RUTGERS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Assistant General Counsel
- Member of the Attorneys and Staff
Andy Jong concentrates his practice on labor and employment matters. He provides counsel to University offices on labor and employment law issues, and represents the University in arbitrations and proceedings before various administrative agencies.
Prior to joining Rutgers, Andy was a Deputy Attorney General in the State of New Jersey, Office of the Attorney General in Employment Counseling and Labor where he represented state agencies on a number of labor and employment matters, including arbitrations, disciplinary appeals in the Office of Administrative Law (OAL), and matters before the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC). Andy also represented the Board of Review within the Department of Labor and Workforce Development before the Appellate Division on unemployment matters. Before that, he was Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of Newark, Law Department, in Labor, where he represented Newark in arbitrations and contested cases before the OAL.
After graduating law school, Andy worked as a judicial law clerk to the Hon. Bahir Kamil, J.S.C. in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Criminal Division.
Andy received his B.A. in Labor Studies and Employment Relations from Rutgers University and his J.D. degree from Rutgers School of Law - Newark, where he was an Associate Editor for the Rutgers Law Record. Andy is admitted to practice in New Jersey, New York, the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
Job Titles:
- General Counsel
- Member of the Attorneys and Staff
- Senior Associate
Annmarie Simeone focuses her practice on litigation and the University's general affairs. Before joining Rutgers, Annmarie was a Member at Norris McLaughlin, spending more than twenty years in private practice, where she represented management in the defense of workplace disputes, including employee claims under state and federal employment laws. Annmarie regularly represented private entities, as well as and colleges and universities, in state and federal court, administrative proceedings, and alternative dispute resolution proceedings. She also provided advice and counseling on a wide array of human resources issues, with a focus on litigation avoidance. Her work in the area of higher education extended to the defense of claims alleging civil rights and constitutional violations. Annmarie also served as Co-Chair of the firm's Diversity & Inclusion Committee.
Annmarie received her J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law, and her B.A., summa cum laude, from St. John's University. She currently serves as a Trustee of the Middlesex County Bar Association and is a Past President of the New Jersey Women Lawyers Association. In 2016, she received the Professional Lawyer of the Year Award from the New Jersey Commission on Professionalism in the Law on behalf of the NJWLA, and in 2013, she was named Outstanding Woman in Somerset County in the area of Law by the Somerset County Commission on the Status of Women. Annmarie served as Law Clerk for the Honorable Robert P. Figarotta, P.J.S.C., (Ret.) Superior Court of New Jersey, Middlesex County. Annmarie is a member of the New Jersey State Bar and is admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
Job Titles:
- Associate Vice President
- Deputy General Counsel
- General Counsel
- Member of the Attorneys and Staff
Aron Schwartz joined General Counsel's Office in January 2014 after 33 years in private practice, most recently at Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith, and Davis where he chaired the Employment Law Practice Group. Mr. Schwartz began his legal career in the New Jersey Attorney General's office as a Deputy Attorney General assigned to represent the state colleges and universities. In private practice, he continued to represent colleges and universities, including Rutgers, and also represented school districts and other public entities. Mr. Schwartz is a past member of the District X Ethics committee, of which he was Vice Chair in 1988-89 and Chair in 1989-90, served a four year term on District X Fee Arbitration Committee, and is presently serving a second four year term on that Committee. He was also a member of the New Jersey Supreme Court Ad Hoc Committee on Skills and Methods from 2003-05.
Mr. Schwartz has extensive experience in State and Federal court litigation, appeals in both State and Federal appellate courts, administrative proceedings, and arbitration and mediation.
Mr. Schwartz received his J.D. degree from the Duke University School of Law in 1976 and his B.A. degree in philosophy from the University of Rochester in 1974.
