John M. Becker

I am a graduate of Regis High School, Oberlin College and Northeastern University School of Law and I've been a member of the Massachusetts bar since 1994. Before joining Sandulli Grace in 1996, I was a law clerk for Justice Neil L. Lynch at the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. I'm currently Of Counsel to the firm, where I practice labor and employment law on behalf of unions and employees.

I serve individual and union clients in both the private and public sectors, but I have specialized in representing public employee unions, particularly unions representing teachers and police officers. I have helped clients negotiate collective bargaining agreements, arbitrate grievances, and pursue various matters in court and in numerous state agencies. I've brought litigation to enforce employees’ rights under the Fair Labor Standards Act and other laws.

I have argued numerous cases in Massachusetts appellate and trial courts, including the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, the Supreme Judicial Court and Massachusetts Appeals Court. Selected published decisions include: Marshfield School Committee v. Marshfield Education Association, 84 Mass. App. Ct. 743 (2014) (arbitration appeal); Sheriff of Suffolk County v. Jail Officers and Employees of Suffolk County, 465 Mass. 584 (2013) (arbitration appeal); City of Lynn v. Lynn Police Association, 455 Mass. 590 (2010) (arbitration appeal); O’Hara v. Menino, 253 F. Supp. 2d 147 (D. Mass. 2003) (FLSA); Massachusetts Association of Minority Law Enforcement Officers v. Abban, 434 Mass. 256 (2001) (civil service); and Vanderbilt v. Town of Chilmark, 174 F.R.D. 225 (D. Mass. 1997) (employment discrimination discovery).

Because I believe that providing my union clients with legal knowledge makes for a stronger labor movement, I have taught labor and employment law courses at the Labor Guild and UMass Lowell’s Labor Extension program and have spoken at the Legal Rights Seminar of the National Association of Police Organizations. I was employee-side commentator for the Massachusetts Civil Service Reporter for five years, have been active in the Massachusetts labor and employment bar and was a featured speaker at an annual meeting of New England Consortium of State Labor Relations Agencies.

My wife Mary Christin and I live in Waltham, Massachusetts. Mary is a social worker at Maristhill Nursing and Rehab Center. In addition to practicing law, I am a singer/songwriter who currently plays traditional music as part of the duo Downeast Revival. I also have a website called Make Lists, Not War, which features “Best of” lists about the arts, history, science and nature, and travel.