Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Gigio K. Ninan
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875 6th Avenue STE 1810
New York, NY 10010 - (855) 895-9788
Overview And Experience
Gigio K. Ninan is the founder of Shankar Ninan & Co., a boutique law firm based in New York City with a satellite presence in New Jersey. He has over a decade of legal experience in the areas of business and employment counseling and litigation in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Additionally, Mr. Ninan 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.
Mr. Ninan advises executives on the full gamut of workplace policies, procedures, and practices. Among his specialties are preparing employment agreements, noncompete and confidentiality agreements, separation agreements, and advising on reductions in force. In the area of employment litigation, Mr. Ninan litigates restrictive covenants (defense and enforcement) and wage and hour claims, both in New York and New Jersey.
Mr. Ninan serves clients in a wide variety of industries, including but not limited to:
- Physician Practice Groups
- Physical Therapies
- Pharmacies
- Staffing Companies
- Technology Companies
- SaaS Providers
- Consumer Goods
- Social Media Marketing
- E-Commerce
- Restaurants
Philosophy and Paying It Forward:
Mr. Ninan leads with a people-first approach. He is passionate about paying it forward and sharing his expertise with future leaders at Rutgers Law, Binghamton University, and the South Asian Bar Association. He strives to instill the importance of relationship-building to their success and growth in life and in law. Mr. Ninan’s hard work, attention to detail, energy, and drive are traits he would like to instill in the next generation of attorneys.
After graduating cum laude from Binghamton University in 2008, Mr. Ninan earned his law degree from Rutgers University in 2011, where he served on the Journal of Law and Religion. Gigio went on to clerk for the Honorable Stephen M. Holden, Ph.D., J.S.C., and worked at several associate roles in New York and New Jersey in large national law firms where he has been recognized for his leadership abilities and accomplishments. By the age of 29, Mr. Ninan founded Shankar Ninan & Co., a boutique midtown Manhattan law firm. He is committed to helping guide future lawyers from his alma mater Rutgers Law School and Binghamton University, as well as through several bar associations.
Representative Matters
- Successfully represented a group of lawyers in New Jersey in the preparation of their initial limited liability company membership ledgers, operating agreement and resolutions.
- Successfully arbitrated and subsequently entered judgment against former NFL New York Football Giants starting cornerback Janoris Jenkins.
- Successfully represented multiple employers before the New York Department of Labor, including a Singapore based SaaS Company and local pharmacies.
- Provided commercial contracting, employment assistance, and general counseling to an Italian-based, high-end furniture company with distribution in the U.S.
- Successfully defended an Italian-based, high-end furniture company from an ADA web accessibility class-action lawsuit filed in the Southern District of New York.
- Counselled corporate clients on internal employment compliance, drafted and negotiated employment agreements, policies and procedures, severance packages, and provided advice on layoffs and terminations.
- Represented several companies, including most recently a construction company and a pharmacy, in negotiating commercial leases for spaces in excess of 30,000 square feet, with requirements for build outs, free rent, triple net provisions and options for yearly space increases.
- Recovered New Jersey company’s deposit in conversion claim against its New York business broker.
- Drafted and negotiated software agreements for technology companies
- Represented technology, pharmacies, restaurants, and others in litigation in State and federal courts.
- Represented several companies in the purchase and/or sale of their business including a New Jersey funeral home, online internet companies, and a pharmaceutical distribution company.
- Provided guidance and counseling to physician practice group in employment and compliance matters.
- Provided general counseling to a broad range of companies in a broad range of industries including: a pharmaceutical content provider; nutraceutical supplement companies; eCommerce companies; consulting and staffing companies; and, most recently, an Escape Room company.
- Represented several companies in the prosecution of non-compete provisions.
- Represented businesses in master service agreement disputes.
- Represented companies before the U.S. Department of Homeland Security related to investigations and I-9 audits.
- Successfully defended several individuals from alleged violations of non-compete provisions.
- Represented over 20+ individuals in the purchase and/or sale of real estate in New York or New Jersey
- Represented several individuals and their families in preparation of estate planning documents, including testamentary trusts, living wills, wills, and powers of attorneys in New York and New Jersey.
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
Education and Background
- 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*
- 2023 Super Lawyers Rising Star Award
- Rutgers Law School Student Affinity Gala: Distinguished MAPs Lawyer Award
- 2022 SuperLawyers Rising Star Award
- 2021 Sole Recipient of the Distinguished Recent Graduate Award, Rutgers School of Law-Camden Alumni Association.
- 2021 SuperLawyers Rising Star Award
- 2020 SuperLawyers Rising Star Award
- 2019 Sole Recipient of the Lois B. DeFleur Distinguished Alumnus Award, the State University of New York at Binghamton Alumni Association.
- 2018, SuperLawyers Rising Stars Award.
- 2017, SuperLawyers Rising Star Award.
- 2017, New Leader of the Bar Award (formerly, the "40 under 40"), New Jersey Law Journal.
- 2016, SuperLawyers Rising Star Award.
Leadership
- Appointed to Diversity and Inclusion Committee, 2022-23 term
- Board of Director, 2022-24 term
- Vice-President (2022); Trustee/Regional Representative (2021)
- 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; 2023-23 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 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
- 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
- Adjunct Professor/Lecturer, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Course: Civil Litigation; Spring 2019.
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
Our Awards
