Our people

Sherri has extensive experience counseling and litigating on behalf of management throughout a wide variety of industries, including financial services, food services, insurance, life sciences, waste management, manufacturing and retail.  She was recognized in 2009 by the New Jersey Law Journal as within the top "Forty Under 40" young professionals in New Jersey's legal community.

Sherri has successfully defended against all types of single and multi-plaintiff employment claims, including but not limited to those alleging discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful discharge, violations of wage and hour and wage payment laws, defamation, violations of public policy, whistleblower rights, violations of constitutional rights, negligence, and breach of contract within the state, federal and appellate courts and with numerous federal and state administrative agencies (such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights, the New York State Division of Human Rights, and the New Jersey Department of Labor & Workforce Development). She also has experience litigating a variety of other complex commercial and business-related claims for management, including those involving breaches of non-compete agreements and other restrictive covenants and ADA Title III accessibility issues.

In addition to her litigation work, Sherri routinely provides counsel to clients on a wide range of human resources and employment law matters, works with clients to develop and implement effective workplace policies, provides a variety of interactive human resources training programs for all levels of employees, assists clients in identifying creative, practical and cost-effective solutions for workplace concerns, and, when needed, is called upon by clients to conduct independent investigations into alleged employee wrongdoings. She has defended numerous wage and hour audits, and regularly counsels clients on various personnel, restrictive covenant, hiring and termination issues. In addition, Sherri frequently assists clients planning for workforce restructurings, layoffs and reductions in force – helping them achieve desired workforce changes while successfully avoiding litigation.

Notable, recent comments from clients about Sherri’s work and partnership include:

• “Her practical way of dealing with the challenges that our company faces have saved the organization a great deal of financial hardship.  Sherri’s knowledge of employment law is vast and extremely thorough.  Sherri has a down to earth spirit and clearly has exemplified the true meaning of integrity and respect.”
• “I am appreciative and impressed by her responsiveness.”
• “Our human resources team has worked with Sherri on many human resources issues and view her as a partner.  Her guidance has been invaluable.”
• “Sherri has very capably represented our company in employment litigation and has demonstrated great professionalism, superior advocacy and considerable patience on our behalf.”
• “We have found Sherri to be a most competent attorney.  She has provided us with advice and legal counsel that has been very helpful to our business.”
• “Sherri is the type of attorney that in-house counsel seek out for important work and I would not hesitate to recommend her to any of my in-house colleagues.  I not only admire her pro bono dedication, but I consider her one of my top ‘go-to’ legal experts for critical labor and employment issues.”
• “For the last four years, Sherri has been my point of contact for any issues related to human resources, employee relations, employee benefits, and employment litigation matters. . . . For a small community hospital like ours, what is most important about Sherri is that she provides the highest quality legal services in a way that always remembers there are real world consequences to the hospital’s decisions.  Her ability to infuse her legal advice with empathy is greatly appreciated by the hospital and its employees.”
• “Sherri has represented my firm in our employee relations area and has done an outstanding job.  She is extremely knowledgeable in her discipline and has always given me excellent strategic advice.  She operates in the true spirit of partnership and works diligently to resolve any issue we have faced.  She has excellent interpersonal skills and always exhibits a calm demeanor even during the toughest negotiations.  She can be a very tough negotiator as well, while yielding strong outcomes.  Sherri carries herself with far more experience than her chronological age.”

Representative Matters

• Successfully defended putative class action claims in the U.S. District Court (D.N.J.) where plaintiffs alleged, inter alia, violations of the FLSA and the New Jersey Wage and Hour Law, together with claims of purported retaliatory termination, breach of alleged employment contracts, and asserted breaches of fiduciary duties with regard to certain employee benefits. Avoided certification of class and successfully resolved individual plaintiffs’ claims in a manner favorable to employer.

• Successfully defended putative class action claims in the U.S. District Court (D.N.J.) asserting a variety of alleged ADA Title III violations against seventeen stores of a supermarket chain. Resolved claims favorably for management after successfully narrowing viable claims to under seven stores following plaintiff’s deposition and prior to further protracted discovery and class certification.

