PAUL M. WEINER (senior partner) is the firm's managing partner. He
is a graduate of the State University of New York at Buffalo (B.S., 1971) and New
York Law School (J.D., 1975). Bar admissions: New Jersey, New York; U.S. Supreme
Court; U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit; U.S. District Court, District
of New Jersey, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York.
RAYMOND J. LESNIAK (senior partner) heads the Corporate Law Department.
He is a former Director of Legal Services for the State of New Jersey and
Planning Board Attorney for the City of Elizabeth. He publishes and lectures
widely on Environmental Law and has been a guest lecturer at Yale Law School.
He is a graduate of Rutgers University (B.A., 1971) and St. John's University (J.D.
with honors 1974). Bar admissions: New Jersey; U.S. Court of Appeals, Third
Circuit; U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey.
HOWARD E. BRECHNER (partner) co-manages the Litigation Department and heads
the Tort Defense Department. He is a past President of the Board of Trustees of
The Valerie Fund, a non-profit corporation providing cancer care and support
to children and their families. He is also a State Certified Mediator and a
Certified Contract Advisor of the National Football League Player's Association.
He is a graduate of Franklin and Marshall College (B.A., 1978) and Case Western Reserve
University School of Law (J.D., 1981). Bar admissions: New Jersey; U.S. Court of Appeals,
Third Circuit; U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey.
LOUIS I. KARP (partner) is a member of the Corporate Law Department and
concentrates in corporate and real estate law. He is a graduate of Yeshiva University
(B.A., 1978) and Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law of Yeshiva University (J.D., 1981). Bar
admissions: New Jersey, New York; U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit; U.S.
District Court, District of New Jersey; U.S. Tax Court.
ALAN J. BARATZ (partner) is a member of the Tort Defense Department and has
handled numerous trials of all types of civil matters, including medical, dental
and social services malpractice cases, product liability, and civil rights and
tort claims brought against public entities and employees. He is a graduate
of Susquehanna University (B.A., 1979), where he was honored in Pi Sigma Alpha, Pi Gamma
Mu and Alpha Lambda Delta, and Seton Hall University School of Law (J.D., 1982).
Bar admissions: New Jersey; U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit; U.S. District
Court, District of New Jersey.
GEORGE T. HANLEY (partner) is special and general counsel to municipalities
and private corporate entities involving a broad spectrum of issues. He has
also represented numerous private real estate developers in large and small
commercial and residential developments, including some of the pioneering Affordable
Housing and Economic Development efforts in New Jersey. Prior thereto, Mr. Hanley
served as Legislative Counsel to the New York State Health Planning Commission
and as a Special Consultant, Legislative Counsel and Policy Advisor to the Governor
of West Virginia in revising that State's health care regulatory and administrative
structure. He has been general counsel and special counsel to county and municipal
governments in compliance and adversarial proceedings before the United States
Environmental Protection Agency and New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection,
including Federal Clean Water Act audits and CERCLA matters. He is a member
of the National Association of Bond Lawyers, has had fifteen years experience
in the Bond Counsel field with special emphasis on local government. He has
been intimately involved on a day-to-day basis with the capital finance programs
of municipalities, school boards and authorities throughout the State of New
Jersey. Mr. Hanley is a former member of the Township Committee of East Hanover,
having served six years, and a former Mayor, and thus conversant with the practical
problems of municipal government and the importance of timing and coordination
with local officials. Mr. Hanley is also a charter member of the Growth Connection
Task Force, the moving force behind the Newark-Elizabeth-Airport Rail Link.
Mr. Hanley is a graduate of the State University of New York at Binghamton (B.A.,
1971) and the University of Utah, College of Law, Salt Lake City where he was
a Justice Sutherland Memorial Scholar (J.D., 1975) and was honorably discharged
from the United States Army in 1968 and the recipient of a Bronze Star for Meritorious
Service during his two-year tour of Vietnam.
LEONARD H. BERKELEY (partner) was admitted to the bar in 1972 and has spent
most of his career in the areas of real estate zoning and planning and commercial
litigation, with particular concentration in the area of general equity. In
addition, he has expertise in governmental agencies and condemnation. He has
served as special counsel to the Essex County Improvement Authority, Essex County
Health Agency, and the Essex County Insurance Fund. He is an approved counsel
and has represented The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and is approved
as special counsel to the Resolution Trust Corporation. Mr. Berkeley previously
was an Assistant Essex County Prosecutor (1972-1974), an Assistant Essex County
Counsel (1974-1977) and since 1985 has been an approved federal arbitrator with
the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. In addition
to his bar activities, Mr. Berkeley serves as a member of the Board of Trustees
of Monmouth College and is Chairman of its Government Affairs Subcommittee.
