Here is an early look at the exciting and enriching continuing legal education and dynamic speakers scheduled for the 2023 Mid-Year Meeting.

All programs and speakers are subject to change. Check back for regular updates.

Navigating the Ukrainian Adoption Process – Overcoming Challenges and Ensuring Humanitarian Parole

This seminar will provide an overview of the Ukrainian adoption process, focusing on overcoming the challenges of the current moratorium. The course will explore the use of the Humanitarian Parole Act to facilitate the adoption of Ukrainian orphans and discuss the role of the Biden administration in supporting international adoptions. A panel of distinguished speakers will share their insights on the legal, procedural, and cultural challenges facing adoptive families as well as their suggested opportunities and solutions. Moreover, the panelists will provide guidance on how to navigate the complex adoption process considering the roadblock to Ukrainian adoptions during the war.

Moderator/Speaker:
Henry Rinder, CPA, ABV, CFE, CFF, CGMA
Smolin Lupin & Co., LLC, Fairfield

Speakers:
Senator Raymond Lesniak
Lesniak Institute for American Leadership
Karolina A. Dehnhard, Esq.
Lindabury McCormick Estabrook & Cooper, PC, Westfield

Les Miserables: Handling Cosette’s International Divorce

Many of us know the love story of Jean Valjean’s daughter Cosette and her husband Marius, but what happens when they become miserable? Hear from a panel of experienced practitioners from New Jersey and Paris, along with an esteemed New Jersey jurist about the divorce process in both countries. They will also discuss how to handle divorce and custody disputes with international involvements.

Moderator/Speaker:
Timothy F. McGoughran Esq., NJSBA President
Law Office of Timothy F. McGoughran, LLC, Ocean

Speakers:
Hon. Angela White Dalton, J.S.C., Monmouth
Muriel Cadiou, Avocat associé
Cadiou Poivey-Leclercq & Assoćies, Paris
Paris P. Eliades, Esq., NJSBA Past President
Paris P. Eliades Law Firm, LLC, Sparta
Frances Goldsmith, Avocat à la Cour
Libra Avocats, Paris
Ilan Hirschfeld, CPA
Marcum, LLP, Neptune
Megan S. Murray Esq., Chair, NJSBA Family Law Section
The Family Law Offices of Megan S. Murray, Holmdel

Your Adversary Did What? Dealing with Disgraceful Conduct in Depositions and Elsewhere

Speakers:
Hon. Thomas M. Moore, P.J.Cv., Essex
Hon. Stephen L. Petrillo, J.S.C., Essex
Christine A. Amalfe, Esq., NJSBA First Vice President
Gibbons, PC, Newark
Michael A. Kaplan, Esq.
Lowenstein Sandler, LLP, New York

Josephine Baker – A Groundbreaking Woman and the Law

Josephine Baker was born in the United States but lived most of her life as a French citizen. She was known as a groundbreaking dancer, singer, and actress, and was the first Black woman to star in a Hollywood major motion picture. In addition, she aided the French resistance during World War II and was awarded the Resistance Medal by the French Committee of National Liberation, the Croix de Guerre by the French military, and was named a Chevalier of the Légion d’honneur by General Charles de Gaulle. This program will examine Baker’s extraordinary legacy as it relates to social issues and the law during her lifetime. The panel will look at legal issues related to women’s rights, race, adoption, the LGBTQ community, and military law.

Moderator/Speaker:
Jeffrey M. Fiorello, Esq.
Cohn Lifland Pearlman Herrmann & Knopf LLP, Saddle Brook

Speakers:
Hon. Jodi L. Rosenberg, J.S.C., Essex
Michael L. Detzky, Esq.
Detzky Hunter & DeFilippo, LLC, Freehold & Somerville
Tracy Julian, Esq.
Pashman Stein Walder Hayden, PC, Holmdel
Alison C. Leslie, Esq.
Leslie Law Firm, LLC, Morristown
G. Glennon Troublefield, Esq., NJSBA Treasurer
Carella Byrne Cecchi Olstein Brody & Agnello, Roseland
Andrea B. White, Esq.
Ansell Grimm & Aaron, PC, Ocean

Renaissance – Redevelopment + Rebirth of Dead Shopping Centers

According to a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, one-fifth of all shopping malls in the United States that are financed through commercial mortgage-backed securities are worth less than their loans. As more than $14 billion of loans backed by failing shopping malls come due in the next 12 months, struggling malls are defaulting on their debt. With mortgage rates up sharply, refinancing that debt will be more challenging and expensive.

