Nicolette J. Zulli
Senior Associate
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Phone: +1 713 402 3903
- Duane Morris LLP
1300 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 1500
Houston, TX 77056
USA - Duane Morris LLP
1075 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 1700
Atlanta, GA 30309-3929
USA
Nicolette J. Zulli (“Nico”) concentrates her work in employment law and trial advocacy. She is admitted to practice in Georgia, Texas, and New York.
Ms. Zulli advises and defends employers across a wide range of industries on matters involving Title VII, the ADA, the FMLA, and OSHA. She litigates claims of discrimination, retaliation, wage and hour violations, and breach of contract, and regularly appears before both federal and state courts, as well as before administrative agencies. She also counsels clients on internal investigations, policy development, and employment agreements.
A member of the firm’s Class Action Defense Group, Ms. Zulli has experience handling FLSA and data breach class and collective actions. She conducts workplace trainings and routinely drafts and reviews handbooks, separation agreements, and compliance protocols. Her experience spans all stages of litigation—from early investigation through arbitration and trial preparation—including second-chairing an OSHA administrative appeal.
In addition to her employment-related work, Ms. Zulli has represented clients in complex commercial litigation, including business torts, non-solicitation and non-disclosure disputes, and trade secret misappropriation.
She maintains an active pro bono docket, focusing on temporary restraining orders and related legal protections for survivors of intimate partner abuse.
Ms. Zulli earned her J.D., with honors, from Syracuse University College of Law, where she was a member of the Syracuse Law Review. She earned her B.A. in Journalism, with honors, from Baylor University, with a minor in Film & Digital Media.
Beyond her legal work, Ms. Zulli serves as a Programming Chair (Houston) for the firm’s Women’s Impact Network for Success (WINS) and has been recognized with the Houston Bar Association’s President’s Award for her leadership. She is a lifelong singer-songwriter, lead vocalist of the Duane Morris firm band, and dedicated endurance athlete.
Areas of Practice
- Employment Law
- Litigation
Admissions
- Georgia
- Texas
- New York
- Supreme Court of the United States
- 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
- Labor & Employment Law - State Bar of Texas
- Labor and Employment Law
- Litigation Section - New York State Bar Association
- Labor & Employment Law Section
- Young Lawyers Section - Houston Bar Association
- Member, HBA Law Week Fun Run Committee
- Editorial Board Member, The Houston Lawyer Magazine Committee - Associate Member, Georgia Association of Manufacturers (GAM)
Civic and Charitable Activities
- Member, Baylor University Women's Council of Houston
- Friend of Department Council, Baylor University Department of Journalism, Public Relations and New Media (JPR&NM)
- Friend of Memorial Park Conservancy
Selected Publications
- Contributor, Duane Morris White-Collar Criminal Law Blog
- Co-author, "New Department of Labor Guidance Sidesteps 2024 Independent Contractor Rule and Signals Likely Return to More Business-Friendly Standard," Duane Morris Alert, May 6, 2025
- Co-author, "As New OSHA Enforcement Guidance Expands Application of Instance-by-Instance Citations and Penalties, Employers Should Step Up Facility Audits," Duane Morris Alert, February 21, 2023
- Co-author, "Atlanta's Newly Amended Anti-Discrimination Ordinance Could Affect Your Business As a Private Employer," Duane Morris Alert, November 28, 2022
- Co-author, "Georgia Employers: New Laws Will Classify More Independent Contractors as Employees, Restrict Local Laws on Work Schedules," Duane Morris Alert, June 23, 2022
- Co-Author, “An Epic Ruling: The Epic Games v. Apple Verdict Deals Apple a Big-Little Victory,” The Houston Lawyer, December 30, 2021
- Quoted, "The Key to a Good Work-Life Balance? Prioritize Your Own Happiness," The Baylor Lariat, March 29, 2021
- Co-author, "No More Than 10 Can Attend: Texas Executive Order Effectively Halts Public Foreclosure Sales," Duane Morris Alert, September 11, 2020
- Author, “Scaling the (Geo)Fence: New York Lawmakers Push to Outlaw Geofence Warrants amid Ongoing National Debate for Police Reform,” Duane Morris White Collar Criminal Blog, July 19, 2020
- Co-Author, “All’s Fair in Crime and Disgorgement: Supreme Court Upholds SEC’s Authority to Disgorge Ill-Gotten Gains with Limitations,” Duane Morris White Collar Criminal Blog, June 29, 2020
Selected Speaking Engagements
- Guest Speaker, Baylor Journalism’s Gender, Race & Media course, taught by Professor and Department Chair, Mia Moody-Ramirez, Ph.D., Videoconference, 2020-2022
- Presenter, Duane Morris Presents: Employment Law Developments and Trends In Key Jurisdictions Outside California, Virtual MCLE, December 11, 2024
- 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