Janelle A. Pelli

Civil Commercial Litigation:

• Represented the former CEO of a publicly-traded renewable energy company in the largest reported Sarbanes-Oxley whistleblower retaliation claim through trial to a $34.5 million settlement.
• Representing large fossil fuel company against nuisance litigation brought by the State of Rhode Island.
• Represents businesses and individuals in business disputes, breach of contract, and business tort actions in lawsuits across the country and in New York State.
• Served as local counsel in business dispute involving non-compete agreement entered into as part of the sale of a business with a New York choice of law and forum selection clause.
• Defended Rule 60(b) motion brought by an investment advisor.
• Represented an international public company in a COVID-19-related dispute under the force majeure clause of an agreement.

Labor & Employment:

• Represented client in securities industry in Sarbanes-Oxley whistleblower retaliation claim before OSHA against former employer.
• Represents clients against discrimination claims brought under Title VII and state law discrimination statutes.
• Regularly defends against claims brought under the Americans with Disabilities Act, the New York State Human Rights Law, and New York City Human Rights Law in New York federal courts against clients alleging barriers to access in places of public accommodation.
• Regularly advises and represents employers and employees in connection with employee disputes, including disputes over confidential information, employment agreements, and non-competes.
• Regularly advises clients on cybersecurity matters affecting employers.

White Collar, Government Enforcement & Internal Investigations:

• Representation of a health care executive to favorable settlement in defense of False Claims Act claims resulting in dismissal of civil claims and federal prosecutors declining prosecution.
• Representation of businessman through plea and sentencing in connection with numerous financial crimes.
• Advises professionals regarding civil and criminal exposure in government investigations, claims, and prosecutions.
• Regularly conducts confidential internal investigations on behalf of public and private companies, including investigations into fraudulent conduct, sexual misconduct, employee harassment, and whistleblower allegations of grant mismanagement and harassment, and advises clients on same.

Construction Litigation:

• Won summary judgment before the Court of Federal Claims on a wrongful termination claim in connection with unique federal contract on behalf of energy client.
• Won summary judgment before New York Supreme Court, Commercial Division on behalf of general contractor against subcontractors on Albany construction project.
• Routinely advises and represents developers, general contractors, project managers, and government entities in construction, insurance, leasing, and other contract disputes against private and government entities.
• Assists clients in subpoena responses and responding to third-party discovery demands.
• Frequently represents contractors in civil litigation against project owners, other contractors, and/or subcontractors across New York state.

Health Care:

• Frequently advises and represents doctors and nurses in investigations by state regulatory bodies, resulting in many closed investigations without disciplinary actions taken against clients.
• Representing a medical practice against its former medical malpractice carrier in claims for misrepresentation and breach of fiduciary duty.

Banking & Financial Services:

• Representing a regional bank against claims arising from fraudulent conduct against a customer’s account by third party.
• Routinely advises banking clients on issues of New York law, including consumer protections for banking customers and bank responses to subpoenas.
• Regularly advises regional banks on compliance and litigation matters.

Work Experience

• Hinckley Allen
  • Pro Bono Committee Member
  • Partner (2026-Present)
  • Associate (2019-2025)
• The Honorable Mae D'Agostino, Northern District of New York
  • Judicial Law Clerk (2018-2019)
• Cahill, Gordon & Reindel
  • Litigation Associate (2017-2018)
  • Summer Associate (2016)
• Professor Catherine Sharkey, NYU School of Law
  • Research Assistant (2016)
• The Honorable Richard Sullivan, Southern District of New York
  • Judicial Intern (2015)
• Cravath, Swaine & Moore
  • Paralegal (2013-2014)
  • Legal Assistant (2012-2013)

Honors & Awards

• Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch (2023-2027)
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Construction Law
  • Criminal Defense: White-Collar
• Super Lawyers, Upstate New York: Rising Stars (2023-2025)
  • Business Litigation

Charitable & Civic Involvement

• The Legal Project, Board Member
  • Providing pro bono support for refugees in Albany, NY with applications for Temporary Protection Status as part of The Legal Project’s immigration clinics.
• Lake George Land Conservancy, NextGen Committee (2019-2021)

Professional Affiliations

• Albany County Bar Association
  • Member (2019-Present)
• DRI
  • Employment & Labor Law Committee (2026-Present)
• NDNY – Federal Court Bar Association
  • Trustee (2026-Present)
  • CLE Committee (2023-2024)
  • Co-Chair of the First Decade Committee, Albany (2022-Present)
  • Member (2019-Present)
• New York State Bar Association
  • Member (2019-Present)
  • Member of Labor & Employment Committee
• Women's Bar Association of the State of New York (WBASNY) (2019-Present)
  • Co-chair of WBASNY's Equal Opportunity in the Profession (2019-Present)
  • Adirondack Women's Bar Association (Chapter of WBASNY), Board Member (2023-present), President (2022-2023), Past President (2023-2024)
  • Capital District Women's Bar Association (Chapter of WBASNY), Member (2019-Present)

Bar Memberships

• Massachusetts
• New York
• United States Court of Federal Claims
• United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York
• United States District Court for the Northern District of New York
• United States District Court for the Southern District of New York