John Edwards concentrates his practice in the areas of commercial, business and construction litigation and appellate practice with a special concentration in the areas of shareholder/member disputes in closely held entities, construction defect cases, and insurance coverage for policyholders. He has litigated or arbitrated a broad range of cases in the contract, product liability, property, school funding and environmental areas. In the insurance coverage area, John has handled coverage disputes for policyholders in the context of first party property insurance as well as third party liability insurance claims, many of which have involved recoveries in the tens of millions of dollars. He has litigated cases before juries or judges in Delaware, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wisconsin. In his appellate practice, John has argued appeals before the State supreme courts of Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Wisconsin as well as the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the First and Seventh Circuits.
- 1989-1992 – Associate, Jenner & Block, Chicago, IL
- 1992-1998 – Associate, K&L Gates, Boston. MA
- 1998-2010 – Partner, K&L Gates, Boston, MA
- 2010-2024 – Partner, Winer & Bennett, Nashua, NH
- State Line Trailer Sales, LLC v. The April May Realty Trust
Hillsborough Superior Court (New Hampshire 2024) – obtained judgment on contract claims and defeating counterclaims sounding in contract and fraud - Tocci Building Corp. v. Tocci Corporation
Middlesex Superior Court (Massachusetts 2020) – successfully obtained a jury verdict in case involving claims of breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, conversion and unjust enrichment - Proffe Publishing, Inc. v. Lindner
USDC (NH 2018) – successfully resolved claims of breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty and fraud - Welch Foods v. Liberty Mutual Insurance Co.
Worcester Superior Court (Massachusetts 2008) – successfully obtained jury verdict that Liberty Mutual breached its duty to defend underlying anti-trust claims and in so doing, acted in bad faith - Enterasys Networks v. Gulf Insurance Co. et al.
USDC NH (2006) – successfully obtained substantial insurance recoveries for underlying SEC and class action claims that arose from allegations of improper revenue recognition practices - Waste Management, Inc. v. Stonewall Ins. Co., et al.
NJ Super Ct. (2004) – successfully obtained very substantial insurance recoveries arising from superfund sites in Washington State - Health Reinsurance Management, Inc. v. Cologne Life Underwriting Management Co. et al.
USDC Mass. (2002) – successfully obtained breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty jury verdict for plaintiff - Waste Management, Inc. v. Liberty Mutual Ins. Co., et al.
NJ Super Ct. (1999) – successfully obtained very substantial insurance recoveries arising from superfund sites in Massachusetts, New Jersey, Ohio and Pennsylvania - Interex Corporation v. Atlantic Mutual Ins. Co.
USDC Mass. (1997) – successfully obtained substantial insurance recoveries arising from superfund sites in Massachusetts and New Hampshire
- Troy v. Bishop Guertin High School
(NH Supreme Court 2023) - Nortek Inc. v. Liberty Mutual
65 Mass. App. Ct. 764 (2006) - In re Feld’s Case
2002 NH 178 (NH 2002) - Aviators for Safe and Fairer Regulation, Inc. v. FAA
221 F2d 222 (1st Cir. 2000) - Opinion of Justices
712 NH 892 (NH 1998) - St. Paul Fire and Marine Ins. Co. v. Warwick Dyeing Corp.
26F.3d 1195 (1st Cir. 1994) - City of Edgerton v. General Casualty Co of Wisconsin
184 W.S.2d 750 (Wisconsin S. Ct. 1994) - Polaroid Corp. v. Travelers Indemnity Co.
414 Mass 747 (Mass. 1993) - Trustees of Tufts University v. Comm’l Union Ins. Co.
415 Mass 844 (1993)
• Vice Chair, Property Insurance Committee, American Bar Association
• Boston Bar Association
• New Hampshire Bar Association
• Secretary, Bedford Cross Country Ski Club (2011 – current)
- Business Disputes
- Construction Law
- Environmental Litigation
- Litigation and Civil Disputes