Peter J. Berry, Esq.

Boston, Massachusetts

EDUCATION: New England School of Law (J.D. 1978); University of Massachusetts (B.A. 1974); Boston College (1969-71).

LEGAL EXPERIENCE: Before becoming a principal of the firm, Mr. Berry was associated with the firm from 1993 to 1997, was General Counsel for the Boston Housing Authority (BHA) from 1988 to 1993 and the Cambridge Housing Authority from 1984 to 1988.

Mr. Berry has over thirty years experience providing legal advice and representing management in the areas of labor relations, employment, discrimination, and civil rights law. Mr. Berry’s experience includes negotiations, arbitrations, unfair labor practice charges, mediation, litigation and policy development. He has represented management in collective bargaining with teachers, professional and management employees, paraprofessionals, clerical workers, licensed/skilled tradesmen, laborers, and public safety personnel. Mr. Berry regularly argues management interests in labor relations/employment litigation before Massachusetts and Federal Courts, the American Arbitration Association, the Massachusetts Division of Labor Relations, the Civil Service Commission, the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Board of Conciliation and Arbitration, and the Joint Labor/Management Committee, as well as advocating management interests with the Massachusetts Legislature.

OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AND ASSOCIATIONS: A former Chair of the Massachusetts Bar Association’s Labor and Employment Section Council, Mr. Berry frequently speaks at Massachusetts Bar Association and private industry educational programs addressing labor and employment issues. He worked with the Lawyers Clearinghouse on Affordable Housing and Homelessness as a Founding Board Member from 1987 to 1995, and served as Senior Warden for Emmanuel Church, Newbury Street, Boston, MA from 1983 to 1990. Mr. Berry has also served as a Commissioner of the Acton Housing Authority; a board member and chair of the Acton Community Housing Corporation; a member and chair of the Acton Zoning Board of Appeals; a Commissioner and vice-chair of the Acton Conservation Commission; and a member and chair of the Acton Community Preservation Committee. In 2007, Mr. Berry was elected to the Acton Board of Selectmen. Governor Patrick recently appointed Mr. Berry to the Advisory Council which oversees the Division of Labor Relations.

Mr. Berry frequently lectures and contributes articles to Massachusetts Bar Association, National Business Institute and other private education programs. He is co-chair of the Boston Bar Association’s annual Public Sector Labor Relations Conference which has been held for the past thirty years at Harvard Law school.