About Emerald
Emerald Sheay completed her legal education at Seton Hall University School of Law, earning a J.D. in 2020 after undergraduate work at Rowan University where she received a B.A. in 2017. She entered the profession at a time of rapid change in the courts and in legal education. Law school years overlapped with a burst of public interest issues and practical courtroom learning that shaped her early outlook.
She began practicing in New Jersey and joined Gomperts Penza McDermott & Von Ellen, LLC as an associate lawyer in 2022. At the firm she has taken on responsibilities typical for a young associate, learning to manage client matters, coordinate with senior lawyers and participate in litigation and transactional workflows. Her time at the firm has been a period of practical skill-building and steady growth within a team environment.
Outside of firm work, Sheay has been active in professional and community programs. She holds membership in the New Jersey State Bar Association. She serves on the advisory board of the Transformative Leadership in Disruptive Times Program, a panel that explores leadership challenges in shifting landscapes. Sheay is also a lawyer mentor for the NJ LEEP Program, helping law students and new lawyers navigate early career steps. Since 2021 she has done pro bono work for the Animal Legal Defense Fund.
Those volunteer roles point to a lawyer who spends time beyond billable hours on mentorship and public-interest issues. Sheay’s involvement in mentorship programs ties back to her own recent transition from student to practitioner. Her advisory board work gives her exposure to broader questions about leadership and change in the profession.
Sheay practices in New Jersey and continues to develop her legal practice through her work at Gomperts Penza McDermott & Von Ellen, LLC. She handles matters on behalf of the firm’s clients and remains active in bar and pro bono service while she builds her career as an associate attorney.
