Elizabeth F. Lorell

Elizabeth Lorell is a Partner in the Insurance, Professional Liability Defense, Employment Law, Class Action, ERISA, and Privacy & Data Security practice groups in the New Jersey, New York, and Philadelphia offices. She also serves as Co-Chair of the firm's E-Discovery practice group.

Her practice focuses on employment litigation, insurance coverage, professional liability, class actions, data security, and other complex litigation. Elizabeth defends insurance brokers, title agents, and other professionals in serious malpractice claims. She has a close working knowledge of each profession and a reputation for successfully defending these matters with zeal and sensitivity.

Admissions

• New Jersey
• New York
• Pennsylvania
• Colorado
• U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey
• U.S. District Court, Eastern, Western, and Middle Districts of Pennsylvania
• U.S. District Court, Southern, Eastern and Western Districts of New York
• U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit

Memberships/Positions

• Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel
  • Chairman of the Board, 2020-2021
  • President, 2019-2020
  • President-Elect, 2018-2019
  • Secretary-Treasurer, 2017-2018
  • Finance & Budget Committee, 2020-2023
  • Nominating Committee, 2021-2025 
  • Executive Committee, 2015-2018
  • Senior Director, 2013-2017
  • Winter Meeting Convention Chair, Marco Island, FL, March 2014
  • Winter Meeting CLE Program Chair, San Antonio, TX, March 2013
  • Director, 2012-2013
  • Vice President, 2011-2012
  • Chair of Employment Practices and Workplace Liability Section, 2010-2012
• Lawyers for Civil Justice
  • Board of Directors, 2018-2020
• Defense Research Institute
  • Board of Directors, 2018-2020
• Claims & Litigation Management Alliance
• New Jersey Federal Bar Association
• The Historical Society of the U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey
• Justice Morris Pashman Inns of Court, 1996-2000

Employment Litigation

• Elizabeth assists employers and insurance carriers in the resolution of difficult employment issues. Also defends employers and senior personnel against claims of harassment, discrimination, hostile work environment, whistleblower reprisals, and other misconduct, including alleged violations of wage-and-hour statutes. She handles ERISA litigation and has successfully defended fiduciaries against breach of contract and fiduciary duty claims.
• She also counsels clients on issues relating to interpretation of state and federal statutes in the employment and housing discrimination arena.
• Elizabeth has successfully defended housing discrimination claims of first impression on behalf of landlords and property owners in New Jersey before the state and appellate courts.

Insurance Coverage

• Elizabeth has been involved in the forefront of major insurance coverage litigation for over 20 years, exemplified by the nationally famous Love Canal environmental coverage case. She has also litigated novel issues in coverage litigation brought by the insurance carriers against the NFL and by a large national securities brokerage firm to cover the cost of past settlements with thousands of female employees for alleged historical employment discrimination.
• She also handles litigation and counsels national insurers on unique and complex coverage issues stemming from director and officers, errors and omissions, title, and first-party/third-party insurance policy disputes, including claims of bad faith.

Professional Liability

• Elizabeth defends lawyers, accountants, insurance brokers, title agents, title companies, architects, engineers, doctors, and real estate agents on serious malpractice and related claims. She has a close working knowledge of each profession and a reputation for successfully defending these matters with zeal and sensitivity.

Class Actions

• She has successfully handled class action litigation in New Jersey dealing with violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act, improper labeling of food products, diet drugs (Fen-Phen), recording of deed and mortgage fees, and discrimination and violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Her talents have added to one of GRSM's premier practice groups, as the firm has a national reputation for its experience in defeating class certification motions.

