William P. Flahive Partner
Bill Flahive has been practicing law since 1993 following a clerkship in the United States District Court with the Honorable Joseph H. Rodriguez. Bill served as a Deputy Attorney General in the New Jersey Division of Law for five years, representing State agencies and officials in Federal and State Court matters involving employment law, and defending against claims alleging that State officials had violated civil rights. Along with a team of outstanding attorneys from the Attorney General’s Office, some of Bill’s early successes included defending portions of Megan’s Law from constitutional challenge and having New Jersey’s ban on assault weapons upheld as constitutionally sound.
Bill opened his private law practice in 2000. Over the course of his public service and now in private practice, Bill has litigated dozens of hotly contested matters in Federal and State court involving claims of sexual harassment/hostile work environment, discrimination, retaliation against whistleblowers, contract disputes, FMLA violations, and other employment issues.
Bill conducts internal investigations for numerous clients, both private and public, involving allegations of sexual harassment, race discrimination, sexual orientation discrimination, retaliation, criminal activity, and violation of University policies.
Besides his litigation experience, Bill takes pride in providing sound legal guidance to businesses and non-profits, to allow them to successfully manage their workplace and avoid frivolous claims.
Background & Education
Bill grew up in Franklin Township, Somerset County, and attended St. Joseph High School in Metuchen. From St. Joe’s, Bill attended Rutgers College in New Brunswick where he worked his way to the rank of Sports Editor of the Daily Targum, the nation’s second oldest college daily newspaper.
After graduating Rutgers College with a major in political science and a minor in biology, Bill had the honor of serving in the administration of New Jersey Governor Thomas H. Kean from 1986-1989. Bill rose to the level of Director of the Office of Constituent Relations in Governor’s Kean’s Office, where he worked closely with various agencies in State government.
An honors graduate of Rutgers School of Law - Camden, Bill served as Notes and Comments Editor of the Rutgers Law Journal and won the Judge James Hunter III Memorial Moot Court Competition and Best Brief Award with his partner Matt Jameson, now a prominent Pittsburgh attorney.