TEL: 201-525-6208
FAX: 201-678-6208
nmcdonough@coleschotz.com
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Legal Secretary: Evelyn Cruz
TEL: 201-489-3000 ext. 5102
ecruz@coleschotz.com

Nicole G. McDonough is an associate in the firm’s Litigation Department with a commitment to excellence.  Her practice focuses on  commercial litigation, intellectual property disputes, and employment law.

Ms. McDonough has successfully represented clients in matters before the state and federal district courts relating to contract disputes, claims of fraud, trademark infringement claims, and probate matters, among others. Ms. McDonough has also represented her clients before the Second Circuit Court of Appeals as well as in alternative dispute resolution, including mediation and arbitration before the American Arbitration Association (AAA) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).  Ms. McDonough’s clients include large and small businesses and their owners, as well as individuals in need of a problem-solver.  She counsels clients in myriad industries, including the real estate, financial services, food distributor, medical, beverage, designer furniture, and automobile industries.

Ms. McDonough's intellectual property practice focuses on counseling clients regarding registration of marks as well as protecting her clients and their intellectual property from trademark infringement claims, including violations of the  Lanham Act and the Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act.

Ms. McDonough’s intellectual property practice and commercial litigation practice before the federal court is supplemented by her involvement as a barrister in the John C. Lifland American Inn of Court, in which she has been involved since her first year of practice. 

As part of her employment law practice, Ms. McDonough represents employers and employees in a variety of matters before the courts and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), including disputes relating to discrimination and harassment allegations, restrictive covenants and employment agreements, as well as wrongful termination claims. 

Ms. McDonough’s experience with the federal courts began during law school when she served as a judicial intern to the Honorable William J. Martini, United States District Judge for the District of New Jersey.  A former summer associate of the firm, Ms. McDonough joined Cole Schotz in 2008 upon graduation from Seton Hall University School of Law, where she was a Dean Scholar.  While in law school, Ms. McDonough was also a member of Seton Hall’s Interscholastic Moot Court Board, where she received advocacy and writing honors in multiple national competitions.  She enjoys giving back to the students as a coach of one of Seton Hall’s moot court competition teams and as the coordinator for the Vincent J. Apruzzese High School Mock Trial Competition for Bergen County.

• Ask a Lawyer: A Misleading Advertisement May Lead to a Lawsuit, The Record, June 9, 2011
• Ask A Lawyer: How to Keep a Former Partner From Using Your Trademarks, The Record, September 16, 2010
• Ask A Lawyer: A Trademark Is Protection - Use It, The Record, November 5, 2009

• Employers May Not Be Liable For The Boorish Behavior Of Their Employees, Employment Law Monitor
• With “.XXX” On The Horizon, Owners of Registered Trademarks Should Take Action Before the Sun Sets, IP Law Outlook

• John C. Lifland American Inn of Court - Barrister
• Bergen County Bar Association - Young Lawyers Division - Secretary
• Vincent J. Apruzzese Mock Trial Competition - Bergen County Coordinator
• Seton Hall University School of Law Interscholastic Moot Court Board - Coach
• New Jersey Women Lawyers Association
• John J. Gibbons National Moot Court Competition - Judge
• New Jersey State Bar Association