Matthew J. Giacobbe
Managing Partner
(973) 845-6700
mgiacobbe@cgajlaw.com
Oakland, NJ
Biography
Matthew Giacobbe is an accomplished and highly experienced attorney who specializes in representing public and private sector management in all aspects of labor and employment law. He holds the position of general counsel or labor counsel for many school boards, municipalities, independent authorities, and other governmental entities throughout New Jersey. As part of an impressive track record of success, he has achieved a significant victory by successfully arguing before the Supreme Court of New Jersey in the case of Loigman v. Middletown Township, where the Court upheld that municipal attorneys are not policymakers under 42 USC §1983 and are, therefore, immune from liability for their actions during trial. Throughout his illustrious career, Matthew has demonstrated exceptional skill and knowledge in handling complex and intricate labor negotiations involving public and private sector employers, often securing concessions from unions in areas such as salary, insurance co-pays, and overtime. He regularly provides solution-oriented advice to clients on termination and employee discipline, employee rights and benefits, and other personnel matters. He has also amassed an impressive record of achievement in litigating claims involving employment discrimination, Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), wrongful discharge, retaliation, wage and hour, whistleblower claims, and restrictive covenant litigation in federal and state courts, and before the Civil Service Commission (CSC), Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC), and National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).
Matthew is a respected authority and thought leader in the field of labor and employment law and has written numerous articles on the subject. He has lectured extensively for the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education, New Jersey School Boards Association, and New Jersey League of Municipalities. He is regularly recognized as a “New Jersey Super Lawyer” by Super Lawyers, a distinguished organization known for its rigorous selection process that chooses only the most accomplished attorneys, in the New Jersey monthly magazine. This distinction is a testament to his exceptional achievements, expertise, and reputation in the field of labor and employment law. Before joining private sector practice, Matthew served as a judicial law clerk for the Hon. Garrett Brown, U.S.D.J. in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.
Matthew has been selected to Super Lawyers, a designation of top-rated practicing attorneys selected through extensive evaluation. He was awarded this distinction for 2007, 2009 – 2024 in the area of Labor & Employment Law.
Education
Rutgers – The State University of New Jersey, B.A., 1989 magna cum laude
Seton Hall University, J.D., 1993 magna cum laude
Admissions
New Jersey
New York
United States District Court, District of New Jersey
Representative List of Successfully Litigated Matters by Matthew J. Giacobbe
United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit:
– Pasqua v. County of Hunterdon, 721 Fed.Appx. 215 (2018)
– Pasqua v. County of Hunterdon, 2017 WL 4117342 (2017)
– Turriello v. Township of Edison, 288 Fed.Appx. 825 (2008)
Supreme Court of New Jersey:
– Pisack v. B & C Towing, Inc., 240 N.J. 360 (2020)
– Matter of Robbinsville Township Board of Education v. Washington Township Education Association, 227 N.J. 192 (2016)
– Loigman v. Township Committee of Tp. of Middletown, 185 N.J. 566 (2006)
Superior Court of New Jersey, Chancery Division, Somerset County:
– Borough of Rocky Hill v. State, 420 N.J Super. 365 (2010)
Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division:
– Union County College and Union County College Chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) Docket No. A-2993-22 (2024)
– Randolph Board of Education and Randolph Education Association, Docket No. AR-2023-451 (2024)
– In Re Borough of Leonia Ordinance Numbers 2018-14, 2018-15 and 2018-17, 2022 WL 1274923 (2022)
– Union County College v. Union County College Chapter of the American Association of University Professors, 2022 WL 1511279, (2022)
– Borough of Franklin v. Jeffery R. Smith, 466 N.J. Super. 487 (2021)– City of Newark v. Newark Police Superior Officers’ Association, Newark Fighters Union, AFSCME Co. 63 Local 2297, 2298 & 2299, IAFF Local 1860, Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 12, Newark Co. No. 21 IFPTE, Teamsters Local 97, JNESO Dist. Co. 1 IUEO, and SEIU Local 617 & Newark Police Superior Officers’ Association, Newark Firefighters Union, AFSCME Co. 63 Local 2297, 2298 & 2299, IAFF Local 1860, Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 12, Newark Co. No. 21 IFPTE, Teamsters Local 97, JNESO Dist. Co. 1 IUEO, SEIU Local 617 & Newark Co. No. 21 IFPTE, 469 N.J. Super. 366 (2021)
– Robbinsville Education Association v. Robbinsville Board of Education, 2021 WL 3610889 (2021)
– West Essex PBA Local 81 v. Fairfield Township, 2021 WL 2550536 (2021)
– In Matter of Ocean County College v. Ocean County College Faculty Association, 2020 WL 6038935 (2020)
– Matter of Union County College v. Union County College Chapter of the American Association of University Professors, 2020 WL 4332502 (2020)
– Township of Wayne v. Wayne Township Primary Level Supervisors Association, 2020 WL 1919641 (2020)
– Bozzi v. Borough of Roselle Park, 462 N.J. Super. 415 (2020)
– Matter of Kellish v. Union County College, 2019 WL 5061240 (2019)
– Hance v. Township of Montville, 2018 WL 4210830 (2018)
– West Morris Regional High School Board of Education v. Morris Regional Education Association, 2018 WL 4086989 (2018)
– Haul Road Holdings, Inc. v. Township of Wayne, 2018 WL 3826075 (2018)
– West Orange Board of Education v. West Orange Education Association, 2018 WL 355356 (2018)
– Borough of Madison v. Marhefka, 2018 WL 3059940 (2018)
– Highland Park Board of Education v. Hespe, 2018 WL 525308 (2018)
– Matter of City of Atlantic City v. Atlantic City Professional Firefighters International Association of Firefighters, Local No. 198, 2017 WL 4158908 (2017)
– Matter of Borough of Oakland v. PBA Local 164, 2017 WL 104618 (2017)
– Academy Exp., LLC v. Rutgers, 2015 WL 5884956 (2015)
– Brahma Const. Corp. v. East Brunswick Public Schools, 2015 WL 1880089 (2015)
– In the Matter of Justin Gabrys, Town of Dover, 2014 WL 7192537 (2014)
– Bergen County PBA Local 134 v. Donovan, 436 N.J. Super. 187 (2014)
– In the Matter of the Tenure Hearing of Francis Lawrence, Brookdale Community College, 2013 WL 5629224 (2013)
– In the Matter of Protest of B & L Tire Service, Inc. with Regard to Approval of Prequalification of Tumino’s Towning, Inc. for the Performance of Extra Heavy Duty Towing Services on the New
Jersey Turnpike, 2012 WL 3628801 (2012)
– County of Hunterdon v. Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 94, 2012 WL 1987121 (2012)
– In the Matter of the Approval of Hatikvah International Academy Charter School, 2012 WL 141495 (2011)
– Board of Education of the Township of East Brunswick v. East Brunswick Education Association, 2009 WL 4793168 (2009)
– Anglin v. City of Jersey City, 2005 WL 8176693 (2006)
– Ehmann v. Sea Spa, LLC, 2005 WL 3439935 (2005)
United States District Court, D. New Jersey:
– Ritz Hotels Services, LLC v. Brotherhood of Amalgamated Trades Local Union 514, 2019 WL 4746351 (2019)
