Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Gigio K. Ninan
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505 8th Avenue, Suite 1801
New York, New York 10018 - (212) 594-6657 Ext. 215
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Overview And Experience
Gigio has achieved prominence and distinction in the practice of law. Shankar Ninan Law Firm, a highly successful boutique law firm which Gigio started at age 29 and grew to representing over 200 businesses, is a testament to Gigio’s unique and impressive acumen in both law and business development. His clients represent a broad and diverse range of companies from small mom-and-pop shops to large multinational entities. But Gigio is more than just an advocate. He is also known for his ability to bring people together and formulate fair and workable solutions in cases and disputes. For this reason, the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey appointed Gigio as a Certified Mediator, making him one of the youngest, if not the youngest, Federal Mediator on its current panel.
Gigio has nearly 15 years of legal experience in the areas of business and employment counseling and litigation in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Additionally, Gigio serves as outside General Counsel to numerous businesses where he uses his talent for structuring legal operations to turn adversity into opportunity by fulfilling corporate objectives and resolving complex employment and labor law challenges. Few people can represent such a diverse group of businesses and specialty areas while gaining and growing the confidence of all who work with him.
Gigio advises executives on the full gamut of workplace policies, procedures, and practices. Among his specialties are preparing employment agreements, non-compete and confidentiality agreements, separation agreements, and advising on reductions in workforce. In the area of employment litigation, Gigio has handled cases in which he enforced restrictive covenants and defended wage and hour claims both in New York and New Jersey state and federal courts. He also stays on the forefront of these topics by researching and writing about proposed changes to local and national laws regarding non-compete agreements and other important legal issues. By way of example, Gigio authored an article which was published by the New Jersey Lawyer entitled “The Blue Eraser: New Jersey’s Proposed move against Restrictive Covenants.” Gigio was recently quoted by U.S. News in the article entitled, “What a Ban on Noncompete Agreements would mean for you.” Gigio was also cited by Medscape, the leading online global destination for physicians and healthcare professionals worldwide, in the article “8 Careless Errors Physicians Make With Employment Contracts.” Gigio’s adaptive nature allows him to represent clients in a wide variety of industries and sub-specialties, including but not limited to:
- Physician practice groups;
- Physical therapies;
- Pharmacies;
- Staffing companies;
- Technology companies;
- SaaS providers;
- Consumer goods;
- Social media marketing;
- E-Commerce; and
- Restaurants.
As a member of the Asian American Pacific Islander (“AAPI”) community, Gigio stands out as a champion for diversity, equity, and inclusion (“DEI”) as evidenced by his numerous diversity presentations at Continuing Legal Education (“CLE”) programs. Most recently, Gigio taught a CLE on Lawline entitled, “The Business of Law and Succession Planning for Small Law Firms in New Jersey.” And last year, Gigio spoke at the New Jersey Association for Lawyers for Justice about “the Role of Diversity for New Lawyers and in Law Schools.” Further, Gigio was a guest speaker on Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney’s Dimensions of Diversity Podcast, where he presented “Race in America: Perspectives from South Asian Communities.”
Gigio serves as an active member of several affinity bar associations. Indeed, he takes on leadership and volunteer roles in these organizations and works to expand their influence and impact. For example, Gigio currently serves on the Board of Directors for Asian American Bar Association of New York in his second term and previously served as the inaugural Mentorship Director and as Executive Vice President for the South Asian Bar Association of New Jersey. He also served two terms as Vice-President for the South Asian Bar Association of New York. Gigio is also a former Director for the Rutgers University Alumni Association where he served on the Philanthropy and Diversity Committees, participated as a member of the DEI Committee for the New Jersey State Bar Association, and was the Head of the Rutgers Law School Alumni Association.
Gigio has also impacted the lives of students and continues to motivate them in their careers as future lawyers, leaders, and stewards of opportunity for all. Gigio’s commitment to helping future lawyers remains unwavering. For instance, Gigio is one of the youngest ever at Rutgers Law School and Rutgers University-Camden to endow a scholarship for students. In addition, Gigio served on the Dean’s Selection Committee for Rutgers Law School where he vetted and interviewed candidates from all over the country for this prestigious position at his alma mater. Gigio’s demonstrated track record of professional excellence and leadership and commitment to the future of the legal profession helped him in being selected to the New Jersey State Bar Association Leadership Academy and the Collaborate Bar Leadership Academy.