RICHARD L. RUDIN (partner) co-manages the Litigation Department and heads
the Commercial Litigation Division. He is the former Deputy Attorney General
and Chief Counsel for the New Jersey Department of Transportation, 1975-1988,
and has extensive trial and appellate experience. He is a member of the Group
Council of Legal Resources, Washington, D.C., and served as Chairman, Committee
on Transportation Law, 1985-1988. He is a graduate of Rutgers University (B.A., 1966)
and Seton Hall School of Law (J.D., 1969). Bar admissions: New Jersey, U.S. Court
of Appeals, Third Circuit; U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey.
JACQUELINE A. DeGREGORIO (partner) is a member of the Tort Defense Department
handling complex tort and public entity cases. She is a former Lead/Senior Deputy
Attorney General for the State of New Jersey with experience in actions involving
the Tort Claims Act, the Federal Employers Liability Act, the New Jersey Law
Against Discrimination, labor/employment law and federal and state civil rights
statutes. She is a graduate of Seton Hall University (B.S. in Mathematics, 1975)
and a graduate of Seton Hall Law School (J.D., 1982). She served as a law clerk to
The Honorable Virginia Long, Justice Supreme Court and The Honorable Burton
Ironson, J.S.C. She has served on the State Accident Review Board, the Supreme
Court Task Force on Women in the Courts, the Supreme Court Task Force on Civil
Commitments and as a barrister on the Arthur T. Vanderbilt Inn of Court. Bar
Admissions: New Jersey; U.S. Supreme Court; U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit;
U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey.
ARNOLD R. GERST (partner) is a member of the Commercial Litigation Department.
He is a Certified Civil Trial attorney. He is an honors graduate of Rutgers
College (B.A., 1974) and a graduate of the Suffolk University School of Law (J.D.,
1977). He has extensive trial and appellate experience in personal injury, professional
malpractice, products liability, premises liability, corporate and commercial
litigation areas. He has also appeared as a legal expert for Silver King Broadcasting.
Bar admissions: New Jersey and Pennsylvania; U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit;
U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey.
GLENN C. KIENZ (partner) is a member of the Corporate Law Department specializing
in zoning, planning and land use development along with environmental and municipal
law. He has also served as a condemnation commissioner, the Chair of the Land
Use Section of the New Jersey Bar Association and regularly teaches as an adjunct
faculty member for Rutgers University. Mr. Kienz is also an Officer of the New
Jersey Institute of Municipal Attorneys and Associate Counsel to the New Jersey
Planning Officials. He has also edited and written numerous articles in the
field, including a recently revised edition of "A Guide to Planning and
Zoning Boards of Adjustment (1990, newly revised 2000). He graduated from Lafayette
College (B.A., 1975), Pennsylvania State University (M.R.P., 1977), and Seton Hall University
School of Law (J.D., 1981). Bar admissions: New Jersey; U.S. District Court,
District of New Jersey.
BRIAN M. HAK (partner) is a member of the Corporate Law Department and concentrates
in municipal law, Sewerage Authority law, real property tax appeals, condemnation and all related litigation. He served
as law clerk to the Honorable David E. Crabtree, Judge, Tax Court of New Jersey.
Mr. Hak is a graduate of the University of Hartford (B.S/B.A., 1985) and New
York Law School (J.D., 1988). Bar admissions: New Jersey; U.S. District Court,
District of New Jersey.
MARK A. TABAKIN (partner) is a member of the Commercial Litigation Department
and co-chair of the Labor and Education Departments. He has concentrated his
entire legal career in the area of school law and labor/employment law, and
has served as counsel to a number of school districts throughout the state.
He is a past member of the Board of Directors, Morris County Urban League. Mr.
Tabakin is a graduate of University of Massachusetts, Amherst,
Cum Laude (B.A., 1986)
and Seton Hall School of Law (J.D., 1990). Bar admissions: New Jersey, United States
District Court of New Jersey, United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
JOSEPH F. RANIERI (partner) is a member of the Corporate Law Department
and concentrates in public housing authority law, Section 8 voucher and certificate
programs, eminent domain, landlord/tenant litigation, real estate transactions
and general civil litigation. He has served as corporate counsel for the Housing
Authority of the City of Paterson since January 1996 and also serves in the
capacity as local counsel for the Authority's HOPE VI Revitalization project.