– Ritz Hotels Services, LLC v. Brotherhood of Amalgamated Trades Local Union 514 and Justin Gottlieb Individually, 2019 WL 2635971 (2019)
– Mid-American Salt, LLC. v. Morris County Cooperative Pricing Council, 2018 WL 999675 (2018)
– Pasqua v. County of Hunterdon, 2017 WL 5667999 (2017)
– Leddy v. Northern Valley Regional High School District, 2017 WL 3923291 (2017)
– Pasqua v. County of Hunterdon, 2017 WL 2132037 (2017)
– Pasqua v. County of Hunterdon, 2016 WL 7173775 (2016)
– Pasqua v. County of Hunterdon, 2016 WL 4253958 (2016)
– Abdelmonem v. Buona Fortuna, Inc., 2016 WL (2015)
– Rochester v. City of East Orange, 2013 WL 6858855 (2013)
– Krstic v. J.R. Contracting & Environmental Consulting, 2011 WL 1042732 (2011)
– Krstic v. J.R. Contracting & Environmental Consulting, 2010 WL 395953 (2010)
– Krstic v. J.R. Contracting & Environmental Consulting, 2009 WL 10728755 (2009)
– Northeast Auto-Marine Terminal v. Marine Warehouseman and General Factory Workers Division of Local 1588 ILA AFL/CIO, 2008 WL 2704238 (2008)
– Estate of Soberal v. City of Jersey City, 2008 WL 11511794 (2008)
– Washington Township Board of Education v. Davy, 2007 WL 2990709 (2007)
Arbitrations:
– Dobco, Inc. v. Fort Lee Board of Education, AAA Case No. 01-17-0003-1316 (July 13, 2018)
– I.D., a Minor by her Guardian Ad Litem F.S.D. v. Marlboro Township, et. Al, Docket Number MON-L-3519-15 (November 29, 2016)
– Township of Middletown v. PBA Local 124, (January 11, 2016)
– Howell Township Board of Education v. Howell Township Admin Council (J Quin & P Goodall: Salary), Docket No. AR-2013-025 (May 11, 2013)
– Borough of Madison v. Teamsters 469, Case No. 11-309 (January 4, 2013)
– East Brunswick Education Association v. East Brunswick Board of Education, AAA Docket No. 18-390-01371-11 (July 22, 2012)
– Township of Mount Olive v. FOP Lodge 122 & Lodge 122 Superiors, Docket No. IA-2009-046 (July 12, 2010)
– East Brunswick Board of Education v. East Brunswick Education Association, AAA 18 390 00356 08 (May 7, 2008)
– Township of Hazlet v. PBA Local 189, Docket No. AR-2007-112 (April 17, 2008)
State of New Jersey Public Employment Relations Commission:
– Borough of Mountain Lakes v. Mountain Lakes Policemen’s Benevolent Association Local 310, PERC Docket Nos. AR-2021-366 & AR-2022-163 (July 24, 2022)
– Board of Trustees of Ocean County College v. Faculty Association of Ocean County College, Docket No. CO-2011-137 (January 14, 2022)
– Brookdale Community College v. Brookdale Community College Faculty Association NJEA, Docket No. AR-2020-128 (November 30, 2021)
– County of Middlesex v. PBA Local 152 and 152A, Docket No. CO-2022-097 (November 24, 2021)
– Township of Old Bridge v. PBA Local 127, Docket No. AR-2019-105 (March 21, 2021)
– Township of Old Bridge v. Old Bridge Dispatchers Union IFPTE Local 196, PERC Docket No. AR-2019-423 (December 9, 2019)
– Robbinsville Board of Education v. Robbinsville Education Association, PERC Docket No. AR-2019-157 (September 26, 2019)
– Township of Old Bridge v. United Service Workers Union, IUJAT, Local 255, Docket No. SN-2019-042 (August 15, 2019)
– Township of Holland v. Teamsters Local 773, Docket No. AR-2018-305 (2018)
– West Orange Board of Education v. West Orange Education Association, Docket No. AR-2017-409 (March 20, 2018)
– Secaucus Municipal Utilities Authority v. Teamsters Local 11, Docket No. SN-2018-008 (December 21, 2017)
– PBA Local 228 v. Howell Township, Docket No. AR-2016-192 (May 1, 2017)
– Union County College v. Union County College Chapter of the AAUP, Docket No. AR-2015-434 (April 20, 2017)
– Howell Township Board of Education v. Howell Township Education Association, Docket No. AR-2017-049 (February 3, 2017)
– Fair Lawn Borough v. Fair Lawn Superior Officers’ Association, Local 67, Docket No. AR-2016-481 (December 31, 2016)
