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Kerri A. Wright

Principal

Morristown, NJ
(973) 889-4327
KAWright@pbnlaw.com
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Overview

Kerri Wright is a principal of Porzio, Bromberg & Newman, P.C. and a member of the firm’s Litigation Practice Group, where she co-chairs the Education and Employment Team. She focuses her practice in the areas of education law and employment law, specifically in representation of management in both employment counseling and employment litigation.

Kerri handles a variety of employment law matters for the firm’s public and private sector clients in state and federal courts as well as before administrative agencies, including the EEOC and the New Jersey Department of Labor. She has litigation and counseling experience in numerous areas of employment law, including issues involving wage and hour claims, restrictive covenants, harassment, discrimination, and whistleblowing. She has successfully defended management in class-action wage and hour lawsuits and has handled numerous investigations by management into allegations of employee wrongdoing.

Kerri has significant experience representing and counseling school boards, charter schools, private schools and colleges in a variety of areas. She is one of the leading attorneys in the field of reconfiguring school districts, including the creation and dissolution of regional school districts and the creation and termination of sending-receiving relationships.

Kerri previously served on the Chester Board of Education in Morris County for five terms. Most recently serving as the President of the Board, and Chair of the Board’s negotiation committee. She has successfully negotiated employment contracts and collective bargaining agreements with each one of the Board’s labor groups. Kerri received the New Jersey Board Member of the Year from New Jersey School Boards Association for  2021-2022.

Recognition

No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. 

  • New Jersey Law Journal  Women Lawyers of the Year honoree, 2022
  • New Jersey Board Member of the Year, New Jersey School Boards Association, 2021-2022.
  • Recognized on the New Jersey Super Lawyers List, Education and Employment, 2017, Employment and Labor, 2018-2023; New Jersey Super Lawyers "Rising Stars," Employment & Labor, 2012-2015.
    A description of the selection process can be found here.
  • Recognized in the 2016 edition of New Jersey Law Journal's New Leaders of the Bar.
    A description of the selection process can be found here. 
  • LeadNJ Graduate, 2014
  • International Association of Defense Counsel, Trial Academy, Graduate, 2008

Memberships

  • Fellow, LeadNJ, 2014 - Present
  • Chester Board of Education, Member, 2007 - 2022, Vice President, 2010 - 2012; President, 2013 - 2015, 2022
  • Member of the New Jersey Association of School Attorneys
  • Morris County Bar Association
  • New Jersey Women Lawyers Association

News

Articles

Events

Speaking Engagements

  • "Legal Updates and Recent Compliance Issues," Morris County Chamber of Commerce HR and Talent Forum, 7/11/2023
  • "Porzio's 2023 School Safety Symposium", 6/01/2023
  • "Keeping Up with the Rapidly Changing Employment Landscape in New Jersey," ASAH's Annual Human Resources Symposium, 5/19/2023
  • "The Front Lines of the Culture War," ICLE Annual School Law Conference at the New Jersey Law Center, 2/01/2023
  • "Wage Issues in the Modern Economy," Porzo Employment Law Forum, 11/02/2022
  • " Legal Mandates in Special Education," NJSBA Workshop 2022, 10/26/2022
  • "Key Relationships that Make a Board Member Effective," NJSBA's Workshop 2022, 10/25/2022
  • "Keeping Up With the Rapidly Changing Employment Landscape in New Jersey," ASAH's Annual Symposium for Business Office and Human Resources Personnel, May 13, 2022.
  • "What Do the Regulations Mean for Workplace Drug Policies?," Your Business & Cannabis: It's Complicated, NJBIA Hybrid Event, 5/04/2022
  • "Employment and Legal Update With Porzio," Quarterly Presentation to ASAH School Members, April 8, 2022.
  • "Breaking Through the Fog: Navigating the Haze of Cannabis in the Workplace," Morris County Chamber of Commerce, 1/19/2022
  • "Do you see what I see? Invisible Disabilities," Porzio's Ethics & Eggs 2021, 12/09/2021
  • "Examining the Importance of Leave Laws in the Final Months of FFCRA and Beyond," Porzio Employment Law Forum, 10/20/2020
  • "The Old School and the New - Considerations for School Re-Opening," Porzio Webinar, 7/07/2020
  • "New Jersey Schools Update: Considerations for Graduation and Other Commencement Ceremonies," Porzio Webinar, June 4, 2020.
  • "NJ Business and Employment Issues During COVID-19: What Business Leaders Must Know," NJMEP Webinar, April 13, 2020.
  • "NJ Business and Employment Issues during COVID-19: What CEOs and Business Leaders Must Know," Young President's Organization – NJ Chapter Webinar, April 9, 2020.
  • "One Year Later: Advanced Topics in Paid Leave," Porzio Employment Law Forum, October 2019.
  • Moderator, "Planning and Developing a School Safety Plan: Do's and Don'ts," New Jersey School Safety Symposium, Porzio Compliance Services, Morristown, NJ, March 29, 2019.
  • "Roundtable: How to Choose the Right Security Professional for Your District: A Guide to Selection, Addressing Administrative and Legal Issues," New Jersey School Safety Symposium, Porzio Compliance Services, Morristown, NJ, March 29, 2019. 
  • "Sexual Harassment: Lessons Learned Following #MeToo," Porzio Employment Law Forum, Morristown, NJ, October 3, 2018. 
  • "Hot Topics: Sexual Harassment in the Workplace," NJCPA, Webinar, July 12, 2018.
  • "Sexual Harassment," Morris County Chamber of Commerce Not For Profit Roundtable, Florham Park, NJ, June 21, 2018. 
  • "Current Trends and Best Practices in Human Resources," ASAH's 5th Annual Symposium for Business Office and Human Resources Personnel, South Iselin, NJ, May 18, 2018.
  • "HIPAA Update," ASAH's 5th Annual Symposium for Business Office and Human Resources Personnel, South Iselin, NJ, May 18, 2018.
  • "Data Privacy & CyberSecurity: Practical Steps to Protect Your School," New Jersey Association of School Administrators, Monroe Township, NJ, May 23, 2018. 
  • "Data Privacy & CyberSecurity: Practical Steps to Protect Your School," New Jersey Association of School Administrators' TECHSPO '18, Atlantic City, NJ, January 25, 2018.

