Nicolette J. Zulli

Senior Associate

  • Nicolette J. Zulli
  • Phone: +1 713 402 3903

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  • Duane Morris LLP
    1300 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 1500
    Houston, TX 77056
    USA

Nicolette J. Zulli (“Nico”) focuses in the area of employment law and trial. She is admitted to practice in Georgia, Texas and New York.

Appearing before federal and state courts and administrative agencies, Ms. Zulli has experience in cases involving claims of retaliation, wage and hour violations, discrimination, non-compete violations, breach of contract, and OSHA violations.

In addition to her employment practice, Ms. Zulli has represented clients from a broad array of industries in every stage of complex civil business disputes, including business torts, non-solicitation, non-disclosure, and trade secret misappropriation.

Ms. Zulli also devotes a substantial amount of time providing pro bono legal services. She is a regular Volunteer Lawyer with the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation’s (AVLF) Safe Families Office, providing consultation and legal assistance for survivors of intimate partner abuse.

Ms. Zulli is a 2018 graduate, with honors, of Syracuse University College of Law, where she was a member of the Syracuse Law Review, and a graduate, with honors, of Baylor University with a B.A. in Journalism, with a minor in Film & Digital Media.

Ms. Zulli serves as a Programming Co-Chair (Atlanta) for the firm’s Women’s Impact Network for Success (WINS).

Ms. Zulli is a lifelong singer-songwriter and is the lead vocalist of the Duane Morris Firm Band. She is also an avid runner and ultramarathoner.

Areas of Practice

  • Employment Law
  • Litigation

Representative Matters

  • Defended employer in Georgia lawsuit from former machine operator asserting claims for retaliation and race discrimination.

  • Represented office automation technology solutions company in TRO/Preliminary Injunction proceedings and the expedited discovery process in Texas lawsuit against former employees alleging breach of restrictive covenants and trade secret misappropriation.

  • Defended company in the pool and home leisure industry and two of its employees against Georgia lawsuit by manufacturer in the same industry asserting claims for trade secret misappropriation, violation of the Georgia Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act, breach of restrictive covenants and employment agreement, breach of fiduciary duty, and tortious interference.

  • Advised Texas company on Texas Public Information Act (TPIA) issues.

  • Defended healthcare sharing ministry administrator against various state insurance regulatory agencies.

  • Defended major oil and gas company in Texas lawsuit and JAMS arbitration from public junior college asserting breach of an energy savings performance contract.

  • Represented global cash handling company in various Texas lawsuits against former employees alleging breach of contract and conversion.

  • Represented major financial institution in various Texas collection actions arising from premium finance agreement debts.

  • Currently defending company in California class action asserting numerous wage and hour claims.

  • Currently defending California manufacturer in appeal of numerous “general,” “serious,” and “repeat-serious” OSHA citations.

  • Currently defending company against California Workers’ Compensation claim by former employee.

  • Currently defending company in Florida lawsuit from former employee alleging wrongful termination and retaliation.

Admissions

  • Georgia
  • Texas
  • New York
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
  • U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
  • U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia

Education

  • Syracuse University College of Law, J.D., cum laude, 2018
    - Associate Member, Syracuse Law Review
    - Member, Syracuse Law Justinian Honorary Law Society
  • Baylor University, B.A., cum laude, 2014

Experience

  • Duane Morris LLP
    - Senior Associate, 2025-present
    - Associate, 2019-2024

Honors and Awards

  • Named to Best Lawyers "Ones to Watch," 2025
  • Awarded Houston Bar Association’s President’s Award, for outstanding service as Co-Chair of the HBA Fun Run Committee, 2021-2022

Professional Activities

  • State Bar of Georgia 
    - Entertainment & Sports Law Section
    - Labor & Employment Law Section 
  • The Atlanta Bar Association
    - Atlanta Council of Young Lawyers Section
    - Labor & Employment Section
    - Litigation Section
  • SHRM-Atlanta 
  • State Bar of Texas
    - Litigation Section

  • New York State Bar Association
    - Young Lawyers Section 
    - Labor & Employment Law Section

Civic and Charitable Activities

  • Syracuse University College of Law Alumni Association (SULAA)
  • Baylor University Women's Council of Atlanta 
  • Friend of Department Council, Baylor University Department of Journalism, Public Relations and New Media (JPR&NM)
  • Kids’ Worship Leader, Buckhead Church UpStreet
  • Atlanta Track Club
  • Atlanta Run Club (ARC)

Selected Publications

Selected Speaking Engagements

  • Guest Speaker, Baylor Journalism’s Gender, Race & Media course, taught by Professor and Department Chair, Mia Moody-Ramirez, Ph.D., Videoconference, 2020-present
  • Presenter, Atlanta ELBI Fall Seminar: Off the Record – An Informational Jam Session, Seminar, October 27, 2022
  • Guest Speaker, Syracuse University College of Law Externship Lecture Series, Videoconference, October 24, 2022
  • Panelist, Syracuse University College of Law Women’s Law Student Association Networking Event with Alumnae, Videoconference/Seminar, September 23, 2021
  • Presenter, "COVID-19: From Sea to Shining Sea: A Quick Update of U.S. and International COVID-Related Restrictions," Duane Morris LLP, Webinar, December 11, 2020