James Hykel
Partner (he/him/his)
Jim's entire legal career has been devoted to representing unions and individual workers. His experience representing unions includes contract negotiations, appearing before federal and state agencies, courts, and arbitrators on issues ranging from individual discipline, denial of benefits, contract interpretation, and statutory violations. His experience representing individual employees has focused on disability issues, including workers' compensation and social security disability claims, discrimination claims, and representing aggrieved individuals before the Massachusetts Civil Service Commission. Prior to being admitted to practice law, Jim interned for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Trial Unit in Boston and Judge Norman Stahl of the First Circuit Court of Appeals.
Major Cases
Wynn MA, LLC v. Unite Here!, Loc. 26, No. 23-CV-11223-ADB, 2024 WL 2962805 (D. Mass. June 12, 2024) (affirming arbitration award reinstating terminated hotel worker)
Tuminelli v. Somerville Retirement Board, Respondent, Division of Admin. Law Appeals No. CR-21-0335 2023 WL 7924627 (Nov. 10, 2023) (reversing retirement board that member who is no longer employed can file for disability retirement)
Town of Boxford and Boxford Professional Firefighters, Local 5305, IAFF, DLR Case No. MCR-20-8361 2022 WL 622411(Comm. Emp. Rel. Bd Feb. 8, 2022) (successfully fought off Town’s attempt to include all call firefighters in the bargaining unit)
Education
Northeastern University School of Law, J.D., 2006
University of Rochester, B.A. (Classics), 2003 Cum Laude
Professional Affiliations
Massachusetts Bar Association
AFL-CIO Union Lawyers Alliance
Bar and Court Admissions
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
State of Maine
U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
U.S. District Court for the District of Maine
U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
Contact
Practice Areas
State and Federal labor law, Workers Compensation, Unemployment, Disability Retirement.
Staff Assistant
Molly Brown
