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“My extensive trial and litigation experience informs my human resources advice and counseling practice. I offer creative and strategic solutions to complex and nuanced human resources problems. I thoroughly enjoy collaborating with my clients’ representatives--General Counsel, Employment Counsel, and Human Resources Professionals--to help them arrive at the best outcome for the human resource and personnel challenges affecting their businesses.”

Patricia E. Reilly, a partner at Murtha Cullina, serves as chair of  the firm’s Labor & Employment practice and co-chair of the Education practice.

She litigates employment, wage and hour, and restrictive covenant cases in state and federal courts. She also appears before the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, the EEOC, the Connecticut Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of Labor. Whether resolving a matter pre-litigation or litigating a case to trial, Tricia uses her first-rate strategic litigation skills to advocate for her clients’ interests. She works closely with her clients to ensure that the litigation is executed with the highest degree of skill and professionalism.   

In addition to maintaining a thriving litigation practice, Tricia advises clients on a wide range of employment law matters, including sexual harassment and discrimination avoidance; disability and pregnancy accommodation; FMLA; wage and hour compliance; and trade secrets and restrictive covenants. She also provides training and presents on labor and employment issues, particularly sexual harassment prevention.  Tricia represents clients in a wide range of industries and sectors, including education (colleges, universities and independent schools), health care, financial services, retail, food and beverage, transportation services, energy and manufacturing.

Tricia is ranked as a Band 1 leading Labor & Employment attorney in Chambers USA. In addition, she is listed in Best Lawyers in America®. In 2017 and 2020, Best Lawyers in America® recognized her as “Lawyer of the Year” for New Haven, Litigation – Labor and Employment, and in 2020 Best Lawyers also recognized her as “Lawyer of the Year” for New Haven Employment Law – Management.  In 2019 and 2020, Super Lawyers listed Tricia among the Top 25 Women Attorneys in Connecticut.

  • American Bar Association, Litigation and Labor & Employment Sections
  • Connecticut Bar Association (former Women in the Law Section Chair)
  • New Haven County Bar Association
  • National Association of Women Lawyers
  • Society for Human Resources Management
  • Ranked as a Band 1 leading Labor & Employment attorney by Chambers USA, America’s Leading Lawyers for Business
  • James W. Cooper Life Fellow of the Connecticut Bar Foundation
  • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® in the areas of Litigation - Labor and Employment and Employment Law - Management (2013-2025)
  • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® as "Lawyer of the Year" New Haven area, in the area of Employment Law - Management, 2020
  • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® as 2017 and 2020 "Lawyer of the Year" in the area of Litigation - Labor and Employment for New Haven
  • Listed in New England and Connecticut Super Lawyers® in the area of Labor and Employment (2012-2024)
  • Listed as Top 50 Super Lawyers in Connecticut, 2020
  • Listed as Top 25 Women Super Lawyers in Connecticut, 2019, 2020
  • Listed as Top 50 Women Super Lawyers in New England, 2019
  • Recognized on the Distinguished Volunteers Roster, Connecticut Bar Association, 2004
  • Recognized as one of 20 Noteworthy Women, New Haven Business Times, 2004
  • Recipient of the Legal Services Award, Domestic Violence Services of Greater New Haven, Inc., 1999
  • "Leaves of Absence: Best Practices for the Difficult Situations," Murtha Cullina Labor & Employment Webinar (October 2024)
  • "Essential Skills for Supervisors & Managers: Managing Gender Issues in the Workplace," CBIA (October 2023)
  • "Diversity & Inclusion in the Workplace after the Supreme Court’s Decision on Affirmative Action in Students for Fair Admission v. Harvard," Murtha Cullina Labor & Employment Webinar (September 2023)
  • "The 10 Most Common & Most Costly Managerial Mistakes," CBIA (October 2021)
  • "Understanding How COVID & Paid FMLA Impact Traditional ADA Rules," CBIA (May 2021)
  • "Understanding the Impact of the CT PFMLA to your Nonprofit," TANGO (February 2021)
  • "COVID-19: The Impact on Human Resources," The HR Forum for Independent Schools (January 2021)
  • "Family First Coronavirus Relief Act and Covid-Related Accommodations," CT Conference of Independent Colleges 2020 Member Forum (November 2020)
  • "Managing the Workplace During the Covid-19 Pandemic Part 3: Return to Work Issues," Murtha Cullina Labor & Employment Webinar (June 2020)
  • "Managing the Workplace During the Covid-19 Pandemic Part 2: The Evolution of the FFCRA and CARES Act," Murtha Cullina Labor and Employment Webinar (May 2020)
  • "Navigating Coronavirus for CT Local Businesses," Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce Webinar (April 2020)
  • "Managing the Workplace During the Covid-19 Pandemic Part 1: What Do We Do?" Murtha Cullina Labor & Employment Webinar (March 2020)
  • "Managing Marijuana: What CT and NY Employers Need to Know," Murtha Cullina Labor & Employment Webinar (December 2019)
  • "Properly Classifying Employees Under the FLSA," Murtha Cullina Labor & Employment Webinar (October 2019)
  • "Leaves of Absence:  Intersection of FMLA, ADA, CT Pregnancy Leave and Workers' Compensation," presented to the Connecticut Society of Eye Physicians, (June 2019)
  • "#METOO--Where Are We Now in the Workplace and on Campus?" presented to Connecticut Conference of Independent Colleges Annual Forum (June 2019)
  • "Mental Health and Substance Abuse in the Workplace," Panel Discussion presented to Human Resource Leadership Association of Eastern Connecticut (May 2019)
  • "#Metoo and the Workplace - How the #Metoo Movement has Impacted Sexual Harassment in the Workplace," Quinnipiac Chamber of Commerce Women in Networking (April 2019)
  • Connecticut Business and Industry Association, Essential Skills for Supervisors & Managers, April 2019
  • "Best Practices for Hiring—What you need to know," TANGO Annual Conference (September 2018)
  • "Medical Marijuana in the Workplace," Human Resource Leadership Association of Eastern Connecticut (April 2018)
  • "Leaves of Absence: Disability, Pregnancy and Paternity Accommodation Issues," Connecticut Small Independent School Business and Human Resources Forum (March 2018)
  • "HR Implications of Social Media for Independent Schools," HR Forum, Exeter, New Hampshire (December 2017)
  • Sexual Harassment Prevention Training (October 2017) 
  • CT Bar Association, Labor & Employment Section, Panelist on Settlement Conferences (October 2017) 
  • "How to Manage Productivity During Uncertain Times," TANGO Annual Conference (October 2017)
  • "Wage & Hour Update," CBIA (September 2017)
  • CLE, What Does Legalized Medical Marijuana Mean for Connecticut Employers, June 2017
  • CLE, What Does a Trump Administration Mean for Employers, March 2017
  • "The FLSA: Change is Coming. Are you Ready?" New England Employer Conference (October 2016)
  • "Wage & Hour Update," CBIA (September 2016)
  • "Impact of Defend Trade Secrets in Connecticut," Connecticut Law Tribune (July 25, 2016)
  • "Taking Steps to Fight Trade Secret Misappropriation" (January 25, 2013)
  • "Show Them The Money: Interns Get Ready To Get Paid" (April 30, 2012)
  • Quinnipiac University, Center for Dispute Resolution (40-hour Mediation Program)

Areas of Focus

Services

Industries

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Credentials

Education

  • University of California, Berkeley School of Law (J.D.)
  • Wesleyan University (B.A.)

Bar & Court Admissions

  • Connecticut
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan