Diana C. Manning

Principal

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Diana C. Manning
Diana C. Manning

Diana Manning, a Principal of the firm, has over two decades experience in complex commercial litigation, including professional liability claims. Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Civil Trial Attorney, she is an accomplished litigator who handles a broad range of matters. Diana is also a skilled appellate practitioner, with experience appearing before the New Jersey Supreme Court. She is frequently retained by clients and other attorneys solely on an appellate level. 

Diana is very active in the legal community. The New Jersey Supreme Court has appointed Diana Chair of the District XA Ethics Committee. In May 2016, she joined the Board of Trustees of the New Jersey State Bar Association, where she serves as Vice Chair of the Amicus Committee. She also serves on the Board of Directors of the New Jersey Women Lawyers Association. She is a Past President of Trial Attorneys of New Jersey, as well as the Morris County Bar Association and the Morris County Bar Foundation.   In her role as Chair of the Trial Attorneys of New Jersey’s Amicus Committee, she appeared in several matters, including arguing before the New Jersey Supreme Court in Guido v. Duane Morris, LLP, 202 N.J. 79 (2010), a case that involved the impact of a settlement on a legal malpractice claim.

Diana lectures and writes on topical issues, including ethics. She is the author of the New Jersey Chapter of The Law of Lawyer’s Liability: Fifty-State Survey of Legal Malpractice, ABA/First Chair Press, June 2012, which provides an overview of the laws governing attorney malpractice in each state. Because of her depth of experience in the area of legal malpractice, she was appointed to the New Jersey State Bar Association’s Blue Ribbon Panel Committee in Professional Malpractice. The goal of the committee is to examine current trends in professional malpractice, and develop strategies to handle rising malpractice insurance premiums.

Diana has been recognized for her leadership in the New Jersey legal profession. In 2017, Diana received the Professional Lawyer of the Year Award conferred by the New Jersey Commission on Professionalism of New Jersey, as well as, Trial Attorneys of New Jersey and The Morris County Bar Association. In 2016, the New Jersey Law Journal selected Diana for its inaugural class of Top Women in the Law. She has an AV Preeminent Rating By Martindale-Hubbell. She has been listed in Super Lawyers, from 2009-2018, in "Top 100 Lawyers in New Jersey" for 2018, and in “Top Women Lawyers” in New Jersey for 2013 and 2017-2018. She is also listed in The Best Lawyers in America for 2016-2019. In 2007, she was chosen for the New Jersey Law Journal’s “40 Under 40.”

Experience
Published decisions include:
  • Motorworld, Inc. v. Benkendorf, 228 N.J. 311 (2017)
  • Guido v. Duane Morris, LLP, 202 N.J. 79 (2010) (argued amicus curiae)
  • Kranz v. Tiger, 390 N.J. Super. 135 (App. Div.), certif. den., 192 N.J. 294 (2007)
  • Stoeckel v. Twp. of Knowlton, 387 N.J. Super. 1 (App. Div.), certif. den., 188 N.J. 489 (2006)
  • Jerista v. Murray, 185 N.J. 175 (2005)
  • Grzanka v. Pfeifer, 301 N.J. Super. 563 (App. Div. 1997), certif. den., 154 NJ 607 (1998)
News
Speaking
Publications
Awards & Honors
  • Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America®, "Lawyer of the Year," Florham Park, NJ, Professional Malpractice Law - Defendants, 2020
  • Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Civil Trial Attorney
  • Recognized in New Jersey Law Journal's "Top Women in Law," 2016
  • Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America®, 2015-2020
  • Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent Rating
  • Martindale-Hubbell's “Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers,” 2012-2013
  • Recognized in New Jersey Super Lawyers, 2009-2019
  • Recognized in Super Lawyers, “Top 50 Women Lawyers in New Jersey,” 2013, 2017, 2018, 2019
  • Recognized in Super Lawyers, "Top 100 Lawyers in New Jersey," 2018, 2019
  • Recognized on the New Jersey Law Journal’s “40 Under 40” List, 2007
  • Recognized on the Super Lawyers “Rising Stars” List, 2006-2007
  • Fellow, American Bar Foundation
  • Recognized in NJBIZ Vanguard Series: "Leaders in Law," 2018
Education
  • Rutgers University School of Law - Newark, J.D., 1993
  • Rutgers College, Rutgers University, B.A., 1990
Bar Admissions
  • New Jersey, 1993
  • New York, 1994
Court Admissions
  • U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey, 1993
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, 2001
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit, 2005
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit, 2007
  • U.S. Supreme Court, 2010
  • U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of New Jersey, 2011
Professional Affiliations
  • New Jersey State Bar Association, Member Board of Trustees
  • New Jersey Women Lawyers Association, Member of the Board of Directors
  • Trial Attorneys of New Jersey, Past President
  • Morris County Bar Association, Past President
  • Morris County Bar Foundation, Past President
  • American Bar Association
  • Claims and Litigation Management Alliance
  • Defense Research Institute
  • Professional Liability Underwriting Society
  • New Jersey Supreme Court Committee on Women in the Courts (2008-2010)
  • The Association of the Federal Bar of the State of New Jersey
Super Lawyers 2019
Best Lawyers 2019
Fellows of the American Bar Foundation
Super Lawyers 2018
Best Lawyers
Best Lawyers
Super Lawyers 2017
New Jersey Supreme Court
AV Martindale Hubbell