About Suzanne
Suzanne M. Cerra has devoted her legal career to representing employers in all aspects of employment law, including discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, and wrongful termination matters. She also has extensive experience in matters involving the enforcement of restrictive covenants and the protection of trade secrets and confidential information. Ms. Cerra has represented hundreds of clients in state and federal court proceedings, arbitration proceedings, and before administrative agencies such as the EEOC, the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights and the New York Human Rights Division.
She also has extensive experience providing compliance counseling to her clients regarding all state and federal employment laws and assisting clients with issues relating to discrimination, harassment, leaves of absence, wrongful discharge, wage and hour laws, restrictive covenants and unfair competition. Ms. Cerra is called upon regularly by her peers to conduct internal investigations into claims of unlawful harassment, discrimination and other allegations of workplace misconduct.
AV® Preeminent™ Rating, Martindale Hubbell
Recognized by Best Lawyers® since 2015.
Recipient of the New Jersey Smart CEO Future 50 Award, 2016
Boy Scouts of America, “Tribute to Women Award” Recipient, 2015
“The Excellence in Achievement Award”, presented by Seton Hall University School of Law, Peter W. Rodino Society, 2014
“Professional Lawyer of the Year Award” presented by the NJ Commission on Professionalism in the Law, 2013
Listed in Super Lawyers®, Employment & Labor, 2009 – 2020
- “Top 100”, New Jersey Super Lawyers®, 2010 – 2020
- “Top 50 Women”, New Jersey Super Lawyers®, 2010 – 2020
Listed in Chambers USA Guide to America’s Leading Law Firms, Labor & Employment, 2010 – 2017
“The Best Lawyers in America”, Labor and Employment, 2016
Named “Top 25 Leading Women Entrepreneurs” by Leading Women Entrepreneurs and NJ Monthly Magazine, 2012
Named “Best 50 Women in Business” by NJ Biz, 2011
“Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, New Jersey”, Finalist, 2009
“New Jersey Women in Business Champion of the Year”, presented by the U.S. Small Business Administration, 2009
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 Lawyers in America, Labor and Emloyment Ranking is issued by Best Lawyers®. A description of the selection methodology can be found at http://www.bestlawyers.com/About/MethodologyBasic.aspx. 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.
JEN Electric, Inc. v. County of Essex, NJ, 2009 WL 529154, March 4, 2009
Terrell v. Schweitzer-Mauduit International, Inc., 352 N.J. Super.109, App. Div., 2001
Johnson v. Penske Truck Leasing Co., 949 F. Supp. 1153, D.N.J., 1996
Scudder v. Media General, Inc., WL 495945, D.N.J., 1995
Professional
Professional Experience
| Law Office of Suzanne M. Cerra, Basking Ridge, NJ, Founder and Principal | 2003 – 2006 |
| Stanton, Hughes, Diana, Cerra, Mariani & Margello, P.C., Morristown, NJ (now Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stuart), Partner | 1997 – 2003 |
| Stanton, Hughes, Diana, Cerra, Mariani & Margello, P.C., Morristown, NJ (now Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stuart), Associate | 1995 – 1997 |
| Shanley & Fisher, P.C., Morristown, NJ, Associate | 1993 – 1995 |
| Graduate, Trial Advocacy College at the University of Virginia Law School | 1999 |
Professional Activities
| New Jersey Women Lawyers Association President, 2013 - 2014 President Elect, 2012 - 2013 Vice President, 2011 - 2012 Chief Financial Officer, 2010 - 2011 |
President, 2013 - 2014 President Elect, 2012 - 2013 Vice President, 2011 - 2012 Chief Financial Officer, 2010 - 2011 |
| New Jersey Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section, Executive Committee | 2003 - Present |
| NJSBA Labor and Employment Law Quarterly, Editorial Board | 2003 - Present |
| The Park Avenue Club, Board of Directors | 2014 - Present |
| Entrepreneur’s Organization, New Jersey Chapter, Board of Directors | 2009 - 2013 |
| Academy of New Jersey Management Attorneys, Member | 2014 - Present |
Background
Education
| Boston College Law School J.D., magna cum laude and Order of the Coif |
1993 |
| Bucknell University B.S., cum laude |
1990 |
Admissions
| State of New Jersey | 1993 |
| United States District Court for the District of New Jersey | 1993 |
Civic/Charitable Activities
Park Avenue Club, Board of Trustees, 2014 – Present
New Jersey Women Lawyers Association, Past President, 2014
Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, “Power of the Promise” Fundraising Committee, Past Member
Recent Publications and Speaking Engagements
Speaking Engagements
“Battling the Bully: My Way or the Highway”, Nukk-Freeman & Cerra, PC Hot Topics in Employment Law Seminar, November 2019
“Legislative & Strategic Trends in the Aftermath of the ‘Me Too’ Movement”, Nukk-Freeman & Cerra, PC Hot Topics in Employment Law Seminar, November 2018
“New York State and New York City Anti-Harassment Legislation: Here is What You Need to Know”, Nukk-Freeman & Cerra, PC, Webinar, May 2018
