Overview
Attorney Jim Mackinson partners with employers to resolve all manner of workforce issues, in and out of the courtroom. Having served as in-house employment counsel for global financial and professional services firms, Jim sees his client’s employment challenges and disputes from their point of view.
An experienced litigator, Jim regularly defends companies in federal and state courts, arbitration tribunals (e.g., FINRA, JAMS, and AAA), and before administrative agencies. He represents clients in matters involving claims of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, whistleblower retaliation, Form U5 defamation, breach of contract, misappropriation of trade secrets, and other employment-related issues. Clients also turn to Jim to represent them in white collar and other criminal matters, and to perform internal investigations when they face potential civil or criminal action by the government.
As a counselor, Jim is responsive, practical, and solution-oriented. He works hard to understand a client’s business in order provide actionable solutions, tailored to their needs and priorities. Clients rely on Jim to draft employment agreements and policies, provide advice regarding diversity and inclusion initiatives, review restrictive covenants, lead employee misconduct investigations, and manage reductions in force.
Before joining Epstein Becker Green, Jim was an attorney in the Labor and Employment group of a national law firm. Previously, he served as a Law Clerk to the Honorable Peter F. Bariso, Assignment Judge of the Superior Court of New Jersey, Hudson County Vicinage.
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Focus Areas
Experience
Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.
- Led internal investigations related to complaints of sexual harassment, bullying, and issues related to social media misconduct.
- Served as trial counsel in a whistleblower retaliation action.
- Defended a state agency in a high stakes multi-plaintiff discrimination case.
- Represented a global financial services firm in a multi-week FINRA arbitration involving quasi-contract and defamation claims.
- Represented a non-profit entity in administrative proceedings before the New York City Commission on Human Rights.
Credentials
Education
- Rutgers University School of Law – Newark (J.D., 2012)
- College of the Holy Cross (B.A., 2008)
Bar Admissions
- New Jersey
- New York
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York