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Jemi Goulian Lucey
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Jemi is an experienced trial attorney and legal counselor who focuses her practice on employment law, complex commercial and business litigation, and higher education law, in state and federal courts. She represents private and public sector clients, including employers, colleges and universities, and business entities engaged in a broad range of industries. She is a leader of the firm's employment practice.

Her experience encompasses employment-related disputes including claims of alleged discrimination, retaliation, hostile work environment, harassment, and disparate treatment/disparate impact in the workplace. This includes actions brought under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and whistleblower actions brought under New Jersey’s Conscientious Employee Protection Act (CEPA).

Jemi supports employers in the drafting and negotiation of non-compete agreements, restrictive covenants, and separation agreements. She provides counseling and guidance on employment best practices, human resources law, and the practical implications of state and federal laws impacting employers.

Jemi has defended institutions of higher education against discrimination and harassment claims brought under Title IX, in employment disputes brought under various state and federal statutes, and in matters involving faculty and student conduct, academic and disciplinary matters, allegations of civil rights violations, and disputes involving institutional governance.

Her commercial litigation experience includes representing businesses across numerous sectors in disputes ranging from restrictive covenant enforcement to contract and real estate matters, among others. Jemi also routinely counsels employers on litigation avoidance and measures they can take in their daily operations to reduce the risk of lawsuits.

Jemi also serves as New Jersey local counsel in federal litigation. She has a proven track record of successfully defending claims of discrimination and retaliation, as well as general business disputes, including mitigating risk in areas of the law where fee-shifting statutes and emotional distress damages claims can significantly increase jury awards. Her ability to assess risk and guide her clients to resolution at the right stage of litigation – whether through alternative dispute resolution, summary judgment, or trial – is noteworthy among her clients, many of whom turn to her for repeat representation.

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

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

Education

  • Seton Hall University School of Law, J.D., 2003
  • Wake Forest University, B.S., 2000

Recognition

  • American Bar Foundation Fellow
  • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America (a trademark of Woodward/White, Inc.) in the Labor and Employment Law - Management practice area (2024-present)
  • 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.)
  • Recognized by the New Jersey Women Lawyers Association as the 2026 NJWLA Women’s Initiative and Leaders in the Law (WILL) Honoree for the Private Sector
  • Recognized by the Commerce & Industry Association of New Jersey (CIANJ) as one of NJ’s women business leaders as part of CIANJ’s 2021 celebration of Women’s History Month 
  • 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 2019 Professional Lawyer of the Year Award from the New Jersey Women Lawyers Association and the New Jersey Commission on Professionalism in the Law  
  • Selected for inclusion by NJBIZ  (a publication of Bridge Tower Media) on its 2018 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
  • Recipient of the 2012 Young Lawyer of the Year Award from the Middlesex County Bar Association 

Jemi Goulian Lucey Fellow of the American Bar Foundation Best Lawyers - Lawyer Logo Rated By SuperLawyers Jemi Goulian Lucey 2026

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.

Other Experience

  • Former judicial intern to The Honorable Ronald J. Hedges, United States Magistrate Judge

Representative Matters

  • Represented a public entity as defense trial counsel in a New Jersey Superior Court NJLAD and CEPA action tried to verdict during a four-week trial, obtaining favorable rulings that narrowed compensatory damages, eliminated punitive damages exposure, and excluded prejudicial evidence prior to verdict, significantly reducing overall risk.
  • Successfully defended a public entity and public officials in a high-profile NJLAD challenge to enacted legislation, securing dismissal of all race and gender discrimination claims and eliminating exposure exceeding $5 million. The court affirmed the legislature’s plenary authority and rejected plaintiffs’ core legal theory; the decision was not appealed.
  • The firm is representing a state law enforcement agency and senior leadership in multiple companion civil rights actions, obtaining partial dismissals across four matters that significantly narrowed statutory claims and limited individual liability, reducing exposure in litigation exceeding $15 million.
  • Obtained summary judgment in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey on behalf of a state judicial agency, defeating federal civil rights and NJLAD disparate treatment and disparate impact claims asserted by employees, resulting in dismissal of all claims without appeal.
  • Played a significant role in the trial of three legal and professional malpractice cases in New Jersey state and federal courts, contributing to trial strategy, evidence presentation, and case management through verdict.
  • Greenbaum is acting as New Jersey counsel to a multinational chemical manufacturer in more than two dozen federal and New Jersey state court actions alleging air and groundwater contamination caused by the discharge of PFAS substances. The cases include claims of alleged biomonitoring, personal injury, natural resource damage and contamination of a local water supply.
  • Achieved a favorable settlement for a mid-market industrial company in a New Jersey federal court action involving breach of contract and warranty claims, resolving the dispute efficiently and avoiding protracted litigation.
  • Successfully defended multiple large, multi-disciplinary employers in four NJLAD and CEPA actions, securing summary judgment in each case and eliminating claims seeking more than $1 million in alleged damages per matter.
  • The firm successfully defended a state corrections agency and its former commissioner against age and disability discrimination claims under the NJLAD, securing summary judgment on all counts and affirmance on appeal, eliminating exposure exceeding $2 million.
  • Successfully defended Protection Technologies, LLC, an electronic security solutions provider, against NJLAD and CEPA claims brought by a former senior executive, defeating an early declaratory judgment challenge to restrictive covenants, obtaining dismissal of multiple discrimination and retaliation claims, quashing overbroad subpoenas, and resolving the matter on highly favorable terms following mediation.
  • Obtained dismissal at the pleading stage of a NJLAD sexual harassment lawsuit against a state judicial agency, where the court held the plaintiff could not establish an employment relationship with the state, resulting in complete dismissal of claims exceeding $1 million.
  • Secured summary judgment for a state law enforcement agency in a CEPA whistleblower action following extensive discovery, based on the plaintiff’s failure to meet the statutory burden, eliminating exposure exceeding $1 million.
  • Drafted significant portions of a successful opposition to a petition for writ of certiorari to the Supreme Court of the United States on behalf of a financial advisory firm, helping preserve a favorable appellate ruling.
  • Managed day-to-day litigation strategy in a $900 million, multi-party federal action arising from the collapse of 7 World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, including fact and expert discovery, dispositive motion practice, complex legal analysis, and ongoing client coordination.

Memberships

  • 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; Labor and Employment Section, Executive Committee; Federal Practice and Procedure Section (past Chair)
  • Association of the Federal Bar of New Jersey: Second Vice President, former Treasurer and 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: Second Vice President
  • Trial Attorneys of New Jersey
  • John C. Lifland American Inn of Court (former Lead Barrister)

Other Activities

  • YWCA Northern New Jersey: former Secretary and Executive Board member

Personal

  • While attending law school, Jemi was a member of the event planning committee for the 6th Annual Women's Leadership Summit and Woman of Substance

Announcements

Client Alerts

Seminars & Events

Greenbaum employment practice leader Jemi Goulian Lucey weighs in on what an organization should look for when hiring an employment defense litigator.

Helping clients navigate the complexities of litigation is a key strength of Greenbaum partner Jemi Goulian Lucey’s practice as a trial attorney focusing on employment cases, complex commercial and business litigation, and higher education law. Learn more about her approach.

Of Interest