Heather A. Adelman

Department Chair
Employment

Heather A. Adelman is the Chair of HDRB&B’s Employment Law Department. Heather proactively counsels employers and employees on a broad range of workplace and employment-related matters. As a trusted advisor to both businesses and individuals, Heather represents companies and executives in the negotiation and drafting of employment and separation agreements, addressing issues such as executive compensation, restrictive covenants, and other terms of employment.

Ms. Adelman works with corporate clients to prevent workplace issues by ensuring that corporate policies and practices are in compliance with federal and state law. Partnering with in-house counsel and company leadership, Heather counsels employers on federal and state harassment and discrimination laws, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), wage and hour laws, proper classification of employees and independent contractors, hiring and firing, and performance management. Heather and her team draft comprehensive employee handbooks and other relevant documents to help employers stay in compliance.

Heather regularly provides workforce training for supervisors, management and non-management employees, on topics including the prevention of harassment and discrimination, wage and hour law compliance, workplace violence and bullying, and ADA and FMLA laws. Ms. Adelman is regularly called upon to conduct internal investigations of discrimination complaints, whistleblower allegations, and other reports of workplace misconduct.

During the Coronavirus pandemic, Heather supports business clients by providing guidance on emerging employee issues, including federal leaves, evolving state closures and guidelines, and other related business issues. Heather has also advises individuals on complex unemployment and disability related inquiries as a result of the pandemic.

In addition to running her own employment law practice, Ms. Adelman previously practiced employment law at DLA Piper, Gibbons PC, and Holland & Knight.

Professional Affiliations

  • New Jersey State Bar Association
    • Editorial Board, New Jersey Labor & Employment Law Quarterly
  • New Jersey Women Lawyers Association

Honors & Awards

  • Listed in Super Lawyers®
    • New Jersey, Employer & Labor, 2023
    • New York Metro, 2022
  • 201 Magazine, “Leading Lawyers of 201”, 2020

Publications

Speaking Engagements

Prior Experience

  • Senior Attorney, DLA Piper, Short Hills, NJ, 2015 – 2016
  • Managing Partner, Executive Partner Group, Short Hills, NJ 2013 – 2015
  • Law Firm of Heather A. Adelman, Short Hills, NJ, 2000-2015
  • Gibbons, P.C., Newark, NJ, 1997 – 2000
  • Associate Attorney, Haight, Gardner, Poor & Havens, P.C., New York, NY 1995-1997
  • Hon. Joel A. Pisano, United States District Judge, District of New Jersey
    • Clerk, 1994 – 1995

Civic & Charitable Activities

  • Millburn Township, Vice Chair/Commissioner, 2011 – 2019
  • Congregation B’nai Israel, Religious School Board, 2012 – 2016

Education

  • New York University School of Law, J.D. 1994
  • Tufts University, B.A., 1991, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa

Clerkship

  • Hon. Joel A. Pisano, United States District Judge, District of New Jersey, 1994 – 1995

Admissions

  • New Jersey, 1995
  • New York, 1995