Nancy Erika Smith has strict criteria for the clients she chooses to represent in court, and only works with a fraction of the people who come to her with tales of discrimination.
But when she met Gretchen Carlson, Smith knew right away Carlson would make the cut.
“Meeting with Gretchen, I really hit it off with her,” Smith said. “We don’t have to agree on all of our politics, but she’s been consistent in women’s rights and fighting for herself.”
Tom Doherty, management-side employment attorney at McCarter & English in Newark, N.J., has had more cases against Mullin than Smith, but he always suspects she isn’t too far away. As a team, Doherty said Smith and Mullin are proficient in “creative lawyering,” finding innovative and surprising ways to interpret the law.
“You wind up being involved in some cutting-edge arguments,” Doherty said. “It’s usually not a dull case if Nancy and Neil are on the other side.”
Doherty had a case with Mullin about 12 years ago that went to trial. While Doherty was prepping his materials, he looked over to see Mullin reading a novel. Smith came in shortly after and the two coolly chatted before the jury emerged.