John Stretton

Employment Law, Litigation, Unfair Competition and Trade Secrets, Leaves of Absence/Reasonable Accommodation, Mergers and Acquisitions, Wage and Hour

John Stretton is the managing shareholder of the Stamford office of Ogletree Deakins with more than 23 years of experience. Clients view John as a resourceful counselor and aggressive litigator who never loses sight of a client’s business objectives and the need to establish value. In addition to providing proactive counseling and advice to employers on labor and employment issues, John is frequently sought out to represent clients in discrimination, wrongful termination, wage and overtime, leaves of absences, and complex litigation matters in state and federal courts and administrative agencies. In addition, John regularly counsels clients on the enforceability of restrictive covenants (nonsolicitation, noncompetition, and confidentiality agreements), as is looked at as a “go-to” litigator when it comes to enforcing, or defending against the enforcement of, restrictive covenants. John also has extensive experience drafting and negotiating executive employment agreements. Based on feedback from both in-house and outside counsel, Chambers USA identified John as a “Leading Lawyer” in 2017 through 2026 and proclaimed that John wins praise for his “fantastic quality of work and turnaround time” and his ability to “apply a business acumen to the legal knowledge he has.” John has also been recognized as one of the Best Lawyers in America since 2022. John is also regularly named a New England Super Lawyer and a Connecticut Super Lawyer, and recognized in the area of Employment & Labor. From 2010 through 2012, John was named a Connecticut Rising Star and was recognized in the area of Employment & Labor. Additionally, John was selected by the American Institute of Legal Counsel for its 10 Best – Labor and Employment List in 2016.

While not practicing law, John pursues a number of charitable endeavors, including actively supporting and participating in events by My Team Triumph, the Connecticut Challenge, and the Pan-Mass Challenge.