He is a graduate of State University of New York (B.A., 1988) and Pace University
School of Law, (J.D., 1991 with honors). Bar admissions: New Jersey; U.S. District
Court
JEFFREY D. SINGER (partner) is a member of the Corporate Law Department
specializing in real estate law; zoning, planning and land use development; construction
contracts and brokerage agreements. He has published numerous articles and is a frequent
lecturer on various real estate topics. Mr. Singer is a graduate of the University of Maryland (B.A., 1973)
and Loyola University School of Law (J.D., 1976). Bar admissions: New Jersey; New York; District
of Columbia; U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey.
GEORGE T. IMPERIAL (partner) is certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey
as a Civil Trial Attorney and is a Rule 1:40-12 Court-Approved Mediator, Civil,
General Equity and Probate matters. He has served as Municipal Court Judge for
Lincoln Park, New Jersey and Caldwell, New Jersey. He has also served as Assistant
Essex County Prosecutor and First Assistant Essex County Public Defender. He
was formerly Mayor of Caldwell, New Jersey and Vice President of the New Jersey
Conference of Mayors. Mr. Imperial received his Juris Doctorate Degree from
Rutgers University, School of Law.
JOSEPH T. DALY (partner) is a member of the Corporate Law Department concentrating
in the areas of land use development, zoning, planning, real estate transactions,
general civil litigation, estate administration. He served as a law clerk to
the Honorable Alfred M. Cozzi, Judge of the Hudson County Court. He served as
special counsel to the New Jersey Commissioner of Insurance from 1972 to 1981.
He is a graduate Seton Hall University (B.A., 1965) and Seton Hall Law School
(J.D., 1968). Bar admissions: New Jersey, U.S. District Court, District of New
Jersey, U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit
LOUIS M. MASUCCI, JR. (partner) heads the Workers' Compensation Department. He is an experienced
litigator with general practice background. He has concentrated his practice
exclusively in workers' compensation since 1989. In addition, he also handles
insurance fraud claims and has acted as a risk management consultant. He is
a frequent lecturer for clients and the workers' compensation bar. Mr. Masucci
is a graduate of Seton Hall University (B.S., 1978) and Seton Hall University, School of Law (J.D., 1981).
He was the Judicial Law Clerk for the Honorable John A. Marzulli, J.S.C. (1981-1982).
Bar admissions: New Jersey; U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey.
RICHARD BRIGLIADORO (partner) is a member of the Corporate Law Department and concentrates
in municipal law, zoning, planning, land use development, real estate and school
law for private and public entities. He is a former municipal prosecutor for
the Borough of Wanaque, 1988 to 1990. Mr. Brigliadoro also serves as a commissioner
on the Totowa Borough Board of Adjustment, 1992 to the present. He served as
a law clerk to the Honorable Joseph J. Salerno, Judge, Superior Court of New
Jersey. He is a graduate of William Paterson College (B.A., 1974); John Jay College
of Criminal Justice (M.P.A., 1978) and Delaware Law School of Widener University
(J.D., 1982). Bar admissions: New Jersey; U.S. District Court, District of New
Jersey.
JEANNE ANN McMANUS (partner) is a member of the Corporate Law Department, concenrating in Land Use and Zoning Law. Her practice has included representation of private developers and redevelopers, as well as land use boards, governing bodies and other public and governmental entities. She previosly served as counsel to the Newark Economic Development Corporation. Ms. McManus is a graduate of Seton Hall University (B.A) and Seton Hall University School of
Law (J.D., 1984), where she was a Member and Associate Editor of Seton Hall Law Review (1982 - 1984). She received a certificate as a Diplomate in Municipal Law from the New Jersey Institute of Municipal Attorneys in October 1991. Bar admissions:
New Jersey, U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey and United States Supreme
Court.
RONALD A. BERUTTI (partner) is a member of the Litigation Department concentrating on complex matters including business litigation, real estate litigation, defense of insurance producers, defense of financial professionals, employee benefits and pensions, disability, ERISA, construction litigation, employment litigation and appeals. He is licensed and practices in both the State and Federal courts of New Jersey and New York, and is also admitted to the United States Court of Appeals for both the Second and Third Circuits. He previously served as a law clerk to the Honorable Conrad N. Koch, a Judge of the Superior Court of New Jersey. Mr. Berutti is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts (B.S., 1988), and of Seton Hall University School of Law (J.D., 1992).
ARTHUR D. BROMBERG (partner) co-manages the Toxic Tort Department. He practices extensively in the area of Toxic Torts and Products Liability Law. He lectures on Mass Torts, Toxic Torts and Asbestos-related medical issues. He is a graduate of Fairleigh Dickinson University (B.A., 1972) and the University of Baltimore Law School (J.D., 1979). He was Chairman of the Moot Court Board at the University of Baltimore. He served as Law Clerk to the Honorable Harold M. Nitto, Judge, Superior Court of New Jersey, Chancery Division. Bar admissions: New Jersey; New York; U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit; U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey; U.S. District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York.
