Katherin Nukk-Freeman, Esq.
Partner
knukk@nfclegal.com
O: 973.665.9100
D: 973.507.7654
F: 973.665.9101
About Katherin
Katherin Nukk-Freeman is the co-founder of Nukk-Freeman & Cerra PC. Leveraging more than 20 years of success as a trusted advisor to corporate leaders, Katherin enables companies to proactively address and effectively manage workplace issues related to harassment and discrimination complaints, unconscious bias, disability and leave law, wage and hour disputes, social media risks, staff reductions in force, and high-risk terminations. Katherin works with human resources management professionals providing expert guidance and instruction enabling them to better manage and proactively address their training programs and many other employment law issues thereby avoiding costly litigation for their companies.
As a dynamic employment law training instructor and industry thought leader, Katherin partners with clients to develop and implement strategies to manage risk, comply with the law, increase productivity and create an overall better workplace. Katherin is a frequent presenter on employment law issues and has authored countless articles on current employment law “hot topics”. As a champion for forward-looking employment law solutions, Katherin is considered the industry leader on the subject of addressing “Unconscious Bias” in the workplace.
Selected as a WPO Women 2 Watch member, 2019
Named a New Jersey Law Journal “New Jersey Trailblazer” 2019
AV® Preeminent™ Rating, Martindale Hubbell
Tier 1 “Best Law Firm” Employment Law Management & Litigation – Labor & Employment by U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms”.
Recognized by Best Lawyers® since 2018.
Listed in Super Lawyers®, Employment & Labor (2010-2020)
- “Top 100”, New Jersey Super Lawyers®, 2011 – 2017, 2019 – 2020
- “Top 50 Women”, New Jersey Super Lawyers®, 2011 – 2015, 2017 – 2020
Listed in Chambers USA Guide to America’s Leading Law Firms, Labor & Employment, 2010 – 2017
Recognized by Martindale-Hubbell and American Lawyer Magazine as one of the “New York Area’s Top AV Rated Lawyers”, 2014
Named to “Top 25 Leading Women Entrepreneurs” by Leading Women Entrepreneurs and NJ Monthly Magazine, 2012
“Women’s Business Enterprise Star”, Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), 2009
“Top 50 Women in Business”, NJ BIZ, 2009
Named one of Business News New Jersey’s “40 Under 40 Outstanding Achievers”, 2002
Recipient of “Twin Award”, a Tribute to Women and Industry, 2003
AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell DistinguishedSM and Martindale-Hubbell NotableSM are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell® certification procedures, standards and policies. A description of the selection methodology can be found at www.martindale.com/Products_and_Services/Peer_Review/Methodology.aspx. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.
The Super Lawyers® list is issued by Thomson Reuters. A description of the selection methodology can be found at http://www.superlawyers.com/about/selection_process.html. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.
The Chambers USA Ranking is issued by Chambers & Partners. A description of the selection methodology can be found at http://www.chambersandpartners.com/methodology. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.
The “Best Law Firms” Rankings list is issued by U.S. News & World Report. A description of the selection methodology can be found at https://bestlawfirms.usnews.com/methodology.aspx. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.
