Partner
scerra@nfclegal.com
O: 973.665.9100
D: 973.507.7617
F: 973.665.9101
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
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
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 |
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 |
Boston College Law School J.D., magna cum laude and Order of the Coif |
1993 |
Bucknell University B.S., cum laude |
1990 |
State of New Jersey | 1993 |
United States District Court for the District of New Jersey | 1993 |
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
“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)
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