Sanmathi (Sanu) Dev, Esq. is a Shareholder at Capehart Scatchard and concentrates her practice on the representation of boards of education and school districts in all areas of education law including: labor and employment, special education, Section 504, student discipline, student records, Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act, School Ethics Act, student residency, civil rights, tenure, negotiations, Open Public Records Act, and Open Public Meetings Act.
In connection with these representations, she is an experienced litigator before State and Federal courts, including the Office of Administrative Law. She routinely defends school districts and employers in a variety of claims involving employee discipline and termination, discrimination, harassment, hostile work environment, leaves of absence, Family and Medical Leave Act, New Jersey Family Leave Act, health and safety, whistleblowing, Americans with Disabilities Act, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and First Amendment. Ms. Dev is also an experienced special education litigator and defends school districts in due process hearings from inception through trial. In addition, she litigates employment, labor, and civil rights claims before governmental agencies, including the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, U.S. Office for Civil Rights, New Jersey Public Employment Relations Commission, and New Jersey Division on Civil Rights.
Ms. Dev also serves as labor counsel and chief negotiator on behalf of employers. She negotiates collective bargaining agreements with union leadership and manages contract negotiations with various collective bargaining units. Ms. Dev defends grievances, disputes, and arbitrations related to collective bargaining agreements.
Ms. Dev founded Capehart Scatchard’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee and served as its Chair from 2017 through February 2024. From 2018-2023, she served as the firm’s Hiring Shareholder. Ms. Dev previously served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Ronald E. Bookbinder, A.J.S.C. in Burlington County.
Publications
“New Jersey School Law Blog”( www.njschoollawblog.com ) features contributions from attorneys in Capehart Scatchard’s school law group. The blog is devoted to current developments in New Jersey education law affecting school districts, charter schools, students, and employees. Editor, 2016-present.
Implications of the Parental Right to Unilaterally Revoke Consent of Services on the Rights of a Child with Learning Disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Rutgers Journal of Law & Public Policy, 8 Rutgers J.L. & Pub. Pol’y 745 (Lexis 2011).
Related News
Capehart Scatchard Welcomes Rutgers Law MSP Students for Panel Discussion and Breakfast
July 15, 2025
Capehart Scatchard Attorneys Named To The 2025 Super Lawyers And Rising Stars Lists
March 20, 2025
Sanmathi (Sanu) Dev Appointed Chairperson Of The School Law Department
February 25, 2025
Media Appearances
Justice for All, interviewed by Rebecca Burger, Esq., 2020.
Professional Awards & Honors
Selected to the New Jersey Super Lawyers list (2024 and 2025 in the area of School & Education)
•Only 5% of attorneys are selected for inclusion in “Super Lawyers” list through a peer nominated process based on independent research and peer evaluation.
•The Super Lawyers list is issued by Thomson Reuters.
•A description of the selection methodology may be obtained by clicking on the following link: https://www.superlawyers.com/about/selection_process.html
•No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.
Selected to the New Jersey Super Lawyers - Rising Stars list (2019-2021 in the area of Schools & Education)
•Less than 2.5% of attorneys are selected as “Rising Stars” (lawyers under 40) through a peer nominated process based on independent research and peer evaluation
•The Super Lawyers - Rising Star list is issued by Thomson Reuters.
•A description of the selection methodology may be obtained by clicking on the following link: https://www.superlawyers.com/about/selection_process.html
•No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.
Rutgers Law-Camden Alumni Association’s 2019 Recent Graduate Award, 10th Annual Distinguished Alumni Awards Celebration, November 2019.
Selected to the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America list (2023-2024 in the area of Education Law)
•A description of the selection methodology may be obtained by clicking on the following link: https://www.bestlawyers.com/methodology
•No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.
Classes & Seminars
“Why Say Gay: A Look at Dangerous Trending Legislation,” Burlington County Bar Association, Diversity, Inclusion & Leadership virtual panel discussion, moderator, June 2022.
“Celebrating Black History: Civil Rights, Voting Rights and Black Health” Diversity & Inclusion virtual panel discussion, moderator, April 2022.