Professional
Professional Activities
| ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc., Board of Directors | 2018 - Present |
| C200 Protege Program, Member | 2014 - Present |
| National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF) | 2009 - Present |
| Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association, Advisory Board Member | 2009 – Present |
| Women Presidents' Organization | 2002 – Present |
| Women Presidents' Organization, Platinum membership | 2002 - Present |
| Executive Committee, Labor and Employment Law Section of the New Jersey Bar Association | 2010 - 2017 |
| Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey, Board of Directors | 2013 - 2016 |
| New York Society of Security Analysts, Board of Directors | 2010 - 2014 |
| Board of Trustees, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Human Resources Committee | 2004 - 2010 |
| The Healthcare Marketing & Communications Council, General Counsel to Board of Trustees | 2005 - 2009 |
| Board of Trustees, The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra; Human Resources Committee | 1999- 2008 |
Professional Experience
| Gibbons, Del Deo, Dolan, Griffinger & Vecchione, PC., Newark, NJ Partner |
2000 – 2006 |
| Gibbons, Del Deo, Dolan, Griffinger & Vecchione, PC., Newark, NJ Associate |
1996 – 2000 |
| Downey, Brand, Seymour and Rohwer, Sacramento, CA Associate |
1993 – 1996 |
Background
Education
| Boston College Law School J.D. |
1993 |
| Pennsylvania State University B.S., Dual Major: Finance & Accounting, Honors University Scholars Program |
1990 |
Admissions
| State of California | 1993 |
| United States District Court for the Eastern District of California | 1993 |
| State of New Jersey | 1996 |
| United States District Court for the District of New Jersey | 1996 |
Civic & Charitable Activities
| Board of Trustees, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Parliamentarian and Human Resources Committee | 2004 - 2010 |
Recent Publications and Speaking Engagements
Speaking Engagements
“Best Practices on Managing Your Multi-generational Workforce”, Nukk-Freeman & Cerra, PC Hot Topics in Employment Law Seminar, November 2019
“Artificial Intelligence & Unconscious Bias”, Prudential MWOLF Conference, November 2019
“Connecting Diversity & Inclusion Goals to Executive Compensation”, NJ Association of Corporate Counsel, September 2019
“Legislative & Strategic Trends in the Aftermath of the ‘Me Too’ Movement”, Nukk-Freeman & Cerra, PC, 2018 Hot Topics in Employment Law Seminar, Panel Presentation, November 2018
“New York State and New York City Anti-Harassment Legislation: Here is What You Need to Know”, Nukk-Freeman & Cerra, PC, Webinar, October 2018
“Building Emotional Intelligence with Great Communication”, Association of Corporate Counsel New Jersey, Annual All Day CLE Conference, September 2018
“From Policies to Practice, Transgender Inclusion in the Workplace”, Nukk-Freeman & Cerra, PC, CLE Day, January 2018
“Sexual Harassment: Lessons Learned from Scandals & Strategies to Mitigate Risk”, Get5, January 2018
“Staring Down Stereotypes: Essential Tactics to Combat Unconscious Bias in the Workplace”, presented by NFP and MetLife, New York, NY, December 2017
“Whose Responsibility is Diversity & Inclusion in the Legal Profession?”, Panel Presentation to the the Institute for Inclusion in the Legal Profession, Morgan Stanley, October 2017
“Strategies to Combat Unconscious Bias in the Workplace: Why Raising Awareness is Not Enough”, HR Star Conference, San Francisco, July 2017
“Essential Tactics to Combat Unconscious Bias in the Workplace”, HR Star Conference, Los Angeles, 2017
“Sexual Harassment & Bystander Intervention”, Panelist, EEOC New York District Seminar, June 2017
“Essential Tactics to Combat Unconscious Bias in the Workplace”, HR Star Conference, San Francisco, 2016
“Beyond the Bathroom: Transgender Inclusion in the Workplace”, presented at Nukk-Freeman & Cerra, PC Hot Topics in Employment Law Round Table, November 2016
“Beyond the Bathroom: Transgender Inclusion in the Workplace”, presented at Nukk-Freeman & Cerra, PC In-House Counsel Lunch Seminar, October 2016
“Essential Tactics to Combat Unconscious Bias in the Workplace”, presented to Bank of America, Legal Department, June 2016
“The Americans with Disabilities Act: How to Avoid the 5 Most Common Compliance Challenges”, Webinar, presented by the NAMWOLF Labor & Employment Practice Area Committee, April 2016
“Are Your Hiring Practices Creating Costly Turnover?”, Nukk-Freeman & Cerra, PC Webinar, February 2016
“Essential Tactics to Combat Unconscious Bias in the Workplace”, presented to Panasonic North America, February 2016
“Essential Tactics to Combat Unconscious Bias in the Workplace”, Nukk-Freeman & Cerra, PC Hot Topics in Employment Law Round Table, November 2015
