The law firm of Porzio, Bromberg & Newman, P.C. is pleased to announce that Vito A. Gagliardi, Jr., has been named to the New Jersey Law Journal's inaugural selection of Trailblazers, in the publication’s August 26 issue. A Trailblazer, according to the editors of the Journal, is a legal professional in New Jersey who has moved the needle in the legal industry and has made significant marks on the practice. Gagliardi has been recognized as an “agent of change” for his disruption of the traditional law firm model, particularly in life sciences.

Gagliardi serves as Managing Principal of Porzio, Bromberg & Newman, P.C., and as President of Porzio Life Sciences, LLC, Porzio Compliance Services, LLC, and Porzio Governmental Affairs, LLC. He also co-chairs the firm's Litigation Practice Group and the Education and Employment Team.

Under Gagliardi's leadership since 2017, Porzio, Bromberg & Newman, and the subsidiary companies have continued to transform how in-house legal and business departments are served, by providing counseling, consulting, and technology solutions to minimize legal, compliance and regulatory risks while creating efficiencies in process, technology and budgets.

“I am very honored to be recognized by the New Jersey Law Journal as an inaugural Trailblazer in New Jersey,” said Gagliardi. “Our approach is to improve the traditional law firm model and become more than a trusted legal advisor to clients. We strive to be an interdisciplinary business partner, with a mindset that bridges the gap between our clients’ business and operational challenges.”

Porzio’s three wholly-owned business subsidiaries (Porzio Life Sciences, LLC, Porzio Compliance Services, LLC, and Porzio Governmental Affairs, LLC), were developed as alternative solutions for companies using law firms for work that could be handled by business and industry consultants, or through technology solutions. As President of the subsidiaries, Gagliardi ensures that compliance and legal professionals in companies have access to services and technology complementary to, but distinct from, Porzio’s legal services. This model helps companies bridge the gap between business, legal, and compliance teams to drive value and efficiency.

Gagliardi has empowered each of the three subsidiary companies to recruit top talent and garner resources to help them achieve their objectives. He has added depth to the management structures, with a Strategic Advisory Board and an Executive Committee, creating opportunities for high-level collaboration to develop innovative services and products for the clients’ benefit.

Within Porzio Compliance Services, Gagliardi launched an original interdisciplinary service based upon his advisory role to public and private school boards. “He saw a need for a more comprehensive approach to school security, and built a School Safety and Compliance team to evaluate school compliance with state regulations. The attention this team pays to the individual and specific nuances of each situation is quite compelling and instills confidence,” said Michael Davino, Superintendent of the Springfield Board of Education. The team includes a former United States Secret Service agent, a former Chief of Police, a former Assistant Commissioner of the State Health and Human Services Department with expertise in children with special needs, a former State Commissioner of Education, and data privacy and security professionals.

“If a legal issue is discovered,” Gagliardi added, “the client may choose to engage the education lawyers at Porzio, Bromberg & Newman. This combination of the law firm and the consulting company appeals to clients who face pressure to maximize operational efficiencies and minimize budgets.”

Gagliardi earned his J.D., cum laude, from Washington & Lee University School of Law, and his B.A. from the University of Notre Dame. He is certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey Board on Trial Certification as a Civil Trial Attorney. He has been recognized on the New Jersey Super Lawyers List for employment law every year since its inception in 2005 and in Best Lawyers in America.

Gagliardi represents school districts in numerous matters and handles an extraordinary variety of employment law matters for public and private sector clients in state and federal courts and agencies, and before arbitrators. He litigates and counsels clients in every area of labor and employment law, including issues of restrictive covenants, harassment, discrimination and whistleblowing, and represents management in labor grievances and before PERC. Gagliardi regularly guides clients through reductions in force and on employment issues related to restructuring and consolidation. He also handles investigations by management into allegations of employee wrongdoing.

Gagliardi serves as the Chairman of the New Jersey Law Revision Commission, which is tasked by the legislature with identifying areas of the law that require revision for clarification and simplification.

About Porzio, Bromberg & Newman, P.C.

At Porzio, Bromberg & Newman, P.C., a dynamic approach to problem-solving and client service creates the energy and passion that form the foundation of the firm. Porzio meets clients' rapidly changing needs by realigning our considerable resources to address demanding matters. Porzio is a business-oriented multidisciplinary law practice where attorneys collaborate with each other and with clients to find solutions to challenges and problems. Porzio strives to incorporate diversity and inclusion in its daily practices to create an enriched workplace that benefits the firm's clients.

For additional information, please visit www.pbnlaw.com.