Morristown, New Jersey, United States
Employers who harass, discriminate or retaliate against employees are banking on one thing -- that those employees won't fight back. I make sure that calculation is wrong. As a partner at Lenzo & Reis, I represent employees who have been treated unlawfully at work, and I fight hard to get them the best possible outcomes. Significant settlements and verdicts that I achieve for my clients come from careful case evaluation, hard work, strategic decision-making, and fighting without fear of big employers or the big firms that represent them. After 25 years of practicing employment law in New Jersey, I understand how employers and their lawyers think, how they build their defenses, and, more importantly, how to dismantle those defenses. Dismantling defenses is an advantage of my unique background. That is because I represented employers at one of the nation's largest employment defense firms before returning to my passion -- representing employees. That means that I have sat at the defense table and learned from defense attorneys. I know their playbook, and more importantly, I know how to navigate around it. But strategy alone does not win cases. What moves judges, juries, and opposing counsel is a story well told. That starts with truly listening to the person who lived it and carefully reviewing every piece of discovery to formulate an impactful story that resonates. I take the time to understand what happened to my clients, how it happened, why it matters, what it cost them, and how the employers' explanation makes no sense. I am able to then weave each client's story together in a way that is impactful and gripping. In today's attention-dominated society, I am able to get and keep jurors' attention -- to get them to travel through my clients' journey in a way that feels personal. That is how jury trials are won and large settlements achieved. My clients are at the center of everything I do. Many of them come to me having never navigated the legal system before, often at one of the hardest times in their lives. I make sure that I am both a formidable advocate for them throughout the journey, whether during informal pre-suit negotiations or litigation, and a steady, straight-shooting presence throughout. My clients initially come to me feeling like the system is stacked against them. My track record proves otherwise. If you are an employee who has been subjected to unlawful workplace conduct or a fellow attorney looking to refer a client to someone who fight for them, I am happy to connect.
As the President of NELA/NJ, I have the privilege of leading an organization comprised of some of the best legal minds in the plaintiff's employment law field in the State of New Jersey. There are numerous things that we do well but there are some things that we are great at. For example, our plaintiff's employment law seminars are second to none. Our members also share resources and provide assistance to each other so as to give each individual the power and strength rivaling any of the largest law firms in this State. We testify in support of legislation that supports the working people of New Jersey and against legislation that seeks to restrict workers' rights. We are the preeminent plaintiff's employment law organization in New Jersey, and I am proud, honored, and humbled to lead this amazing group of people.
Secretary
Employment Attorney