Representative Matters
Gigio’s varied and successful track record as a lawyer is demonstrated by his representative experience below:
- Handled the purchase and sale of several IT staffing, physician practice and pharmacy businesses both via a Stock Purchase or an Asset Purchases in New York and New Jersey.
- Successfully represented the founding partner of a 15+ person New Jersey law firm in his business separation and dissolution.
- Represented a small New Jersey family law firm in instituting corporate formalities including agreements among its membership.
- Counseled several New Jersey physician practice groups in relation to office expansion, hiring, retention and termination
- Obtained a favorable award involving a breach of contract claim before a single-arbitrator in a three-day arbitration trial for Tummalapenta against Janoris Jenkins, a former starting cornerback at the New York Giants, which was ultimately confirmed by the Superior Court of New Jersey.
- Completed a four-day trial before the American Arbitration Association where his client, a quadruple board-certified interventional cardiologist, defended against claims involving his restrictive covenants related to three former employees. While the Arbitrator found a solicitation for one of the three employees, the Arbitrator ultimately denied the former employer’s request for nearly $1.1 million in damages based on Gigio’s defense strategy.
- Successfully litigated and favorably settled a breach of contract matter for a European-headquartered client in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York, in which Gigio dealt with complex issues arising under international law and electronic discovery.
- Represented an Italian-based high-end furniture company with distribution operations in the U.S. in matters including general counseling, commercial contracting, and employment. Notably, Gigio defended and resolved an Americans with Disabilities Act, Title III web accessibility class action lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against the same client.
- Counseled corporations and physician practice groups on employment compliance including preparation and review of employment contracts, policies and procedures, and terminations.
- Represented several companies, including most recently a construction company and a pharmacy, in negotiating lease agreements for an office space in excess of 30,000 square feet, with requirements for build-outs, free rent, triple net provisions and yearly increases.
- Represented a New Jersey-based company in a lawsuit against its business broker-dealer in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York during the purchase of a Manhattan liquor store in the conversion of an escrow deposit which concluded with a favorable, negotiated settlement.
- Represented companies related to software development, licensing and litigation matters.
- Represented several companies in the purchase and sale of their businesses including a New Jersey funeral home, pharmacies, restaurants, eCommerce companies, and a pharmaceutical distribution company.
- Represented companies before the U.S. Department of Homeland Security related to immigration investigations and I-9 audits.
Many lawyers have an impressive list of clients, but Gigio stands out because he is also on the cutting edge of legal representation. He adopted and drafted plain-language agreements for his clients, which several bar associations and organizations have been promoting for years for wider adoption. Gigio also drafts and reviews software service agreements for technology companies and negotiates agreements regularly with some of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. These services call for a technologically savvy attorney to handle. As a leader and innovator, Gigio understands the needs of a rapidly changing business landscape and will continue to act as an experienced practitioner in new and complex technologies in the years to come.
Background
Gigio’s drive for personal success, inspired leadership skills, and his commitment to the community grew out of his personal experience as a first-generation South Asian and growing up in a multiracial community in the Bronx, New York.
In 1989, Gigio and his family immigrated to the United States from India. Gigio’s late father worked two jobs for most of his life to support Gigio and his brother, Major Ajus Ninan, who has served in the United States Military since December 1999. Gigio’s mother worked initially as a nursing assistant before opening her own small business, a nail salon, in the Bronx. These experiences led Gigio to pursue his career as a small business attorney, helping immigrants, new small business owners, traditionally disadvantaged minorities, first-generation business owners, and others who need help navigating the complexities of our legal system. Gigio began that journey at Cardinal Spellman High School in the Bronx before attending Binghamton University, the State University of New York. At Binghamton, Gigio was a member of Sigma Beta Rho Fraternity where he severed as Chair of the Philanthropy Committee and served as a teaching assistant in both the English and Political Science Departments before graduating cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy, Politics and Law.