Opinions, Decisions and Cases

  • Matter of Ridgefield Park Bd. of Educ., 244 N.J. 1, (2020)

  • Mardis, et al. v. Jackson Hewitt Tax Service, Inc., et al. 2:16-CV-02115-JMV-JAD (D.N.J. 2016)

  • C.M., on behalf of Minor Children, J.M., E.M., and E.M. v. Board of Education of the Township of Springfield, Union County, OAL Dkt No. EDU 06664-18, aff'd by Comm'r Agency Dkt No. 89-4/18 (September 2018)

  • Township of Berkeley v. Toms River Regional Schools Board of Education, et al., N.J. App. Div., Dkt No. A-2678-12T3, A-2826-12T3, A-1943-13T3 and A-1968-13T3 (August 2017)

  • In Re Petition for Authorization to Conduct a Referendum on the Withdrawal of the Borough of Woodcliff Lake from the Pascack Valley Regional School District, N.J. App. Div., Dkt No. A-4084-13T2 (July 2017)

  • Board of Education of Merchantville v. Board of Education of Pennsauken, OAL Dkt No. EDU 1927-12, aff'd by Comm'r, Agency Dkt No. 10-1/12 (April 2015)

  • A.K. & D.K. o/b/o B.K. v. Springfield Township Bd. of Ed., OAL Dkt No. EDS 05970-14, Agency Dkt No. 2009-14115 (Oct. 2015)

  • In the Matter of December 9, 2014 Special School Election, 439 N.J. Super. 416 (App. Div. 2015)

  • In the Matter of The Petition for Authorization to Conduct a Referendum on the Withdrawal of North Haledon School District from the Passaic County Manchester Regional High School District, State of New Jersey, 2015 WL 6181332 (App. Div. 2015)

  • Edmondson v. Elmer, et al., 424 N.J. Super. 256 (App. Div. 2012)

  • Securitas Security Services, U.S.A., Inc., v. New Jersey Department of Treasury, Division of Purchase and Property, et al., N.J. App. Div., Dkt No. A-2608-10T4, A 5965-10T4 and A-0894-11T4

  • J.K., on behalf of minor child, P.B., v. Board of Education of the Township of Springfield, Union County, OAL Dkt No. EDU 09972-09, aff'd by Comm'r, Agency Dkt No. 219-8/09

  • Maureen Miller v. Board of Education of the Township of Clinton, Hunterdon County, OAL Dkt No. EDU 11444-10, aff'd by Comm'r, Agency Dkt No. 555-9/10

  • Betsy Carey v. Bd. of Educ. of Twp. of Springfield, Union County, 2010 OAL Docket No. EDU 11994-09, aff'd by Comm'r, Agency Dkt No. 222-9/09

  • Michael C. Matthews, Jr. v. The New Jersey Institute of Technology, et al., 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 59171, Civil Action No. 09-2840

  • Michael C. Matthews, Jr. v. The New Jersey Institute of Technology, et al., 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 27182, Civil Action No. 09-2840

  • KVL Audio Visual Services, Inc. v. Hackworth, 2010 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 107, (App. Div. 2010)(unpublished)

  • N.J. Ass'n of School Business Officials v. Davy, 409 N.J. Super. 467 (App. Div. 2009)

  • Bd. of Educ. of Borough of Newfield v. Bd. of Educ. of Buena Reg'l Schl. Dist., 2009 N.J. AGEN LEXIS 728, aff'd by Comm'r, Agency Dkt No. 50-2/07

  • Jennifer Wallace v. Bd. of Educ. of Twp. of Franklin, 2008 N.J. AGEN LEXIS 804, aff'd by Comm'r, Agency Dkt No. 250-7/06

  • Donald Sloan v. Bd. of Educ. of Twp. of Clinton, 2007 N.J. AGEN LEXIS 641, aff'd by Comm'r, Agency Dkt No. 956-07