Job Titles:
- Administrative Support for Mr. Cohen
- Administrative Support for Ms. Gold Henry
Job Titles:
- Member of the Attorneys and Staff
- Special Counsel for Labor Affairs
- Vice President for University Labor Relations and Special Counsel for Labor Affairs
David Cohen serves as Vice President for University Labor Relations and Special Counsel for Labor Affairs, leading the Office of University Labor Relations in the Office of the President in the negotiation, administration, and interpretation of the faculty and staff collective negotiations agreements between the University and the labor unions representing University faculty and staff. Mr. Cohen supervises the faculty and staff labor relations specialists, who support him in the administration of the University's labor relations policy. Mr. Cohen also serves as the President's liaison in collective negotiations with each of the University's unions.
As Special Counsel for Labor Affairs, David Cohen serves in a leadership role in the Office of the Senior Vice President and General Counsel as the principal legal advisor, through the Senior Vice President and General Counsel, on labor policy issues and decisions affecting the University. In addition, Mr. Cohen collaborates with, and obtains input from, OGC attorneys to develop and implement legal decisions and strategy related to University labor relations and the handling of administrative and other proceedings arising from, or related to, the University's collective negotiations agreements and other labor-related issues. Prior to being promoted to his current role, Mr. Cohen served as Associate Vice President and Deputy General Counsel for Labor and Employment in OGC.
Following law school, Mr. Cohen served as a law clerk to the Honorable William W. Wenner on the Maryland Court of Special Appeals. He began practicing labor and employment law in Baltimore, Maryland and then was an associate and partner at Carpenter, Bennett & Morrissey in Newark, New Jersey. Mr. Cohen then also was a partner at Saiber LLC. At both firms, he specialized in representing public and private sector employers in all areas of labor and employment law.
In March 2010, the Governor of the State of New Jersey appointed Mr. Cohen to serve as Director of the Governor's Office of Employee Relations. From March 2010 to April 2014, Mr. Cohen served as the Governor's point person in collective negotiations with all of the labor unions representing employees in the Executive Branch. Mr. Cohen also served as the Chair of the Police and Fire Public Interest Arbitration Task Force.
In addition to his legal work, Mr. Cohen was as an elected member of the Berkeley Heights Township governing body for nearly 12 years, serving as Mayor of the Township for almost 10 of those years. Mr. Cohen also served for over 12 years on the Township of Berkeley Heights Planning Board.
Mr. Cohen received a J.D. from the American University Washington College of Law and a B.A. in Economics from Lehigh University. Mr. Cohen is a member of the New Jersey, Maryland and District of Columbia Bars.
Job Titles:
- Administrative Support for Mr. Nolan
- Administrative Support for Ms. Apostolopoulos
- Administrative Support for Ms. Dempsey
Job Titles:
- General Counsel
- Member of the Attorneys and Staff
- Senior Associate
Elizabeth Minott's practice area is primarily transactional. Her field of expertise is in matters related to research. This covers corporate sponsored research contracts as well as state and federal grants and contracts. Ms. Minott also works on intellectual property matters, and facilitating university/industry collaborations. Her research practice also includes research compliance - human subjects (IRB); animal research (IACUC); conflict of interest issues and research misconduct.
Ms. Minott also specializes in copyright issues, including advising the Alexander Library, the Zimmerli Art Museum, and the Office of Research Commercialization on such issues as on-line education, digitization, DMCA, open access and commercialization of University copyrighted works. She works closely with the Trademark Office, and is responsible for Open Public Records Act and Open Public Meetings Act issues. In addition, Ms. Minott works extensively with the Compliance Office on State Ethics issues, and has an expansive transactional practice that covers various University contracts ranging from equipment purchases to complex multi-institution collaborations and affiliations.
Ms. Minott started her legal career as an associate in tax and benefits at Ropes & Gray in Boston. She received a B.A. and an M.A. from Harvard University and a J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center.
Job Titles:
- Associate Vice President
- Deputy General Counsel
- Member of the Attorneys and Staff
Farrah Gold Henry focuses her practice on labor and employment matters. She handles matters before the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the New Jersey Division of Civil Rights (DCR), and the Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC) and counsels University offices on labor and employment issues.
