David W. McGrath

David W. McGrath is a Shareholder at Sheehan Phinney in Portsmouth whose practice centers on business litigation, labor and employment, mediation, and arbitration. He represents clients in state and federal courts, administrative proceedings, and arbitration. His litigation work includes trade secret, non-competition, predatory hiring, discrimination, retaliation, whistleblower, wrongful termination, and healthcare-related matters, and he regularly helps businesses and executives navigate employment separations.

David earned a J.D. from Cornell University Law School and a B.A. from Framingham State College. He later completed the Harvard Law School Program on Negotiation, Mediation and Conflict Management. His legal education and focused mediation training support a practice that combines advocacy with dispute resolution. He evaluates complex employment and commercial disputes from the perspectives of litigation risk, negotiation strategy, courtroom procedure, and the practical needs of businesses and executives.

David has defended companies, municipalities, hospitals, and other organizations in significant employment and business disputes. Representative matters include obtaining summary judgment in non-compete and wrongful discharge cases, securing a jury verdict for a municipality in a wrongful discharge lawsuit, and defending a hospital in an Americans with Disabilities case through an appeal. He is a certified mediator who serves courts, the New Hampshire Commission for Human Rights, and private parties.

David W. McGrath is the firm’s immediate past President and Managing Director and now serves as Associate General Counsel. He is a past President of the New Hampshire Bar Association and has served on the Professional Conduct Committee. His recognitions include Chambers USA listings for labor and employment and mediation, Best Lawyers honors, and other professional distinctions tied to employment litigation, commercial litigation, labor law, and mediation.

Law Office Affiliations

• Shareholder, Sheehan Phinney
• Past President, New Hampshire Bar Association
• Board of Trustees, Strawbery Banke Museum
• Past Member, New Hampshire Professional Conduct Committee
• Member, Leadership New Hampshire (Class of 2013)

Licensed State

• New Hampshire

Education

• Cornell University Law School
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Framingham State College
  Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Awards & Badges