The Succession Planning Handbook: Preparing for the Future
Date: Dec 16, 2026 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Location: New Jersey Law Center, New Brunswick, and Online
Member Price: $143.00
Non-Member Price: $179.00
Section Price: $0.00
Areas of Law: Ethics
Earn up to 3 credits, including 3.0 in Ethics! (More Information)
Featured Speaker
Moderator
- Catherine Finnerty, Esq.
- Goldman & Beslow, LLC, East Orangeis an associate with Goldman & Beslow, LLC with offices in East Orange, Newark, Paterson and Jersey City, New Jersey. She devotes a substantial portion of her practice to bankruptcy and debtor-creditor negotiations and handles all issues pertaining to Chapter 7, Chapter 13, foreclosure defense and mediation, debt collection defense, debtor-creditor negotiations and consumer representation. In addition to bankruptcy and debtor-creditor law, Ms. Finnerty has experience in real estate matters, simple Wills, powers of attorney, living wills, and municipal court matters involving traffic tickets, disorderly persons offenses, and violations of municipal ordinances. She also represents clients in residential real estate transactions, and has experience helping property owners who desire to sell their property via short sale, are at risk of foreclosure, or who cannot make their mortgage payments.
Admitted to practice law in New Jersey and New York, and before the United States District Court for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, Ms. Finnerty has been a member of the American and New York State Bar Associations and the New Jersey Women Lawyers Association. She has been a member of the NJSBA Bankruptcy Law and Women in the Profession Sections, and is Secretary of the Solo and Small Firm Section. Ms. Finnerty is a member of the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys and the American Bankruptcy Institute. She has also volunteered with South Jersey Legal Services, Legal Services of New Jersey and the Volunteer Lawyers for Justice, and represents clients throughout their entire bankruptcy cases.
Ms. Finnerty received her undergraduate degree, cum laude, from Barnard College, Columbia University, where she was the recipient of the New York Building Industry Scholarship and the Eugene Raskin Prizer for Spanish. She received her J.D. from New York University School of Law, where she was a member of the Law Review and the recipient of the American Jurisprudence Award in Torts.
(8/23)
Presenters
- Hon. Jeanne T. Covert, A.J.S.C., (Ret.)
- Weir Law, LLP
- Alan Barraco
- Senior Manager of Technical Services NJ Judiciary
- William E. Denver, Esq.
- The Denver Law Firm LLC, Red Bank
- Jason Saunders
- First Assistant Ethics Counsel, New Jersey Office of Attorney Ethics, Ewing Township
- Randa Zagzoug, Esq.
- NJ Lawyers Fund for Client Protection, Trenton
As New Jersey comes closer to requiring succession planning, all attorneys need to prepare not only for retiring from the practice of law, but also for unexpected events that may come sooner. A distinguished panel will guide you through the framework of the New Jersey Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection Handbook on Succession Planning. Acquire knowledge on the components of a succession plan and the importance of implementing a plan. Discover the ethical considerations of succession planning and practical issues. Learn how to prepare for the future. Register today!
Program Agenda
- 9 | Introduction
- 9:05 | Overview - Catherine Finnerty, Esq.
- 9:20 | A view from the bench: Assignment Judge and Attorney-Trustee Appointment - Hon. Jeanne T. Covert, A.J.S.C., (Ret).
- Emphasis on caretaker role: Advantages in terms of Immunity from liability and pro bono exemption for 25 hours or more
- Pros of planning, and the challenges of the absence of succession planning
- What the new expedited process entails
- 9:40 | NJ Lawyers Fund and Registration Expectations - Randa Zagzoug, Esq. and Alan Barraco
- 9:50 | The Nuts and Bolts of Planning - Randa Zagzoug, Esq. and William Denver, Esq.
- Debunking the myths (pros and overcoming challenges)
- Selecting a successor attorney
- Role of successor attorney
- The triggering event
- Practical tips and best practices
- Forms:
- Certification to Expedite Appointment of Attorney-Trustee
- Verified Complaint for Attorney-Trustee
- Sample Order for the Appointment of an Attorney-Trustee
- 10:20 | Break
- 10:30 | Ethics and Attorney-Trustee Obligations - Jason Saunders, Esq.
- Spotlight on the attorney-trustee manual
- Highlight of Rules of Professional Conduct such as acting with diligence despite not having an attorney-client relationship (e.g. filing reports in a timely fashion with the Assignment Judge)
- Emphasis on the attorney-trustee caretaker role and core responsibilities
- Awareness of financial obligations under RPC 1.15—recurring issues regarding fees
- Proper sources for attorney-trustee potential fees
- Proper access to records after triggering event(s) for the purpose of winding down and compliance
- 10:55 | Cybersecurity Measures - Alan Barraco, IT Manager, State of New Jersey
- Emphasis on multiple users with unique passwords not sharing passwords
- Access after triggering event(s)
- Independent access after the triggering event while preserving security such as use of double authentication measures
- Security tips:
- Strong and unique passwords
- Two-factor authentication
- Keeping devices updated
- Back up of important files
- Encrypted storage and secure file sharing
- 11:15 | Q & A, Discussion
- 11:30 | Adjourn
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