“The UBER Nightmare, a Harassment and Discrimination Horror Story”, presented to the NJ Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel, Basking Ridge, NJ, April 2018
“From Hiring to Firing and Everything in Between”, presented to the YPO Forum, Chatham, NJ, December 2017
“Salary History Bans – What is Prohibited and How Do You Comply?”, Nukk-Freeman & Cerra, PC Webinar, December 2017
“Effective Internal Investigations”, CLE Presentation to Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of NJ Legal Department, November 2017
“An Employment Law Horror Story, Dissecting the UBER Nightmare”, Presented at Nukk-Freeman & Cerra, PC Hot Topics in Employment Law Seminar, November 2017
“Salary History Bans – What is Prohibited and How Do You Comply?”, Presented at Nukk-Freeman & Cerra, PC In-House Counsel Lunch, New York City, October 2017
“Practical Tips for the Next Generation of Female Lawyers”, Presented at the NJSBA Annual Conference, The Borgata Hotel, Atlantic City, May 2017
“The Attorney-Client Privilege in the In-House Setting”, Presentation to Goldman Sachs Legal Department, February, 2017
“Diversity and Inclusion: Shaping an Ethical Practice”, Seton Hall Law, The Newark Club, February 2017
“Lawyers to Leaders”, Presentation to UPS Legal Department, January 2017
“Making Lemonade Out of Lemons – Turning to ADR to Resolve Employment Disputes”, Nukk-Freeman & Cerra, First Annual CLE Day Panel Presentation, The Newark Club, January 2017
“Restrictive Covenants that Will Hold Up in Court”, Presentation to Katsy Korins LLC, January 2017
“Are You Prepared for the DOL’s New Overtime Rules?”, Nukk-Freeman & Cerra, PC Hot Topics in Employment Law Round Table, November 2016
New Overtime Regulations, What Should Employers Do to Prepare, Nukk-Freeman & Cerra, PC Webinar, August 2016
“When the Threat of Litigation Looms, How Can Employers Protect Themselves?”, Nukk-Freeman & Cerra, PC Hot Topics in Employment Law Round Table, November 2015
“How to Deal with a Difficult Adversary in an Ethical and Professional Manner”, Nukk-Freeman & Cerra, PC Presentation, August 2015
“Successful Law Firm Management: Dealing with the Question of Compensation”, presented by the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education, December 2014
“The High Price of Misclassification: Are you Properly Classifying Interns and Volunteers?”, Nukk-Freeman & Cerra, PC Webinar, May 2014
“The High Price of Misclassification: Are You Properly Classifying Interns and Volunteers?”, presented by the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education, January 2014
“Workplace Investigations”, presented to the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education, November, 2013
“Professional & Ethical Implications of Gender Bias in the Practice of Law”, presented to the New Jersey Women Lawyers Association and the Essex County Bar Foundation, October 2013
“In-House Counsel and the Attorney Client Privilege”, presented by Nukk-Freeman & Cerra, PC, October 2013
“Bring Your Own Device Movement”, presented at the National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF) Business Meeting, February 2013
“Properly Classifying Temps, Interns, Independent Contractors & Volunteers”, presented at the National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF) Annual Meeting, September 2011
“Navigating the Social Media Minefield”, presented by Nukk-Freeman & Cerra, PC, June 2011
“Round Table Discussion on Social Media”, American Express Open, July 2010
“The Pitfalls of Social Media in the Workplace”, Nukk-Freeman & Cerra, PC Webinar, July 2010
“Conducting Effective Workplace Investigations”, presented to ASIS International, New Jersey Chapter, June 2010
“How Social Media and Networking Websites and Technology Are Changing the Employment Landscape”, presented at the New Jersey State Bar Association’s Annual Meeting, Labor & Employment Section, May 2010
“The Costliest Mistakes Made by Employers: What You Have to do to Protect Your Business”, presented to the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education, November 2009
Publications
“Achieving Balance: Suzanne M. Cerra and Katherin Nukk-Freeman Reveal How a Flexible, Team-Based Business Model Benefits Fee-Earners and Clients”, Managing Partner Magazine (Volume 15 Issue 2; October, 2013), Co-Authored with Katherin Nukk-Freeman, Esq.
“Monitoring Electronic Communications and Social Media Usage in the Workplace: What are the Limits?”, New Jersey Labor and Employment Law Quarterly (Volume 32, No. 2), Co-Authored with Galit Kierkut, Esq.
“COBRA Subsidies Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009: How Will They Impact Businesses?”, New Jersey Defense (Volume 25, Issue 2; Spring, 2009), Co-Authored with Katherin Nukk-Freeman, Esq.
“We Can Have it All”, New Jersey Women Lawyers’ Association Gala Journal (April, 2009), Co-Authored with Katherin Nukk-Freeman, Esq.
“Elements of an Effective Harassment Investigation”, New Jersey Labor and Employment Law Quarterly (Winter, 2007)