ANNA M. DILONARDO (partner) is co-chair of the Toxic Tort Practice Group in the New York office. She is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati (B.B.A., 1985) and the University of Cincinnati College of Law (J.D., 1988). She is admitted to practice law before the Courts of New York and Ohio and the Eastern, Southern and Northern Districts of New York.
COLLEEN M. CRONIN (partner) is a member of the Toxic Torts Practice Group in the New York office. She is a graduate of the State University of New York at Albany (B.A., 1990) and Hofstra University School of Law (J.D., 1993). She is admitted to practice law before the Courts of New York and New Jersey and the Eastern, Southern and Northern Districts of New York.
BRIAN J. ALOIA (partner) is a member of the Commercial Litigation Department. He is
a graduate of the University of Scranton (B.S., 1992) and Quinnipiac College School
of Law (J.D., 1996). He serves as the Municipal Prosecutor for the Township of
Verona, 2003 to the present. Bar admissions: New Jersey, U. S. District Court,
District of New Jersey; New York.
RONALD D. CUCCHIARO (partner) is a member of the Corporate Law Department and concentrates
in zoning, planning, land use development and municipal law. He served as law
clerk to the Honorable Douglas K. Wolfson, Judge Superior Court of New Jersey. He
is a graduate of Rutgers University, New Brunswick (B.A., with honors 1995) and
Rutgers School of Law, Newark (J.D., 1998). Bar admissions: New Jersey, U. S.
District Court, District of New Jersey.
ANDREW M. WARSHAUER (partner) is a member of the Toxic Tort Practice Group in the New York office. He is a graduate of the State University of New York at Binghamton, with a B.A. in History and Political Science (1990 with honors), and the George Washington University School of Law (J.D., 1994). Bar admissions: New York, U.S. District Court, Eastern and Southern Districts of New York.
BRYANT GONZALEZ (partner) is a member of the Corporate Law Department, Land Use Division.
He is a graduate of Rutgers University (B.A., 1994) and George Washington University
School of Law (J.D., 1999). He served as a law clerk to the Honorable Nestor
F. Guzman, P.J.S.C., Superior Court of New Jersey. Bar admissions: New Jersey,
U. S. District Court, District of New Jersey.
EDWARD J. SEAVER (partner) is a member of the Litigation Practice Area, primarily handling complex tort, product and premises liability cases for self-insured corporations and / or for liability insurers on behalf of their insureds. He has considerable experience in actions involving toxic torts, including various reactive chemicals, radioactive materials and asbestos, both prosecution and defense of subrogation and self-insured claims for property loss caused by fire, explosion, claimed defective equipment and products and other causes. He has argued before the New Jersey Supreme Court on application of the Tort Claims Act, and the appellate courts on various issues of premises liability, general tort law, contribution and joint tortfeasor issues, and land use regulations. He has litigation experience in both the State and Federal Courts. He is a graduate of University of Lowell (B.S., 1978) and Seton Hall University School of Law (J.D., 1981). Bar admissions: New Jersey, U. S. District Court, District of New Jersey.
SUSAN M. SIMON-SPADA is a member of the Corporate Law Department. She was
recipient of the Outstanding Service Award from Essex-Newark Legal Services
Volunteer Lawyers Project and is a member of the Young Lawyer's Section Seminar
Committee of the New Jersey State Bar Association. She is a graduate of Rutgers
University/Douglass College (B.A., 1979 with honors), where she was a member of Pi
Sigma Alpha and Phi Alpha Theta, and the John Marshall Law School (J.D., 1982). Bar
admissions: New Jersey; U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey.
MARY BETH EHALT is a member of the Tort Defense Department concentrating in
premises liability. She is a graduate of Seton Hall University (B.A., 1989 and
J.D., 1994). Bar Admissions: New Jersey, U.S. District
Court, District of New Jersey
MARGARET A. MILLER is a member of the Commercial Litigation Department. She
is a graduate of Rutgers University (B.A., 1995) and Seton Hall University School
of Law (J.D., 1998). She served as law clerk to the Honorable Harriet Dreman,
J.S.C., Superior Court of New Jersey. Bar admissions: New Jersey, U. S. District
Court, District of New Jersey.
BRAD M. WEINTRAUB is a member of the Tort Defense Department. He is a graduate
of Rutgers College (B.A., 1988) and Rutgers School of Law - Newark (J.D., 1992).
Bar admissions: New Jersey; U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey.
