John Victor Berry
Proudly defending and advising employees when employment issues arise
I founded Berry & Berry, PLLC and have dedicated my career to representing federal employees, government contractors, state and county employees, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and private sector employees in a variety of employment, labor, and national security clearance matters.
My primary practice areas are security clearance representation, defense against federal employee disciplinary actions, investigative representation, and representing federal employees in equal employment opportunity (EEO) claims. Over the past 25 plus years, I have represented thousands of individuals in their security clearance matters. I also frequently handle cases involving federal employees facing removal and performance issues before their respective federal agencies. I represent these employees in appeals before the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Additionally, I represent federal employees before the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) and various Inspector Generals.
Beyond my work with federal employees, I also represent employees from Virginia, the District of Columbia, and Maryland who are county or city employees. I handle their cases in matters related to investigations, discipline, discrimination, performance issues, grievances and appeals. I am also committed to educating other lawyers in these areas of law and frequently teach continuing legal education programs through state bars. I have also received numerous awards for my legal work over the years, including frequently being named a top lawyer by Northern Virginia and Arlington Magazine. I am also frequently quoted by local and national media (CNN, Fox, WTOP, Washington Post) and others relating to stories which correspond to my areas of practice.
- Employment Law
- Employee Benefits, Employment Contracts, Employment Discrimination, Sexual Harassment, Whistleblower, Wrongful Termination
- Security Clearance Law
- Federal Employment Law
- Virgina, DC and Maryland Employment Law
- Credit Cards Accepted
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Rates, Retainers and Additional Information
Consultation fees are at reduced hourly rates. Additionally, consultation fees if retained are credited to each client's case so the cost goes towards your representation.
- District of Columbia
- District of Columbia Bar
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- Maryland
- Supreme Court of Maryland
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- Michigan
- State Bar of Michigan
- ID Number: P56298
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- New York
- New York State Office of Court Administration
- ID Number: 4421459
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- Virginia
- Virginia State Bar
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- Founding Partner
- Berry & Berry, PLLC
- - Current
- Founded the law firm of Berry & Berry, PLLC, a firm dedicated to federal and private sector employment law.
- General Counsel
- Fraternal Order of Police, U.S Park Police Labor Committee
- - Current
- Currently serve as general counsel to federal sector union serving the members of the U.S. Park Police.
- General Counsel
- Fraternal Order of Police, U.S. Capitol Police Labor Committee
- -
- Represented the federal law enforcement officers of the U.S. Capitol Police
- Staff Attorney
- Cohen Milstein
- -
- Lawyer working on class action matters involving employment and other areas of law.
- The George Washington University Law School
- LL.M. (2000) | Litigation and Dispute Resolution
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- University of Detroit Mercy School of Law
- J.D. (1997)
- Honors: Executive Editor, Law Review
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- Virginia Employee Lawyers Association
- Member
- - Current
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- Security Clearance Lawyers Association
- - Current
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- Metropolitan Washington Employee Lawyers Association
- Member
- - Current
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- Next Steps After A Polygraph Failure
- Berry & Berry, PLLC
- What to Expect During an MSPB Hearing
- Berry & Berry, PLLC
- How to Represent Clients Effectively in Security Clearance Cases, D.C. Bar Continuing Legal Education, Washington, D.C.
- District of Columbia Bar
- Taught continuing legal education class for lawyers who were interested in learning to practice security clearance law.
- Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Merit Systems Protection Board Cases with Federal Employees, VA Bar CLE, Charlottesville, VA
- Virginia Bar CLE
- Taught other lawyers in the Virginia Bar about the issues associated with representing federal employees at the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
- Garrity, Weingarten and Loudermill Rights for Government Employees, NFOP Conference, Las Vegas, NV
- NFOP
- Continuing legal education instructor teaching other lawyers about Garrity, Weingarten and Loudermill rights for federal, state and city employees.
- How to Represent Clients Effectively in Security Clearance Cases, D.C. Bar Continuing Legal Education, Washington, D.C.
- D.C. Bar
- Instructor teaching other lawyers the basics of how to represent federal employees and government contractors in the security clearance process.
Security Clearance Lawyers
- Q. Concerns about Public Trust clearance with financial issues and foreign contact.
- A: We handle these types of cases. You should likely work with an accountant or tax attorney to resolve your tax issues. The key is to show ongoing responsibility in resolving the tax issues and ensuring that you have filed all of your returns and are working towards paying off all debt.
- Q. Federal employee placed on disciplinary plan, investigation without notice, denied access to file.
- A: I am sorry that you are dealing with this. Your situation is not uncommon and agencies do not, unless listed in the collective bargaining agreement, do not always have access to your investigation. You are likely best to keep a low profile during the upcoming RIFs and prepare to fight if you are proposed for discipline. Here is our website if you need help. Hopefully, you do not and all resolves. Good luck. https://www.berrylegal.com/practice-areas/federal-employment/
