Thomas E. Emala

Tom Emala is a Partner in MKCI’s Livingston, NJ office. His practice focuses on litigation, particularly the defense of individuals, businesses, non-profits, and insurance carriers in a variety of contexts. He has extensive experience in defending employment litigation matters, including discrimination and whistleblower claims and other related matters. His practice includes the defense of public entities and private companies in the defense of sexual abuse and molestation claims, including particularly those arising under the Child Victims Act, the Law Against Discrimination, and the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2003.

Beyond these areas, Tom’s litigation practice is wide-reaching and varied, with significant experience in a wide variety of civil litigation matters. This includes the defense of automobile and trucking claims, premises liability claims, and educational liability matters. Private and public educational clients regularly retain Tom to defend allegations ranging from sexual abuse to athletic training complaints, bullying and hazing issues, and negligent supervision allegations. He has also represented clients in multi-million dollar construction litigations and in environmental remediation litigations arising under New Jersey’s Spill Act, the Environmental Rights Act, and CERCLA.

No matter what type of legal issue is confronted, Tom prioritizes aggressive but pragmatic – and cost-effective – legal counsel. From pre-suit investigations all the way through trial or arbitration and appeal, where needed, Tom’s approach is to take innovative and proactive steps to maximize his clients’ leverage.

At the firm, Tom is a member of MKCI’s Leadership Committee and Client Relations Committee. He devotes a substantial amount of time to training other attorneys, and regularly presents to insurance carriers and other clients on a wide variety of legal topics, including public entity and educational institution liability, construction liability, and construction defect litigation. He also regularly writes on diverse legal topics and publishes articles regarding recent developments in the law.

Tom is an alumnus of the Morris Pashman Inn of Court, and is a member of the Bergen county Bar Association, the New Jersey Defense Association, and the Defense Research Institute. In 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2022, he was named a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers in 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2022 (the methodology for the selection process can be found at superlawyers.com. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey).

On a personal level, Tom is involved in his local church community and is a proud member of the Knights of Columbus.

Prior to beginning his practice with MKCI as an associate in 2015, Tom served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Robert C. Wilson, in the Law Division of the Superior Court of New Jersey, Bergen County, where he managed the Vicinage’s Complex Business and Construction Litigation Program.

Tom obtained his Juris Doctor degree from Seton Hall University School of Law, and graduated cum laude. During his time at Seton Hall Law, Tom served as an Associate Editor of the Seton Hall Circuit Review and was appointed President of the Seton Hall Law Federalist Society chapter. Tom earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Fordham University.

* View peer-review methodologies at martindale.com, bestlawyers.com, and superlawyers.com. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.