THERESE H. CUBBA is a member of the Corporate Law Department. She is a graduate
of William Paterson College (B.A., 1996), the University of Missouri (M.A., 1971), Montclair
State College (M.A., 1983) and Seton Hall University School of Law (J.D., 1991). She
served as law clerk to the Honorable Edwin H. Stern, J.A.D., Superior Court
of New Jersey, Appellate Division. Bar admissions: New Jersey, U. S. District
Court, District of New Jersey.
MITCHELL J. BLOOM is a member of the Worker’s Compensation Department. He is a graduate of the University of
Michigan, Ann Arbor (B.A., 2000) and Seton Hall University School of Law (J.D., 2003). He served as law clerk to the
Honorable Rachel N. Davidson, J.S.C., Superior Court of New Jersey. Bar admissions: New Jersey; U.S. District
Court, District of New Jersey.
JOHN M. NOVELLA is a member of the Worker’s Compensation Department. He is a graduate of the University of
Maryland (B.A., 1992) and Catholic University of America (J.D., 1995). Bar admissions: New Jersey; U.S. District
Court, District of New Jersey.
JAMES E. HAJEL is a member of the Tort Defense Department. He is a graduate of the University of South Carolina (B.A. in Political Science, 1994) and Seton Hall University School of Law (J.D. 2001). He served as law clerk to the Honorable Richard S. Camp, J.S.C., Superior Court of New Jersey, Essex County. Bar admissions: New Jersey; U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey.
JULIA O. DONOHUE is a member of the Corporate Law Department, Land Use Division. She is a graduate of Mount Holyoke College (B.A., 1997) and Seton Hall University, School of Law (J.D., 2004). She served as law clerk to the Honorable B. Theodore Bozonelis, A.J.S.C., Superior Court of New Jersey. Bar admissions: New Jersey; U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey.
NORIEL SANTA MARIA is a member of the Toxic Tort Practice Group in the New York office. He is a graduate of the City University of New York (B.S. in Biomedical Sciences, 1990), State University of New York, Health Science Center at Brooklyn (M.D., 1992), and Fordham University School of Law (J.D., 1999). Bar admissions: New York.
BERNARD MERCADO is a member of the Corporate Law Department. He is a graduate of Saint Peter's College (B.A., 1995) and Seton Hall Law School (J.D., 2004). Bar admissions: New Jersey, U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey, New York
EMILY J. WEINER is a member of the Corporate Law Department, Land Use Division. She is a graduate of Syracuse University (B.S., 2001) and Seton Hall University School of Law (J.D., 2006). Bar admissions: New Jersey; U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey; Florida.
RACHEL M. CARUSO is a member of the Labor & Employment and Education Departments. She is a graduate of Boston University (B.A., 2000) and Seton Hall University School of Law (J.D., 2003). Bar admissions: New Jersey; U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey, Eastern District of New York, Southern District of New York, Third Circuit Court of Appeals.
HELEN GRIFF CHALIER is a member of the Toxic Tort Practice Group. She is a graduate of New York University (B.S. and Physical Therapy Certificate) and Seton Hall University School of Law (J.D. 1998, Health Law Concentration). Ms. Chalier has contributed to two book chapters in Nursing Malpractice, Patrica Iyer (ed.) under her former name, Weisgal. Bar Admissions: New Jersey, New York, U.S. District Courts: District of New Jersey, Southern District of New York and Eastern District of New York.
JULIE MER is a member of the Toxic Tort Practice Group in the New York office. She is a graduate of Fordham University School of Law (J.D. 2003). Bar Admissions: New York, U.S. District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York.
GWENDOLYN K. O'HERRON is a member of the Worker's Compensation Practice Group. She is a graduate of Thomas Jefferson School of Law (J.D. 2006). Bar Admissions: New Jersey, California
CHRISTIAN MERLINO is a member of the Tort Defense Department. He is a graduate of Quinnipiac University School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 1996). Bar Admissions: New Jersey
FELICE K. VAZQUEZ is a member of the Corporate Law Practice Group. Prior to joining the firm, she held several titles during her employment with the City of Elizabeth, including Legislative Aid to the Mayor and Assistant Director of Planning and Community Development, heading the Economic Development, Public Information and Constituent Services Divisions. She is a graduate of Rutgers University, School of Law (J.D. 2007). Bar Admissions: New Jersey
VICTORIA WILLIAMS DONATH is a member of the Toxic Tort Practice Group. She is a graduate of Rutgers University School of Law (J.D., 2004). Bar Admissions: New Jersey, New York, U.S. District Courts: District of New Jersey, Southern District of New York
WILLIAM J. MCGUIRE is a member of the Litigation Department. He is a graduate of Seton Hall University, School of Law (J.D., 1977).