After graduation, Gigio attended Rutgers Law School, where he served on the Journal of Law and Religion. In law school, Gigio was the only student on the Scholastic Standing Committee, which adjudicated appeals by students who were dismissed or placed on academic probation. He remained an active member of Asian Pacific American Law Student Association throughout his student tenure at Rutgers Law School until he graduated in 2011. After graduation, Gigio accepted a clerkship for the Honorable Stephen M. Holden of the Superior Court of New Jersey where he gained valuable and practical insight on all aspects of real-world litigation. After completing his clerkship, he began his legal career by joining private practice and took on several associate roles. He first worked at a mid-size boutique firm in New York before moving on to a national law firm. These experiences provided him with the tools to start his own law practice in 2015.
Gigio and his wife struggled with infertility, ultimately turning to surrogacy as an option to build their family. In November 2023, he and his wife welcomed a beautiful baby boy. In March of 2024, Good Morning America ran a special featuring Gigio and his wife’s surrogacy journey. Gigio and his wife have been very passionate about raising awareness about infertility, especially in the South Asian and Asian communities where these issues are often not discussed.
Education
- J.D., Rutgers University School of Law
- Associate Editor of the Nuremberg Project, Rutgers Journal of Law and Religion
- B.A., cum laude, State University of New York at Binghamton
Awards*
- 2024 Rising Star, South Asian Bar Association of North America
- 2016-24 Rising Star Award, SuperLawyers Magazine, New Jersey and New York Metro Lawyers, Thomson Reuters.
- Rutgers Law School Student Affinity Gala: Distinguished MAPs Lawyer Award
- 2021 Sole Recipient of the Distinguished Recent Graduate Award, Rutgers School of Law-Camden Alumni Association.
- 2019 Sole Recipient of the Lois B. DeFleur Distinguished Alumnus Award, the State University of New York at Binghamton Alumni Association.
- 2017, New Leader of the Bar Award (formerly, the "40 under 40"), New Jersey Law Journal.
Leadership
- Selected to 2024-25 Leadership Academy Fellow Class
- Selected to 2024 Leadership Academy Class
- CBLA is a Joint initiative of the American Bar Association (ABA), its Commissions on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Profession and Disability Rights, the Hispanic National Bar Association, the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, the National Bar Association, the National LGBT Bar Association, the National Native American Bar Association and the South Asian Bar Association of North America.
- Appointed as 1 of 14 to the search committee that selects the next Dean of Rutgers Law School (2022-23)
- Appointed to Diversity and Inclusion Committee, 2022-24 term
- Board of Director, 2022-24 term, re-elected, 2024-26 term.
- Executive Vice-President (2023); Trustee/Regional Representative (2022)
- Board of Director, 2019-2022
- 1 of 18 selected for a University-wide leadership selection
- Represent the interests of 500,000+ Alumni
- Diversity and Inclusion and Philanthrophy committees
- Chancellor, 2021-2023
- First Vice-Chancellor, 2019-2021
- Board of Trustee, 2017 to Present
- Appointed Section Chair, Solo/Small Firm for the 2021-22; 2022-23; 2024-25 terms
- Vice President of Private Sector and In-House Lawyers; Head of Private Sector Steering Committee, 2019-2020
- Vice President of Young Lawyers and Fellowship Program; Chair of the Young Lawyers Division, 2018-2019
Publications
- Gigio K. Ninan, et al., The Blue Eraser: New Jersey’s Proposed Move Against Restrictive Covenants, 342 N.J. Lawyer, 34 (2023).
- Gigio Ninan, An Employer's Guide To Worksite Investigations And I-9 Audits, Forbes Sep 27, 2018
- Gigio Ninan, Should You Form An LLC Or An S-Corp, And What’s The Difference? Forbes May 29, 2018
- Gigio K. Ninan, Ready to Sign a Commercial Lease: Here are Five Things to Consider, Forbes.com (February 2018).
- Gigio K. Ninan, Why Employers May Want to Identify Candidates Now to Beat the H-1b Lottery Cap, Forbes.com (January 2018).
- Gigio K. Ninan, Does your Start Up Need a Lawyer Yet? Three Things to Consider, Forbes.com (February 2018).
- Gigio K. Ninan Et al., Malpractice in colorectal surgery: a review of 122 medicolegal cases, J. of Surgical Res., Vol. 199, 351-56 (December 2015).
- Gigio K. Ninan Et al., Dissecting Malpractice in Pancreaticoduodenectomy, J. of Surgical Res., Vol. 212, 48-53 (May 2017).