– Township of Howell v. PBA Local 228, Docket No. SN-2016-061 (December 22, 2016)
– Township of Old Bridge v. Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 22 (Superior Officers Association), Docket No. CO-2015-170 (December 20, 2016)
– Township of Old Bridge v. PBA Local 127, Docket No. SN-2016-029 (May 26, 2016)
– Robbinsville Board of Education v. Robbinsville Education Association, Docket No. SN-2016-003 (January 28, 2016)
– CWA, Local 1075 v. Township of Middletown, Case No: AR-2015-452 (November 28, 2015)
– Township of Middletown v. Communications Workers of America Local 1038, Docket No. AR-2014-094 (July 24, 2014)
– Brookdale Community College v. Brookdale Community College Faculty Association, Docket No. AR-2014-219 (July 2, 2014)
– Township of Middletown v. PBA Local 124, Docket No. AR-2011-028 (May 9, 2014)
– City of East Orange v. FOP Lodge 111 and Tyshon Bryant, Docket No. AR-2013-0842 (February 15, 2014)
– Kittatinny Regional BOE v. Kittatinny Education Association, (January 27, 2014)
– Howell Township v. Transport Workers Union Local 225 Branch 4, PERC Case No. AR-2013-416 (January 17, 2014)
– Township of Middletown v. CWA Local 1038 (now Local 1075), Docket No. AR-2013-667 (January 24, 2014)
– West Orange Board of Education v. West Orange Education Association, Docket No. SN-2016-073 (January 7, 2014)
– Township of Middletown v. PBA Local 124, Consolidated Cases AR-2010-367 and AR-2012-304 (August 18, 2014)
– Hunterdon County Corrections v. FOP Lodge No. 29, Docket No. AR-2013-088 (February 10, 2014)
– The Howell Township Board of Education v. The Howell Township Education Association, PERC Docket No. AR-2013-812 (January 8, 2014)
– Howell Township v. TWU Local 225, Branch 4, Docket No. AR-2012-265 (August 20, 2013)
– Hunterdon County Sheriff’s Office v. Hunterdon County Jail Employees’ F.O.P Lodge #29, Docket No. AR-2013-107 (July 10, 2013)
– City of East Orange v. Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 111, Docket No. IA-2013-23 (June 12, 2013)
– Howell Township v. Howell Township Police Superior Officers Association Local No. 228, Docket No. AR-2012-275 (February 25, 2013)
– City of East Orange v. East Orange Engineering Supervisory Personnel Association, AR-2012-166 (January 16, 2013)
– Brookdale Community College v. Brookdale Community College Administrative Association, NJEA, Docket No. AR-2011-929 (June 8, 2012)
– Borough of Madison v. PBA Local 92 & PBA Local 92 SOA, Docket No: IA-2010-109 & IA-2010-110 (July 9, 2012)
– Howell Township v. TWU Local 225, Branch 4, Docket No. AR-2012-265 (June 4, 2012)
– Township of Fairfield v. PBA Local No. 81, Docket No. AR-2010-259 (June 13,2012)
– Township of Middletown v. PBA Local 124, PERC Docket No. AR-2011-248 & AR-2011-307 (May 29, 2011)
– Township of Fairfield v. West Essex PBA Local 81, Docket IA-2010-090 (December 22, 2011)
– Township of Springfield v. PBA Local 76, Docket No. IA-2012-003 (November 21, 2011)
– Township of Denville v. Police Benevolent Association, Local 142, Docket No. IA-2011-053 (July 31, 2011)
– Township of Howell v. TWU Local 225, Branch 14, Case No. AR-2011-598 (July 15, 2011)
– Township of Middletown v. PBA Local 124, Docket No. AR-2010-590 (March 5, 2011)
– Town of Boonton v. PBA Local 212, Docket No: IA-2009-056 (December 23, 2010)
– Town of Clinton v. PBA Local 188, Docket No: IA-2010-100 (December 14, 2010)
– Borough of Demarest v. PBA Local No. 350, Docket No. AR-2009-721 (February 9, 2010)
– County of Monmouth v. PBA Local No. 314, Docket No. AR-2008-111 (January 30, 2009)
– County of Monmouth v. CWA Local 1032, Docket No. AR-2005-638 (March 1, 2006)
– Monmouth County Prosecutor v. PBA Local 256 & PBA Local 256 (SOA), Docket Nos. IA-2007-002 & IA-2007-003 (October 16, 2006)