Dennis C. Schmieder

Dennis C. Schmieder is a strategic senior litigator with over 20 years of elite-tier experience in labor and employment defense and public entity litigation. He specializes in navigating the tangled web of New Jersey labor and education laws, with a proven track record of dismantling high-exposure claims through fastidious preparation, aggressive motion practice, and expert witness deconstruction. With a wealth of experience to draw from, Dennis offers clients sophisticated senior-level defense architecture for private companies or public agencies.

 Dennis has extensive litigation experience representing clients in state court and federal court in various employment matters, including claims under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination, the Conscientious Employee Protection Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 , Section 1983 of the Civil Rights Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Title VII. Dennis also represents clients before administrative courts and agencies related to employee discipline and tenure hearings, New Jersey Employer-Employee Relations Act (PERC) and National Labor Relations Board unfair labor practice charges, and New Jersey Civil Service appeals. He also has significant experience representing clients in arbitrations, negotiating collective bargaining agreements, and grievance processing.

 Dennis has a wealth of experience defending boards of education and individual board members in high-profile Child Sexual Abuse Act and New Jersey’s Child Victims Act litigations. He can adroitly navigate complex statutory claims under the New Jersey Tort Claims. Dennis served as co-trial counsel in Paternoster v. Maple Shade Board of Education (New Jersey Superior Court, Burlington County, Law Division (2025)); Paternoster was a landmark case where the jury delivered the first defense verdict under the CVA. Dennis helped architect the comprehensive defense strategy—including the aggressive deconstruction of adverse expert testimony and the preparation of the winning closing argument—to shield the client from significant financial and reputational exposure.

 Dennis also advises boards and school administrators on employment and workforce governance matters arising under the Family and Medical Leave Act, New Jersey Tenure Act, the American with Disabilities Act, and the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination, including personnel discipline, leave administration, collective negotiations issues, and regulatory compliance affecting school district employees.

 Dennis has long demonstrated a commitment to public service, education, and community leadership. He served for six years as a member of the Springfield Township Board of Education utilizing his legal perspective to support the local educational system. Additionally, he contributed to local governance as a member of the Springfield Township Affordable Housing Board from 2010 to 2019. The Affordable Housing Board is charged with ensuring that the township meets its state constitutional mandate by providing its fair share of housing for low- and moderate-income residents.

 This foundation of service began with his participation in the Teach For America program in the Mississippi Delta (1993–1996). Teach for America is a highly competitive national corps of recent college graduates committed to teaching in under-resourced public schools. It was in this pressure cooker that Dennis developed the high-level communication and conflict-resolution skills that continue to inform his advocacy for educational institutions and public entities today.

 Dennis is a graduate of William & Mary School of Law and a proud father. Dennis lives in Collingswood, NJ with his two sons and their cats Spooky and Zelda.