Kelly Magnus Purcaro

Overview

Kelly Purcaro is a partner in the Litigation practice group at Greenspoon Marder LLP, specializing in complex commercial litigation across the United States. As a seasoned trial attorney, Ms. Purcaro is experienced in an array of litigation matters, including state and national multi-party business disputes, class actions, employment disputes, consumer fraud, breach of contract, and restrictive covenants litigation. Often in her practice, Ms. Purcaro represents both individual and institutional clients in most sensitive matters.

As a pragmatic negotiator and vibrant litigator, Ms. Purcaro has become proficient in handling “bet the company” cases and works closely with clients to develop creative strategies that yield positive results. Ms. Purcaro also serves the legal community both locally and nationally. She recently served two terms as co-chair of the Class Action Committee of the New Jersey State Bar Association and serves on various national steering committee positions. Currently, Ms. Purcaro is also a member of the Preferred Panel of Counsel for a multi-billion-dollar international corporation headquartered in New Jersey. As a prominent member of her community, Ms. Purcaro has devoted time as a pro bono attorney for victims of domestic violence, serving as a trial counsel through Alternatives to Domestic Violence (ADV) in New Jersey. Moreover, Ms. Purcaro frequently serves as a sought-after guest lecturer at both state and national conferences and was recently featured for her legal insights on the Amazon Prime Docuseries “LuLaRich” as a result of her leadership role in the underlying national class action.

Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Purcaro majored in Social Work and minored in Political Science at Rutgers University, earning her bachelor’s degree in 2001. Through an advanced standing accelerated one-year program, she earned a master’s degree in Social Work in 2002, while simultaneously completing her graduate fellowship at the Eagleton Institute of Political Science. Ms. Purcaro served as the Director of Government Relations for a non-profit organization, focusing on statewide lobbying for social justice and grassroots organizing through New Jersey. Afterward, Ms. Purcaro continued her studies at the Rutgers University School of Law as a Carol and Paul Miller Scholar, where she served as a Staff Editor for the Business Law Journal, and an intern for the Honorable Judge Stanley R. Chesler in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, prior to completing her Juris Doctor degree.

Bar Admissions

New Jersey
New York

Court Admissions

U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey
U.S District Court, Southern District of New York
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit

Education

J.D., Rutgers University School of Law, 2009
MSW, Rutgers University (New Brunswick), 2002
Graduate Fellow, Eagleton Institute of Politics, 2002
B.A., Rutgers University, Social Work, and Political Science, 2001

Experience

Professional & Community Involvement

New Jersey Women Lawyers Association, Women’s Leadership Committee Board of Directors, Member, 2024-2026
New Jersey State Bar Association Class Action Committee, Immediate Past Chair and Current Member, 2024-2025
Alternatives to Domestic Violence (ADV) New Jersey, Trial Counsel
National Association of Women Lawyers, Mid-Year Meeting, Host Committee
United States District Court for the District of New Jersey ReNew Reentry Program, Former Pro Bono Attorney
Rutger’s Center for Gender Justice and Law Student Summer Fellowship, Planning and Selection Committee
New Jersey Federal Bar Association, Member
New Jersey State Bar Association, Member
Bergen County School Children Food Drive (New Jersey) in association with the Center for Food Action, Organizer, 2018
Female Professionals Clothing Drive (Bergen County, NJ) in association with Dress for Success, Organizer, 2019

Speaking Engagements

Presenter, “Best Practices for a Successful Employment Arbitration,” Webinar, NJICLE, September 30, 2024
Featured Speaker “Navigating Change: The Potential Ban on Non-competes and Its Impact on the Alcohol Industry,” Women of the Vine & Spirits Legally Poured Webinar Series, June 27, 2024
Featured Speaker, “Best Practices for a Successful Employment Arbitration,” Webinar, NJICLE, June 10, 2024
Featured Speaker, “Class Action Playbook,” Webinar, NJICLE, July 12, 2023
Speaker, “Hot Topics in Class Actions” Cambridge National Forum, Litigation Series, New Orleans, LA, October 2022
Speaker/Moderator, “A Class Actions Update: Federal and New Jersey Developments for 2021-2022,” New Jersey State Bar Association Annual Conference, May 19, 2022
Speaker, “Recent Developments in Consumer Class Actions,” NJICLE CLE Program, February 17, 2022
Speaker, “A Class Actions Update: Federal and New Jersey Developments for 2020-2021,” New Jersey State Bar Association Annual Conference, May 19, 2021
Speaker, “Class Action Update,” New Jersey State Bar Association Seminar, May 19, 2021
Speaker, “Little vs. Kia Motors – The Essential Case Study on Damages in Class Actions” The NJICLE Winter Conference, New Jersey Institute of Continuing Legal Education, November 2020
Speaker, ” Class Action Litigation in 2020,” New Jersey State Bar Association Seminar, February 10, 2020
Speaker, “Class Action Playbook,” New Jersey State Bar Association Seminar, October 17, 2019
Speaker, “Class Actions: Perspectives on Key Issues,” New Jersey State Bar Association Annual Conference, May 17, 2019
Speaker, “The Future of Class Actions in New Jersey,” New Jersey State Bar Association Annual Conference, May 18, 2017
Speaker, “Find it Free and Find it Fast: Strategies for Legal Research” National Business Institute Seminar (NBI), New Jersey, 2013

Awards

Recognitions

ALM|Law.com, “Diversity Initiative Finalist,” New York Legal Awards, 2024
Marquis, “Who’s Who in America,” Listee, 2023
ALM|Law.com, “Mentors,” New Jersey Legal Awards, 2023
NJBIZ, “Leaders in Law Award Honoree,” 2023
Super Lawyers Magazine, “New Jersey Super Lawyer,” 2023
Super Lawyers Magazine, “New Jersey Rising Stars,” 2012-2013, 2017-2019
United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, ReNew Reentry Program Service Award Recipient, 2017