- New Hampshire
- Massachusetts
Peg O’Brien assists employers with legal compliance and risk management in all phases of the employment relationship, as well as defense of employers in matters pending before government agencies and courts. On a regular basis, Peg assists company executives, human resources professionals and supervisors with routine employment law concerns including:
- Employee handbooks and related employee policies;
- Hiring (offer letters and employment agreements);
- Non-compete, Non-solicitation and Nondisclosure Agreements;
- Independent Contractor Agreements;
- Wage and hour compliance, including employee classifications such as exempt vs. nonexempt;
- Guidance with employee leaves of absence;
- Management of employee performance and expectation setting, including drafting performance improvement plans;
- Disciplinary action including review and discussion of any litigation risks, and drafting documentation of warnings and termination letters;
- Drafting severance agreements; and
- Management of employee workplace complaints, including investigations and interpersonal conflict between employees.
Peg provides on-site and virtual training for employees and supervisors on harassment prevention and documentation and discipline best practices, and other employment law matters.
In addition, Peg conducts workplace investigations as an internal or outside independent investigator, and recently completed the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination’s Certified Course on Conducting Discrimination Complaint Investigations. Peg frequently presents at seminars on employment law issues before human resources and trade groups. She has practiced law for more than 25 years and has handled litigation in federal and state courts throughout New Hampshire. She has extensive jury trial experience as well as extensive experience appearing before government agencies. Prior to entering private practice, Peg began her legal career as an attorney with the New Hampshire Public Defender Program.
Peg serves as the firm’s Assistant General Counsel with a focus on human resources and employment matters.
Peg received her JD from The George Washington University Law School and her BA in Computer Science from Colgate University.
Admissions
Involvement
- Granite YMCA, Board of Trustees, Member and Past Chair (2010-2022)
- New Hampshire Public Defender Program, Board of Directors, Member (2014-present)
- CASA of NH, Board of Trustees, Member (1995-2000)
- Bedford Education Foundation, Board of Trustees, Member (2003 – 2006)
- Manchester Historic Association, Board of Trustees, Member (2002 – 2005)
- ProVisors, Member
Recognitions
Events
- Massachusetts Employment Law Update (October 19, 2023)
- An Employer’s 2023 To-Do List (January 24, 2023)
Awards
- Best Lawyers in America (Employment Law – Management), 2019 – present
Speaking Engagements
- New Hampshire Automobile Dealers Association Conference (April 9, 2024)
- Manchester Area Human Resources Association (January 31, 2024)
- Webinar for The NH Center For Nonprofits (January 30, 2024)
- ACCESS 2023: Economic Growth Conference (October 27, 2023)
- Webinar for the New Hampshire Automobile Dealers Association (April 3, 2023)
- Small Business Day at the State House for the BIA (March 16, 2023)
- Webinar for the NH Bar Association, “Employee Misclassification: Independent Contractor vs. Employee; Exempt vs. Non-Exempt” (April 4, 2023)
- Webinar for the New Hampshire Center for Nonprofits, “The Top Ten Critical Employment Laws New Hampshire Employers Need to Know” (January 31, 2023)
- New Hampshire Automobile Dealers Association (NHADA) RECHARGE Business Conference (November 2, 2022)
- Granite State Human Resources Conference (GSHRC) (October 3, 2022)
- New Hampshire Bar Association’s CLE, “Pets in the Workplace: An Employment Law Learn and Lunch” (June 22, 2022)
- MA Society of CPAs Tax Committee meeting, “Independent Contractor Classification” (May 17, 2022)
- New Hampshire Automobile Dealers Association’s webinar, “Employment Law: Federal and State Youth Employment Laws and Regulations” (May 4, 2022)
- New Hampshire School Administrators Association’s “2022 Best Practices in Personnel Leadership Conference” (March 7, 2022)
- Futurecast 2022: Employment Law (conference, Business NH Magazine, 1/26/2022)
- Employment Law Essentials: The Top Ten Critical Employment Laws You Need to Know (webinar, NH Center for Nonprofits, 1/12/2022)
- Understanding Vaccine Mandates: OSHA ETS and Company-Imposed Mandates (webinar, NH Automobile Dealers Association, 12/2/2021)
- OSHA’s Emergency Temporary Standard on COVID Vaccinations (webinar, McLane Middleton, 11/10/2021)
- COVID-19 Requirements for Employers (webinar, NH Motor Transport Association, 10/6/2021)
- What Pressing Issues Are HR Managers Asking About Right Now? (webinar, KMA Human Resources, 6/15/2021)
- Vaccines in the Workplace (webinar, NH Motor Transport Association, 5/6/2021)
Latest News
- 60 Attorneys from McLane Middleton Recognized in 2025 Best Lawyers in America (August 19, 2024)
- Chambers USA Recognizes 22 McLane Middleton Attorneys and Six Firm Practice Areas (June 11, 2024)
- Peg O’Brien to Present at the New Hampshire Automobile Dealers Association Conference (April 9, 2024)
- Attorney Peg O’Brien to Present at MAHRA (January 31, 2024)
- Attorney Peg O’Brien to Present On A Webinar For The NH Center For Nonprofits (January 30, 2024)
- Peg O’Brien to Present at ACCESS 2023: Economic Growth Conference (October 27, 2023)
- 37 McLane Middleton Lawyers Included in Super Lawyers (October 17, 2023)
- 57 Attorneys from McLane Middleton Recognized in 2024 Best Lawyers in America (August 17, 2023)
- Chambers USA Recognizes 23 McLane Middleton Attorneys and Six Firm Practice Areas (June 1, 2023)
- Peg O’Brien to Present on a Webinar for the New Hampshire Automobile Dealers Association (April 3, 2023)