Experience

Susan O'Connor is a partner in the firm and leads the firm's employment and municipal litigation departments, representing employers and municipalities, as well as individual officers, directors and elected officials before state and federal trial/appellate courts and agencies. In addition to representing municipalities and employers in matters involving Title VII claims, the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination, Americans with Disabilities Act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act and whistle blower claims, Susan also provides training designed to assist clients in conforming their workplace practices to federal and state laws, drafts or modifies existing personnel policies, and performs comprehensive investigations of employee misconduct claims. She also litigates claims made against municipal entities for Constitutional violations, including alleged excessive use of force, false arrest, failure to provide medical attention, inadequate police protection and failure to hire or promote based upon political affiliation. Susan also serves as defense counsel in several class action litigations, seeking injunctive relief or damages. 

In 2011, Susan was named to the list of the Irish Legal 100 and received the award at a reception with the Irish Ambassador to the United States.  The Irish Legal 100 is comprised of some of the most accomplished and distinguished lawyers of Irish descent in the United States.

Also in 2011, Susan was named Democratic Woman of the Year by the Hunterdon County Democratic Committee, in appreciation of her dedicated service to the Democratic party.

In February 2008, Susan was named one of New Jersey’s Best 50 Women in Business. The award program, run by NJBIZ, New Jersey’s premier business news publication, honors New Jersey’s most dynamic women in business who have been making headlines in their fields. Susan was selected based on dedication to business growth, professional and personal accomplishments, community involvement, and advocacy for women.

In June 2007, the Litigation Counsel of America (LCA), an elite organization comprising less than 1/2 of one percent of American attorneys, inducted Susan into its honorary society. By invitation only, membership in LCA is highly selective, its leadership citing "superior ethical reputation" and "effectiveness and accomplishment in litigation, both at the trial and appellate levels" as critical to consideration for membership.

Affiliations

• General Counsel, New Jersey Women Lawyers Association, 2011-2012
• Trustee-at-Large, New Jersey Women Lawyers Association, 2008-2009, 2010-2011
• Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America 
• Member, Federal Bar Association
• Member, Defense Research Institute
• Member, Claims and Litigation Management Alliance
• Member, Hunterdon County Bar Assocation
• Member, New Brunswick Bar Association
• Delegate, New Jersey Democratic State Committee representing Hunterdon County
• Member and prior chair, New Jersey Supreme Court, District VIII Ethics Committee (for an unprecedented two years, 1999-2000 and 2000-2001)
• Former councilwoman and council president, Hampton, NJ
• Former member, North Hunterdon Municipal Court Committee
• Former state mediator, Complementary Dispute Resolution matters
• Former trustee, HBCEF
• Former president, New Brunswick Bar Association (1997-98)