John P. Sherman, Esq.

John began his legal career as an attorney in Washington D.C. where his practice focused on representing educational institutions in litigation in federal court and before various government administrative agencies.  John returned to New England in 1997 to join one of New Hampshire’s largest law firms, Devine, Millimet & Branch, where he rose through the ranks to become a partner.

In 2005, John started his own firm that in 2007 became Sherman Law, PLLC located in beautiful downtown Portsmouth, New Hampshire.  Through this experience, John has learned many of the issues first-hand that small businesses must face. These range from hiring and terminating employees to handling payroll and finances. He now uses both his legal knowledge and personal experience to counsel and represent a broad array of clients that includes both businesses and individuals.

His work on behalf of local businesses includes counseling and risk management in the areas of employment and labor law.  In addition to litigating wrongful termination and sexual harassment claims, he counsels businesses on how to draft and enforce severance agreements, covenants not to compete, and non-solicitation agreements.

Having represented zoning and planning boards for many years, John also represents clients who need assistance in the areas of real estate, land use, and zoning.  He similarly utilizes his construction litigation background to represent homeowners, developers, contractors, and subcontractors in construction related matters such as negligent supervision claims and OSHA violations.

In the past, National insurance companies hired John to represent their insureds in personal injury actions and also to defend the companies in bad faith, misrepresentation, breach of contract, and consumer protection act claims.  Since most personal injury cases are resolved through negotiation between an attorney and an insurance company representative, John’s knowledge and understanding of the industry greatly benefits the firm’s personal injury clients such as those who have experienced sexual assault, sexual abuse, traumatic brain injury, wrongful death, dog bites, and automobile accidents.

John graduated from St. John’s Prep in Danvers, Massachusetts.  He then received his BA degree in Political Science from Boston College.  He was a cum laude honors graduate of the American University Washington College of Law.  He sat for and passed three bar exams: Virginia, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire.  He actively practices at present throughout New Hampshire and Massachusetts.

Areas of Practice

  • Administrative Law
  • Alternative Dispute Resolution
  • Business & Commercial Law
  • Contracts
  • Business Organizations
  • Civil Rights
  • Sexual Harassment
  • Constitutional Law
  • Discrimination
  • Construction Law
  • Employment Law — Employee
  • Employment Law — Employer
  • Health & Health Care Law
  • Insurance Law
  • Labor Law
  • Litigation & Appeals
  • Personal Injury — Defense
  • Personal Injury — Plaintiff
  • Motor Vehicle Accidents — Plaintiff
  • Real Estate Law
  • Eminent Domain
  • Land Use & Zoning
  • State, Local & Municipal Law

Litigation Percentage

  • 90% of Practice Devoted to Litigation

Bar Admissions

  • New Hampshire
  • Massachusetts
  • District of Columbia (inactive)
  • Virginia (inactive)
  • U.S. District Court District of New Hampshire
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 1st Circuit
  • U.S. Supreme Court

Education

  • St. John’s Preparatory School, Danvers, Massachusetts
    • Graduate, High School degree
  • Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
    • B.A.
    • Major: Political Science
  • American University, Washington College of Law, Washington, DC
    • J.D. cum laude
    • Recipient, (Book Award) Don Monroe Casto award for outstanding achievement in Constitutional Law