James M. Cooney, Esq.

James M. Cooney, Esq. has served as a neutral Labor Arbitrator since 2008.  He is on the grievance arbitration rosters of the American Arbitration Association, Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, N.J. Public Employment Relations Commission, N.J. State Board of Mediation, National Mediation Board, and Pennsylvania Bureau of Mediation.  Mr. Cooney also serves as a Mediator of employment law and related cases.        

Previously, Mr. Cooney worked as an attorney with Weissman & Mintz LLC, Somerset, N.J., representing employees and labor unions.  Prior to that, he was an associate with Apruzzese, McDermott, et al., Liberty Corner, N.J., representing public and private sector employers.  He also served as a Trial Attorney with the National Labor Relations Board, Contempt Litigation Branch, in Washington, D.C.  

Mr. Cooney is an Associate Teaching Professor at the Rutgers University School of Management and Labor Relations, in the Labor Studies and Employment Relations Department, where he teaches courses including “Employment Law,” “Mediation,” and “Immigration Law & Employee Rights,” along with extension program courses for Attorneys and Human Resources, Labor Relations, and Union representatives.  

Mr. Cooney is admitted to practice law in New Jersey and Florida (inactive status), as well as various federal courts.  He earned his J.D degree from the University of Miami (Florida) School of Law and his B.A. degree in History from Rutgers University.  

Mr. Cooney was admitted into the National Academy of Arbitrators in 2022.  He currently serves as Vice President of the Labor & Employment Relations Association (LERA), N.J. Chapter.