Presentations

• Through the Looking Glass:  Ethics & the Elimination of Bias in Legal Representation, GRSM Legal Education Conference, New York, New York, May 2023
• Through the Looking Glass:  Ethics & the Elimination of Bias in Legal Representation, GRSM Legal Education Conference, Hartford, CT, May 2023
• Staying Ahead of the Curve:  The ABC’s of Avoiding Employment Liability, MD Advantage, March 2022
• The Changing Landscape: Coverage Issues Arising from Data Privacy Claims, DRI Insurance Coverage and Claims Institute, Chicago, Illinois, July 2021 
• COVID-19: The Impact of Employment, Social Media and the Future of Healthcare, MD Advantage, December 2020
• COVID-19 and New Jersey Employment Law, MD Advisor, Spring 2020
• Hot Button Issues and New Developments in Employment Litigation, GRSM Legal Education Conference, Chicago, October 2019
• Successfully Navigating Through Ethical Minefields, GRSM’s New York, New York and Hartford, Connecticut Conferences, May 2018
• Employment Law: Hiring, Firing and Everything In Between,  CentraState Healthcare System, Freehold, New Jersey, October 2017
• What Changes do C-Suite Professionals see on the Horizon?, Corporate Counsel Symposium of the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, September 2017
• The Trump Card-How Politics Shapes our Employment, Regulatory and Tax Laws, GRSM’s New York, New York and Hartford, Connecticut Conferences, May 2017
• Employment War Stories: Avoiding Costly Mistakes, GRSM National Employment Webinar Series, December 2016
• An Employment Round-Up: Hot Topics in Employment Law, CentraState Healthcare System, Freehold, New Jersey, November 2016
• Elizabeth F. Lorell, et al., Do The Right Thing! Ethics For Lawyers in the Modern World, FDCC Winter Conference, San Diego, California, March 2016
• Ted Talks “5 in 10”, FDCC Winter Conference, San Diego, California, March 2016
• What Every Employer Must Know in N.J., CentraState Healthcare System, Freehold, New Jersey, November 2015
• Is THIS Sexual Harassment?, Florham Park, New Jersey, November 2015
• Back to School, Back to Work: The ABC’s of Workplace Bullying Legislation and Dealing with Bullies in the Workplace and Schoolyard, GRSM National Employment Webinar Series, September 2015
• Don’t Become a Statistic: The Top 10 Rules for Avoiding Workplace Pitfalls and Employment Lawsuits, Olathe, Kansas, August 2015
• Crossing the Finish Line: Best Practices in Avoiding Malpractice During the Mediation and Settlement Process, GRSM National Professional Liability Webinar Series, July 2015
• Innovative Strategies for Early and Cost Effective Resolution of Claims, Redbank, New Jersey, June 2015
• The Ever Evolving Duty to Defend, Redbank New Jersey, June 2015
• Cutting Edge Legal Issues and Practical Tips in Handling Employment and Discrimination Claims, Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania, May 2015
• Staying Ahead of the Curve: What Every Employer Must Know, Medical Group Management Association Annual Meeting, Atlantic City, New Jersey, May 2015
• Dealing with Defense Counsel – Mechanisms to Improve that Important Relationship, Annual Conference of the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance, Palm Desert, California, March 2015
• Best Practices in Claims Handling, Olathe, Kansas, January 2015
• Employers Beware! How to Prevent Your Company From Being Sued, GRSM National Employment Webinar Series, October 2014
• What’s New in the Coverage World?  New York, New York, July 2014
• Hot Topics in the Professional Liability, Employment and Insurance World, Deerfield, Illinois, June 2014
• The Ethics of Litigating in a Cyber World, Redbank, New Jersey, April 2014

Education

J.D., University of Denver School of Law

B.S., summa cum laude, West Chester University

Honors

AV® Preeminent™,
Martindale-Hubbell*

Mary Massaron Award for the Advancement of Women in the Legal Profession, DRI Women in Law Seminar (2020)

John Alan Appleman Award, Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel Section Chair of the Year Award, Employment Law (2011)

Top 100 Lawyers in New Jersey and Top 50 Women Lawyers in New Jersey, Super Lawyers® (2013-2018)*

Super Lawyers® distinction in the fields of Insurance Coverage, Professional Liability Defense, and Employment & Labor (2009-2023)*

Best Lawyers in America® distinction in Insurance Law (2020-2024)*

Morris County Top Lawyers, Morris & Essex Magazine, 2024

*No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.
A description of the Martindale-Hubbell selection methodology can be found at:
https://www.martindale.com/ratings-and-reviews/.

A description of Best Lawyers selection methodologies can be found at:
https://www.bestlawyers.com/
methodology.

The Super Lawyers® list is issued by Thomson Reuters. A description of the selection methodologies can be found at:
https://www.superlawyers.com/about/
selection_process.html.

What do you enjoy most about your practice?

I truly enjoy everything about the practice of law and feel very lucky to have chosen this profession. I relish the opportunity to work with our clients and colleagues on interesting, challenging and unique issues; creatively, effectively and quickly solving our clients' problems and litigation needs; all in order to get the job done and get it done well!

What is the secret to obtaining successful trial results?

Preparation, preparation and the ability to listen to and trust your gut feelings!

What are your favorite pastimes when you are not practicing law?

Sailing, reading and spending time with family and friends.