Jacques J. Parenteau

Jacques J. Parenteau is a partner at Madsen, Prestley & Parenteau, LLC, where he represents employees throughout Connecticut. He focuses exclusively on employment law at the trial and appellate levels in state and federal courts. His practice covers wrongful discharge, workplace discrimination, sexual harassment, pregnancy discrimination, whistleblower retaliation, First Amendment claims, employment contracts, and denial of academic tenure. He also handles defamation, privacy, due process, and other employment-related disputes.

Jacques earned his B.A. from the University of Massachusetts in 1979. He earned his J.D. from Washington College of Law of American University in 1982. He was admitted to the Rhode Island Bar in 1982 and the Connecticut Bar in 1984. His education and multistate admissions support his work on complex statutory, constitutional, contractual, and appellate issues.

Jacques has tried and appealed cases that produced substantial verdicts and judgments in Connecticut courts and the Second Circuit. He represented former University of Connecticut basketball coach Kevin Ollie in a wrongful-termination arbitration that produced an $11.1 million award in January 2022. He and his partner later obtained a $3.9 million settlement for reputational harm. He also secured a $12.7 million jury verdict in a wrongful denial of tenure case against Trinity College. His broader trial experience includes product liability, personal injury, medical malpractice, criminal defense, commercial disputes, and consumer matters.

Jacques J. Parenteau has appeared in The Best Lawyers in America for Labor and Employment Law since 2006. He has also appeared in Super Lawyers since 2007 and has received an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell. He has written and presented on academic employment, tenure disputes, product liability, evidence, and trial strategy. His record reflects sustained advocacy for employees facing difficult workplace and professional disputes.

Law Office Affiliations

• Partner, Madsen, Prestley & Parenteau, LLC
• Member, Connecticut Bar Association
• Member, Rhode Island Bar Association

Licensed State

• Connecticut
• Rhode Island

Education

• Washington College of Law of American University
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• University of Massachusetts
  Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Awards & Badges