• Successfully managed employment law work related to large corporate integration.  Took the lead in counseling employer with regard to the integration of newly-purchased entity’s workforce with its own previously-existing workforce, as well as the termination of approximately 196 sales and office staff employees nationwide (and all related selection procedures and document preparation).  Also managed the preparation and collation of all 196 separation packages (including WARN and OWBPA notices, Separation Agreements and other correspondence).

• Obtained complete dismissal on summary judgment of four counts of suit alleging gender, pregnancy and FMLA discrimination and retaliation in the U.S. District Court (D.N.J.).

• Obtained Third Circuit affirmance of an Order of the U.S. District Court (D.N.J.) dismissing all claims, including allegations of unlawful discrimination and retaliation in violation of the FMLA, the NJFLA, the NJLAD and the New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Act against employer.  Notably, was able to preclude litigation of statutory claims that were previously arbitrated under a collective bargaining agreement. Also authored winning briefs filed with the District Court below.

• View all...

Publications

• “New Legislation Modifying New York Law Governing Use of Criminal Background Checks in Employment Taking Effect,” Co-Author, Client Alert, February 2009.
• “New Jersey Legislature Passes Paid Family Leave Benefits Legislation,” Co-Author, Client Alert, April 2008.
• “New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development Publishes Millville Dallas Act Notification Form,” Co-Author, Client Alert, April 2008.
• “NJ Millville Dallas Act Passed Into Law,” Client Alert, December 2007.
• Conditional Veto on NJ “Baby Warn” Act, Client Alert, November 2007.
• "New Requirements on the Horizon for New Jersey Employers Effectuating Office Closures, Transfers and Mass Layoffs", Client Alert, June 2007.
• "Ask the Counsel," Response to Inquiry Into Avoiding Liability for Employees’ Computer Use, Lead Commentator, GC Mid-Atlantic, December 2006/January 2007 Issue (re-published in Mid-Atlantic Executive Legal Advisor, 2007).
• “New Jersey Committee Opinion Clarifies Prerequisites for Out of State Attorneys’ Appearance in ADR Proceedings,” Co-Author, Client Alert, January 2007.
• “CEPA Expands to Provide Protection for Independent Contractors ‘Blowing the Whistle’ on Matters of Public Concern,” Employment Law Review, November 2006.
• “Porn on Work Computers: What Can In-House Counsel Do When Employees View, Download and Forward Abusive Material," Co-Author, Legal Times, October 2006.
• “Ask the Counsel,” Response to Inquiry on Advantages and Disadvantages of Implementing an Employee Handbook, Executive Legal Adviser, May 2006.
• "Protection and Remedies for NJ Whistleblowers Enhanced Through Recent Statutory.
• Amendments," Co-Author, Employment Law Review, May 2006.

Speeches / Presentations

• Reed Smith Presentation to Food Industry Clients as part of Series, “Looking Into the Crystal Ball: Food Law Topics Under the New Administration”, March 2009 – Topic: “ADA Title III Litigation – Preventing and Defending Accessibility Suits."
• Presented Reed Smith University Program Course entitled “Proper Workplace Behavior, 2007 – Respect, Fair Treatment, Harassment Awareness and Prevention, and Related Issues” – to all New Jersey staff and thereafter recorded video training program now viewed during new attorney employment orientations.
• Presented CLE course at UBS Financial, July 2006 – Topic: “Workplace Violence – Employer Obligations and Responsibilities."

Experience

Legal Education

Undergraduate Education

Professional Admissions / Qualifications

• New Jersey
• Pennsylvania

Court Admissions

• U.S. Court of Appeals - Third Circuit
• U.S. District Court - District of New Jersey
• U.S. District Court - Eastern District of Pennsylvania
• U.S. District Court - Eastern District of New York
• U.S. District Court - Southern District of New York
• All State Courts - New Jersey
• All State Courts - Pennsylvania
• U.S. District Court - Western District of Pennsylvania

Professional Affiliations

• Third Circuit Bar Association
• New Jersey State Bar Association and Employment Law Committee
• Atlantic County Bar Association

Awards & Honors

• Recognized in 2009 by the New Jersey Law Journal as within the top "Forty Under 40" young professionals in New Jersey's legal community

Pro Bono Work & Community Service

• Pro Bono Services for the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
• Appointed as Member of the District VII Fee Arbitration Committee
• Appointed as Past Member and Chair of the District I Ethics Committee