“Celebrating Hispanic/Latinx Heritage: Legal and Diversity Issues,” Diversity & Inclusion virtual panel discussion, November 2021
“A Deep Dive into Discovery,” Employment Law webinar, New Jersey Association for Justice, December 2020
“Are you Winning? How to Succeed as an Intern or Entry-Level Attorney,” virtual panel discussion, Widener University Delaware Law, September 2020
“Administrative Council Workshop: Employee Investigations and Discipline,” Washington Township Board of Education, February 2020
“School Law: Social Media and Apps, Cyberbullying, Privacy, and Other Technology,” NBI, December 2019
“Title IX & Affirmative Action - New Jersey School Boards Association,” Fall School Law Forum, October 2019
“What You Need to Know About HIB,” Florence Township School District, April 2019
“Seventh Annual Title IX Summit,” Panelist, Rowan University, June 2019
“Section 504 & Student Records,” Washington Township School District, September 2018
“Student Discipline,” New Jersey School Boards Association Spring School Law Forum, June 2018
“The Open Public Records Act,” Barclay Insurance, May 2018
“Writing Effective and Legally Defensible IEPs,” Gateway Regional High School District, February 2018
“Who is Eligible? Understanding Eligibility for Special Education,” Haddonfield School District, February 2018
“Student Residency and Homelessness,” New Jersey School Boards Association Fall School Law Forum, October 2017.
“Dos and Don’ts of Special Education Law,” New Jersey Charter School Conference, October 2017.
“Section 504 Training,” Washington Township School District, September 2017.
“Special Education Legal Training,” Florence Township School District, August 2017.
“Student Discipline and Special Education Training for Administrators,” International Academy of Trenton Charter School, August 2017.
“Uncommon Accommodations: Service Animals in Schools,” New Jersey School Boards Association Spring School Law Forum, June 2017.
“The IDEA, FBAs and BIPs: Legal Requirements and Grey Areas,” National Business Institute, Cherry Hill, June 2017.
“Student Surveys and Evaluations: Do’s and Don’ts,” National Business Institute, Princeton, May 2017.
“Student Residency & Homelessness,” New Jersey Association of School Administrators Spring Leadership Conference, May 2017.
“Mental Health, Including Therapeutic Placements: Balancing the Law and Family Support,” Lehigh University 45th Annual Special Education Law Conference, May 2017.
“Guide to Special Education Law for Attorneys & Educators: IEPs,” Camden County Bar Association, March 2017.
“Legal Training for Administrators: FAPE, Student Discipline, Manifestation Determinations and More,” Washington Township School District, January 2017.
“Handling IEP & Section 504 Plan Disputes,” National Business Institute, Cherry Hill, December 2016.
“Section 504 Plan Reviews & Reevaluations: Legal Best Practices,” National Business Institute, Cherry Hill, December 2016.
“Special Education Training: FAPE, Eligibility, IEEs & More,” Haddonfield School District, November 2016.
“Student Eligibility for Enrollment,” Haddonfield School District, September 2016.
“Identifying & Preventing Harassment in the Workplace,” International Academy of Trenton Charter School, August 2016.
“School Ethics Update: Shared Services and Volunteerism,” New Jersey School Boards Association, Spring School Law Forum, June 2016.
“Nuts & Bolts of Section 504 and Student Discipline,’ 8th Annual New Jersey Charter Schools Conference, May 2016.
“Student Discipline Training,” International Academy of Trenton Charter Schools, February 2016.
“Section 504 Training,” Florence Township School District, February 2016.
“Understanding the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights and HIB,” International Academy of Trenton Charter School, November 2015.
“Writing Effective & Legally Defensible IEPs,” Haddonfield School District, November 2015.
“Application of the Establishment & Free Exercise Clauses,” Woodstown-Pilesgrove Regional School District, September 2015.
“Legal Ethics in the Age of Social Media,” New Jersey School Boards Association, June 2015.
“Student Residency, Eligibility for Enrollment, and Homelessness,” Florence Township School District, January 2015.
