Get to know members of the NJAJ Women Trial Lawyers Caucus.    

The WTLC is spotlighting members.

Meet Tommie Ann Gibney, Esq.

Tommie Ann is a Shareholder with Stark & Stark where she focuses her practice on persons who have been injured or killed as the result of motor vehicle collisions; slips, trips, and falls; nursing home abuse and neglect; defective products; construction site incidents; and other catastrophic acts of negligence. She is certified by the New Jersey Supreme Court as a Certified Civil Trial Attorney.

She is a Past President of the New Jersey Association for Justice (formerly ATLA-NJ) and received the Association’s highest award, the Gold Medal for Distinguished Service. She also received the NJAJ Meyer-Segal Award for exemplary leadership to the profession, the community, NJAJ, and the mission of the NJAJ Women Trial Lawyers' Caucus. Tommie Ann presently serves on the NJAJ Board of Governors and is a long-time member of its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee and the Women Trial Lawyers’ Caucus.

She received her Bachelor of Arts degree, cum laude, from Seton Hall University and earned her Juris Doctorate from Seton Hall University School of Law.

Q. What year did you join NJAJ?
A. I joined AAJ (then ATLA) and NJAJ (then ATLA-NJ) my very first year of law school in 1986. I have the letter from then-ATLA-NJ Executive Director Marcia M. Salton and my original member certificate (suitable for framing) to prove it!  Law Student dues were $10 back then.  I have been a card-carrying member of AAJ and NJAJ my entire legal career. I was the first president of NJAJ who was able to say that they had been a member since law school. And I had the honor of serving as the last president of ATLA-NJ and the first President of NJAJ, as the name change occurred during my presidency.

Q. Why did you join NJAJ?
A.  I joined what was then known as ATLA-NJ when I was a law student because I was interested in consumer law, inspired by the promise that the legal system would provide a level playing field for all, and motivated to fight for the underdog, to right wrongs and to ensure civil redress for innocent victims harmed by the wrongful acts of others.

Q. Why did you become involved in the WTLC?
A. When I was coming up in the chairs on the Executive Committee, I was proud that the Board of Governors voted to form the NJAJ WTLC in 2006 to provide a space for fellowship and mentorship of female attorneys. I am gratified that the membership of the WTLC has grown year over year and continues in its mission to provide fellowship and support for female members of NJAJ, to provide opportunities for those members to grow into leadership positions with NJAJ and to create opportunities for the personal and professional growth of WTLC members.

Q. Who is your favorite fictional lawyer?
A. Barrister Horace Rumpole of the BBC series “Rumpole of the Bailey”.  If you haven’t seen the BBC series, do yourself a favor and read the books by John Mortimer.

Q. What do you like to do in your free time?
 A. I enjoy cooking, photography, travel and spending time with friends and family, especially if we are gathered around a fire pit or on a beach enjoying a good sunset!

Q. What is your favorite quotation?
A. “Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So, throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” -- Mark Twain.