Before joining Rutgers, Ms. Henry was of Counsel in the labor and employment group of Ballard Spahr LLP. She regularly represented colleges and universities, health care institutions, as well as other public and private employers in a broad range of labor and employment litigation, including in federal and state court, before the EEOC, National Labor Relations Board, and related state administrative agencies, and in arbitration. She also counseled both public and private employers, including colleges and universities, on a variety of labor and employment issues.
Ms. Henry received her B.B.A. with high distinction from the University of Michigan and her J.D. degree from the University of Pennsylvania, where she was an Articles Editor for the Journal of International Economic Law and served as a Legal Writing Instructor. Ms. Henry is a member of the New Jersey and Pennsylvania State Bars, and is admitted to practice in the United States Supreme Court, United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and Third Circuit.
Job Titles:
- Administrative Support for Mr. San George
- Administrative Support for Mr. Schwartz
- Administrative Support for Ms. Minott
Job Titles:
- Associate General Counsel
- Member of the Attorneys and Staff
Jenna A. Rottenberg concentrates her practice in the areas of labor and employment law and student affairs and provides counsel to University offices, schools, and departments in those subject matters. She handles matters before the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the New Jersey Division of Civil Rights (DCR), U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR), U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), New Jersey Division of Labor & Workforce Development (NJ DOL), the New Jersey Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC), and other administrative agencies. She represents the University in labor arbitration proceedings, compliance reviews, and collective negotiations and supervises outside counsel in litigation related to her practice areas. In addition, Ms. Rottenberg serves as one of the co-chairs for the Office of the General Counsel's Legal Internship Program where she mentors to law students. She also serves as one of the University's pre-law advisors.
Prior to joining Rutgers, Ms. Rottenberg was a partner at Florio Perrucci Steinhardt & Fader, LLC in the Education Law Group. Ms. Rottenberg provided representation to boards of education throughout the State, including representing clients in collective negotiations, in Federal and State proceedings, and before administrative tribunals. She also provided legal guidance and representation to private employers, public housing authorities, and municipalities.
Ms. Rottenberg earned a B.A. in Communications Arts and Sciences with minors in Dispute Management Resolution and English from the Pennsylvania State University, University Park, where she also was active in honor societies, federally funded research programs, and professional organizations. Ms. Rottenberg holds a J.D. from Rutgers Law School-Newark. Ms. Rottenberg is a member of the New Jersey and New York bars, and is admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.
Job Titles:
- Administrative Support for Mr. Ronan
- Administrative Support for Ms. Simeone
- Administrative Support for Ms. Soyka
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Deputy General Counsel
- Member of the Attorneys and Staff
Jennifer McGruther focuses her practice on litigation and the University's general affairs. Before joining Rutgers, Jennifer was a Deputy Attorney General in the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety, Division of Law, where she served as Assistant Section Chief in the Education/Higher Education Section. In that role, she counseled and defended the state colleges and universities, the Secretary of Higher Education, other higher education authorities, and the Department of Education.
Before entering the public sector, Jennifer spent several years in private practice, where she worked on commercial litigation matters, most recently as counsel at Lowenstein Sandler.
Jennifer has a B.A. in Russian language from Grinnell College and a J.D. from Washington University in St. Louis, where she was an editor on the Washington University Law Quarterly.
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Deputy General Counsel
- Member of the Attorneys and Staff
Jennifer joined Rutgers in January, 2018 and focuses on providing legal advice, counsel and guidance related to procurement, international studies, finance, and other transactional matters, including general contract review.
Prior to joining Rutgers, Jennifer served as Associate General Counsel, where she had primary responsibility for all transactional legal matters, and Interim Director of purchasing both at Kean University. Before her employment at Kean, Jennifer served as Director of Project Management at the New Jersey Educational Facilities Authority, the New Jersey State authority responsible for the issuance of debt on behalf of New Jersey Colleges and Universities. Jennifer began her career as a public finance attorney in New Jersey.
