Nicholas F. Pellitta

Nicholas F. Pellitta, a Member of law firm Norris McLaughlin, P.A., presented “Social Justice and Hate Crimes in New Jersey” virtually to eleventh and twelfth graders at Hoboken Charter School on May 17.

“Statistics demonstrate that Bias incidents in New Jersey, including crimes motivated by a victim’s race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or religion, increased dramatically in 2020. Unfortunately, many of these incidents took place at schools, including universities and colleges. New Jersey has been proactive in its law enforcement and other efforts to address bias among young people and anti-bias education and training for public educators remains an important part of these efforts” said Pellitta.

Social Justice and Hate Crimes in New Jersey

The presentation was a discussion of the law governing bias-related incidents and hate crimes in New Jersey. Pellitta covered what the crimes are and the New Jersey law that governs these crimes. He talked about the increase in bias-related incidents throughout the state and country, including the increased racial divide and stereotypes; how hate crimes are prosecuted, including the proofs required to convict and the rights of victims; as well as the issue of bias-related incidents in schools and student conduct, i.e., bullying and student discipline.

About Nick Pellitta

Pellitta has substantial experience in a variety of legal areas in both federal and state courts. It is his goal to maximize efficiency for his clients by promptly analyzing their objectives, identifying necessary strategies, and implementing an appropriate course of action.

In the area of higher education, Pellitta has represented colleges and universities for more than 30 years in areas such as tort claims defense, campus security, alcohol policies, police litigation, civil rights, and student discipline. He has represented the Rutgers Police Department and has provided in-house training and advice on police-related matters.  Representative clients include Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Seton Hall University, and Monmouth University.

On the individual level, Pellitta assists clients in matters involving the defense of criminal charges, juvenile delinquency, and similar offenses, in both municipal and superior courts.

Pellitta has served as Second Vice President in the C. Willard Heckel Inn of Court, an organization designed for the continuing education of newly-admitted attorneys. He has also lectured at the National Institute of Trial Advocacy and on behalf of the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office in trial practice.

In addition to his practice, Pellitta has served as Chairperson of the Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce and is currently Legal Counsel to the Chamber. He also served on the Board of Trustees and is a former chairperson for Prevention Resources, an organization dedicated to promoting health and wellness and addressing substance abuse and violence in the community. Pellitta earned his J.D. from New York Law School and his B.A. from Rutgers University.

Posted in: Higher Education, Litigation, News, Nicholas F. Pellitta | Tags: higher education, Litigation, Nicholas F. Pellitta

The law firm of Norris McLaughlin, P.A., is proud to announce that its client, Summit Drilling, a leading provider of environmental drilling services, has partnered with a group of strategically aligned investors to recapitalize the business. Jeffrey K. Cassin and Nicholas F. Pellitta, Members of the firm, were the working attorneys and lead counsel on this matter.

“Working with Summit Drilling for some time now, I have grown to truly appreciate the relationship, and this growth is just another indication of how much work the company has put into its success,” said Pellitta.

Cassin added, “We’re proud to have had this opportunity and look forward to many more.”

About Summit Drilling

Through this transaction, Summit will gain access to the capital and resources required to grow aggressively. The move signals Summit’s confidence that major growth opportunities exist in the environmental drilling sector.

“This partnership will enable us to accelerate many aspects of our strategic plan,” said Robert Kreilick Jr., President and CEO of Summit Drilling. “I am grateful to Norris Mclaughlin and in particular Nick Pellitta and Jeff Cassin for their work on behalf of Summit during the recapitalization process. Norris Mclaughlin has been counsel to Summit Drilling for more than 20 years and has helped us navigate numerous challenging and diverse issues.”

Summit Drilling, which has grown steadily since 1986, offers a diverse set of drilling solutions and continually evolves to anticipate and meet the needs of the industry. They are well-regarded by customers for their dedicated health and safety culture and have successfully supported some of the world’s largest environmental engineering firms. For more information on Summit Drilling and its environmental contracting services, call 800-242-6648.

About Jeff Cassin

Cassin is a business attorney, concentrating his practice in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, investment transactions, corporate law, and business contracts. He represents middle-market, mid-size businesses, funds, start-ups, media and technology companies, and individual investors, among others. Cassin counsels clients concerning complex middle-market M&A transactions, deal negotiations, and management decisions, and has served as the primary attorney on dozens of sell-side and buy-side transactions, across industries.

Cassin also has extensive transactional experience. He represents many start-up companies and founders in initial formation, early operational matters, and friends-and-family, seed, and venture capital rounds of investment. Cassin handles matters ranging from financing rounds, both equity and debt, to negotiating agreements among business owners, investors, executives, and employees. His representation of start-ups, particularly technology companies, has included taking companies from their early stages through sale. Cassin earned his J.D. in 2005 from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and his B.A. in 2002 from The George Washington University: Elliot School of International Affairs.

About Nick Pellitta

Pellitta has substantial experience in a variety of legal areas in both federal and state courts. It is his goal to maximize efficiency for his clients by promptly analyzing their objectives, identifying necessary strategies, and implementing an appropriate course of action. Pellitta provides a wide variety of litigation strategies and assistance for business clients in commercial matters, including contract review, insurance-related issues, and real property tax appeals. He has served as Second Vice President in the C. Willard Heckel Inn of Court, an organization designed for the continuing education of newly-admitted attorneys. Pellitta has also lectured at the National Institute of Trial Advocacy and on behalf of the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office in the area of trial practice.