As retailers rely more and more on online sales, shopping centers are dying. This leaves huge, abandoned buildings in many cities and towns. What happens next?

Land use attorneys, planners, bankruptcy lawyers and developers will discuss this phenomenon, which was exacerbated by the pandemic. They will discuss the legal issues surrounding the takeover of defunct shopping centers, redevelopment of the land, and provide creative solutions.

Moderator/Speaker:
Melinda Middlebrooks Esq., Immediate Past Chair, NJSBA Bankruptcy Law Section
Middlebrooks Shapiro, PC, Belmar

Speakers:
Hon. Rosemary Gambardella
United States Bankruptcy Judge for the District of New Jersey
Thomas J. Cannon III, President
Flag Wharf, Inc.
Maria DeOliveira, Esq.
US Bankruptcy Court, Dist of NJ, Trenton
Kenneth A. Porro, Esq.
Chasan Lamparello Mallon & Capuzzo, PC, Secaucus
Past Chair, NJSBA Local Government Law Section
Colleen M. Restel, Esq.
Lowenstein Sandler, Roseland

Vive Le Difference! Work in France et Les États-Unis

This presentation will examine labor and employment law through the eyes of French workers and employers including the changes in the pension law that led to recent protests. The speakers will also compare French law to similar laws and issues in New Jersey and provide an update on New Jersey law.

Moderator/Speaker:
Peter L. Frattarelli, Esq.
Archer & Greiner P.C., Voorhees

Featured Speaker:
Séverine Martel, Esq.
Reed Smith, LLP, Paris

Speakers:
John L. Shahdanian II, Esq.
Trenk Isabel Siddiqi & Shahdanian, PC, Livingston

Comme Ci, Comme Ca: A Comparison of the New Jersey and French Legal Systems

Don’t let practicing in a foreign country result in a dangerous liaison.

International legal issues now permeate even the most local of practices, from personal injury to business disputes, environmental law to product liability, from cybersecurity to privacy law. The differences in systems and practice may be dramatic, particularly in terms of discovery, privilege, service and cultural issues. This program explores various points of similarity and difference in the practice of law in New Jersey and France, illustrating more broadly and comparatively the divergence between the common law and civil law systems.

Learn about what every New Jersey attorney needs to know, including the differences between civil and common law, data privacy issues, attorney/client privilege or the lack of it, how judges are chosen, the impact of the Hague Treaty and how all of this will impact your practice.

Moderator/Speaker:
Thomas H. Prol Esq., Past NJSBA President
Sills Cummis & Gross, PC, Newark

Speakers:
Hon. Evelyn Padin
United States District Court for the District of New Jersey
Past NJSBA President
Hon. Andrea J. Sullivan, J.S.C., Middlesex
Hon. Andrew Baron, ALJ
Office of Administrative Law, Newark
Tracey Goldstein, Esq.
Feinstein Raiss Kelin Booker & Goldstein LLC, Livingston

Tête-à-tête – Law Firm Managers on Hot Topics in Management

Do you want to know how successful law firms maintain their momentum and overcome obstacles? Join law firm managers for a tête-à-tête on the latest topics in law firm management. They will discuss the role of AI in law firm public relations and media; blogging, podcasts and how to build a following; crisis prevention, planning and communication; when and how law firms should engage in public discourse; how to get employees back to the office; and answer your questions.

Moderator/Speaker:
Brian McDonough
Kessler PR Group

Speakers:
Thomas P. Fischer, Esq.
Broscious, Fischer & Zaiter, PC, Washington
Karen J. Kessler
Kessler PR Group
Diana C. Manning, Esq., NJSBA Secretary
Bressler Amery & Ross, Florham Park

Ethics with a French Twist

Moderator/Speaker:
Tanya L. Freeman, Esq.
Tanya L. Freeman Attorney at Law, East Hanover

Speakers:
Hon. Daniel D’Alessandro (Ret.)
Hon. Terry Bottinelli
Greg Cooke, Partner, Vice President
USI Affinity, PA
Mark S. Guralnick, Esq.
Law Offices of Mark S. Guralnick, Cherry Hill

George Mitchell and the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement

25 years ago, the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement ended a 30 year bloody conflict in Northern Ireland known as the Troubles. As Chairman of the all-party peace talks, former U.S. Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell played an integral role in the negotiations that culminated in the peace agreement. This seminar analyzes the Northern Ireland peace process and is especially tailored for those interested in conflict resolution, transitional justice, and human rights.

