Profile
John P. McEntee, Co-Managing Shareholder of Greenberg Traurig’s Long Island office, is an experienced trial lawyer who has tried dozens of cases to verdict and has argued dozens of appeals. Recognized by Super Lawyers and Best Lawyersin America for commercial and business litigation, John represents public and privately-held businesses, financial institutions, professional sports franchises, municipalities, not-for-profit organizations, and individuals in a broad variety of commercial and business disputes. He is a past President of the Nassau County Bar Association and chaired its Commercial Litigation Committee. Prior to entering private practice, John served as an Assistant District Attorney in Nassau County (District Court, County Court, and Rackets Bureaus) and as an Assistant Deputy Attorney General with the New York State Organized Crime Task Force.
Capabilities
Experience
- Obtained the dismissal of shareholder class actions alleging breach of fiduciary duty by the Board of Directors of a publicly-held bank in connection with a bank merger.°
- Obtained a jury verdict exceeding $100,000,000 in connection with the murder of an on-duty New York City police officer.°
- Obtained the dismissal of class action claims against a member of the National Hockey League relating to the sale of playoff tickets.°
- Obtained the dismissal of claims against a member of the National Hockey League for breach of contract arising from a league-directed player lockout.°
- Obtained the dismissal of claims against a member of the National Hockey League for employment discrimination and violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act.°
- Obtained a defense verdict for a Fortune 500 computer software company in a claim for breach of contract. Defended on appeal.°
- Obtained a defense verdict for a Fortune 500 computer software company dismissing claims for sexual discrimination, sexual harassment, and unlawful retaliation.°
- Obtained a directed verdict for a Fortune 500 computer software company dismissing claims brought by a former sales representative to recover sales commissions.°
- Obtained the dismissal of defamation claims against a Fortune 500 computer software company for statements in the corporation’s annual report to shareholders. Defended on appeal.°
- Obtained an arbitration award dismissing claims against a publicly-held health care company for misappropriation of mainframe computer software algorithms and system architecture.°
- Obtained an arbitration award dismissing claims against a prominent law firm by a former partner for compensation in excess of the amount due to the partner under the firm's partnership agreement.°
- Obtained a verdict exceeding $10 million on behalf of two medical testing companies against two professional corporations and a medical testing company for breach of contract.°
- Obtained a defense verdict dismissing claims of self-dealing and breach of fiduciary duty against the trust division of a national bank. Defended on appeal.°
- Obtained a $4 million recovery for a minority shareholder in a closely-held corporation after a three-week trial over the valuation of corporate assets. °
- Obtained, in a pro bono action on behalf of a sexual assault victim, a substantial jury verdict under New York’s “Son of Sam” law. Defended on appeal.
- Obtained a defense verdict for a commercial real estate owner dismissing claims the owner unreasonably refused to consent to the assignment of a lease of a petroleum storage facility.°
- Obtained the dismissal after trial of claims for breach of contract and unjust enrichment seeking one-half ownership of a national distributor of prescription and OTC pharmaceuticals in addition to money damages exceeding $6 million.
°The above representations were handled by Mr. McEntee prior to his joining Greenberg Traurig, LLP.
- Assistant District Attorney, Nassau County (District Court, County Court, and Rackets Bureaus), 1985-1989
- Assistant Deputy Attorney General, New York State Organized Crime Task Force, 1988-1989
Recognition & Leadership
- Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation, 2025
- Recognized, New York Law Journal, Highest Jury Verdict in New York State ($100,361,000), 2002
- Listed, Herald Community Newspaper, Top Lawyers of Long Island, 2022
- Listed, Super Lawyers magazine, New York Super Lawyers, 2007-2010, 2012-2024
- Honoree, Nassau County Bar Association, “Access to Justice,” 2016
- Recognized, Long Island Business News, “Leadership in Law Award,” 2015
- Selected, Long Island Business News, “Who’s Who in Law,” 2015
- Recognized, Touro Law School, “Public Interest Attorney of the Year,” 2011
- Rated, AV Preeminent® 5.0 out of 5.0
- Chair, Board of Trustees, Molloy University, 2018-Present
- Member, Nassau County Bar Association, 1995-Present
- President, 2014-2015
- Chair, Commercial Litigation Committee, 2017-2019
- Member, Board of Directors, 2016-Present
- Member, Judiciary Committee, 2023-Present
- Member, New York State Independent Judicial Election Qualification Commission, 10th Judicial District, 2016-2020
- Member, House of Delegates, New York State Bar Association, 2010-2015
- Fellow, New York State Bar Foundation, 2008-Present
- President, Nassau Bar Foundation, 2015-2017
- Member, Board of Directors, Federal Bar Association, Eastern District of New York Chapter, 2008-Present
- Member, Council of Governing Boards, New York State Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities, 2016-2021
Credentials
Education
- J.D., St. John's University School of Law
- B.S., The College at Brockport, State University of New York
Admissions
- New York
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit