Christopher J. Kelly
Partner
Chris has extensive experience representing both public and private employers. He regularly litigates complex employment matters, including discrimination, restrictive covenant, employee raiding/mobility, and employment-related trade secret matters in state and federal courts across the country. He also represents clients in state and federal wage and hour audits, conducts employment-related due diligence in mergers and acquisitions, assists clients in handling reductions in force, represents management in grievance arbitrations, conducts internal investigations, drafts uniform employment policies for employers on training, leave, and other requirements of multiple states, and drafts physician and executive compensation agreements.
Chris has significant trial experience and has handled appeals before the New Jersey Superior Court Appellate Division and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Chris is a member of the New Jersey State Bar Association’s Appellate Practice Committee and the New York State Bar Association’s Committee on Courts of Appellate Jurisdiction. Prior to joining Rimon, Chris was a Partner with Cozen O’Connor handling labor and employment matters. Chris also served as a Deputy Attorney General for the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General. He was lead counsel representing state agencies and employees from pleadings through trial in complex employment discrimination litigation matters, including Title VII, ADA, FMLA, CEPA, NJLAD, workplace violence, medical testing and employment-related tort and civil rights matters. Chris was a law clerk to the Hon. Serena Perretti, Hon. Philip M. Freedman, Hon. John A. McLaughlin and Hon. James Mulvihill in the Superior Court of New Jersey Civil Division.
Chris also has significant experience handling California employment matters, having practiced in Los Angeles for more than six years, initially as a sole practitioner and then as managing partner of a five-attorney firm. Both while in Los Angeles and currently, Chris handles California state and federal discrimination and California Labor Code litigations.
Chris earned his bachelor’s degree from Pomona College and his law degree from Seton Hall Law School.
Selected Experience
- Obtained preliminary injunction barring sales employees from competing with their prior employer in violation of restrictive covenants in their employment agreements.
- Received a directed verdict following trial of disability discrimination claims brought by a State University police officer.
- Successfully argued before the Third Circuit to uphold summary judgment in case alleging wrongful termination of public employee.
- Obtained two victories before the New Jersey Superior Court Appellate Division limiting discovery of confidential internal files.
- Obtained a published decision in the civil rights case of Doe v. Beard, 63 F. Supp. 3d 1159 (C.D. Cal., 2014), establishing that prisoners maintain a right to privacy in their medical records when that right does not interfere with the legitimate penological objectives of the correctional system.
Publications
- Quoted, Marijuana Laws and the 2022 Workplace, SHRM, March 31, 2022
- Co-Author, Marijuana in the Workplace [Gaming Law Review], September 11, 2019 – Marijuana in the Workplace | Gaming Law Review (liebertpub.com)
Speaking Engagements
- Effective Employee Handbooks: Best Practices for Minimizing Risk, Wilbert Manufacturers Association Annual Conference, September 18, 2023 – Annapolis, MD
- Arbitration of Employee Claims – Past Their Expiration Date or the Way of the Future? ACC Greater Philadelphia’s in-house counsel conference, May 04, 2022 – Philadelphia, PA
Memberships
- New Jersey State Bar Association, Appellate Practice Committee, Member
- New Jersey State Bar Association, Labor & Employment Section, Member
- New York State Bar Association, Committee on Courts of Appellate Jurisdiction, Member
- New York State Bar Association, Labor & Employment Section, Member