Jennifer received a B.A. degree from Washington University in St. Louis and a J.D. from Washington University School of Law.
Job Titles:
- General Counsel
- Member of the Attorneys and Staff
- Senior Vice President
Mr. Hoffman served as the state's Acting Attorney General from June 2013 through March 2016. Before that, he served in the senior leadership team of Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa, as executive assistant Attorney General. Prior to that, Hoffman served as director of the Division of Investigations for the State Comptroller's Office.
Hoffman also has extensive experience in federal government: seven years as a trial attorney for the Civil Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, and from 2004 to 2010 as an assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, where he focused primarily on economic and white-collar criminal prosecutions.
Among his achievements as Acting Attorney General, Hoffman led an initiative to equip police with body-worn cameras and established a new policy directive on police-involved shooting incidents, improving the relationship between law enforcement and diverse communities. He spearheaded several initiatives to address the heroin and opiates epidemic in the state, including the enhancement of the Prescription Monitoring Program to suppress the misuse of prescription medications, and launched the opiate antidote Narcan program to law enforcement agencies statewide resulting in nearly 3,000 overdose reversals.
As executive assistant Attorney General, he was instrumental in developing strategies for handling a docket of more than 10,000 cases - in areas ranging from health care and consumer protection to securities and education financing.
At the State Comptroller's Office, Hoffman led a division that investigated and reported on issues of local and state government fraud, abuse, waste and corruption.
A graduate of Colgate University and the Duke University School of Law, where he was editor of the Duke Journal of Comparative and International Law, Hoffman also served as a postdoctoral fellow on the law faculty of the University of Tokyo and as judicial clerk for the Hon Al Engel of the U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit. He also practiced law in Washington, DC, for the law firm of Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Attorneys and Staff
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Deputy General Counsel
- Member of the Attorneys and Staff
Julianne Apostolopoulos focuses her practice on labor and employment and student affairs. She handles matters before the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the New Jersey Division of Civil Rights (DCR) and the Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC).
Before joining Rutgers, Ms. Apostolopoulos was an associate in the Labor department of Proskauer Rose LLP, where her practice focused on employment law. She regularly represented financial institutions, law firms, and universities in federal and state court matters and administrative proceedings before the EEOC and related state agencies. She also counseled private universities in a variety of employment and student issues, including compliance with Title IX.
Ms. Apostolopoulos received her B.A. with honors from Saint Joseph's University and her J.D. degree from Fordham University School of Law, where she was a member of the Fordham Law Review and received the Constitutional Law Alumni award. Following her graduation from Fordham, Ms. Apostolopoulos clerked for the Honorable Laura M. LeWinn in the New Jersey Appellate Division. Ms. Apostolopoulos is a member of the New York and New Jersey State Bars, and is admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, Southern and Eastern Districts for the District of New York, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
Job Titles:
- Associate General Counsel
- Member of the Attorneys and Staff
Keith P. Ronan concentrates his practice on transactional matters and general legal affairs. In that capacity, he represents the University in commercial transactions, contract negotiation, procurement, data privacy and protection, intellectual property, technology licensing and commercialization, and compliance. Additionally, he provides counsel to the University on litigation arising from transactional matters, including managing outside counsel.
Prior to joining Rutgers, Mr. Ronan was an associate counsel at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York City, where he focused on drafting and negotiating complex goods and service agreements, including advising the Fair Payment Program Office on the New Fare Payment System, OMNY, which is a multi-year process of replacing the MetroCard with contactless bankcards, smartcards, near field communication devices, and closed-loop virtual media. He additionally worked for several years as a Deputy Attorney General in the State of New Jersey, Office of the Attorney General in Legal Affairs where he was transactional counsel, emergency management counsel, an administrative practice officer, and the legal representative for the Consolidated Grants Management Office. Before that, he was transactional and litigation counsel within the Division of Law for the New Jersey Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Commission, Schools Development Authority, and Division of Property Management and Construction.