Moderator/Speaker:
Hon. Edward M. Neafsey (Ret.)

Speaker:
Richard F. Klineburger III, Esq.
Klineburger & Nussey, Haddonfield

Crime et Justice – Update from France

Moderator/Speaker:
Robert J. Brass, Esq.
Goodgold Feinberg & Bennett LLC, Millburn

Speakers:
Hon. Lourdes Lucas, J.S.C., Monmouth
Deputy Attorney General Morgan McGoughran-Tumulty
Mental Health Unit, Essex County Prosecutor’s Office

The Impact of Administrative Law on Private Practice: Civil, Criminal, Family – What Every Attorney Needs to Know

This seminar will cover the intersection of administrative law with matters arising from civil, criminal and family matters. Attorneys need to know about how agency determinations can impact their representation of clients. The failure to take administrative action into account can result in serious harm to the client and malpractice for the attorney. This seminar will address these situations as they impact the private practice of law.

Speakers:
Hon. Susan M Scarola, ALJ
David Apy, Assistant Attorney General
Office of the Attorney General, State of New Jersey
Matthew Giacobbe, Esq.
Cleary, Giacobbe, Alfieri & Jacobs, L.L.C., Oakland
Sanford R. Oxfeld, Esq.
Oxfeld Cohen PC, Newark
Victoria Paone Rosa, Esq.
Paone Zaleski & MUrphy, Red Bank
Herbert J. Stayton Jr., Esq.
Stayton Law, LLC

ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS

Americans in Paris: Their Influence on French Law and Culture

85 Years After Krystallnacht, How Lawyers Can Fight Hate and Prevent Genocide

Leadership in the City of Light – A DEI Program for Law Firm Managers

Dispute Resolution – Update on Helping Parties Reach Détente

Crime et Justice – Update from France

PFAS – Litigation over “Forever Chemicals” Continues

Cyber Security from Passaic to Paris

The Impact of Administrative Law on Your Practice: What Civil, Criminal, Family and Real Estate Attorneys Need to Know

NOTABLE SPEAKERS

JUDGES

Chief Justice James R. Zazzali (Ret.)
Zazzali Fagella Nowak Kleinbaum & Friedman, PC, Newark and Trenton

Hon. Julien X. Neals
United States District Judge for the District of New Jersey\

Hon. Evelyn Padin
United States District Judge for the District of New Jersey

Hon. Peter J. Bariso, Jr., A.J.S.C. (Ret.)
Chasan Lamparello Mallon & Capuzzo, PC, Secaucus

Hon. Lourdes Lucas, J.S.C., Monmouth

Hon. Susan M. Scarola, ALJ

NJSBA PRESIDENT

Timothy F. McGoughran, Esq.
Law Office of Timothy F. McGoughran, LLC, Ocean

NJSBA PAST PRESIDENTS

Paris P. Eliades, Esq., NJSBA Past President
Paris P. Eliades Law Firm, LLC, Sparta

John E. Keefe Jr., Esq., NJSBA Past President
Wilentz Goldman & Spitzer, PA, Woodbridge

Ralph J. Lamparello, Esq., NJSBA Past President
Chasan Lamparello Mallon & Capuzzo, PC, Secaucus

Thomas H. Prol, Esq., NJSBA Past President
Sills Cummis & Gross, PC, Newark

ESTEEMED ATTORNEYS AND OTHER PROFESSIONALS

Susan Sangillo Bellifemine, Esq.
Susan Sangillo Bellifemine, LLC, Cedar Grove

Robert J. Brass, Esq.
Goodgold Feinberg & Bennett LLC, Millburn

Dennis Estis, Esq.
Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith & Davis LLP, Iselin

John J. Farmer Jr.
Director, Eagleton Institute of Politics
University Professor of Law
Justice Alan B. Handler Scholar
Director, Miller Center on Policing and Community Resilience
Rutgers University

Tracey Goldstein, Esq.
Feinstein Reiss Kelin Booker & Goldstein, LLC, Livingston

Dawn Monsen Lamparello, Esq.
K&L Gates, LLP, Newark

James A. Lewis V, Esq., Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer
Cole Schotz, PC, Hackensack

Dr. Robert Spangler
Assistant Executive Director, CISO
New Jersey State Bar Association

Maria P. Vallejo, Esq., President-Elect, Hudson County Bar Association
Chasan Lamparello Mallon & Capuzzo, PC, Secaucus

Kenneth A. Vercammen, Esq.
Kenneth Vercammen & Associates, PC, Edison