Sanmathi (Sanu) Dev

Ms. Dev concentrates her practice on the representation of boards of education and school districts in all areas of education law including: labor and employment, special education, Section 504, student discipline, student records, Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act, School Ethics Act, student residency, civil rights, tenure, negotiations, Open Public Records Act, and Open Public Meetings Act.

In connection with these representations, she is an experienced litigator before State and Federal courts, including the Office of Administrative Law. She routinely defends school districts and employers in a variety of claims involving employee discipline and termination, discrimination, harassment, hostile work environment, leaves of absence, Family and Medical Leave Act, New Jersey Family Leave Act, health and safety, whistleblowing, Americans with Disabilities Act, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and First Amendment. Ms. Dev is also an experienced special education litigator and defends school districts in due process hearings from inception through trial. In addition, she litigates employment, labor, and civil rights claims before governmental agencies, including the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, U.S. Office for Civil Rights, New Jersey Public Employment Relations Commission, and New Jersey Division on Civil Rights.

Ms. Dev also serves as labor counsel and chief negotiator on behalf of employers. She negotiates collective bargaining agreements with union leadership and manages contract negotiations with various collective bargaining units. Ms. Dev defends grievances, disputes, and arbitrations related to collective bargaining agreements.

Ms. Dev founded Capehart Scatchard’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee and served as its Chair from 2017 through February 2024. From 2018-2023, she served as the firm’s Hiring Shareholder. Ms. Dev previously served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Ronald E. Bookbinder, A.J.S.C. in Burlington County.

Publications

New Jersey School Law Blog - A blog devoted to current developments in New Jersey education law affecting school districts, charter schools, students, and employees featuring contributions from attorneys in Capehart Scatchard’s School Law Group. Editor, 2016 to present.

Implications of the Parental Right to Unilaterally Revoke Consent of Services on the Rights of a Child with Learning Disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Rutgers Journal of Law & Public Policy, 8 Rutgers J.L. & Pub. Pol’y 745 (Lexis 2011).

Professional Awards & Honors

Selected to the New Jersey Super Lawyers list (2024-2026 in the area of School & Education)

•Only 5% of attorneys are selected for inclusion in “Super Lawyers” list through a peer nominated process based on independent research and peer evaluation.
•The Super Lawyers list is issued by Thomson Reuters.
•A description of the selection methodology may be obtained by clicking on the following link: https://www.superlawyers.com/about/selection_process.html
•No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.

Selected to the New Jersey Super Lawyers - Rising Stars list (2019-2021 in the area of Schools & Education)

•Less than 2.5% of attorneys are selected as “Rising Stars” (lawyers under 40) through a peer nominated process based on independent research and peer evaluation
•The Super Lawyers - Rising Star list is issued by Thomson Reuters.
•A description of the selection methodology may be obtained by clicking on the following link: https://www.superlawyers.com/about/selection_process.html
•No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.

Rutgers Law-Camden Alumni Association’s 2019 Recent Graduate Award, 10th Annual Distinguished Alumni Awards Celebration, November 2019.

Selected to the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America list (2023-2024 in the area of Education Law)

•A description of the selection methodology may be obtained by clicking on the following link: https://www.bestlawyers.com/methodology
•No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.

Media Appearances

Justice for All, interviewed by Rebecca Burger, Esq., 2020: click here .