Immediately after graduating law school, Mr. Ronan worked as a judicial law clerk to the Hon. Jane A. Grall, P.J.A.D. in the Superior Court of New Jersey: Appellate Division.
Mr. Ronan received a B.A. with honors from Rutgers College and a J.D. from Rutgers School of Law-Newark, where he was the Managing Notes Editor for the Rutgers Law Review, an Executive Board Member for the Rutgers Moot Court Board, and a Teaching Associate to 1L Legal Research and Writing students. Mr. Ronan is admitted to practice law in New Jersey and New York.
Job Titles:
- Administrative Support for Mr. Levine
Job Titles:
- Member of the Attorneys and Staff
Job Titles:
- Counsel
- General Counsel
- Member of the Attorneys and Staff
- Senior Associate
Michael Nagy provides counsel on transactional matters and related litigation and intellectual property issues for the University's Office of Research and Economic Development, including the Office of Research Commercialization and the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs.
Prior to joining Rutgers, Mr. Nagy was Licensing Counsel at two multinational pharmaceutical corporations, Wyeth and Pfizer, Inc., where he advised senior management in the global business development department on complex commercial agreements. Mr. Nagy received a B.S. in Pharmacy from the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy at Rutgers and a J.D. from Rutgers University School of Law-Camden. Mr. Nagy is admitted to the State Bars of New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Job Titles:
- General Counsel
- Member of the Attorneys and Staff
- Senior Associate
Mitchell Levine handles and oversees labor and employment matters for the various units and entities at Rutgers, including, but not limited to, New Jersey Medical School, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, School of Dental Medicine, School of Health Related Professions, School of Nursing, School of Public Health, University Behavioral Health Care, and University Correctional Health Care.
Mr. Levine received a B.A. from Rutgers University (Rutgers College), where he majored in Labor Studies and Employment Relations. While a student at Rutgers, he served as an undergraduate teacher's assistant for the Introduction to Labor Studies course. He received a J.D. from New York Law School. Mr. Levine was a contributing editor to The Developing Labor Law treatise.
Job Titles:
- General Counsel
- Member of the Attorneys and Staff
- Senior Associate
Monica joined Rutgers in November 2019 and provides legal advice, counsel and support to various offices throughout the University including Rutgers Biomedical Health Sciences ("RBHS") and focuses her practice on health care transactions and regulatory matters.
Prior to joining the University, Monica was Associate General Counsel at Hackensack Meridian Health, and at Meridian Health System prior to the Hackensack Meridian Health merger in July 2016. Monica provided support and counsel to the various Hackensack Meridian Health entities, which include academic medical centers, community hospitals, home care companies, hospice and nursing homes as well as serving as primary counsel for various corporate departments including human resources, marketing, procurement and information technology.
Monica received her undergraduate degree from the State University of New York - College at Oneonta and her J.D. from Widener University School of Law - Delaware where she was an officer of the Student Bar Association. Monica is a member of the New York and New Jersey State Bars.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Attorneys and Staff
Job Titles:
- Associate General Counsel
- Member of the Attorneys and Staff
Ryan E. San George oversees and supervises the defense of the University and its employees in general litigation and employment litigation and provides advice, counsel, and representation on a broad array of issues and matters facing the University.
Before joining Rutgers, Ryan was Counsel with the law firm of Saiber LLC, where for nine years he represented businesses, colleges, and universities in a wide variety of civil litigation matters, including employment law, business disputes, and insurance coverage. In that capacity, Ryan routinely handled lawsuits from start to finish, took and defended depositions, briefed and argued motions, negotiated settlements, conducted internal investigations, and regularly appeared before judges in the New Jersey and New York state and federal court systems. Ryan also provided employment law counseling and advice to the firm's clients.
Immediately after graduating law school, Ryan worked as a judicial law clerk to Judge Harriet Farber Klein, Superior Court of New Jersey, Chancery Division-General Equity Part.
Ryan graduated magna cum laude from the University of Connecticut in 2008, with a double major in political science and history. Ryan graduated cum laude from Seton Hall University School of Law in 2011, where he was a member of the Seton Hall Law Review.
