Robert (“Bob”) Shea works exclusively as a neutral in disputes, serving as both an arbitrator and a mediator. He has served on the American Arbitration Association’s (AAA’s) National Employment Arbitration Panel for over 30 years. He now also serves on AAA’s Commercial and Consumer Arbitration Panels, as well as serving on AAA’s National Panel of Mediator Neutrals.  

Bob serves on the International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution’s (CPR’s) Panel of Distinguished Neutrals for the arbitration and mediation of employment disputes. In addition, he has served on CPR’s task force for developing a model employment arbitration agreement. 

Bob also mediates disputes on behalf of the Center for Mediation and Collaboration of Rhode Island (CMCRI), including conducting mediation in state district courts and conducting private (out of court) mediations. His CMCRI work includes conducting workplace mediations, assisting organizations in resolving conflicts arising among workplace colleagues.  

Prior to transitioning to work exclusively as a neutral, Bob was a practicing attorney for over 40 years with a focus on labor and employment law, representing both employers and employees. He represented clients before federal and state courts and administrative agencies in cases involving claims of employment discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful discharge, breach of employment agreements, breach of restrictive covenant agreements, worker misclassification, and wage-hour violations.  This representation included handling cases before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, the U.S. Department of Labor, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and the National Labor Relations Board.  Bob served as an advocate for clients in employment litigation matters before courts and agencies in ten states across the United States.

Bob held an AV® Preeminent Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell®, the highest rating for legal ability and professional ethics.  He was recognized by Best Lawyers in America, awarded in the areas of Arbitration and Employment Law.  Bob also was selected for the Legal 500, recommended in the employment counsel category.  

Bob has been selected as a Massachusetts and New England Super Lawyer in the category of Employment and Labor Law for every year from 2006 through 2025.  He was selected as one of the Top 100 Massachusetts Super Lawyers in 2010, 2021, 2022, and 2023.

Bob is a past Co-Chair of the Boston Bar Association Labor and Employment Section.  He held many other leadership positions in the Section, including Steering Committee member, ADR Committee Co-Chair, Legislative Committee Co-Chair, Newsletter Editor, and Liaison to the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination.  Bob also has served on the Massachusetts Bar Association Labor and Employment Law Section Council. In addition, he has served as a Co-Chair of the Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education’s Employment & Labor Law Curriculum Advisory Committee.  Bob has written extensively and has presented on a multitude of employment law and ADR topics. 

Bob is a graduate of Boston College, where he graduated magna cum laude, and a graduate of the George Washington University National Law Center, where he graduated with honors.