MACHADO LAW GROUP - Key Persons
As an associate with Machado Law Group, Arian takes pride in solving various legal problems with ingenuity, diligence and efficiency. Prior to joining the firm, Arian worked at a local law firm, where he focused his practice on the Conscientious Employee Protection Act, employment discrimination, wrongful discharge claims, as well requests for leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act. Currently, Arian continues to focus his practice on personnel and employment law matters, including employment discrimination claims.
Christine's extensive background in litigation brings a unique perspective to the firm. Her experience includes the representation of both individuals and public entities in a broad array of civil litigation matters, both before state court and administrative agencies. Her practice includes discovery, motions, depositions, mediation, arbitration and appellate work. Christine first works with clients to establish their goals and then assists them to achieve the best practical result possible, with an eye towards the reduction of costs.
An Associate with Machado Law Group, Christine was a corporate immigration attorney for over six years prior to joining our firm. Christine brings her experience of "crafting out of the box solutions" for clients in areas of law that experience frequent change. Her practice includes a variety of school law matters including Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying (HIB), board policy, employment and contract matters and negotiations.
Christine's desire to help others led her to a career in the law, where she is a highly skilled attorney. She has worked in small to mid-sized law firms specializing in the areas of education law, employment law, and immigration law.
Christine has represented boards of education in a myriad of school law matters. She has rendered legal advice to school boards and school administrators on legal issues, including Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying (HIB) matters, student and employee discipline, board policy, tenure and seniority rights, student rights, employment and contract matters, student issues, residency matters, and special education matters. Christine has also conducted workshops and in-service training for educational professionals covering topics, such as sexual harassment, affirmative action, board policy, HIB, and special education.
Christine has counseled and represented clients concerning employment contracts, separation agreements, reasonable accommodations, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the New Jersey Family Leave Act (NJFLA), wrongful discharge, and harassment, discrimination and retaliation matters. Christine has also conducted internal investigations of complaints of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, as well as, HIB complaints.
In the area of immigration, Christine has prepared employment-based visas for permanent residents, including the PERM application, I-140 petition, and adjustment of status. She has also handled employment-based visas for temporary workers, including H-1Bs, L-1s, and P-1s. She has rendered advice on student visas and employer's I-9 compliance requirements. Christine has also provided representation in petitions for family-based permanent residency, citizenship, and naturalization. Christine is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA).
Christine is active in her community and has been involved with the Junior League of Elizabeth-Plainfield (JLEP) since 2007. JLEP is a nonprofit organization of women committed to developing the potential of women as leaders. Christine first served as Chair of the JLEP's signature project, Career Closet, that offers career-dressing services at no charge to women who are struggling financially to provide them with the self-confidence and self-esteem to succeed in the workplace. Christine then served on the Board of the Junior League of Elizabeth-Plainfield as President Elect (2012-2013) and President (2013-2014).
Christine received her Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Seton Hall University School of Law in 1999 and her Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, from Boston College in 1994.
Christine is fluent in the Spanish language.
Christine has represented boards of education in a myriad of school law matters. She has rendered legal advice to school boards and school administrators on legal issues, including Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying (HIB) matters, student and employee discipline, board policy, tenure and seniority rights, student rights, employment and contract matters, student issues, residency matters, and special education matters. Christine has also conducted workshops and in-service training for educational professionals covering topics, such as sexual harassment, affirmative action, board policy, HIB, and special education.
In the area of immigration, Christine has prepared employment-based visas for permanent residents, including the PERM application, I-140 petition, and adjustment of status. She has also handled employment-based visas for temporary workers, including H-1Bs, L-1s, and P-1s. She has rendered advice on student visas and employer's I-9 compliance requirements. Christine has also provided representation in petitions for family-based permanent residency, citizenship, and naturalization. Christine is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA).
Job Titles:
- Founder
- Founding Partner
- Senior Partner
- Adjunct Professor at Seton Hall Law School
Isabel is the founding partner of the Machado Law Group and has devoted her distinguished legal career to the practice of education law. By listening and asking the right questions, Isabel has developed a unique ability to truly partner with clients on creative problem solving. Her collaborative approach fosters understanding and identification of goals and potential obstacles to achievement.
