John W. McGowan, Founder of McGowan Law, is an experienced attorney with fifteen years of experience handling a wide variety of matters representing individuals, businesses, municipalities, and labor unions at all stages of litigation throughout New York State and federal courts. 

Mr. McGowan serves as labor counsel to several Hudson Valley police unions providing legal representation and advocacy during contract negotiations, mediation, arbitration, PERB proceedings, contract grievances, and disciplinary proceedings.

Mr. McGowan also serves as general counsel to several businesses and non-profit organizations, providing advice, guidance, and strategy for navigating myriad legal issues.

In addition, Mr. McGowan provides estate planning and representation in real estate transactions.

Prior Experience

Prior to establishing McGowan Law, Mr. McGowan was a Partner with the law firm Bleakley Platt & Schmidt, LLP, in White Plains, New York. Prior to that, Mr. McGowan served as a Senior Assistant District Attorney with the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office assigned to the Special Victims’ Unit and an Assistant District Attorney with the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office. As a prosecutor, Mr. McGowan obtained extensive experience through investigating cases, developing litigation strategies, and trying numerous felony cases which he applies to his current practice representing clients in both civil and criminal matters. Mr. McGowan began his career with a law firm in Westchester County handling insurance coverage litigation.

In November 2022, Mr. McGowan was elected to the New York State Assembly, representing District 97, located in Rockland County, for the 2023 to 2024 legislative term. Mr. McGowan also served as a Legislator in the Rockland County Legislature (District 15) from 2020 through 2022.

Mr. McGowan has also served as an adjunct professor at St. Thomas Aquinas College in Sparkill, New York, where he taught undergraduate courses in criminal law and evidence, and a faculty instructor with the Orangetown Police Youth Court.

From 2020 to 2021, Mr. McGowan was a scholar in the inaugural class of the Steven Epstein DWI Defense Institute, earning a Certificate of Distinction for his work in the class. As a participant in the Institute, Mr. McGowan successfully completed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s course on DWI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing.

Aside from work, Mr. McGowan enjoys time with his wife, Christine, their young daughter, Abigail, and their two dogs, Finnegan and Shilelagh. Mr. McGowan is an avid musician, playing guitar since he was 13 and bagpipes since he was 19. He is also a diehard New York Yankees and New York Giants fan. When time permits, Mr. McGowan is an aspiring golfer who enjoys the game itself, if not the score at the end of a round.