Few lawyers carry the trust that Gary E. Adams does inside courtroom walls. Running day-to-day operations at Pellettieri Rabstein & Altman, a name known across New Jersey for strong legal counsel, he leads the firm’s workers’ compensation unit with steady hands. Long years shaped his approach, especially when defending workers’ rights or handling job-related disputes, or navigating injury claims. The firm itself leans on his insight, particularly within its employment and labor division where experience speaks loudly without needing words.
Professional Focus & Legal Philosophy
From day one, Gary Adams focused on protecting people harmed at work – workers’ rights were his priority. Aggressive advocacy defines how he approaches cases, yet careful planning guides every step forward. Because tough situations demand clarity, his approach stays grounded in real outcomes, not just legal jargon. Clients rely on him when everything feels overwhelming, often outside office hours, proof of trust exists quietly there.
Working folks matter most to Adams when it comes to how laws work, while big companies and insurance firms take a back seat in his view. Because of that idea, the way he shows up at job each day unfolded differently: facing judges, arguing cases, writing decisions, even standing before review boards across counties. Wherever the courtroom sat, his thinking stayed close to those real lives.
Areas of Expertise
- Workers’ Compensation Law: Across the country, people know Adams for how he handles worker injury cases. When disputes rise, he steps into courtrooms to defend or pursue claims tied to job-related illnesses. Sicknesses like lung or heart problems fall under his work too, along with repeated-strain ailments and death-at-work matters. After verdicts are made, his efforts often continue, challenging rulings through higher courts when needed.
- Employment & Labor Law: As co-chair of PR&A’s Employment & Labor Department, he tackles issues related to workplace discrimination, wrongful termination, wage and hour disputes, and union representation matters.
- Personal Injury: While best known for workers’ compensation, Adams also represents individuals in personal injury cases arising from accidents and negligence, advocating for full recovery of damages.
Notable Achievements & Recognition
Respected among colleagues, Gary Adams brings strong legal ability that consistently draws recognition. Awards tied to his work highlight impact beyond routine practice – one thing standing out among others like him:
- Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” (2021) for Workers’ Compensation Law – Claimants, a distinction awarded to a single lawyer in a given region and practice area based on peer reviews of professionalism and ethical standards.
- Consistent inclusion in Super Lawyers, a rating service recognizing outstanding lawyers from across the United States selected through peer nominations and independent research.
- Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent Rating, the highest possible rating for legal ability and ethical standards from a respected attorney rating service.
Such recognition places Adams among New Jersey’s top experts in workers’ compensation and job-related legal disputes.
Litigation Experience & Impact
Court appearances with Adams happen often, taking many forms. Workers’ compensation appeals fill part of his calendar, handled across New Jersey’s Superior Court, Appellate Division, along with filings before the state’s highest judicial body. Trials unfold in diverse ways, yet include:
- Occupational disease claims, including exposure-related illnesses
- Pulmonary and cancer-related workers’ compensation claims
- Repetitive motion injuries
- Cardiac and heart condition claims
- Death benefit claims for families of deceased workers
- Traumatic injury cases involving serious physical harm
Advocacy & Legislative Involvement
Outside the courtroom, Adams helped guide changes in laws about job safety and earnings after injury. Through groups focused on legal work, he held key roles while pushing updates to outdated worker benefits rules.
- Former Chairman, Workers’ Compensation Section, New Jersey State Bar Association, influencing education, policy standards, and professional practices in the field.
- Senior Vice President, New Jersey Advisory Council on Safety and Health (COSH), a role that includes providing expert testimony before the New Jersey Legislature on behalf of injured workers. He has advocated for amendments to improve compensation awards for serious injuries, including efforts that have passed both houses of the Legislature.
Such contributions reflect Adams’s commitment not just to individual clients, but to systemic improvements in how workers are protected under the law.
Education & Early Career
Gary E. Adams’s academic foundation includes:
- Bachelor of Arts, with honors, Rutgers University at New Brunswick (Phi Beta Kappa): foundation in liberal arts and critical thinking.
- Juris Doctor, Rutgers University Law School, Newark: legal training that prepared him for a lifetime of litigation and advocacy.
Admitted as an attorney in 1977, he now serves across several jurisdictions: New Jersey state courts, the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, along with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
Professional Memberships & Leadership
Beyond his current role, Gary Adams engages with legal groups that expand his impact wider than just one office setup:
- Executive Committee, New Jersey State Bar Association Workers’ Compensation Section
- Member, Mercer County and New Jersey State Bar Associations Workers’ Compensation Sections
- Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Workers’ Compensation Trial Attorney
- Member, National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives
- Master, New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Inn of Court
- Vice-President, New Jersey Advisory Council on Safety and Health
These memberships reflect a commitment to ongoing professional excellence, peer mentorship, and legal leadership.
Client Engagement & Legal Writing
Now and then, Adams writes articles for legal journals. On matters tied to workplace rights, he often gives talks at events across the region. Through these efforts, others gain insight into how changes in law affect real cases. Information flows both ways, to lawyers and people seeking advice alike. What emerges is clarity on what steps to take, when claims arise under state rules.
What stands out is how quickly he responds, yet never rushes into plans, each idea feels considered, shaped by real attention rather than just efficiency. It’s the blend of sharp thinking and quiet care that sets him apart, where numbers meet listening.
Legacy & Influence
From courtroom success to shaping laws, Gary E. Adams left his mark. At PR&A, he guided efforts that protected employees while lifting accountability across New Jersey’s legal field. His impact lingers, quiet yet deep, where justice meets responsibility.
From courtrooms to legislative halls, or through union circles, Adams still speaks with weight – calling for equity, real justice, because some people deserve counsel when it matters most.
When life brings challenges like workplace injuries or job disputes, people in New Jersey often choose Pellettieri Rabinstein & Altman because they know what reliability looks like. Facing tough legal problems? High pressure cases with far-reaching outcomes often demand exceptional skill.