“2015 Overview of the Most Signicant Judicial Decisions & Legislative Updates of 2015”, Nukk-Freeman & Cerra, PC Hot Topics in Employment Law Seminar, November 2015
“Background Checks Ensuring that Your Policies and Processes Comply”, New Jersey Law Journal CLE Day, Florham Park, NJ, March 2015
“This Year’s Top Trends Every HR Professional Should Know”, SHIFT HR Executive Briefing, New York, NY, 2015
“3 Important Strategies to Combat Unconscious Bias in the Workplace”, Garden State Council, Society for Human Resource Management Annual Conference, Atlantic City, NJ, 2015
“Essential Tactics to Combat Unconscious Bias in the Workplace”, SHIFT Compliance Training Webinar, 2015
“Staying Out of the Limelight: Essential Tactics to Combat Unconscious Bias in the Workplace”, SHIFT HR Executive Briefing, New York, NY, 2015
“Legal Issues Surrounding Background Checks and Workplace Violence”, Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey, 2015
“Incivility in the Legal Profession”, Nukk-Freeman & Cerra, PC In-House Counsel Round Table, October 2014
“Labor and Employment Law Update”, New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education Business Law Symposium, 2014
“Conducting Effective Workplace Investigations”, Nukk-Freeman & Cerra, P.C. Webinar Presentation, 2014
“Social Media and Workplace Harassment Issues”, New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 2014
“Navigating Your Career: Learning to Elevate Your Personal Brand”, Presented to Ernst & Young Professional Women’s Network, 2013
“What Keeps You Up At Night? The Costliest Employment Mistakes That Businesses Make”, Metropolitan Transportation Association Employment Law, 2011
“Special Issues Regarding Protected Characteristics: Hostile Work Environment And Disability Discrimination Claims”, New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 2011
“Monitoring Employee Electronic Communications in the Workplace”, New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 2010
“24 Karat: Setting the Gold Standard”, Tri-State Human Resources Management Association, Annual Conference, 2010
“Career Transitions: Exploring New Pathways to Success”, Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association, Executive Women’s Breakfast, 2009
“The Costliest Mistakes Made by Employers: What You Have to do to Protect your Business”, New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 2009
“Workplace Reorganizations: Reduce Your Risks of Wrongful Termination Claims with Carefully Structured Workplace Reorganizations”, Women Presidents’ Organization Webinar, 2009
“The Seven Costliest Employment Mistakes: What YOU Must Do to Protect and Sustain Your Business!”, Women Presidents’ Organization, 12th Annual Conference, San Diego, CA, 2009
“New Jersey Paid Family Leave: What it Means for Your Firm and Your Clients”, New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education Webinar, 2008
“Paid Family Leave Briefing”, New Jersey Business & Industry Association, 2008
“10 Most Common Mistakes Employers Make and How to Avoid Them”, Women Presidents’ Organization, 2008
“Leveraging Contacts, Negotiating Contracts”, Pfizer-sponsored Women Presidents’ Educational Organization, 2007
“10 Most Common Mistakes Employers Make and How to Avoid Them”, Chubb-sponsored Women Presidents’ Organization Event, 2007
“HR101: A Primer for Managing Human Resources”, New Jersey Business and Industry Association, 2007
“Labor & Employment Law Summer Institute”, New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 2006
“Hiring & Firing, Putting the Legal Pieces Together”, New Jersey Business & Industry Association’s Seminar for Employers, 2005
“Hot Legal Topics for Employers”, New Jersey Business & Industry Association, 2005
Publications
Quoted in “It’s Not Always Clear What Constitutes Sexual Harassment. Use this Tool to Navigate the Gray Areas”, Harvard Business Review, June 19 2018.
Quoted in “Female Employment Lawyers Find Edge in Starting Own Firms“, Bloomberg BNA, Business of Law Feature, June 29, 2017.
“Achieving Balance: Suzanne M. Cerra and Katherin Nukk-Freeman Reveal How a Flexible, Team-Based Business Model Benefits Fee-Earners and Clients“, co-authored with Suzanne M. Cerra, Esq, Managing Partner Magazine (Volume 15 Issue 2), 2012
“COBRA Subsidies Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009: How Will They Impact Businesses?”, co-authored with Suzanne M. Cerra, Esq., New Jersey Defense (Volume 25, Issue 2), 2009
“We Can Have it All”, New Jersey Women Lawyer’s Association Gala Journal, co-authored with Suzanne M. Cerra, Esq., 2009
“FMLA Violations – Do Your Merit Increase and Bonus Plans Comply?”, The Metropolitan Corporate Counsel, 2005
“Some States Mandate Harassment Training. A Sign of Things to Come for New Jersey Employers?”, Bollinger Solutions, 2005