Speaking Engagements
- Presenter, CLE: The January 1, 2025 Beneficial Ownership Information Deadline – What Your Need to Know, New Jersey State Bar Association, 2024
- Moderator, CLE: Diversity in the Legal Profession Outside of Big Law Firms, Lawline, 2024.
- Faculty, CLE: Business of Law and Succession Planning for Small Law Firms in New Jersey, Lawline, 2024.
- Panelist, CLE: How to Start a Solo/Small Firm, Asian American Bar Association of NY, 2023.
- Speaker, Your Firm Needs Succession Planning: Here's How and Why, 2023
- Commencement Speaker, Rutgers Law School in Camden, 2023
- Panelist, NJAJ Boardwalk Seminar: The Role of Diversity in Law School and for New Lawyers, 2023
- Commencement Speaker, Rutgers Law School in Camden, 2022
- Panelist, How to Draft Effective Retainer Agreements, New Jersey State Bar Association, Annual Bar Convention, 2022
- Featured Guest, Dimensions of Diversity (Podcast), Race in America: Perspectives from South Asian Communities, 2021
- Panelist, How to Make Strong Financial and Management Decisions to Keep your Firm Thriving, New Jersey State Bar Association, Small Business Conference, 2021.
- Speaker, Importance of Contract and Procedure Drafting in the IT Staffing Industry, IT Synergy, Norteast Chapter Meeting, 2021.
- Panelist, How to Network Effectively, SABANY Mentorship Program, 2021.
- Moderator, Fireside Chat with the Honorable Shahabuddeen Ally, Supervising Judge, New York County Civil Court, 2021.
- Moderator, Fireside Chat with Jennifer Chung, the General Counsel of Accuweather Data, SABANY, 2020.
- Panelist, The Covid Impact: Sports, Entertainment and Music, Greenberg Trauig/SABANY, 2020.
- Moderator, Fireside Chat with Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi on PPP Loans and reopening America, 2020.
- Career Connections Talk: How to achieve success in your career, Binghamton University, 2020.
- Panelist, Candid Advice from Law Graduates, AABANY Fall Conference, Clearly Gottlieb, 2015.
Teaching Experience
- Rutgers Law School, Adjunct Professor (w. Prof. J.C. Lore), Deposition Advocacy (Summer 2023; Spring 2024)
- Fairleigh Dickinson University, Lecturer, Civil Litigation (Spring 2019)
Court Appointment
In The Media
Bar and Court Admissions
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- New Jersey
- U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
Professional Membership
- New Jersey State Bar Association
- South Asian Bar Association of North America
- South Asian Bar Association of New York
- South Asian Bar Association of New Jersey
- Asian American Bar Association of New York
- ITServe Alliance, NJ Regional Sponsor
Practice Areas
Outside General Counseling
- Negotiating and drafting contracts
- Negotiating, drafting, and reviewing leases
- Handling employment and immigration matters
- Managing Corporate Governance
- Risk Management Policies and Procedures
Litigation
- Non-compete Litigation
- Trade Secret Litigation
- Contracts & Agreement
- Restrictive Covenant Litigation
- Civil and Commercial Litigation
- Breach of Contract Disputes
- Employment Litigation and Counseling
- Class Litigation Defense
- Debt Collection
- Restaurant & Franchise Litigation
- Unfair Business Practices
- Breach of Fiduciary Duty
- Fraud & Misrepresentation
Businesses
- Business Formation
- Commercial Lease Agreements
- Operating Agreements
- Subscription Agreements
- Partnership Agreements
- Non-Disclosure Agreements
- Master Service Agreements
- Manufacturing Agreement
- E-Commerce Policies
- Physician Services Agreements
- Pharmacist Services Agreements
- Stock Sale Agreements
- Physical Therapist Services Agreements
Individuals
- Real Estate Closings
- Wills, Trusts and Estate Planning
- Physician Employment Agreements
- Employment & Severance Negotiation
Mediation
- Commercial
- Business
- Corporate
- Contracts Litigation
- Employment
- Restrictive Covenant Litigation
- Certified Mediator, Panel Member, U.S. District Court for District of New Jersey
Surrogacy
- Surrogacy contracts
- Surrogacy or Gestational Carrier Contracts or Agreements
- Legal clearance
- Fund management
- Parental rights law
- Obtain a Pre-birth Order
- Learn more