Greg Vanden-Eykel

Partner

Greg Vanden-Eykel is an employment lawyer who counsels companies on all aspects of the employer-employee relationship. Often serving as outside general employment counsel, Greg guides management in all employment related needs including contracts, employee handbooks, personnel policies, non-competition agreements, workplace safety, employee discipline, and hiring and terminations. Greg also handles administrative matters, restrictive covenants, wage and hour, regulatory issues and employee and independent contractor classification matters.  Greg also represents employers in litigation matters in state and federal courts, as well as before the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination and the Rhode Island Commission for Human Rights.

In addition to employment law, Greg’s broad experience spans education, medical malpractice, premises liability, and administrative law. He represents businesses as well as non-profit institutions including charter schools and independent schools in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. He also counsels individuals before federal and state courts and administrative agencies, including the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights, Massachusetts Bureau of Special Education Appeals, the Rhode Island Department of Education, the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Nursing Home Administrators, the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Chiropractors, the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Massage Therapy, the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance, and the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training.

Prior to joining Kenney and Sams, Greg was a partner with a regional, full-service law firm. Handling matters in both Massachusetts and Rhode Island, Greg’s cases related to employment, education, long-term care, medical malpractice, insurance coverage, and general civil litigation. Prior to going into private practice, Greg worked as a consultant to government agencies and corporations on policy analysis, program management, and project evaluation related to emergency management, including natural disasters and terrorism.

Representative Experience

  • Obtained a jury verdict on behalf of a national healthcare provider system.
  • Represented a national healthcare provider system and obtained favorable settlement of all claims.
  • Served as second chair obtaining a defense verdict in a medical malpractice jury trial.
  • Served as second chair obtaining a defense verdict in a personal injury/premises liability jury trial.
  • Successfully represented employers in Massachusetts and Rhode Island obtaining lack of probable cause findings in employment discrimination and retaliation matters
  • Obtained decisions in favor of charter school clients related to per pupil funding disputes between the charter school clients and sending districts, including prevailing before administrative appeals bodies.
  • Successfully represented charter school and business clients before Massachusetts and Rhode Island administrative agencies related to challenging employee demands for unemployment benefits.
  • Regularly consult with public bodies concerning Open Meeting Law, Public Records Law, Title IX, and Board Governance compliance.
  • Obtained a dismissal of a Complaint against the license of a Massachusetts nursing home administrator before the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Nursing Home Administrators.
  • Successful motion to dismiss a personal injury complaint before the U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts on personal jurisdiction grounds.
  • Persuaded a Massachusetts Court to grant summary judgment declaring that an insurer had no duty to provide coverage to an insured for bodily injuries caused using the insured’s automobile under a commercial general liability policy.
  • Negotiated favorable settlements and consent agreements in education, long-term care, employment, medical malpractice, consumer protection, and negligence matters, including successful mediation and other alternative dispute resolution proceedings.

Publications & Speaking Engagements

Memberships

  • 2023-2024 Member of the Rhode Island Bar Association’s Labor Law & Employment Committee
  • Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM)
  • Defense Research Institute (DRI)
  • Massachusetts Defense Lawyers Association (DLA)
  • Rhode Island Bar Association

Awards and Recognition

  • Massachusetts Super Lawyers, Rising Star in Civil Litigation (2016-2021)

Practice Areas

Admissions

  • Bar Admissions

    • Massachusetts
    • Rhode Island
  • Court Admissions

    • United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts
    • United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island
    • United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Massachusetts

Education

  • George Washington University, B.A., 2001

  • Suffolk University School of Law, J.D. magna cum laude, 2011

Awards & Recognition 

  • Recognized by Best Lawyers in America® Ones to Watch – Labor and Employment Law – Management 2024

  • Named to the 2023 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list