John P. McAvoy is a shareholder in Zarwin Baum’s Business Practice Group directed by Gary A. DeVito. John concentrates his practice on commercial litigation and has extensive litigation experience in many commercial areas, including employment, banking, professional liability involving attorneys, architects, accountants, and engineers, business torts, corporate governance matters, partnership disputes, and construction litigation.
John represents businesses and their executives and officials in litigation, arbitration, and negotiation in all areas of commercial litigation. For nearly a decade, John has represented clients in complex employment law matters with a focus on claims of discrimination, retaliation, equal pay, breach of contract, and wrongful termination, as well as representing individuals sued by their employers for alleged violations of restrictive covenants. He also provides advice and counsel to clients with respect to non-compete, separation, bonus and compensation, and severance agreements. Prior to joining Zarwin Baum in 2022, John was an associate at Kaufman Dolowich & Voluck, LLP in Philadelphia, a preeminent employment litigation firm with 17 offices across the country. Mr. McAvoy earned his undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Loyola University Maryland (née Loyola College in Maryland) and his Juris Doctor with distinction from Widener University Delaware Law School where he was a member of Law Review. Additionally, he is the author or co-author of four articles on commercial litigation and business law published in legal journals and periodicals. John is admitted to practice law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the State of New Jersey, the State of New York, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States District Courts for the District of New Jersey and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. His professional activities include involvement with Defense Research Institute (DRI), Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS), Tri-State Human Resource Management Association, and the Salem County Chamber of Commerce. When he isn’t serving and/or advocating for his clients, John enjoys spending time with his wife, two young children, and German Shorthaired Pointer, Willow.
& Events
Co-Author: COVID-19 and the Workplace: Navigating New Jersey’s Earned Sick Leave Amendment, New Jersey Law Journal, Mar. 2022 Co-Author; Requiring COVID-19 Vaccinations in the Workplace: A Guide for NJ Employers, New Jersey Law Journal, Feb. 2021 Co-Author; Developments in Union Organization Under State and Federal Law, DRI For the Defense, Jan. 2018 Author; The Role of Public Policy in the Suspicionless Drug Testing of Welfare Applicants, JURIST Dateline, Apr. 2013
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 2013 The Supreme Court of New Jersey, 2013 New York State Court of Appeals, 2021 United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, 2014 United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, 2014 United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 2014
Pennsylvania, 2013 New Jersey, 2013 New York, 2021
Defense Research Institute (DRI) Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS) Tri-State Human Resource Management Association Salem County Chamber of Commerce
Widener University Delaware Law School, 2013, with distinction Loyola University Maryland (née Loyola College in Maryland), 2009 Saint Joseph’s Preparatory School, 2005