Nicolette J. Zulli

Senior Associate

  • Nicolette J. Zulli
  • Phone: +1 713 402 3903

    Read Nicolette J. Zulli's blog Import to Address Book

  • Duane Morris LLP
    1300 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 1500
    Houston, TX 77056
    USA
  • Duane Morris LLP
    1075 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 1700
    Atlanta, GA 30309-3929
    USA

Nicolette (“Nico”) J. Zulli is based in Houston, triple-barred in Texas, Georgia, and New York, and serves as a cross-jurisdictional resource for high-exposure, management-side defense. She concentrates her practice on employment law and commercial litigation, leveraging a background in journalism and the arts to master narrative architecture and evidentiary strategy. By distilling dense evidence into clear, compelling stories, Nico represents clients across the technology, energy, healthcare, and manufacturing sectors, among others, in complex trials and negotiations.

In her employment defense practice, Nico represents employers against claims involving Title VII, the ADA, FMLA, and FLSA. As a member of the Class Action Defense Team, she handles data breach and wage-and-hour collective actions in both state and federal courts. Her experience covers all stages of litigation—from internal investigations through arbitration and trial preparation—as well as defending employers in administrative matters before the EEOC and OSHA.

Her commercial litigation practice involves a broad range of complex, multi-jurisdictional disputes, including representative matters such as the Texas Opioid MDL, PFAS contamination litigation, and high-stakes breach of contract and business tort disputes. Beyond the courtroom, Nico provides strategic counsel to help employers mitigate risk by navigating wage-and-hour audits and drafting robust compliance protocols, employee handbooks, and employment and separation agreements.

Nico is a participant in the Georgia Association of Manufacturers (GAM) Operational Excellence Working Group and serves as a Programming Chair (Houston) for the Firm’s Women’s Impact Network for Success (WINS). Her leadership has been recognized with the Houston Bar Association’s President’s Award, and she is honored in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America 2025.

Nico maintains a dedicated pro bono practice, consistently contributing significant hours to community legal service and advocacy. She earned her J.D., with honors, from Syracuse University College of Law, where she was a member of the Syracuse Law Review. She earned her B.A. in Journalism, with honors, with a minor in Film & Digital Media from Baylor University.

A lifelong singer-songwriter, Nico is the lead vocalist for the Duane Morris Firm band. She lives an active lifestyle and enjoys spending time outdoors and at home with her toy poodle, Roux.

Areas of Practice

  • Employment Law
  • Litigation

Admissions

  • Georgia
  • Texas
  • New York
  • Supreme Court of the United States
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
  • U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
  • U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia

Education

  • Syracuse University College of Law, J.D., cum laude, 2018
    - Associate Member, Syracuse Law Review
    - Member, Syracuse Law Justinian Honorary Law Society
  • Baylor University, B.A., cum laude, 2014

Experience

  • Duane Morris LLP
    - Senior Associate, 2025-present
    - Associate, 2019-2024

Honors and Awards

  • Named to Best Lawyers "Ones to Watch," 2025
  • Awarded Houston Bar Association’s President’s Award, for outstanding service as Co-Chair of the HBA Fun Run Committee, 2021-2022

Professional Activities

  • State Bar of Georgia 
    - Entertainment & Sports Law
    - Labor & Employment Law
  • State Bar of Texas
    - Labor and Employment Law
    - Litigation Section
  • New York State Bar Association
    - Labor & Employment Law Section
    - Young Lawyers Section
  • Houston Bar Association
    - Member, HBA Law Week Fun Run Committee
    - Editorial Board Member, The Houston Lawyer Magazine Committee

Civic and Charitable Activities

  • Member, Baylor University Women's Council of Houston
  • Friend of Department Council, Baylor University Department of Journalism, Public Relations and New Media (JPR&NM)
  • Friend of Memorial Park Conservancy
  • Member, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (HLSR)

Selected Publications

Selected Speaking Engagements

  • Guest Speaker, Baylor Journalism’s Gender, Race & Media course, taught by Professor and Department Chair, Mia Moody-Ramirez, Ph.D., Videoconference, 2020-2022
  • Presenter, Duane Morris Presents: Employment Law Developments and Trends In Key Jurisdictions Outside California, Virtual MCLE, December 11, 2024
  • Presenter, Atlanta ELBI Fall Seminar: Off the Record – An Informational Jam Session, Seminar, October 27, 2022
  • Guest Speaker, Syracuse University College of Law Externship Lecture Series, Videoconference, October 24, 2022
  • Panelist, Syracuse University College of Law Women’s Law Student Association Networking Event with Alumnae, Videoconference/Seminar, September 23, 2021
  • Presenter, "COVID-19: From Sea to Shining Sea: A Quick Update of U.S. and International COVID-Related Restrictions," Duane Morris LLP, Webinar, December 11, 2020