Diversity in the Workplace

Not just a goal, but an accomplishment.

Our Practice

Lite DePalma Greenberg, LLC devotes itself exclusively to representing clients in litigation and litigation related internal investigations.  The firm specializes in commercial and complex litigation including employment and labor litigation, internal investigations, healthcare and corporate collections, condemnation and redevelopment law, zoning, land use and other real estate litigation, white collar criminal defense, police related state and federal civil rights defense, and other trial and appellate work. Lite DePalma Greenberg has extensive experience in the state and federal court systems of New Jersey, as well as other federal courts throughout the country. 

Inclusiveness: Our Tradition

Lite DePalma Greenberg has a long-standing tradition of recruitment, retention and advancement of women and minority attorneys. While other law firms have recently begun to advertise a commitment to creating diversity in the workplace, Lite DePalma Greenberg has traditionally offered an inclusive workplace.  Lite DePalma Greenberg did not attain its diverse team of partners, associates and staff as a result of a contemporary mission to create diverse workplaces.  Long before globalization became a reality and multiculturalism became the trend, Lite DePalma Greenberg’s commitment to diversity in the workplace and the Newark community was an inherent aspect of our business.  Having elected its first minority attorney to the partnership over a decade ago, Lite DePalma Greenberg has continually maintained a team of partners, associates and staff that is representative of various multicultural backgrounds and staunchly committed to the Newark, New Jersey community.

Lite DePalma Greenberg boasts a team of associates comprised predominantly of women and minority attorneys and a staff that is made up of 70% minority women.  With respect to partnership, women and minority attorneys represent 40% of the partners of Lite DePalma Greenberg.  We can confidently say that we are likely the only firm handling complex litigation that is capable of boasting these statistics. 

Progression:  Our Dedication to the Recruitment and Advancement of Women and Minority Attorneys

Lite DePalma Greenberg recognizes that the breadth of talent offered by women and minority attorneys helps our firm to offer creative and effective solutions to clients.  Accordingly, we are committed to staffing cases with a diverse team of seasoned attorneys that are capable of tending to the needs of our clients in today's increasingly diverse global economy.  To that end, Lite DePalma Greenberg actively recruits women and minority attorneys and regularly staffs its summer associate positions with law students participating in the Rutgers Minority Student Program. 

Lite DePalma Greenberg is also committed to the professional growth of our women and minority attorneys.  In fact, a former named minority partner now sits as a Judge of the Superior Court of New Jersey in Middlesex County.  Lite DePalma Greenberg is immensely proud to have been part of that journey and has witnessed firsthand how this type of trail blazing motivates and inspires our young associates:  

Also, many of our attorneys hold, or have previously held, leadership positions in various organizations: 

  • Victor A. Afanador was recently selected to serve as a Board Member for Aspira, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to developing the educational and leadership capacity of Latino youth.  Mr. Afanador also serves as a Commissioner on the Essex County Board of Public Utilities.
  • Mr. Macias currently serves as Deputy Regional President for the New Jersey Region of the National Hispanic Bar Association and has previously served as the Chair of the Finance Committee for the Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey. 
  • Susana Cruz Hodge currently sits on a fund raising committee for the Climb for Harlem Academy, an annual cycling event organized to raise funds for Harlem Academy, an independent school for minority and socioeconomically disadvantaged children.

Following its long-standing commitment to the professional development of women and minority attorneys, Lite DePalma Greenberg continues to promote leadership and growth by providing our young associates with the support, experience, continuing education and networking opportunities necessary for business and professional development. 

Community and Leadership: Our Devotion to the Development of the Newark Community and Minority/ Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Groups

Founded in 1978, our law firm began its practice in Newark and has remained a Newark resident at all times.  As a proud resident of Newark, Lite DePalma Greenberg supports its local charitable, educational, cultural and pro bono legal institutions: 

  • Victor A. Afanador has been a Leadership Newark Fellow since 2003.  Leadership Newark is committed to improving the network of the Newark community and its civic leaders, while stimulating their collaborative efforts and thinking to enhance the Newark community. 
  • Lite DePalma Greenberg also sponsors Newark’s Just One Soccer League, an organized soccer league that started as an avenue to expose Newark’s youth to the vibrant soccer culture zealously cultivated by many of Newark’s culturally diverse communities and their residents.  The mission of the league is to bring families together to promote and teach leadership skills and the value of community service to Newark’s youth.

