Hugh F. Murray, III

HNS Management Company (CTTransit)—Successful defense of novel wage & hour claim

Defeated a claim by the Amalgamated Transit Union that bus operators were entitled to pay for time between “split shift” assignments that was spent waiting for transportation. This was an attempt to expand liability under a theory that ATU has been pushing in transit systems nationwide and, if it had been adopted, would have had national repercussions.

Municipal employer—Jury trial victory

Obtained a federal jury verdict in favor of a major Connecticut municipality in a case involving allegations of age discrimination and retaliation made by a member of the city’s police academy.

Emerald Cactus Ventures—Advice on employment matters related to stock-for-cash acquisition

Provided guidance and advice on employment matters related to the sale of Emerald Cactus Ventures, a developer and marketer of a private and encrypted mobile browser, to Avast Software s.r.o. in a stock-for-cash transaction. A team of McCarter attorneys handled the corporate aspects of the acquisition.

Industrial manufacturer—Health benefits class action

Obtained a favorable settlement of a class action litigation concerning the status of retiree health benefits under several decades of collective bargaining agreements.

Healthcare organization—Discrimination claim

Obtained summary judgment in Connecticut federal court in favor of our client health care organization in a matter involving allegations of race, national origin, and sex discrimination. We defended this matter concurrently during a time of difficult collective bargaining negotiations.

Connecticut city—Interim director of labor relations

Served as interim director of labor relations for a Connecticut city for more than 14 months, handling collective bargaining, addressing grievances, and conducting and directing internal investigations. We also negotiated a favorable settlement of federal court wage and hour collective action brought by nearly 200 city firefighters that alleged improper overtime pay calculations.

We help employers stay ahead of potential issues affecting productivity and company reputation. We assist them in developing policies and procedures designed to prevent litigation but, when necessary, defend their interests in litigation ranging from single-plaintiff cases to nationwide collective and class actions. We help employers craft agreements vital to recruiting and retaining key employees and to protecting their proprietary assets and investments in employees.

Our lawyers keep clients aware of new developments in the law—informally and through client alerts and educational trainings. They author publications, such as Connecticut Employer Law and the Employer’s Guide to Union Organizing Campaigns, and write or contribute to articles on key topics of importance to employers today.

Our lawyers have become long-time advisors to many of their clients who appreciate our ability to deliver practical advice and effectively resolve disputes quickly and cost-efficiently. These clients also rely on the resources we can tap into at a multi-practice firm and our skill at spotting issues that may impact their business in other areas of law. We collaborate with colleagues throughout the firm to deliver comprehensive solutions to clients’ business needs.

McCarter & English delivers innovative solutions to clients nationwide. Fortune 100, mid-market and emerging growth companies rely on McCarter to handle their cutting-edge transactional, intellectual property, and complex litigation advice.

Clients benefit from the firm’s relationship-driven approach, deep understanding of their businesses and legal needs, lean and efficient service model, and determination to help them move their businesses forward.

In 2020, McCarter was recognized as Law Firm of the Year by the New Jersey Law Journal, and in 2019 received the prestigious ABA Pro Bono Publico award