Mary Frances Palisano Receives Profiles in Leadership Journal “Women Worth Watching® in Leadership” Award

This attorney has been selected for the recognitions mentioned herein, which have been conferred by the corresponding publications and/or organizations noted. An overview of the selection methodologies for these recognitions can be found at https://www.gibbonslaw.com/awards. Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.

Mary Frances Palisano, a Director in Gibbons’s Business & Commercial Litigation Group, leader of the Child Advocacy Team, and Pro Bono Chair and Coordinator, has been selected as one of Profiles in Leadership Journal’s 31 “Women Worth Watching^® in Leadership” for 2025. The award recognizes “women whose careers, leadership, and mentorship continue to inspire change across industries” and who “embody the spirit of progress and purpose in action.”

“We are honored to showcase these exceptional leaders and the organizations that nominated them,” said James R. Rector, Publisher. “Their achievements speak volumes – and their commitment to others is what makes them truly worth watching.”

At Gibbons, Ms. Palisano handles criminal cases at the municipal, state, and federal levels, alongside her pro bono work and her private practice focused on representing children in school-law and special-education proceedings. Under her leadership of the highly regarded Gibbons Cares Pro Bono Platform since 2013, in particular, firm lawyers have donated thousands of pro bono hours annually to those who cannot afford legal services or are underrepresented. Additionally, the firm has expanded its scope, regional impact, and number of pro bono partnerships and received numerous accolades, including the 2024 CPBO Pro Bono Partner Award from Pro Bono Institute for its work with Volunteer Lawyers for Justice’s Veterans Legal Program and two “Companies that Care” Awards from the Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey and COMMERCE magazine.

Ms. Palisano, herself, not only manages and oversees the Gibbons Cares Pro Bono Platform’s pro bono cases, she also regularly attends legal clinics and takes on pro bono cases for full representation. She is the recipient of the Essex County Bar Association’s Bernard A. Kuttner Pro Bono Service Award and a New Jersey State Bar Association Pro Bono Award.

Ms. Palisano also helped launch the flourishing Gibbons Child Advocacy Team in 2018, mentored law students interning at the firm and currently co-leads one of the firm’s associate mentoring groups, and promoted the advancement of women attorneys as a member of the Gibbons Women’s Initiative. In acknowledgement of her contribution to the legal profession, she has been included on Best Lawyers^® and New Jersey Super Lawyers lists for Criminal Defense and was among the New Jersey Law Journal’s 2024 “Women Lawyers of the Year.”

She joins Gibbons attorneys Christine A. Amalfe, Kim M. Catullo, Jennifer A. Hradil, Susan L. Nardone, Camille V. Otero, Jennifer Phillips Smith, and Kristin D. Sostowski, as well as June M. Inderwies, Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer, and Renée L. Monteyne, Director of Professional and Organizational Development, as past “Women Worth Watching^®” honorees.

“Mary Fran’s commitment to the law and to public interest is always evident,” remarked Peter J. Torcicollo, Gibbons’s Managing Director. “She has made an impact both at Gibbons and on the communities we serve, and we congratulate her on this well-deserved honor.”

About Profiles in Leadership Journal

Now in its 27th year, Profiles in Leadership Journal remains a trusted platform for celebrating leadership that transforms organizations and communities. We partner with forward-thinking companies to honor individuals whose vision, courage, and commitment are shaping a better tomorrow.