The Chilla Business Counsel LLC

The Chilla Business Counsel, LLC is a full service Labor & Employment practice law firm serving private businesses with locations in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. For over 25 years its principals have represented closely held businesses regarding all aspects of its employees, including hiring, day-to-day personnel questions, assisting with harassment investigations, terminations, and representing the business in discrimination lawsuits, wage/overtime claims and restrictive covenant cases. The firm serves as counsel or special labor counsel to a clientele of small business owners, large corporations, multinational corporations, numerous public entities and professional associations in connection with labor disputes, employment discrimination, personnel matters and commercial litigation.We have been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the Best Law Firms in New Jersey in labor and employment law.Both of the firm’s principals have extensive appellate experience and have appeared before the New Jersey Supreme Court. Our lawyers are well versed in all aspects of these areas of law, practicing before various state and federal courts and agencies. It has successfully handled cases before the Department of Labor, the Civil Service Commission, the Division on Civil Rights, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Public Employment Relations Commission, the Office of Administrative Law, the National Labor Relations Board, and Division of Pensions and Benefits, in addition to State and Federal Courts.The firm’s attorneys frequently lecture and prepare articles on various areas of practice including, reputation management, corporate compliance and general labor and employment matters. The firm is also actively involved with state and local bar associations in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.JAMES T. PRUSINOWSKI is a founding member of The Chilla Business Counsel, L.L.C. and has served as its managing partner since its inception. Mr. Prusinowski graduated from the University of Northern Colorado in 1996 with a B.A. and from Seton Hall University School of Law in 2001 with a Juris Doctorate.Mr. Prusinowski is currently admitted to practice law in the following jurisdictions:Supreme Court of New Jersey, admitted in 2001New York Court of Appeals, admitted in 2002United States Supreme Court, admitted in 2011Second Circuit Court of Appeals, admitted in 2015Third Circuit Court of Appeals, admitted in 2005District Court of Pennsylvania-Eastern District, admitted in 2015District Court of New Jersey, admitted in 2001District Court of New York-Southern District, admitted in 2009District Court of New York-Eastern District, admitted in 2009Since 2002, Jim has represented businesses, individuals and public entities regarding labor and employment issues. This includes advising clients on a day-to-day basis regarding rights and obligations under state and federal laws concerning employees such as leave requirements under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and New Jersey Family Leave Act (FLA); disability accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA); and discrimination issues under the Law Against Discrimination (LAD) and Title VII. He works with individuals and businesses to negotiate employment agreements that contain restrictive covenants and separation agreements that provide a severance and appropriate releases when an employee’s employment ends. For over 20 years Jim has handled litigation, including jury trials, for public entities. The litigation has included harassment and discrimination claims based upon sex, race and disability; overtime claims under wage and hour laws and Fair Labor Standards Act; breach of contract claims; wrongful arrests, whistleblower claims under CEPA; alleged violations of restrictive covenants; as well as other claims. Jim has represented business owners with business contracts, labor disputes and negotiations, employment advice and litigation as well as public entities throughout New Jersey, both through joint insurance funds and directly concerning these and other similar claims.Many of the cases Jim has handled were resolved by way of post-discovery summary judgment motion. Other cases were submitted to mediation and settled. Jim has also conducted numerous jury and bench trials. Many of the cases Jim handled were through Joint Insurance Funds, such as the Morris County Joint Insurance Fund. Jim has also handled cases on behalf of other insurers such as Chubb, CNA and Lexington Insurance Companies.Jim has also conducted litigation before arbitrators and in state agencies. Many cases have required arbitration or labor arbitration. Jim has successfully handled such cases for over 20 years. Further, Jim’s practice requires that he appear before the state agencies regularly. Jim has conducted hearings before Civil Service, Department of Labor and other agencies.Jim was named one of New Jersey Law Journal’s 2011 40 Under 40 and has been named as a Super Lawyer, Best Lawyer, Lawyer of Distinction and Top Attorney for New York in the field of labor and employment law. He has lectured on many topics including civil rights claims, administrative law, service of process, administrative remedies under state and federal employment laws, and the employee-at-will doctrine. He has also published on topics such as considerations regarding arbitration in employment cases.Prior to commencing legal representation of clients, Jim served as the judicial law clerk for the Honorable Roger F. Mahon, P.J.Ch. and has also practiced educational law.STEPHEN E. TRIMBOLI is a Partner with The Chilla Business Counsel, L.L.C.Mr. Trimboli concentrates his practice on behalf of management. He has represented municipalities, counties and businesses throughout the State of New Jersey in litigation, employment law matters, and in day-to-day advice on labor and employment law matters, for over thirty-four years. Mr. Trimboli’s practice also includes the following: commercial litigation, administrative law, occupational safety and health law, education law, municipal law, appellate practice, wage and hour law, occupational safety, and EEO compliance issues. He is also recognized for his expertise in drug and alcohol issues in the workplace and has been recognized by the Partnership for a Drug Free New Jersey for his work in this area.Mr. Trimboli is the author of the “Unfair Labor Practices” Chapter of New Jersey Labor and Employment Law, published by the New Jersey State Bar Association and the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education. He is the Third Circuit reporter for the monthly Labor and Employment Law Newsletter of the Federal Bar Association.Mr. Trimboli is a 1980 graduate of the Johns Hopkins University (B.A., General and Departmental Honors) and a 1983 graduate of the New York University School of Law (J.D., Order of Barristers). In 1992, Mr. Trimboli served on a New Jersey Department of Personnel Advisory Committee studying proposed amendments to Civil Service layoff rules.Mr. Trimboli is the recipient of the County Service Award from the New Jersey Association of Counties; the Pace Setter Award from the National Public Employer Labor Relations Association, and the Paul Gallien Award from the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, North Jersey Area.Mr. Trimboli is admitted to practice in New Jersey, the New Jersey Federal District Court, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, New York Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court.Mr. Trimboli has also provided employment defense litigation services for insurance carriers such as Chubb and Lexington Insurance. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Preferred Behavioral Health Group, and a member of the Board of Trustees of Oaks Integrated Care.