- Commercial/Business Litigation
- Trust & Estate Litigation
- Civil Rights/Constitutional Litigation
- Intellectual Property/E-Commerce Litigation
- Real Estate/Land Use/Environmental Litigation
- Employment Litigation
- Appellate Litigation
- Arbitration, Mediation, & Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
Our firm’s Litigation Practice is comprised of experienced litigators who have handled a wide range of basic and complex litigation matters and have successfully represented clients through settlement, trial, and appeals.
Our attorneys possess an in-depth knowledge of procedure and strategy and provide clients with practical and effective advice through all stages of a lawsuit.
Commercial/Business Litigation
The firm represents businesses and individuals in complex commercial, business, and contractual disputes, supply and service agreements, purchase and sale of businesses and real estate, partnership and shareholder disputes, environmental compliance, real estate and landlord/tenant issues, bankruptcy, and franchise disputes.
Trust & Estate Litigation
Building on our knowledge and experience in estate planning, estate administration, and tax law, the firm represents individuals and fiduciaries in litigation involving probate, estates, trusts, and charitable foundations.
See also our Trust and Estate Planning, Estate Administration & Tax Law page.
Civil Rights/Constitutional Litigation
Our experience encompasses a variety of civil rights cases in federal and state trial and appellate courts. We possess the knowledge and skill to challenge excesses in government regulation, oppose unlawful government practices, and provide our clients a means to seek vindication of their constitutional rights in various matters, including First Amendment, Second Amendment, Fifth Amendment, and Fourteenth Amendment cases.
We have represented clients in civil rights cases before high courts such as the Supreme Court of the United States, the Supreme Court of New Jersey, the New York Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court of New Hampshire representing parties and Amici Curiae (Friends of the Court).
The firm also represents firearms owners, firearms dealers, Second Amendment civil rights organizations, and ranges in various aspects of litigation, civil rights, permitting, and regulatory matters.
See also our Civil Rights & Constitutional Law page.
Intellectual Property/E-Commerce Litigation
The firm represents individuals and businesses in litigation involving trademark and copyright issues, including infringement, registration, protection, licensing and assignments, work-made-for-hire agreements, domain name disputes and cyber-squatting, defamation, and anonymous John Doe cases.
See also our E-Commerce & Intellectual Property page.
Real Estate/Land Use/Environmental Litigation
The firm represents buyers, sellers, builders, realtors, condominium and community associations, title companies, landlords, and tenants involved in disputes relating to contractual issues, leases, Planned Unit Development disclosure laws, Federal and State matters involving fair housing, disability and other protected class issues and the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act.
We also handle all aspects of subdivision, zoning, and planning, including appearances before boards and related appeals and litigation.
The firm represents landowners and businesses in environmental disputes, including litigation arising under various federal and state environmental statutes, such as the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), the New Jersey Spill Compensation and Control Act (Spill Act), and the New Jersey Industrial Site Recovery Act (ISRA).
Employment Litigation
The firm represents employers in discrimination claims, including, New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJ LAD) and federal Title VII discrimination actions, gender, race, age and other discrimination, sexual harassment and hostile work environments; American With Disabilities Act (ADA) litigation.
Appeals, Amicus Curiae
Our attorneys have handled a wide range of appeals in state and federal courts, before both intermediate appellate courts and high courts such as the Supreme Court of the United States, the Supreme Court of New Jersey, the New York Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court of New Hampshire. Our litigators have substantial experience representing clients as parties to appeals and as Amici Curiae (Friends of the Court) both on the merits and in connection with petitions for certiorari and certification.
See also our Appellate Practice page.
Arbitration, Mediation, & Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
Our attorneys are experienced and represent clients in various alternative dispute resolution techniques, such as arbitration and mediation. We strive to employ the approach to dispute resolution that is most suitable to the needs of our clients.
Services provided by our attorneys include:
- Filing and defending lawsuits on behalf of individuals and business entities.
- Representing clients in federal and state courts, municipal courts, and arbitration and mediation.
- Litigating emergent applications by order to show cause.
- Engaging in fact and expert discovery, depositions, and motion practice.
- Preparing and enforcing settlement agreements.
- Briefing and arguing appeals in federal and state appellate courts.
- Preparing and filing Amicus Curiae briefs in federal and state courts.
- Advising and representing clients regarding ADR techniques, such as arbitration and mediation, as alternatives to litigation.
Contact Richard L. Ravin or Daniel L. Schmutter for more information.