Employment & Labor

Capehart Scatchard Labor and Employment attorneys work with management to address the wide variety of legal and human resource challenges that abound.
Ms. Gagnon focuses her practice in the areas of school law, labor and employment law, and civil rights.
Ms. Gorin focuses her practice in the areas of commercial litigation and creditors’ rights, including foreclosure, bankruptcy, workouts and collections, and real estate transactions and litigation.
Co-Chair Employment & Labor Practice. Mr. Smith practices in employment litigation and preventative employment practices, including counseling employers on the creation of employment policies, non-compete and trade secret agreements, and training employers to avoid employment-related litigation. He represents both companies and individuals in related complex commercial litigation before federal states courts and administrative agencies in labor and employment cases including race, gender, age, national origin, disability and workplace harassment and discrimination matters, wage-and-hour disputes, restrictive covenants, grievances, arbitration, drug testing, and employment related contract issues.
Co-Chair Employment & Labor Practice. Mr. Saginario focuses his practice on employment litigation and counseling. He regularly counsels clients on litigation avoidance, personnel policies and procedures including those associated with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Family and Medical Leave Act and Fair Labor Standards Act, employment discipline, layoffs and other terminations. Mr. Saginario directs and participates in internal investigations involving claims of harassment, policy violations, ethics and other employment issues. He also appears on behalf of private and public sector clients before the judiciary as well as State and Federal administrative agencies (EEOC, N.J. Division on Civil Rights, etc.). Mr. Saginario is also experienced in representing clients before arbitrators and mediators. He has negotiated numerous public collective negotiations agreements (e.g., law enforcement, public works, etc.).
Laura D. Ruccolo
Co-Chair, Commercial Litigation Practice. Ms. Ruccolo is an experienced “hands on” litigator with over 25 years of experience. She focuses her practice on complex commercial litigation, including the defense of class action litigation. She represents small, medium and large companies, banks and financial institutions and professionals and counsels them in all aspects of their business, from reviewing, negotiating and drafting contracts in a wide variety of areas, addressing employment issues and compliance issues. Ms. Ruccolo knows that open and regular communication with her client is essential to meeting the client’s goals. Ms. Ruccolo tries to resolve business disputes before litigation becomes necessary.

Laura D. Ruccolo

Shareholder

Sanmathi (Sanu) Dev, Hiring Shareholder
Ms. Dev concentrates her practice on the representation of boards of education and charter schools in all areas of school law including: labor and employment, special education, Section 504, student discipline, FERPA, Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act, student residency, civil rights, tenure, OPRA, and OPMA. In connection with these representations, she is experienced in handling matters before State and Federal courts, including the Office of Administrative Law. Ms. Dev is an experienced special education litigator and defends school districts in due process hearings from inception through trial. In addition, she has handled matters before governmental agencies, including the U.S. Office for Civil Rights and New Jersey Division on Civil Rights. Ms. Dev routinely conducts training and seminars, drafts policies and manuals, and provides strategic advice to school administrators regarding school law issues.
Vincent T. Cieslik
Focuses his practice in the representation of individuals, small businesses, not-for-profits and and large corporations in complicated and often high-risk litigation. Vince’s areas of expertise are in commercial litigation, health care law, and estate law.
Joseph F. Betley, Executive Committee Member
Mr. Betley concentrates on labor and employment law, civil rights, school law, including special education, and construction law.

Joseph F. Betley

Executive Committee Member

Mr. Alexander focuses his practice on all aspects of tort defense, products liability, employment and construction litigation representing large and small business owners and manufacturers, as well as insurance companies. He also has experience in the area of professional malpractice.