Madison, NJ Tel 973.520.2365 Fax 888.325.9715 Download VCard

Paulette is the firm's Chief Diversity Officer and a member of EAPD’s Labor & Employment Practice Group.  Throughout her career of more than 30 years, she has held a number of positions, including in-house counsel to a number of Fortune 500 companies and as a Municipal Court Judge.  For the past 20 years, Paulette has engaged in the private practice of law, focusing on all facets of labor and employment and commercial litigation.  She has successfully defended employers in cases involving discrimination on the basis of age, sex, marital status, sexual harassment, disability, race and national origin.  Paulette has received successful results in class action employment discrimination cases based upon race.  She is also experienced in all aspects of workplace training and collective bargaining.

Paulette litigates in both federal and state courts, as well as arbitration forums for both unionized and non-union employees.  She is a certified mediator for the United States District Court, District of New Jersey and a member of the Employment AAA Panel.  Paulette is a frequent lecturer on labor and employment issues and issues related to electronic discovery and serves on the Executive Committee of the Labor and Employment Section of the New Jersey State Bar Association.  She is also a former Master of the C. Willard Heckel Inn of Court.  Additionally, Paulette has been recognized by the New Jersey Law Journal as one of the prominent women and minority attorneys in the State of New Jersey.

• In an airport taxing matter, successfully obtained a TRO and preliminary injunction against the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey on behalf of a rental car company.
  
  
• In a class action employment matter filed by the EEOC, reached a nominal settlement on behalf of employer for all class members.
  
  
• In a class action employment matter, Paulette, along with other team members successfully persuaded plaintiffs to amend their complaint to remove all class allegations.
  
  
• In a tortious interference matter against a large manufacturer of medical equipment, achieved summary judgment as to all claims asserted against it.
  
  
• In consolidated sexual harassment cases, achieved summary judgment in favor of employer with respect to all plaintiffs, despite alleged inappropriate comments such as references to attendance at “nude” beaches and comments related to plaintiffs’ physical attributes.
  
  

• "Cracker Barrel:  Resurrection of § 1981 Retaliation Claim Limits Applicability of Title VII and Expands Plaintiffs' Opinion in Discrimination Suits," co-author, Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge Labor & Employment Bulletin, Fall 2008.
  
  
• "Issues and Solutions Affecting Women of Color in the Law," author, The Woman Advocate, Summer 2008.
  
  
• "Successful Strategies For Assisting Clients In Labor Law Disputes," author, a chapter within the book "Inside The Minds - Working with Government Agencies in Labor Law," 2008.
  
  
• "The Changing Face of the Corporate Bar:  Discrimination and Diversity in the Profession," speaker, The American Legal Profession:  Current Controversies, Future Challenges, Stanford, California, March 14, 2008.
  
  
• "EEOC Settles Age Claims Against Partnership for $27.5 Million," co-author, Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge Labor & Employment Bulletin, Winter 2008.
  
  
• "Severance Agreements," speaker, Hot Tips in Labor & Employment Law: 2007, June 13, 2007.
  
  
• Women on the Move IV, closing speaker, April 26, 2007, New York.
  
  
• "Affirmative Action in Higher Education & Employment," speaker, April 24, 2007, New Jersey Law Center.
  
  
• "Visible Invisibility: Women of Color in Law Firms," author, Diversity & the Bar, March/April 2007.
  
  
• "Success Strategies for Women of Color in the Law and the Companies that Want to Recruit and Retain Them," featured speaker, The Committee on Minorities in the Profession's Second Annual Constance Baker Motley Diversity Symposium, January 22, 2007, New York.
  
  
• "Severance Agreements: Balancing Corporate Interests and Ex-Employees' Legal Rights," co-author, Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge Labor & Employment Bulletin, Fall 2006.
  
  
• "A Survey Of State Whistleblowers," co-author, Employment Law 360, October 20, 2006.
  
  
• "Supreme Court Decision Puts Employers at Greater Risk on Retaliation Claims," co-author, Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge Labor & Employment Bulletin, Summer 2006.
  
  
• Paulette was a presenter for the Mercer County Bar Association on the subject of Electronic Discovery and Document Retention and has conducted internal seminars on the impact of Zubilake v. UBS Warburg.
  
  
• Paulette was a presenter on behalf of the Labor and Employment Law Section of the NJ State Bar on Making and Defending a Case of Discrimination:  A Primer to Practicing Before the EEOC and DCR.  Paulette is frequently called upon to serve as a lecturer or panelist for national and international legal education programs.
  
  
• "Faulty Employment References Can Cause Unexpected Liabilities," Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge Labor & Employment Bulletin, Fall 2005.
  
  
• Paulette speaks frequently around the country on issues concerning diversity
  
  

• More Publications...

Paulette is President of the YWCA of Central New Jersey, which in the Fall of 2006, opened a twenty-four hour-a-day, seven day-a-week early childhood learning center.  The YWCA also completed the restoration of its historical theater in the Spring of 2006.  One of Paulette’s proudest moments was when she led a delegation to monitor the first free and democratic elections in South Africa.

As a result of her charitable efforts and work with various bar associations, Paulette has received numerous awards, including the Medal of Honor Award from the New Jersey Bar Foundation and the Equal Justice Award from the National Bar Association and Spirit of Excellence Award from the American Bar Association.  She has also received the Professional Lawyer of the Year Award from the New Jersey Commission on Professionalism.