Ms. Howells focuses her practice on complex commercial litigation, representing clients in the healthcare, pharmaceutical, insurance, construction, real estate, and financial industries. She regularly defends clients in proceedings involving alleged violations of ERISA, RICO, state consumer protection statutes, and various common law claims. She also has experience in the area of media law and has handled litigation involving a variety of First Amendment issues, including defamation, privacy, and intermediary liability, as well as access issues involving state sunshine laws and FOIA. In addition, she represents clients in estate litigation and counsels clients regarding probate issues.
Ms. Howells has dealt with multiple aspects of state and federal practice, including drafting of discovery requests and responses, pleadings, dispositive and non-dispositive motion practice, and appeals. She also has extensive experience counseling clients regarding e-discovery issues. Ms. Howells is involved in all phases of litigation and dispute resolution, ranging from pre-litigation counseling to settlement negotiation, mediation, pre-trial preparation, and arbitration. She also assists clients with internal investigations and compliance issues.
Prior to joining Gibbons, Ms. Howells served as a law clerk to the Honorable Jose L. Fuentes, P.J.A.D., New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division.
Credentials
Education
Seton Hall University School of Law (J.D., cum laude)
- Notes Editor, Seton Hall Law Legislative Journal
- Recipient, Presidential Scholarship
Colgate University (B.A., cum laude)
- Recipient, Dean’s Award for Academic Excellence
Professional Admissions
State of New Jersey
State of New York
United States District Court for the District of New Jersey
United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York
United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
Professional Activities
New Jersey State Bar Association
New Jersey Women Lawyers Association
John C. Lifland Inn of Court
Barrister
Volunteer Lawyers for Justice
Generation Now Committee Member
Judicial Clerkship(s)
Law clerk to the Honorable Jose L. Fuentes, P.J.A.D., New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division, Morristown, NJ, 2013-2014
Judicial extern to the Honorable Cathy L. Waldor, U.S.M.J., United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, 2012
Civic/Charitable Activities
NJ LEEP
Mentor