Debra M. McGarvey joined Deutsch Atkins, P.C. in December 2019. She has extensive experience defending employees and employers in state and federal court in employment litigation matters. She has represented clients on various issues arising out of the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD), the New Jersey Conscientious Employee Protection Act (CEPA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA), the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the New Jersey Family Leave Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the New Jersey Prevailing Wage Act, the Federal Labor Standards Act (FLSA), and various tort, contract, and constitutional claims arising out of employment. Debra also counsels clients on termination issues, severance agreements, and restrictive covenants.
Prior to joining Deutsch Atkins, P.C., Debra clerked for the Honorable Edward T. O’Connor, Jr. in Hudson County Superior Court and then became a Deputy Attorney General with the State of New Jersey, Office of the Attorney General. As a Deputy Attorney General, Debra acted as lead attorney on numerous state and federal employment litigation matters, defending the State of New Jersey, its agencies, and employees from liability. Following her tenure at the Office of the Attorney General, Debra worked in the private sector where she represented both plaintiffs and defendants in a variety of litigation matters.
Debra is a zealous advocate of her clients and thrives in obtaining favorable results for her clients through aggressive case handling and detail. Debra obtained a jury verdict against an employer for violating the New Jersey Prevailing Wage Act and assisted in obtaining a $650,000 settlement in a gender discrimination and retaliation case.