Ryan is admitted to practice law in New Jersey, New York, and the United States District Courts for the District of New Jersey, the Southern District of New York, and the Eastern District of New York.
Job Titles:
- Administrative Support for Mr. Cedrone
- Administrative Support for Mr. Jong
- Administrative Support for Ms. McGruther
- Administrative Support for Ms. Rottenberg
Job Titles:
- Member of the Attorneys and Staff
- Adjunct Professor at the Nathan Weiss Graduate College
- Associate Vice President and Deputy General Counsel - Health Care
Steve joined Rutgers in October of 2017. He provides legal advice, counsel and guidance to the senior leadership of Rutgers Biomedical Health Science ("RBHS"), as RBHS continues to build one of the strongest Academic Medical Centers in the country. Steve and the other attorneys in the Health Care Practice Group collaborate on a variety of transactional, regulatory, and strategic matters.
Prior to joining the University community, Steve served a number of significant health care providers. Most recently, Steve served as Senior Vice President and General Counsel to Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health, a national behavioral health care services provider serving adults and children with intellectual/developmental disabilities, autism, mental health disorders, and foster/family challenges. For more than 5 years, Steve was Senior Counsel to Hackensack University Medical Center and, prior to that, the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, where he was responsible for litigation management, transactional, and regulatory matters. He has nearly 15 years' experience as a litigation attorney with Stradley, Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP, in Philadelphia, the last 3 of which was as a Partner.
In addition to his role as an attorney, Steve has served as an adjunct professor at the Nathan Weiss Graduate College, Kean University where he taught a Masters level course in Health Care Administration and Law, and has lectured on health care topics for the American Health Lawyers Association. He is active in his local community of Highland Park, where he serves on the municipal Planning Board, and previously was elected Mayor (2010-2012) and a member of the Borough Council (2003-2005).
Job Titles:
- Member of the Attorneys and Staff
Job Titles:
- Associate General Counsel
- Member of the Attorneys and Staff
Timothy D. Cedrone concentrates his practice in the areas of labor and employment law, athletics, and student affairs and provides counsel to University offices, schools, and departments in those subject matters. He represents the University in collective negotiations, arbitrations, and proceedings before various administrative agencies and supervises outside counsel in litigation related to his practice areas. He also serves as one of the University's pre-law advisors.
Prior to joining Rutgers, Mr. Cedrone was an associate with the law firm of Apruzzese, McDermott, Mastro and Murphy. He represented public and private employers in a variety of industries, including higher education, healthcare, manufacturing, transportation, pharmaceutical, government, banking, sports, entertainment, and others. He counseled employers on compliance with state and federal labor and employment laws; litigated labor, employment, and commercial cases before state and federal courts and administrative agencies; and represented clients in transactional matters. Prior to private practice, Mr. Cedrone was a judicial law clerk the Honorable Christine L. Miniman in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division. Mr. Cedrone's previous work experience also includes time with the National Football League and the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority, where he assisted in-house counsel with labor relations matters at both organizations.
Mr. Cedrone has conducted many seminars and published numerous articles on labor, employment, and sports law issues. Mr. Cedrone has also served as an adjunct professor at Seton Hall University since 2011, and he is active in the New Jersey State Bar Association, previously serving as Chair of the Entertainment, Arts & Sports Law Section and currently serving on the Section's Executive Board and on the Higher Education Committee.
Mr. Cedrone graduated summa cum laude from Seton Hall University, where he earned a B.S. degree in Business Administration, with concentrations in Finance and Sports Management and a minor in History. Mr. Cedrone earned his law degree from Seton Hall University School of Law, graduating cum laude. During law school, Mr. Cedrone served as Symposium Editor of the Seton Hall Journal of Sports and Entertainment Law. He is admitted to practice law in New Jersey and New York and before the United States District Courts for the District of New Jersey and Eastern District of New York.
Job Titles:
- Senior Executive Administrator Support for Mr. Hoffman