Galit Kierkut, Experience and Skill in Legal Practices

Sills Cummis & Gross are one of New Jersey's most renown law firms, famous for their aggressive representation of diversity issues, community work and courtroom success. They are comprised of some of the most talented legal professionals in America today, who strive to carry out the rule of law and help their clients seek justice in the most efficient ways possible Galit Kierkut is one such professional who works closely with Sills Cummis & Gross, and has excelled in her position in the company. She continues to strive to improve not only the practices of the law firm, but also her own skill set so that she can best aid clients with their legal inquiries.

Galit Kierkut main areas of expertise and professional focus is on employment litigation and counseling. She is responsible for conducting human resources audits, performs management and employee training in all areas, including sexual harassment, social media and electronic communications use, and counsels clients regarding compliance with state and federal employment laws, including discrimination laws, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), family and medical leave, and the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act.

In her position within Sills Cummis & Gross, Galit Kierkut is responsible for handling reviews and drafts employee handbooks, social media policies and employment contracts, including restrictive covenants and severance agreements. Her employment litigation practice is mainly concentrated on resolving claims in the areas of discrimination, sexual harassment, restrictive covenants, whistleblowing and employment contract disputes in state and federal courts and before the Department of Labor and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

Galit Kierkut Focuses On Employment Legislation, and her area of expertise best epitomizes the approach Sills Cummis & Gross have taken towards legal representation. All too often we see people's rights and dignity violated in the workplace, and legal firms such as this aggressively represent their clients to make sure they can stand up against the firms however large they are. As well as her work here, Galit Kierkut has also been apart of many legal organizations and honors; Executive Board, New Jersey Women Lawyers Association as the Nominations Director and Past President; and Member, New Jersey State Bar Association as a Member, Executive Board, Labor & Employment Law Section and Co-Chair, Employment Trial Practices Subcommittee, Labor & Employment Law Section. She continues today to dedicate herself and professional life to the legal industry and elevating Sills Cummis & Gross' services to ensure clients can reach their legal goals.

Galit Kierkut, Whistleblowers and American Culture

In modern history, the topic of whistleblowers is something that has captured the public’s attention and imagination. A whistleblower is someone who exposes any kind of information or activity that is deemed illegal, unethical, or not correct within an organization that is either private or public. Notable whistleblowers include Edward Snowden, Bradley Manning, Daniel Ellsberg, Julian Assange, and Aaron Swartz. There is much debate surrounding whistleblowers that are often viewed by the public as heroes, while simultaneously being persecuted—not to mention prosecuted—by the government or organizations that they have spoken out against. At times, these organizations have taken legal and other actions that have driven whistleblowers to feel the country and seek asylum, or even take their own lives. Therefore, the topic of whistleblowers and the details of how to handle such delicate situations is something that needs to be taken seriously by the public, government, and court system.

In a recent article by attorney Galit Kierkut, “Whistleblowing, and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act” (SOX), she explains how whistleblowers are afforded protection by the law, but the general topic is still convoluted, even to attorneys. As she writes, “although welcome, the impact of the decision on SOX whistleblower legislation still remains unclear given the lack of clarity on what types of companies will qualify as 'contractors.' Furthermore, given the split decision of the Supreme Court (6-3), the dissenting justices warned that the majority's decision, “threatens to subject private companies to a costly new front of employment legislation.” This was contradicted by the majority, who maintained that there was “scant evidence” that the decision would result in the opening of any floodgates for whistleblower suits outside of the purpose of Section 1514A.

Enacted in 2002 against in the aftermath of corporate scandals such as Enron and WorldCom, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act contributes to the mystique surrounding whistleblowers. Are they heroes and champions of the public or are they traitors to their country or organization? In one noted case from the early 2000s, an employee at a large Silicon Valley tech firm came forward with evidence of ongoing fraudulent activity being conducted by the company against the United States government. In this instance, the government itself was up against a corporation, and after more than five years, they eventually reached a settlement of $75.5 million, one of the largest in the history of the False Claims Act.

For more information, look for other articles by Galit Kierkut: “Supporting Working Women”, “Why Whistle-blowing Laws Are so Significant to Health Care Entities: A Case Study from New Jersey”.