Bio

As the Managing Partner, Joseph Laferrera skillfully handles a wide variety of disputes and helps clients avoid them by offering strategic business counsel to minimize litigation risks. Joe leads the Gesmer’s Employment Group, guiding clients through every step from hiring to termination, and also heads the Data Security and Privacy practice, expertly navigating the complex regulations around business and personal data. Additionally, Joe is a trusted advisor on intellectual property, safeguarding a company’s most valuable assets. Joe’s multifaceted approach ensures his clients can focus on growing their business with confidence and peace of mind. Joe has represented clients at every stage of the litigation process, whether in state and federal trial courts, before governmental agencies, in appellate matters, and in mediations and arbitrations. His expertise spans intellectual property rights, contractual disputes, corporate governance issues, and other legal areas. Joe assists employers and employees in the employment sector by providing counseling and training to minimize corporate exposure to discrimination or harassment claims. He also drafts, assesses, and enforces employment, non-compete, and inventions agreements, negotiates executive compensation packages, and handles dispute resolution. Joe offers clients valuable insights and practical advice on data security and privacy. He is well-versed in various federal privacy laws, including HIPAA, Sarbanes-Oxley, Graham-Leach-Bliley, and “Red Flag” requirements. He also understands the different state approaches to data breach notification and Massachusetts’ regulatory requirements for comprehensive written information security plans. In intellectual property, Joe represents clients in copyright, trade secret, and trademark matters. Joe has you covered whether you assess the nature of your IP, enforce ownership or license rights against third parties, or defend against infringement allegations. Even when he’s not working, technology is never far from Joe’s mind, as he works on software projects in his spare time. You’ll find him hiking and kayaking lakeside, or playing tennis, racquetball or pickleball with his family during his downtime.