Isabel's practice involves all aspects of education law, including litigation at all levels of state and federal courts and administrative agencies. She has an in-depth background in special education law, board policy, and administrative matters. Isabel focuses primarily on counseling and litigating on behalf of school districts with respect to employment and contract matters, labor negotiations, and special education.
Isabel is a dynamic and sought-after author and public speaker, who routinely conducts workshops and in-service programs for board of education members, school administrators and staff, and industry organizations, including the New Jersey Association of School Administrators (NJASA), New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA), Seton Hall University's Superintendent Study Council and LRP Publications, Inc.
Isabel is an Adjunct Professor at Seton Hall Law School. She is also a contributor and regular presenter for LEGAL ONE where she has written the special education training materials. LEGAL ONE is a program that meets the legal requirement for all NJ school leaders to complete 12 hours of training in school law, ethics, and governance. In addition, Isabel has published IDEA & Joint Custody, Your District's Obligations to Each Parent.
In 2008, Isabel was recognized by the New Jersey Law Journal and NJBIZ as one of its "40 Under 40" and a Super Lawyers Rising Star. Isabel is admitted to practice law in New Jersey and New York. Isabel also holds a Certificate of Eligibility as a School Business Administrator.
Jessika is a Partner at Machado Law Group who provides representation to school districts across all subject areas throughout the state of New Jersey. In this role, Jessika routinely interprets statutory, regulatory, and constitutional matters as they apply to school districts, employees, and students. She reviews and drafts school board policies. She negotiates collective bargaining agreements and assists in administrative compliance with established agreements. She consults on all aspects of personnel and labor relations, including: hiring, discipline and discharge of employees; grievances and arbitration; contracting, bidding and procurement; and special education and student discipline matters. Jessika has successfully represented clients in mediations, administrative hearings, and in state and federal courts, including the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. She has experience litigating cases related to the Individual with Disabilities Education Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act, student disciplinary actions, Office of Civil Rights (OCR) and Department of Education complaints, and a wide variety of personnel related matters.
Jessika routinely conducts seminars and in-service workshops to boards of education, school administration and staff, and at school law and bar association forums. Past presentations include the Legal One four-part Special Education Law Series, which she developed for the organization, Board Members' Roles and Responsibilities, the Basics of Special Education for Board Members, Student Records and Confidentiality, Reducing the Costs of Special Education Litigation, Procedural Safeguards, Hot Topics in Special Education, Section 504: A Road Map to Compliance, I&RS: Effective Usage and Best Practices, Special Education for Administrators, Nursing Services In The School Setting, Legal and Effective IEPs, and HIB & Discipline Rights, Responsibilities & Best Practices. Jessika is also regularly authors feature articles for Special Education Connections. In June of 2018, Jessika is honored to be participating as a speaker on special education law at an international conference on education, in Athens, Greece.
Jessika served as counsel to low-income children in the Special Education Clinic while attending law school at Rutgers School of Law-Newark. She is a member of the New Jersey Bar Association, the American Bar Association and is admitted to practice in New Jersey and in the federal court, including the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
Jessika is a Partner at Machado Law Group who provides representation to school districts across all subject areas throughout the state of New Jersey. In this role, she collaborates with clients to identify and understand district needs, and then provide guidance and advice to ensure legal compliance moving forward. Jessika routinely conducts internal audits for all the firm's clients to ensure compliance with mandatory laws, and then creates professional development trainings unique to the needs of the district, based on data-driven audit results, particularly on the area of special education. She negotiates collective bargaining agreements and assists in administrative compliance with established agreements. Jessika consults on all aspects of personnel and labor relations, including: hiring, discipline and discharge of employees; grievances and arbitration; contracting, bidding and procurement; and special education and student discipline matters.
Maxwell comes to us after completing a clerkship with the Honorable Stephanie Ann Mitterhoff, Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division. His diligent, down-to-earth approach to the practice of law is an excellent complement to our team. He prides himself on tailoring creative solutions to our clients' needs, focusing on labor relations and negotiations.
Maxwell received his Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from Rutgers Law School - Newark, and his Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, from William Paterson University. He was the recipient of the Rutgers Law School Award for Excellence in Labor and Employment Law for the class of 2020. While attending law school, Maxwell was a student attorney in the Education and Health Law Clinic and served as a Managing Editor for the Rutgers Law Record. Maxwell is admitted to practice in New Jersey.