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I have learned that the key to being a successful litigator is there is no “key.” I cannot approach each case by rote, or by some formula that may have worked in the past. It is only when I devote my time and energy to a specific client that I can “win” the case for them, as winning is defined by them.

Ms. Lucey is a trial attorney who focuses her practice on employment, higher education, and complex litigation matters in state and federal court. She represents private and public entities, including institutions of higher learning, in employment discrimination and retaliation actions, professional negligence cases, Title IX claims, and general business disputes. She also lectures and consults on employment and human resources law and provides guidance related to litigation avoidance and the practical implications of various state and federal laws affecting employers.

Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.

Honors & Awards

  • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America© (a trademark of Woodward/White, Inc.) in the Litigation - Labor & Employment practice area (2024)
  • American Bar Foundation Fellow
  • Recognized by the Commerce & Industry Association of New Jersey (CIANJ) as one of NJ’s women business leaders as part of CIANJ’s celebration of Women’s History Month 2021
  • Selected for inclusion by the New Jersey Law Journal on its 2020 list of the "Top Women in the Law," the publication's listing of attorneys in private, in-house and government practice who have “influenced the law and legal profession in exceptional ways"
  • Recipient of the Professional Lawyer of the Year Award from the New Jersey Women Lawyers Association and the New Jersey Commission on Professionalism in the Law (2019)
  • Selected for inclusion in 2018 by NJBIZ  on a list called “Leaders in Law” that appeared in the publication’s Vanguard Series of professional profiles  
  • Selected for inclusion by the New Jersey Law Journal on its 2016 list of "New Leaders of the Bar," the publication's annual listing of outstanding attorneys under the age of 40 and practicing in New Jersey
  • Listed in New Jersey Super Lawyers (a Thomson Reuters business) in the Employment Litigation: Defense, Professional Liability: Defense and Business Litigation practice areas (2021 - present)
  • Listed in Super Lawyers - New Jersey Rising Stars (a Thomson Reuters business) in the Business Litigation practice area (2011 – 2018)
  • Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Rated AV® Preeminent (a trademark of Internet Brands, Inc.)
  • Recipient of the Young Lawyer of the Year Award from the Middlesex County Bar Association (2012)

Please visit our Award Methodology page for a description of the standard or methodology on which these accolades are based. Attorney Advertising: No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.

Representative Matters

Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.

  • Since 2021, obtained summary judgment as lead defense counsel in four NJLAD and CEPA cases in favor of large multi-disciplinary employers where each case alleged damages exceeding $1 million
  • In 2023, obtained affirmance as head appellate counsel on granting of summary judgment in NJLAD case
  • Since 2020, negotiated highly favorable settlements as lead counsel in NJLAD and CEPA cases on behalf of large multi-disciplinary employers where alleged aggregate damages exceeded $10 million
  • Extensive experience negotiating executive compensation/separation agreements across numerous business sectors
  • Obtained voluntary dismissal of complaint by client’s prior employer in application for an Order to Show Cause seeking temporary restraints in connection with non-compete and non-solicitation agreement
  • Defense trial counsel in New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD) and Conscientious Employee Protection Act (CEPA) case tried to verdict in New Jersey Superior Court. Obtained favorable rulings at trial to reduce the scope of compensatory damages, eliminate punitive damages, and position the matter for appeal regarding a large body of prejudicial evidence which was ultimately excluded prior to verdict
  • Significant trial participation in three legal and professional malpractice cases tried to verdict in New Jersey state and federal courts
  • Achieved favorable settlement for mid-market industrial company in New Jersey federal action concerning breach of contract and warranty claims
  • Extensive responsibility for day-to-day management of a $900 million federal multi-party litigation involving the collapse of 7 World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. Specific roles included conducting all aspects of fact and expert discovery, analyzing multiple complex legal issues, engaging in dispositive motion practice and managing client relations
  • Drafted significant portions of successful Opposition to Petition for Writ of Certiorari to the Supreme Court of the United States on behalf of financial advisory firm

Uniquely NJ

  • New Jersey Women Lawyers Association: Executive Board and Nominations Co-Director (2023-2024); past President (2020-2021), President-Elect, Vice President, Co-Chief Financial Officer, Co-Chief Operating Officer, Co-Secretary; Judicial Outreach and Programming Committees past Co-Chair
  • New Jersey State Bar Association; Higher Education Special Committee, Co-Chair; Federal Practice and Procedure Section (past Chair)
  • YWCA Northern New Jersey; past Secretary and Executive Board member
  • Association of the Federal Bar of New Jersey; Treasurer; former Trustee; Young Lawyers Committee (past Trustee Chair); Third Circuit Committee (past Vice Chair)
  • Historical Society of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey; Co-Vice President
  • Trial Attorneys of New Jersey
  • John C. Lifland American Inn of Court (former Lead Barrister)
View Expanded Bio

More Activities & Experience

  • Ms. Lucey is a member of the firm's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Leadership Team and the Outreach & Community Engagement and Women's Advancement Initiative (WAI) Focus Groups
  • Former judicial intern to The Honorable Ronald J. Hedges, United States Magistrate Judge

Presentations & Speaking Engagements

Publications & Alerts

View Abbreviated Bio

Education

Seton Hall University School of Law, J.D., 2003

Wake Forest University, B.S., 2000

Bar Admissions

  • New Jersey, 2003
  • New York, 2006
  • U.S. Supreme Court, 2008
  • U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey, 2003
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, 2006
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit, 2005

Jemi Goulian Lucey Fellow of the American Bar Foundation
Best Lawyers Award Badge

Jemi Goulian Lucey
Rated by Super Lawyers


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Please visit our Award Methodology page for a description of the standard or methodology on which these accolades are based. Attorney Advertising: No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.