John W.Egan

Partner

Labor & Employment

jegan@seyfarth.com

New York

+1 (212) 218-5291

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John is an accomplished ADA Title III attorney who represents public accommodations, housing providers, and employers in single-plaintiff and class actions in courts nationwide.

More About John

John has successfully defended clients in matters arising under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Fair Housing Act (FHA), Sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, Section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act, and all other manner of federal, state, and local laws relating to civil rights. John also has substantial experience representing clients in federal agency proceedings, particularly before the United States Department of Justice and United States Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, as well as state and municipal civil rights agencies such as the New York State Division of Human Rights and New York City Commission on Human Rights.

As a member of Seyfarth's ADA Title III & Public Access team, John represents public accommodations, housing providers, and public entities nationally in matters involving cutting-edge issues relating to architectural barriers, website accessibility and other forms of effective communication (such as electronic information technology, real-time transcription, sign language interpreters, and documents in alternative formats), accessible transportation, as well as service animals. John has substantial experience defending clients in class action and single-plaintiff litigation involving the accessibility of websites for individuals with visual, hearing, and other disabilities. He counsels and works collaboratively with a broad array of stakeholders at Fortune 500 companies to address digital accessibility initiatives and risk mitigation, including auditing, procurement, policies and procedures, and employee training. John is a national thought leader in addressing complex accessibility issues, including those presented by new technologies in the increasingly online, on-demand economy. He routinely conducts presentations and trainings for clients, as well as national CLE providers, on ADA compliance and best practices.

As a litigator, John has substantial experience in all facets of civil rights proceedings before courts and enforcement agencies. His experience ranges from first-chairing the aggressive defense of these cases through summary judgment and trial, defending favorable outcomes on appeal, and negotiating highly favorable and efficient resolutions at the outset of litigation. John represents a diverse group of clients, including retailers, colleges and universities, real estate investment trusts, consulting firms, movie theatres, automobile manufacturers, financial service providers, public entities, professional sports teams, nonprofit organizations, restaurants, digital advertising companies, website and mobile app developers, government agencies, software developers, federal, state, and local government contractors, and property owners in disability access litigation and related matters in various jurisdictions across the country, including New York, Florida, California, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Georgia, Alabama, Arizona, Texas, Nevada, and Washington.

John lectures regularly on emerging disability law issues, frequently contributes to and edits Seyfarth’s ADA Title III News & Insights Blog, has been quoted or published in prominent publications such as The New York Times, Law360, ABA Journal, Real Estate Weekly, Corporate Counsel, Crain’s New York Business, Habitat, and the New York Observer, and has appeared as television commentator on Spectrum News - NY1. He is deeply familiar with the unique accessibility requirements in New York State and City, having served as the chair of the Disability Law Committee of the New York City Bar Association from 2017 to 2020. John is currently an active member of the New York State Bar Association’s Committee On Disability Rights.

John has a dynamic practice in the area of Fair Housing, where he counsels and defends landlords, developers, condominiums, and cooperatives in a variety of matters arising under the FHA, as well as state and municipal laws prohibiting housing discrimination on the basis of disability and other protected classifications. John frequently collaborates with his Real Estate colleagues to deliver cross-departmental advice, counsel, and representation to New York City boards of condominiums and cooperatives, as well their managing agents, on thorny issues relating to disability accommodations for residents. Additionally, John serves as a strategic advisor to property owners, developers, lenders, and investors in evaluating accessibility issues that arise from due diligence reviews incident to the purchase, sale, and financing of real estate.

Additionally, John counsels and defends employers in matters regarding workplace accommodations for employees with disabilities, including matters involving novel issues relating to software accessibility, assistive technologies, and effective communication. He also handles a wide range of public accommodation discrimination matters involving claims based on protected classifications that include, but are not limited to, disability.

John is active in Seyfarth’s internal Inclusion and Diversity communities. In his pro bono practice, John counsels and represents veterans and 9/11 First Responders in connection with applications for disability government benefits.

 

  • JD, Emory University School of Law

    Emory International Law Review, editor-in-chief

  • BA, State University of New York at Geneseo

    Summa cum laude

  • New York
  • US Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
  • US District Court, Eastern District of New York
  • US District Court, Southern District of New York

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