Wrongful Termination Lawyer in Portsmouth, NH
Serving Portsmouth, Exeter, Dover, Newmarket & the NH Seacoast
You were fired — and something about it doesn’t add up. Maybe you reported a safety violation at a Pease Tradeport facility and were let go two weeks later. Maybe you were the oldest person on your team and the only one cut in a “restructuring.” Maybe you took FMLA leave and came back to find your position eliminated. New Hampshire is an at-will employment state, which means most employers will tell you they can let anyone go for any reason. That’s partially true. But at-will doesn’t mean unlimited: New Hampshire employers cannot terminate employees for discriminatory reasons, in retaliation for engaging in protected activity under RSA 275-E or federal law, or in violation of public policy. Whitney Law Group evaluates wrongful termination claims for Seacoast clients quickly and candidly: what you have, what it’s worth, and what options are available. Critical: New Hampshire’s anti-discrimination filing deadline is 180 days — shorter than Massachusetts. Call the day you are terminated.
Why Portsmouth Employees Choose Whitney Law Group for Wrongful Termination
Mark Whitney spent 30+ years evaluating wrongful termination claims from the employer’s perspective — assessing which cases have merit, which have leverage even without merit, and how companies build the documentation record they will rely on in litigation. That same analysis now works for you. He knows how HR departments frame termination decisions, what a defense attorney will look for when evaluating your case, and where the weaknesses in an employer’s position most often appear.
Whitney Law Group handles wrongful termination matters under both New Hampshire and Massachusetts law. For Seacoast employees of Massachusetts-based employers, MA law may apply and may offer broader protections — including the Massachusetts Wage Act’s treble damages provision and Chapter 151B’s expansive anti-discrimination coverage. The firm evaluates which state’s law applies and which provides the stronger claim before advising on strategy. Located at 155 Fleet Street, Portsmouth. AV Preeminent rated. 2025 Massachusetts Super Lawyer.
What Wrongful Termination Representation Includes in Portsmouth, NH
Whitney Law Group handles the full range of wrongful termination matters for Seacoast employees and executives:
• Case evaluation — candid assessment of whether the termination is actionable under NH or MA law and what the realistic value of a claim is
• Discrimination-based termination — age, disability, sex, race, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, and other protected categories under NH RSA 354-A and federal law
• Retaliation claims under RSA 275-E — NH’s Whistleblower Protection Act, covering termination after reporting illegal employer conduct
• FMLA and leave-related retaliation — termination connected to a medical leave, disability accommodation request, or pregnancy leave
• Contract-based claims — termination in violation of an express employment agreement, offer letter, or implied contract
• NHCHR and EEOC filings — preparing and filing agency charges before the 180-day NH deadline or applicable federal deadline
• Severance negotiation — using the leverage created by a potential wrongful termination claim to obtain a better separation package
• Litigation — representation in Rockingham County Superior Court and the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire
Client Reviews — Wrongful Termination, Portsmouth NH
FAQ — Wrongful Termination in Portsmouth, NH
Q: New Hampshire is at-will. Does that mean I can’t sue for wrongful termination?
No. At-will employment means your employer doesn’t need a reason to fire you — but it doesn’t give them the right to fire you for an illegal reason. In New Hampshire, illegal reasons include: discrimination based on a protected characteristic under RSA 354-A; retaliation for reporting illegal employer conduct under RSA 275-E (the NH Whistleblower Protection Act); retaliation for filing a workers’ compensation claim; retaliation for FMLA leave or disability accommodation requests; and termination in violation of a written or implied employment contract. For Seacoast employees of Massachusetts-headquartered companies, additional Massachusetts law protections may also apply — including broader anti-discrimination coverage and the Massachusetts Wage Act.
Q: What is the filing deadline for a wrongful termination claim in New Hampshire?
It depends on the type of claim. Discrimination and retaliation claims under RSA 354-A must be filed with the NH Commission for Human Rights within 180 days of the wrongful act — this is one of the shortest state-level anti-discrimination filing windows in the country. Whistleblower retaliation claims under RSA 275-E must be filed within two years of the retaliatory act. Contract-based wrongful termination claims are governed by NH’s general statute of limitations for contract claims (three years). The 180-day NHCHR deadline is the most urgent and most frequently missed. If you have been terminated, call Whitney Law Group the same day to preserve your rights.
Q: I was let go in a “reduction in force” at my Pease Tradeport company. Can I still have a wrongful termination claim?
Yes. RIFs are a common vehicle for disguising discriminatory or retaliatory terminations, and New Hampshire courts are alert to this pattern. Key questions: Were you the only person let go in your group, or significantly disproportionate in number compared to others? Were those retained much younger, of a different demographic, or lacking your protected characteristic? Did you recently raise a complaint, take leave, or engage in protected activity? Did the company subsequently fill a similar role or restructure the same function? Whitney Law Group analyzes RIF terminations carefully, looking for the patterns that most reliably support discrimination and retaliation claims under both NH and federal law.
Schedule a consulation in Portsmouth, NH
Don’t navigate workplace disputes alone. Contact Whitney Law Group’s Portsmouth employment lawyers for a confidential consultation about your non-compete rights, options, and next steps.