Attorneys

Mark J. Ventola

Mark’s focus is on employment and labor law, advising clients about the many aspects of the relationship between employer and employee. He provides advice and drafts agreements, policies, and protocols concerning hiring, trade secret, termination and separation, wage and hour, family and medical leave, employment discrimination, noncompetition, and other compliance issues. He also works with executives, negotiating and drafting employment agreements and compensation arrangements.

Mark serves as general counsel to a number of privately owned businesses in a variety of industries. He provides advice on business formation, corporate governance, financing, succession planning, acquisitions and divestitures.

Mark’s litigation experience includes the defense and prosecution of employment, discrimination, noncompetition and trade secret, shareholder and business, complex product liability, aviation, commercial, real estate, professional malpractice, construction, insurance coverage and extra-contractual disputes. A significant portion of his practice involves handling employment litigation at the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, and in Superior Court and Federal Court. Mark represents public and private employers in collective bargaining with labor unions and is experienced in handling grievance arbitrations and unfair labor practices matters.

To assist clients in litigation avoidance efforts, Mark has developed training programs for managers and staff concerning sexual harassment, management, and human resource issues. He also supervises and conducts internal investigations for the firm’s management clients. He frequently lectures and writes on employment law and human resources topics.

Mark practiced in New Hampshire for several years prior to moving to Boston and remains available to serve clients with interests in New Hampshire.

Sample Matters

Education

Honors

Since 2005, Mark has been named a New England Super Lawyer in the field of labor and employment law by Law and Politics Magazine. In addition, Mark was an Edward F. Hennessey Scholar and G. Joseph Tauro Scholar at Boston University School of Law. He also serves as an advisor to the Harvard Law School Mock Trial Program.

Memberships and Admissions

Mark serves as a Pretrial Conferencer in the joint Boston Municipal Court/Boston Bar Association program. He is a member and former director of the Massachusetts Defense Lawyers Association and a member of the Defense Research Institute and the International Association Defense Counsel. He also is a member of the Massachusetts and Boston Bar Associations, and the Justinian Law Society. Mark is admitted to practice law in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

Community Involvement

As an active member of his community, Mark serves on the Board of Directors for the Stoneham Chamber of Commerce, where he was named 2005 New Member of the Year. He has served on the Board of Directors for the Friends of Greater Melrose Charitable Foundation and as the Vice President of the Malden Catholic Alumni Association. He has also served as Chairman of the Melrose Youth Task Force and as a member of the Melrose Historic District Commission. Mark was a member of the Melrose Administration Reform Committee. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Stoneham Youth Basketball, where he is a coach. He is also a member of The Order of Sons of Italy, the Appian Club and the National Italian American Foundation. Mark recently became a member of the Finance Council for Saint Patrick Parish in Stoneham. He was also recently appointed to the Stoneham School Building Committee.