Photo by David A. Rodgers

Timothy J. O'Brien
Partner
tobrien@lokllc.com

Timothy J. O’Brien’s practice areas include Labor and Employment, Sports Law, and Litigation. For more than 25 years, he has represented management on a wide variety of labor and employment issues including wrongful termination claims, and discrimination, harassment and retaliation claims, wage claims, disputes involving covenants not to compete and RICO claims. He has also advised clients on health, safety, wage and labor law issues and counseled employers on hiring and promotion decisions as well as employee performance, disciplinary and termination related process and issues.  As a former prosecutor and in the course of his work in civil litigation, he has tried numerous cases before judges and juries. 

Mr. O’Brien also has expertise in sports-related law and has advised collegiate athletic departments on a wide variety of sports law topics including Title IX, rules compliance, eligibility, coaches’ compensation, pay equity, harassment, hazing, disability discrimination, returning injured athletes to competition, and employment issues. Mr. O’Brien conducts audits and various types of compliance reviews, develops compliance strategies and approaches on a variety of subject areas, and works with clients to develop risk management and litigation avoidance practices.  He also represents institutions in both administrative agency proceedings and court litigation.  Mr. O’Brien has participated in and moderated programs for the American Bar Association, the NCAA, athletic conferences and educational institutions on many sports law topics involving athletic departments.  

Mr. O’Brien is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame (A.B.) and the New England School of Law (J.D.).  He currently serves on the boards of directors of the United Way of York County (Chair) and  the Education Foundation of the Kennebunks and Arundel. Mr. O’Brien has been recognized as one of The Best Lawyers in America from Maine in both employment and sports law, is listed by  Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business under Labor & Employment and has been distinguished by his peers as a “New England Super Lawyer” for his expertise in sports law.

In addition to the numerous publications set forth below, he is author of numerous papers presented at various conferences on both employment and sports law matters.  He is also the co-author of a monthly column on collegiate sports issues in College Athletics and the Law and a regular contributor to www.collegesportsbusinessnews.com.

Publications:

• Co-Author, “Pay Equity Among College Coaches: A Summary of Case Law Since Stanley and Administrative Guidance”  Willamette University College of Law Sports Law Journal (2009)
• Co-Author, Gender Equity in Intercollegiate Athletics, NCAA (2008)
• Contributing Author, “Workplace Privacy,” Thompson Publishing (2000)
• Contributing Author, “Employment Discrimination Law,” Lindemann & Grossman, 3rd Edition (1996)
• Contributing Author,  “Sexual Harassment in Employment Law,” Lindemann & Kadue(1991)
• Co-Author, "Managing Legal Issues in College Athletics," LRP Publications (2004)
• Contributing Author, “A Practical Guide to Title IX in Athletics, Law, Principles and Practices,” NACUA (2000)
• Co-Author, “Pay Equity: A Legal and Practical Approach to the Compensation of College Coaches,” Seton Hall Journal of Sports Law (1996)
• Co-Author, “Title IX: An Athletic Administrator’s Survival Guide to Gender Equity in the 1990’s,” Seton Hall Journal of Sports Law (1995)