Leonard concentrates his practice in defending significant commercial motor vehicle, personal injury, employment, civil rights and professional liability matters. He has tried numerous cases to verdict in the state and federal courts and is recognized by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Certified Civil Trial Attorney. Leonard has held this designation since 2004.
Highly experienced in trucking law, Leonard handles all aspects of trucking litigation matters, from Carmack claims to the most complicated and significant bodily injury claims. In addition to his New Jersey based practice, Leonard has also handled trucking cases in state and federal courts in other jurisdictions, pro hac vice, and also provides specialized non-litigation legal services to his trucking and transportation clientele in labor and contractual matters.
Leonard represents multiple trucking and transportation clients directly, and often at the request of their insurance carriers. He has represented trucking clientele before the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the U.S. National Labor Relations Board. In addition to trucking, Leonard handles traumatic injury matters in litigation involving elevators, escalators and walkways representing contractors and building maintenance.
Leonard also handles employment and civil rights matters arising under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD) and the Conscientious Employee Protection Act (CEPA), New Jersey’s whistleblower statute. His experience includes defending both public and private employers against claims involving discrimination, retaliation, harassment, and alleged whistleblower activity in state and federal courts, as well as before administrative agencies.
In addition, Leonard has handled precedent-setting appellate matters before New Jersey Appellate Division, and also represented the defendant in Johnson v. Braddy Trucking before the New Jersey Supreme Court. He has also successfully argued appeals before the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
Leonard regularly represents clients in administrative, disciplinary and labor hearings. He also often serves as a mediator and arbitrator at the request of his colleagues.
Named among The Best Lawyers in America for Transportation Law, Leonard has also been recognized as a Top 100 Super Lawyer in New Jersey five times.
Honors & awards
AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell
The Martindale-Hubbell rated attorney list is issued by Internet Brands, Inc. A description of the selection methodology can be found here . No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.
The Best Lawyers in America, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
2007-2026
The Best Lawyers list is issued by Woodward & White. A description of the selection methodology can be found here .No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.
New Jersey Super Lawyer List
2005-2022 (Top 100 New Jersey Super Lawyer, 2009-2010 and 2012-2014)
The Super Lawyers list is issued by Thomson Reuters. A description of the selection methodology can be found here . No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.
Year joined
2019
Certification/ Specialties
Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Civil Trial Attorney, 2004
Results
Directed Verdict Obtained in a New Jersey Law Against Discrimination Case
Public Entity & Civil Rights Litigation
Trucking & Transportation Liability
September 18, 2025
We obtained a directed verdict in a New Jersey Law Against Discrimination case filed against a national trucking company after two days of trial. The plaintiff was a laborer who assisted a truck driver making deliveries to a retail store. The driver admitted to making sexually explicit comments to the plaintiff. The plaintiff argued the comments were made due to his race (African American) and were protected under the LAD. Jillian and Len argued that the comments were offensive to anyone who heard them and had nothing to do with the plaintiff’s race.
Defense obtains a published New Jersey Appellate Division decision affirming that perception of having COVID-19 does not constitute perceived disability under NJLAD.
Appellate Advocacy & Post-Trial Practice
Employment Law
June 7, 2023
The New Jersey Appellate Division affirmed the dismissal our defense team obtained in a New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD) perceived disability claim, alleging COVID-19 to be a disability under this statute. This employment discrimination claim involved a matter of first impression in New Jersey and established that COVID-19 infection, without more, does not constitute a disability under the NJLAD.
Whistleblower claim against State Police dismissed.
Public Entity & Civil Rights Litigation
November 10, 2022
Claims were brought against the state police organization and eight individual defendants (current and retired members of the state police). The plaintiff, a female State Trooper, alleged she was retaliated against for raising complaints about how male members of the State Police were treating other female employees and that her supervisors failed to take appropriate actions once her initial complaints were raised. She alleged she was denied promotion and transferred against her wishes in retaliation for making these complaints.
Dismissal of perceived disability claim alleging COVID-19 is a disability under the NJLAD statute.
Public Entity & Civil Rights Litigation
Employment Law
August 13, 2021
Our defense team successfully obtained dismissal of a New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD) perceived disability claim, alleging COVID-19 to be a disability under this statute. This employment discrimination claim involved a matter of first impression in New Jersey. A former employee filed suit asserting perceived disability discrimination under the NJLAD. The plaintiff alleged he was wrongfully terminated based upon his employer’s perception that he had COVID-19.
Successful defense of discrimination case before the New Jersey Appellate Division.
Public Entity & Civil Rights Litigation
Appellate Advocacy & Post-Trial Practice
August 13, 2021
The plaintiff filed suit against her employer, a governmental agency, alleging she was subject to discrimination under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD) based upon her disability and that she was subject to retaliation for filing a previous discrimination suit. She further asserted aiding-and-abetting claims against fellow employees. The case was dismissed via summary judgment, and the plaintiff appealed.
Thought Leadership
98 Marshall Dennehey Attorneys Recognized in the 2026 Editions of The Best Lawyers in America and the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America
August 20, 2025
Marshall Dennehey is proud to highlight the firm’s 98 attorneys who have been recognized in the 2026 editions of The Best Lawyers in America and the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America. Less than 6% of all practicing lawyers in the U.S.
Marshall Dennehey Announces 2022 New Jersey Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
March 17, 2022
Seven attorneys from Marshall Dennehey’s Mount Laurel and Roseland, New Jersey, offices have been selected to the 2022 edition of New Jersey Super Lawyers magazine.
Can a Documented COVID-19 Infection Lead to a Disability Claim Under the NJLAD?
Roseland
Employment Law
March 9, 2022
Marshall Dennehey Announces 2021 New Jersey Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
March 29, 2021
Eight attorneys from the Mount Laurel and Roseland, New Jersey, offices of Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin have been selected to the 2021 edition of New Jersey Super Lawyers magazine.
Marshall Dennehey Announces 2020 New Jersey Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
March 13, 2020
Eight attorneys from the New Jersey offices of Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin have been selected to the 2020 edition of New Jersey Super Lawyers magazine.
Classes/ Seminars Taught
'Current Employment Law Issues in Trucking & Transportation Litigation,' AM Best Insurance Law Podcast, June 4, 2024
Rules of the Trucking Industry: Staying on Track!, Transportation Lawyers Association (TLA) Annual Conference - Virtual, June 24th, 2021
'Confronting the Creative Plaintiff in Trucking and Transportation Litigation,' AM Best Insurance Law Podcast, February 9, 2021
Do Not Be a Victim - Lessons Learned from the Pilot Flying J Rebate Scheme - Transportation and Logistics Council Annual Meeting, 2014
Distinguishing Between Lease and Sub-Hauler Agreements - How to Minimize Carrier Liability - Transportation and Logistics Council Annual Meeting, 2012
Distinguished: An excellent rating for a lawyer with some experience. This rating indicates the attorney is widely
respected by their peers for high professional achievement and ethical standards.
Notable: This rating indicates that the lawyer has been recognized by a large number of their peers for strong ethical standards.
