John J. McGivney

John McGivney is Rubin and Rudman’s Managing Partner and a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. John is responsible for the firm’s overall strategic business plan, direction and mission. During his tenure as managing partner, Rubin and Rudman has seen significant growth in terms of revenue, number of attorneys, community engagement, philanthropy, and commitment to diversity initiatives.

As a litigator, John has tried nearly 40 cases in state and federal trial courts; has arbitrated numerous matters; has served as an arbitrator, and certified mediator, in civil litigation. Additionally, he has briefed or argued over 25 appeals, in various areas of civil law, in the Supreme Court of the United States, the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, and the Massachusetts Appeals Court. He has also settled thousands of cases for both plaintiffs and defendants, including recoveries for plaintiffs of nine-figure, eight-figure, and seven-figure settlements.

John has served as a Special Assistant Attorney General in Massachusetts, and has represented clients in matters with the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Justice, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Massachusetts Attorney General and other state regulatory agencies.

Since entering practice in 1981, John has represented clients in a broad range of litigation matters, including the following:

• Construction law, including construction site accidents, contract disputes in both public and private construction, and suretyship
• Commercial litigation, including trade secrets and unfair competition
• Defamation, privacy and civil rights
• Directors’ and officers’ liability
• Dissolution of partnerships and businesses
• Education Law
• Employment law, including ERISA and FEHBA
• Insurance law, including coverage, extracontractual liability, primary/excess insurance and reinsurance, property, casualty, life, disability, and marine/cargo insurance
• Mass tort and class actions
• Motor vehicle tort
• National security clearance
• Premises liability
• Private international law, including the laws of Canada, England, Germany, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Peoples Republic of China, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland
• Probate disputes over trusts and estates
• Products liability
• Professional malpractice, including accountants, architects and engineers, and attorneys
• Real estate and lease disputes
• Securities litigation, including securities fraud, and broker-dealer arbitration
• Taxpayer disputes
• Trademark and licensing
• Zoning and permitting litigation

Recognition and Awards

• Recognized, Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, 2024 Top 20 Managing Partner
• Recognized, Best Lawyers in America®, 2008-2023, Insurance Law and Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
• Recognized, Best Lawyers in America® “Lawyer of the Year” award, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants, in Boston, 2022
• Named, Boston magazine, Top Lawyers, Civil Litigation, 2022-2023
• Martindale-Hubbell® – Annually rated AV Preeminent
• Selected, Massachusetts Super Lawyers List, 2004, 2016–2020

Professional and Community Involvement

• Association for Conflict Resolution – Member of the largest professional association for mediators, arbitrators, and conflict resolution practitioners in the U.S.
• Member, Former Director, Massachusetts Defense Lawyers Association
• Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys – Member
• Member, Rubin and Rudman Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee
• Speaker and Panelist at Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys and the Massachusetts Defense Lawyers Association and various other conferences
• Claims and Litigation Management Alliance – Member of this prestigious insurance organization (2016)