
Denise A. Chicoine
Partner
Practice Areas
Biography
Denise Chicoine has concentrated her practice in employment law. She handles a wide array of employment issues, such as noncompete agreements, severance agreements, disability accommodation, and employee benefits. She represents management and individuals at the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination and in state and federal courts on claims involving wrongful termination, retaliation, and workplace harassment. In addition to litigating employment cases, Ms. Chicoine advises employers on developing employment procedures and policies to manage their workforce. Attorney Chicoine is certified by MCAD to conduct trainings regarding discrimination, employee leave, and accommodation rights.
Ms. Chicoine also has significant experience litigating beach rights claims, municipal land use matters, and in appellate advocacy. She has handled a number of appeals, including arguing in the Supreme Judicial Court on behalf of the prevailing party in Mahajan v. Department of Environmental Protection and Boston Redevelopment Authority (2013) and in Patriarca v. Center for Living and Working (2002). Attorney Chicoine also consults and advises other attorneys on procedural and substantive appellate issues. She has served as a lecturer for Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, the Massachusetts Bar Association, and Lorman Education Services. She has been an adjunct professor at the Boston College School of Social Work since 2000.
Ms. Chicoine graduated magna cum laude from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut and then obtained her Juris Doctorate from Boston College Law School, Boston, Massachusetts. She was admitted to the Massachusetts bar in 1993 and the Connecticut bar in 1994. Attorney Chicoine is also admitted to U.S. District Court of Massachusetts.
Education
- Boston College Law School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Trinity College
- Honors: magna cum laude
Bar Admissions
- Massachusetts, 1993
- Connecticut, 1994
- U.S. District Court District of Massachusetts
Presentations
- Advisory Firms’ DEI Programs May Be Scrutinized – Rethinking65, February 21, 2025 (PDF)
- Protecting Your Business Beyond Non-Competes – Radio Entrepreneurs interview, February 5, 2025
- Employers: Prepare for New Laws and Regulations Under President Trump – Panelist, The Wagner Law Group webinar, February 13, 2025, 1:00 – 2:00 PM (EST) – Recording available here
Honors
- Top Lawyers, Land Use/Environmental – Boston Magazine, 2024
Law Alerts
Massachusetts Pay Transparency Law: Key Provisions and Compliance Timeline
Katherine Brustowicz, Denise Chicoine, David Gabor, Johanna Matloff, and Virginia Peabody (Senior Consultant) On February 1, 2025, a new law regarding salary posting requirements went into effect for all Massachusetts employers with 25 or more employees. “An Act...
Executive Orders Addressing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives
By Katherine Brustowicz, Denise Chicoine, David Gabor, Johanna Matloff and Virginia Peabody (Senior Consultant) Last week, President Trump signed two executive orders (the “Trump Executive Orders” or “Orders”) repealing diversity, equity, and inclusion (“DEI”) and...
Federal Court Awards $359,000 in FLSA/OSHA Retaliation Case: Lessons Learned for Employers
In December 2023, Su v. Milford Sports Bars, LLC, a noteworthy case, concluded with a ruling in favor of the U.S. Department of Labor, resulting in a payment of $359,000. The court awarded damages including back pay, interest, emotional distress damages, compensatory...
Massachusetts Court Rules that Paid Family Medical Leave Act Does Not Require Employer to Guarantee Accrual of Vacation and Sick Time During Leave
By Denise Chicoine In Bodge et al. v. Commonwealth et al. the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that the Massachusetts Paid Family Medical Leave Act does not require an employer to guarantee the accrual of vacation and sick time during an employee’s leave....