Pellitta has served as Chairman of the Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce and is currently Legal Counsel to the Chamber, aiding in contract review, lease and vendor agreements, and general legal advice. He also served as a member of the Board of Trustees and a Past President for Prevention Resources, an organization dedicated to promoting health and wellness and preventing substance abuse and violence in the community, and as Chair of the Board of Directors for the Raritan Valley Community College Foundation. Pellitta earned his J.D. from New York Law School and his B.A. from Rutgers University.

Posted in: Business Law, Jeffrey K. Cassin, News, Nicholas F. Pellitta | Tags: Business Law, Jeffrey K. Cassin, Nicholas F. Pellitta

Nicholas F. Pellitta, a Member of law firm Norris McLaughlin, P.A., will moderate the free webinar, “Recreational Cannabis Is Legal in New Jersey: What Employers Need to Know,” hosted by the Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce.

Recreational Cannabis in New Jersey

This one-hour webinar will offer in-depth conclusions regarding recreation cannabis legislation concerning employers and labor laws. Discussion topics will include:

• Three key provisions of the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization Act (CREAMMA) that impact the workplace
• New rules for drug testing and the interplay with the Jake Honig Medical Cannabis Industry
• What employers should be doing now
• What is left unanswered by CREAMMA

When: Tuesday, April 13, 2021

8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

About Nicholas Pellitta

Nick has substantial experience in a variety of legal areas in both federal and state courts. It is his goal to maximize efficiency for his clients by promptly analyzing their objectives, identifying necessary strategies, and implementing an appropriate course of action. Nick provides a wide variety of litigation strategies and assistance for business clients in commercial matters, including contract review, insurance-related issues, and real property tax appeals.

In the area of higher education, Nick has represented colleges and universities for more than 25 years in areas such as tort claim defense, campus security, alcohol policies, police litigation, civil rights, and student discipline. Representative clients include Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, and Seton Hall University. Nick has represented the Rutgers Police Department and has provided in-house training and advice on police-related matters. On the individual level, Nick assists clients in matters involving personal injury, criminal charges, juvenile delinquency, and other similar offenses, both in municipal and superior courts.

Nick has served as Second Vice President in the C. Willard Heckel Inn of Court, an organization designed for the continuing education of newly-admitted attorneys. He has also lectured at the National Institute of Trial Advocacy and on behalf of the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office in the area of trial practice. Nick has served as Chairman of the Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce and is currently Legal Counsel to the Chamber, aiding in contract review, lease and vendor agreements, and general legal advice. He also served as a member of the Board of Trustees and a Past President for Prevention Resources, an organization dedicated to promoting health and wellness and preventing substance abuse and violence in the community, and as Chair of the Board of Directors for the Raritan Valley Community College Foundation.

Posted in: Cannabis Law, Events, Labor & Employment, Nicholas F. Pellitta | Tags: cannabis law, Labor & Employment, Nicholas F. Pellitta

Nicholas F. Pellitta, a Member of law firm Norris McLaughlin, P.A., will join a panel of attorneys discussing “College Disciplinary Hearings Involving Sexual Harassment and Assault – What Is the Latest?” on Wednesday, November 13, 5:30 – 8:00 p.m., at the New Jersey Law Center in New Brunswick. The program is being presented in cooperation with the New Jersey State Bar Association (NJSBA) Individual Rights Section and the NJSBA Higher Education Special Committee.

About the Presentation

“Colleges and universities are committed to protecting their campus communities from sexual violence. Recently proposed rules governing how campuses deal with sexual misconduct allegations may impact the way schools respond to these allegations,” said Pellitta. He will speak on what campus disciplinary proceedings look like and the variations at different schools; the Title IX statute, Department of Education guidance, and proposed federal regulations; and considerations when representing a higher education institution. Discussions will also include due process considerations and related issues.

The program is approved for 3 NJ CLE credits and 3 NY CLE professional practice credits with 2.5 PA CLE substantive credits pending. For more information and to register, visit the NJSBA website.

About Nick Pellitta

A resident of Flemington, Pellitta has substantial experience in a variety of legal areas in both federal and state courts. He has represented colleges and universities for more than 30 years in areas such as tort claim defense, campus security, alcohol policies, police litigation, civil rights, and student discipline.

Pellitta is a member of the National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA). He is a current board member and former chair of the Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce and former chair of the Raritan Valley Community College Foundation Board.

Pellitta earned his J.D. from New York Law School and his B.A. from Rutgers University.

About Norris McLaughlin

With a total of more than 40 years of experience, the Norris McLaughlin higher education attorneys have represented colleges and universities in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania with a broad range of legal needs. Services offered include advice and counsel/transactional, bankruptcy, cannabis, construction, criminal, environmental, health care, immigration, intellectual property, labor and employment, litigation, real estate and land use, student discipline, and taxation.

Norris McLaughlin is a full-service, mid-sized regional law firm of 130+ attorneys with offices located in Bridgewater and Montclair, NJ; New York, NY; and Allentown and Easton, PA. For more information, including a full practice area listing and attorney biographies, please visit www.old.norrismclaughlin.com.

Posted in: Higher Education, News, Nicholas F. Pellitta | Tags: higher education, Nicholas F. Pellitta