James A. Lewis, V is an employment attorney and the firm’s inaugural Chief Diversity Equity & Inclusion Officer.

Known for his deep experience developing and implementing DEI programs in the public, non-profit and legal sectors, James serves as a thought leader in best practices in advancing diversity internally within the firm, and externally throughout the several industries by virtue of education, collaboration, and intentional initiatives. Additionally, James heads the firm’s DEI Committee which creates and promotes equitable policies, develops networking and educational activities, and supports the firm’s expansive mentorship and sponsorship impact.

Through his nearly decade long experience as an employment attorney, James leverages his expertise in employment law compliance and litigation of federal, state, and administrative matters, to inform his role as an adviser and driver of DEI. With this unique lens, James serves as a leader in the legal community and beyond. James’ DEI leadership includes his prior service as the Executive Director for the New York Bar Association, Office of Diversity Equity Inclusion & Belonging. In that role, James provided trainings on implicit bias, best practices in employee onboarding and employee feedback to organizations, which included AmLaw 200 law firms non-profit organizations, corporations, and government agencies.

James is a sought-after speaker and is frequently called upon to discuss diversity and employment matters, including building and sustaining inclusive workspaces, fostering allyship and combatting invidious discrimination. James is regularly published in connection with his insights as it relates to the evolution of DEI and workplace matters in the legal field.

James focuses his practice on advising clients on best practices ifor developing and executing their diversity, equity, and inclusion goals, informed by the ever-changinglandscape of employment law.

Ms. O’Shea-Criscione represents both employees and employers in workplace matters. Regarding employees, Ms. O’Shea-Criscione has represented individuals who have been subjected to unlawful workplace conduct including discrimination, harassment, workplace accommodations, claims arising from the Federal and State Medical Leave Acts and retaliation, including claims for whistleblowing under the Conscientious Employee Protection Act. Regarding employers, Ms. O’Shea-Criscione reviews employee handbooks, presents sexual harassment and anti-discrimination in the workplace training, as well as negotiating or enforcing non-compete and non-solicitation provisions. As a member of the bar in New Jersey and New York, Ms. O’Shea-Criscione appears in New Jersey Superior Court and Municipal Court in northern New Jersey and has been chosen one of Bergen’s Top Attorneys by (201) Magazine for three consecutive years (2012-2015).

Ms. O’Shea-Criscione is a trained and R.1:40 qualified mediator for the Statewide Mediation Program for Civil, General Equity, and Probate Cases. She mediates both private and court-appointed disputes. Ms. O’Shea-Criscione is also a Barrister member of the Justice Morris Pashman Inn of Court. Since 1993, Ms. O’Shea-Criscione has been an adjunct professor at Montclair State University, where she teaches undergraduate classes such as “Conflict and Its Resolution,” “Negotiation, Mediation, Arbitration,” “Legal Research,” and “Introduction to Law and the Legal Procedure,” as well as teaching graduate-level classes on negotiation and mediation. Ms. O’Shea-Criscione has made several appearances on New Jersey News 12 as well as WABC in New York regarding workplace issues and has presented numerous seminars on employee rights.

Ms. O’Shea-Criscione believes that careful listening to the needs of a client has earned her a reputation as a tenacious, attentive and assertive advocate. “In employment and discrimination cases, truth is stranger than fiction. People come to us with egregious circumstances, and with hard work, we have proven most effective in our representation of both individuals and corporations.”

Prior to establishing Carcich O’Shea, Ms. O’Shea-Criscione was a partner with Deutsch Atkins, P.C. Before entering private practice, Ms. O’Shea-Criscione served as a Judicial Law Clerk for the Honorable Bruce A. Gaeta, J.S.C. (1992-1993). Ms. O’Shea-Criscione earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Legal Studies from the University of Massachusetts in 1988 and her Juris Doctorate from Pace University School of Law in 1992.

An experienced litigator, John Shahdanian has argued and won cases in both federal and state courts, as well as in arbitration and state administrative tribunals. John’s reach extends from the public to the private sector, claiming high-ranking government officials and corporate C-suite officers among his clients.

John is also a trusted advisor throughout the legal community. As one of only 42 Trustees of the New Jersey State Bar Association, John’s peers have entrusted him to help the organization carry out its mission and enhance the practice of law in the Garden State. He serves as Trustee and co-chair of the Labor & Employment Law Section of the Bergen County Bar Association.

Likewise, John actively gives back to his neighborhood community; he was voted onto the Old Tappan Board of Education in 2016 and served as a coach for numerous youth sports teams in Old Tappan, where he and his family live.

Asaad K. Siddiqi is a partner at McCusker, Anselmi, Rosen & Carvelli, P.C., and focuses on commercial and employment litigation, day-to-day business matters, white criminal defense, and internal and government investigations. Mr. Siddiqi maintains strong ties with the Federal and State Judiciaries through leadership roles for specialty bar associations, service on the New Jersey Supreme Court Committees, and as vice chair and ten-year board member of the New Jersey Lawyer Magazine. Mr. Siddiqi is also a member of the board of trustees for the Association of the Federal Bar of New Jersey and is also a trustee of the Bergen County Bar Association and a member of its Diversity in the Profession Committee. He earned his B.A. in History at Rutgers College, Rutgers University in 1998 and his J.D. from St. John’s School of Law in 2001. Following law school, Mr. Siddiqi clerked for the Hon. Madeline Cox Arleo, U.S.M.J. (now U.S.D.J.). After clerking for Judge Arleo, Mr. Siddiqi joined the firm of Walder Hayden (now Pashman Stein Walder Hayden) and eventually became a shareholder.