Patrick
Lucignani

Patrick Lucignani is known for his ability to quickly identify the key issues that drive a case. He focuses on what actually matters, helping clients cut through complexity and make informed decisions at every stage of the process.

Mr. Lucignani’s experience includes litigating on behalf of individuals and employers in various workplace disputes, including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, tort, and breach of contract claims, and sexual assault cases. He has also counseled employees on separation issues as well as corporate clients on the implementation of employment practices and procedures.

Mr. Lucignani also brings a wealth of defense-oriented experience and knowledge to the firm's employment practice. Mr. Lucignani was named to the New Jersey Super Lawyers - Rising Stars list (2006 to 2013) in the areas of Employment Litigation: Defense, Employment & Labor, and Civil Litigation: Defense. Prior to joining the firm, he worked for many years in the Employment and Business Disputes practices of a national law firm and served as in-house counsel during a six-month secondment at a large manufacturing company.

While in law school, Mr. Lucignani was an Articles Editor of the Seton Hall Legislative Journal. He also served as a Judicial Intern for the Honorable Dennis M. Cavanaugh, then United States Magistrate Judge, U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey. During his undergraduate years, Mr. Lucignani was a four-year member of the Carnegie Mellon University varsity men’s soccer team and attended American University in Washington, DC for a semester.

Mr. Lucignani’s recent work includes notable harassment and sexual assault cases, in addition to representing executives and employees in non-compete/non-solicitation negotiations and litigation:

Morris v. Rutgers-Newark University -- The firm represented the women’s basketball team. The New Jersey Appellate Division expanded the scope of the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination, both from a harassment and retaliation standpoint, for student-athletes. In addition to the precedential published opinion, the case settled for $2.8M.

Sexual assault case -- A work-related, out-of-state training event, Mr. Lucignani worked with the out-of-state prosecutor in connection with the criminal conviction of the perpetrator (the owner of a medical practice). Following that conviction, which was upheld on appeal, Mr. Lucignani tracked the perpetrator to another country and coordinated the prosecution of the civil action that included a successful defense of a separate declaratory judgment action brought by the perpetrator’s insurance company seeking to disclaim coverage. After extensive discovery and motion practice spanning several years, the case confidentially resolved for a significant amount on behalf of our client.

Hedge fund executive non-compete dispute -- After the employer unreasonably refused to negotiate, the Utah state court judge struck down the entire restrictive covenant as a matter of law. In New Jersey, Mr. Lucignani successfully petitioned the court to invalidate a non-compete for a pharmaceutical sales senior vice president. As a result, our client was able to immediately work for a competitor.

Outside of the courtroom, Patrick has been active in the local community, serving on the board of the Morristown Little League and coaching youth soccer and baseball.