Bloomberg, Jonathon H.

Jessica Block’s practice focuses on employment and commercial litigation and alternative dispute resolution. She provides counsel and advocacy for individual professionals, small businesses, and foreign and national corporations, in the following areas:

• Covenants not to compete and non-solicitation agreements
• Executive compensation
• Severance agreements
• Change of Control Agreements
• Accommodation for clients with disabilities
• Gender, racial, ethnic, disability and religious discrimination
• Sexual harassment claims and investigations
• Expatriate Employment  issues
• Employment contract disputes
• Legal Ethics
• Professional malpractice
• Breach of fiduciary duty
• Defamation
• Termination in violation of public policy
• Retaliation claims under the antidiscrimination statutes and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
• Wages and Hours Act, WARN Act, ERISA rights and other common law claims
• Family and Medical Leave Act issues
• Defense of professional charged with scientific fraud
• Partnership break-ups
• Disputes among shareholders of closely held corporations
• Joint venture disputes
• Commercial contract matters and commercial litigation
• Fee Disputes
• Financial fraud
• Billing and vendor disputes
• Claims Against Professional Disability Insurance Carrier

Her clients include physicians, nurses and executives in the medical profession; financial services and insurance industry professionals; technology and biotech professionals; investment firms; individual lawyers and small law firms; medical practices; clergy; C-level professionals in a variety of industries; condominium associations; executive search firms; accountants; not-for-profits; and a wide spectrum of others. 

As an advocate,  Jessica strives to achieve prompt, practical, cost-effective solutions and closure. Client communication and satisfaction with the outcome are her paramount concerns. Through a reasoned approach, she has settled many matters out of court without the necessity of filing a lawsuit, often preserving past and prospective relationships and avoiding the financial stress and emotional toll of protracted litigation. Where alternative dispute resolution was not feasible, Ms. Block has prosecuted and defended cases in federal and state courts, the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination and other administrative forums. She has achieved a number of six-figure settlements after litigation commenced and, along with a team of lawyers, a seven-figure settlement in a case involving complicated and wide-ranging issues.

Jessica is an approved neutral on the Commercial and Employment Panels of the American Arbitration Association and has been selected as an arbitrator for all manner of employment disputes, including arbitrations involving covenants not to compete, change of control agreements, discrimination claims, FMLA claims, commission disputes, federal and state wage act claims; "just cause" for dismissal, executive compensation contracts, fiduciary obligations in close corporations, and claims arising out of plans governed by ERISA. 
She acts an arbitrator for commercial disputes as well, including commercial contract arbitrations, and insurance premium and claims handling disputes.  Jessica served two terms as a hearing officer for the Board of Bar Overseers.  She currently sits as an arbitrator of disputes over attorneys’ fees for the Massachusetts Bar Association Fee Arbitration Board.  

As a mediator, Jessica has mediated employment cases, fee disputes, and business cases.  
 
Ms. Block has been practicing law for 31 years, including with several large Boston law firms where she maintained a business litigation practice and handled a wide variety of cases. Since 2006, she has been voted by her peers as a Massachusetts Super Lawyer and listed in Boston Magazine.  A "Super Lawyer” honor is bestowed upon the top 5% of lawyers in the state who have achieved a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.  In 2013, Ms. Block was included in Best Lawyers in America in the field of Arbitration. She has been AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell since 1991.