Nicole Masella
Fairfield,NJ
Summary
Dedicated legal professional offering expertise in Insurance Defense. Proven success in building trusting rapport with clients and offering sound legal advice in clear and universal terms. Hardworking and dedicated to client advocacy. Skilled in researching and interpreting legal documents, resolving disputes and successfully negotiating settlements. Handles multiple tasks, prioritizes efficiently and meets tight deadlines. Detail-oriented team player with strong organizational skills. Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously with a high degree of accuracy.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
Work History
Attorney
Dwyer Connell & Lisbona
04.2023 - Current
- Practices insurance defense litigation.
Attorney
Hack, Piro, O'Day, Merklinger, Wallace & McKenna
09.2002 - 01.2015
- Practiced insurance defense litigation.
- Served as regional counsel for numerous companies. Responsibilities included overseeing local counsel in matters from Maine to D.C., for national companies. Traveling out of state when matters were ready for mediation and trial.
- Drafted, reviewed and negotiated contracts and other legal documents to support client needs.
- Negotiated settlements of disputes and litigation.
- Researched and interpreted laws, rulings and regulations to advise clients on business and legal transactions.
- Developed strategies and arguments for hearings, trials and appeals.
- Conducted legal research and conferred with colleagues with subject matter expertise to develop strategies and arguments in preparation for presentation of cases.
- Developed legal strategies to protect client interests and resolve disputes.
- Established calm environment for dispute settlement, utilizing conflict resolution techniques to reach agreements to contentious issues.
Assistant Prosecutor
West Caldwell Municipal Court
01.2007 - 12.2014
- Advised prosecutors and law enforcement of perceived challenges to prosecution and resolutions to such challenges.
- Directed court-assigned DA Investigator in gathering records, locating and interviewing witnesses and reviewing physical evidence.
- Reviewed felony cases to determine quality and depth of investigation, completeness of case file and complexity and severity of case.
- Investigated, reviewed and prepared felony cases for disposition.
Municipal Public Defender
West Caldwell Municipal Court
01.2003 - 12.2006
- Assisted indigent clients in order to provide representation in municipal court.
- Counseled clients on potential outcomes of legal matters.
Judicial Law Clerk, The Honorable Claude M.Coleman
Superior Court Of New Jersey- Essex County
01.2002 - 08.2002
- Researched laws, court decisions and other documents relevant to cases before court to aide in judge's decision-making.
- Used internal templates to prepare subpoenas and client correspondence.
- Managed administrative duties such as filing documents, scheduling meetings and tracking case statuses.
- Prepared travel arrangements for firm's attorneys.
- Reviewed complaints, petitions, motions and pleadings to aid in determining admissibility.
- Managed court sessions, maintaining attendant records for court proceedings.
- Prepared bench memoranda and bench briefs for judges on various legal issues.
Judicial Law Clerk, The Honorable Eugene J. Codey
Superior Court Of New Jersey - Essex County
09.2001 - 08.2002
- Researched laws, court decisions and other documents relevant to cases before court to aide in judge's decision-making.
- Managed administrative duties such as filing documents, scheduling meetings and tracking case statuses.
- Used internal templates to prepare subpoenas and client correspondence.
- Prepared travel arrangements for firm's attorneys.
Education
Juris Doctorate
Seton Hall University School of Law
Newark, NJ06.2001
Associate of Arts - Political Science, Criminal Justice & Sociology
University of Delaware
Newark, DE05.1998
Skills
- Document Preparation
- Negotiation
- Legal Strategy Development
- Client Representation
- Evaluating Documents
- Municipal Law
- Dispute Arbitration
- Strategy Development
- Case File Management
- Court-Appointed Mediation
Timeline
Attorney
Dwyer Connell & Lisbona
04.2023 - Current
Assistant Prosecutor
West Caldwell Municipal Court
01.2007 - 12.2014
Municipal Public Defender
West Caldwell Municipal Court
01.2003 - 12.2006
Attorney
Hack, Piro, O'Day, Merklinger, Wallace & McKenna
09.2002 - 01.2015
Judicial Law Clerk, The Honorable Claude M.Coleman
Superior Court Of New Jersey- Essex County
01.2002 - 08.2002
Judicial Law Clerk, The Honorable Eugene J. Codey
Superior Court Of New Jersey - Essex County
09.2001 - 08.2002
Juris Doctorate
Seton Hall University School of Law
Associate of Arts - Political Science, Criminal Justice & Sociology
University of Delaware
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