Natalya G. Johnson, Esq. serves as Sr. Director & Senior Counsel for Johnson & Johnson. She is a skilled corporate counsel with expertise in employment law and strategies, litigation, and impactful community leadership. Prior to joining Johnson & Johnson, she represented private and public sector clients in federal and state litigation and trial matters. As a commercial litigator, she handled a wide variety of complex cases, involving business disputes, insurance, real estate, education, and health law.
Committed to pro bono service, Natalya started her legal career as an attorney fellow with Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ). In 2024, she joined the Board of Trustees of Public Media NJ, the operator of NJ PBS.
Natalya currently serves as President of the Garden State Bar Foundation, Inc. (GSBF) and a Past President of the Garden State Bar Association (GSBA). Under her leadership, the GSBA established its first endowed scholarship fund to advance various initiatives supporting the legal community, while providing scholarships to underrepresented law students.
Following the formation of the New Jersey Supreme Court’s Committee on Wellness in the Profession, Natalya was appointed to serve as one of its sub-committee Chairs. She also serves on the New Jersey Artificial Intelligence Task Force.
Supporting the advancement of the next generation of lawyers and industry leaders is extremely important to Natalya. She sits on the Equity and Inclusion Alumni Leadership Council of Cornell Law School and previously served on the Executive Board of Directors of its Alumni Association. She is also a member of the President’s Council of Cornell Women. As past President of the Cornell Black Lawyers Alumni Network, Natalya led fundraising efforts in support of its George Washington Fields LLB 1890 Scholarship Fund and spearheaded alumni and mentorship programs around North America.
Natalya co-founded the Advancement Initiative (AI) in 2017. AI’s objective is to harness the strength of personal and professional networks to foster mentorship and opportunities in law and business.
Beyond the law, Natalya previously served as a board member of the League of Women Voters NJ, a nonpartisan, grassroots organization working to protect and expand voting rights.
Natalya has been widely recognized for her professional and community achievements. In 2019, she was named one of the 40 under 40 Nation’s Best Advocates by the National Bar Association; as well as a 2020 New Jersey Law Journal New Leader of the Bar; and a 2020 Professional Lawyer of the Year honoree by the New Jersey Commission on Professionalism in the Law. She was named to ROI-NJ’s 2022, 2023 and 2024 Influencer and Women in Business lists, a Black in-house Counsel’s 2022 Black Diamond award honoree, and recognized by the Executive Women of New Jersey as a 2022 Salute to Policy Makers honoree.
The African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey and South Asian Bar Association of NJ honored Natalya with Community Partner Awards in 2023. The New Jersey Law Journal recognized Natalya as the Attorney of the Year at the 2023 New Jersey Legal Awards.
Natalya speaks regularly on a variety of topics, including employment law, diversity, inclusive leadership, business and faith.
