively.

Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers has become widely regarded as a guide to legal excellence. The program is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey. More than 79,000 attorneys have cast more than 6.2 million votes to date on the legal abilities of other lawyers in their practice areas. Lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be listed. Corporate Counsel magazine has called Best Lawyers “the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice.”

Presser was also listed in The Best Lawyers in America 2016 in the categories of employment law, management; labor law, management; and litigation, labor and employment. Glenn was also listed in the categories of arbitration; employment law, management; and labor law, management.

Presser has more than 35 years of experience litigating employment cases. He has successfully defended employers in civil actions and jury trials and handled cases in all areas of employment law, including discrimination, sexual harassment, wrongful discharge, wage-hour, FMLA, ERISA, and defamation. He has won appeals before the Supreme Judicial Court and the First and Second Circuit Courts of Appeals and represented employers in hundreds of arbitration cases arising under collective-bargaining agreements. He has been selected by his peers for inclusion in Best Lawyers every year since 1991.

“Recognition by one’s peers is among the most meaningful form of praise in the legal profession. To consistently earn the respect and recognition of my peers is humbling,” said Presser. “It is an honor to accept Best Lawyers recognition as Lawyer of the Year in Springfield for my practice of employment law, management.”

Glenn has been a partner of the firm since 1979 and spent his career representing management in labor relations and employment-related matters. In addition to providing employment-related advice to employers, he assists clients in remaining union-free and represents employers before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). He has extensive experience negotiating collective-bargaining agreements, representing employers at arbitration hearings, and before state and federal agencies. He has been selected by his peers for inclusion in Best Lawyers every year since 1995.

“It is a pleasure to accept Best Lawyers recognition as Lawyer of the Year in Springfield for my practice of arbitration,” said Glenn. “Recognition by my peers is a humbling — and significant — honor. I am fortunate to work alongside so many talented colleagues here at Skoler Abbott, many of whom have also earned the respect of the profession, the media, and the public from Best Lawyers, the most reliable, unbiased source of legal referrals anywhere.”

Meanwhile, partner Ralph Abbott Jr. was listed in Best Lawyers in the categories of arbitration; employment law, management; labor law, management; and mediation. A partner since 1975, he is known throughout the legal community for his work representing management in labor relations and employment-related matters, providing employment-related advice to employers, assisting clients in remaining union-free, and representing employers before the NLRB. Abbott also has numerous credits as an author, editor, and teacher, and a record of civic and community involvement. He has been selected by his peers for inclusion in Best Lawyers every year since 1989.

“We are honored to be listed in The Best Lawyers in America 2016,” said Abbott. “The recognition is especially humbling because each lawyer is independently nominated and subject to an extensive peer review process.”

Finally, partner Timothy Murphy has been listed in Best Lawyers in the categories of employment law, management; labor law, management; and litigation, labor and employment. Murphy joined Skoler Abbott after serving as general counsel to an area labor union and serving as an assistant district attorney for the Hampden County District Attorney’s Office. His practice includes labor relations and employment litigation, as well as employment counseling. He has been selected by his peers and listed by Best Lawyers every year since 2013, and was named the Best Lawyers 2015 Lawyer of the Year in Springfield for labor and employment law.