Lite DePalma Greenberg is also heavily involved with Newark’s educational institutions.  Since 2002, the firm has maintained a summer hiring program to employ minority students from University High School on a part-time basis in order to provide inner city students with valuable exposure to a law practice.  Lite DePalma Greenberg also supports Newark's law schools by supporting Seton Hall and Rutgers-Newark, financially and otherwise.  Our attorneys are deeply committed to both schools and regularly volunteer their time in alumni, moot court and other programs: 

  • Marisol Perez and Michael Rosas act as mentors to law students enrolled in Seton Hall and Rutgers-Newark through the Hispanic Bar Association. 

In the cultural arena, Lite DePalma Greenberg was a Founding Sponsor of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark and a consistent financial supporter of NJPAC since its inception ten years ago:

  • Allyn Z. Lite has served as Chairman of the Visual Arts Committee for the New Jersey Law Journal’s bi-annual Lawyers Celebration of the Arts at NJPAC.  Proceeds of the Celebration benefit New Jersey Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, Inc., whose mission is to aid artists and arts organizations in New Jersey through pro bono attorney referral and legal education. 

Lite DePalma Greenberg and its attorneys have also dedicated their time and support to many other minority and socioeconomically disadvantaged groups. 

  • Recently, Lite DePalma Greenberg donated laptops to project COSAD, Inc., which is dedicated to Africa’s development.  The laptops were sent to young girls in Bukoba, Tanzania to improve their reading and English skills. 
  • Prior to joining the firm, Mayling C. Blanco worked as an elementary middle school teacher as a member of Teach for America, Americas leading non-profit organization dedicated to building a movement to eliminate educational inequity by recruiting recent college graduates to teach in underprivileged communities throughout the United States. 
  • Susana Cruz Hodge participated in Projeto Unicom, a Brazilian non-profit organization for which she taught Portuguese, English and math to young residents of the largest slum in Rio de Janerio, Brazil.
  • Michael Rosas served as a counselor and math tutor for minority elementary school students in an after-school program that assisted with preparation for annual academic performance exams. 
  • Jason E. Macias served for two years as the Director of Civic Education for the Hispanic Federation, a nonprofit organization serving over ninety health and human service providers throughout the tri-state area. 

Among the pro bono legal institutions that Lite DePalma Greenberg has actively assisted are Consumers League of New Jersey and the Center for Auto Safety in Washington, DC.  The firm successfully represented both organizations as amicus curiae in cases in the Supreme Court of New Jersey.  Marisol Perez was also one of the first attorneys in New Jersey to handle a pro bono appeal in the New Jersey Appellate Division’s Pro Bono Civil Pilot Program.

Lite DePalma Greenberg’s attorneys are dedicated to not only the City of Newark, but also various minority and socioeconomically disadvantaged organizations.  The devotion to giving back to underprivileged communities and minority organizations is an integral part of Lite DePalma Greenberg’s professional development.  Lite DePalma Greenberg takes pride in its tradition and strives to uphold our commitment to inclusiveness and community service.

Loyalty: Our Commitment to Family and Personal Relationships

Lite DePalma Greenberg has long-realized that promoting healthy family and personal relationships is a key component to building a successful and cohesive practice.  Mindful of the increase in dual income families, Lite DePalma Greenberg strives to create an environment that is respectful of family obligations.  Lite DePalma Greenberg endeavors to facilitate flexible work arrangements by offering a fair family leave policy, flex-time, and telecommuting. 

Diversity Initiative:  Our Continued Effort to Build a Diverse Practice and Client Base

Lite DePalma Greenberg is committed to maintaining our diverse and inclusive workplace, as well as promoting diversity through representation.  We understand that diversity brings strength and with it, a depth and breadth of talented attorneys who can better understand client needs.  Should you require additional information about how we can serve your interests please contact:

Joseph J. DePalma, Managing Member of the Firm
Victor A. Afanador, Member of the Firm and Diversity Chair
Lite DePalma Greenberg, LLC
Two Gateway Center, 12th Floor
Newark, New Jersey 07102
973-623-3000