Brookside Lawyers

Eric J. Boden Esq. provides dedicated and thorough representation in complex civil litigation matters, with an emphasis on business partnership disputes, trusts and estates conflicts, and healthcare matters. Eric works closely with each client to custom tailor litigation strategies to meet the client’s objectives. Prior to joining Brach Eichler, Eric spent four years as a Deputy Attorney General at the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, where he played a key role in complex investigations and high-profile enforcement actions involving the New Jersey False Claims Act and Consumer Fraud Act, spanning a broad range of industries, including pharmaceuticals, healthcare, transportation, technology, construction,...

Brian W. Brown is an experienced litigator who handles every type of Plaintiff’s personal injury case including wrongful death, premises liability, and construction accidents. He has tried numerous bench and jury trials throughout New Jersey. Brian began his legal career as a defense attorney representing large corporations and insurance companies in the defense of personal injury lawsuits. As a result, Brian knows how insurance companies will defend cases and now uses this knowledge to aggressively obtain the best possible results for his clients. Brian is a graduate of the Morris Pashman Inn of Court where he further developed his litigation and trial...

Lauren Adornetto Woods is a litigator with experience representing businesses and individuals in a variety of federal and state court matters, with a focus on complex commercial litigation. In addition to breach of contract disputes, Lauren’s experience extends to construction litigation, labor and employment and premises liability matters, insurance defense, and consumer fraud class actions. She has also represented individual officers and directors defending against claims of fraud, breach of fiduciary duties, and other torts. Lauren is analytical, detail-oriented, and tailors her approach to each matter based on the particular needs and goals of her clients, with a focus on results....

John Simeone focuses his practice on litigation. His experience spans across multiple practice areas including trusts and estates litigation and employment litigation. Prior to joining private practice, John clerked for the Honorable Jose L. Fuentes in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division. During his clerkship, John drafted judicial memoranda and opinions to aid Judge Fuentes in resolving cases on his docket.

Tom Spies’ practice focuses on a wide range of corporate and complex commercial litigation and includes matters ranging from shareholder and partnership disputes to fraud cases involving hundreds of millions of dollars. He also handles distributorship and antitrust matters that involve price fixing, monopolization, termination, and the New Jersey Franchise Practice Act. Additionally, Tom handles almost every aspect of employment litigation. He also has extensive experience counseling clients on avoiding a variety of administrative agency infractions as well as litigating such issues. Known for his tenacity and meticulous preparation, Tom’s approach to litigation matters includes consistently “landing the first punch” and an...

David L. Tsin combines his skills as a seasoned attorney and M.B.A. graduate, his background as a Certified Public Accountant*, and his professional experience, including prior “Big Law” and “Big Four” experience, to address a wide range of corporate, securities, and other business law matters. David’s business acumen, versatility, judgment, attention to detail, zealous advocacy for clients, interpersonal skills, and problem-solving abilities have been valuable in myriad matters. David has considerable experience advising and representing clients in connection with acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, joint ventures, private equity investments, financing arrangements, employment agreements, securities offerings, other commercial contracts and transactions, compliance with securities...

John R. Zepka is an Associate in the firm’s Corporate Transactions & Financial Services Practice. John has an extensive corporate practice, representing clients in corporate structure and governance matters, mergers/acquisitions, joint ventures and investments, financing and loan transactions. John is frequently called upon to serve as counsel to companies of all sizes, advising on day-to-day legal and operational issues. His clients appreciate that he stands shoulder to shoulder with them as they navigate the complex business marketplace.

Cheryl Ritter assists clients in the development and implementation of estate and gift planning matters including wills, trusts, financial powers of attorney, living wills, and health care agent designations. In this role, Cheryl counsels individual clients on the tax-efficient transfer of wealth using a variety of strategies, including dynasty trusts, life insurance trusts (individual and survivorship), qualified personal residence trusts, grantor retained annuity trusts, charitable trusts, limited liability companies, and sales to intentionally defective grantor trusts, among others. Cheryl develops estate plans tailored to the specific needs and goals of each client, considering factors such as the unique asset mixes...

The Honorable Lisa F. Chrystal (Ret.) joined Brach Eichler after serving 22 years as a Judge of the New Jersey Superior Court. Judge Chrystal concentrates her practice in the areas of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), mediation and arbitration, as well as discovery management. A compassionate and attentive listener known for her legal acumen and her responsible and equitable counsel, Judge Chrystal focuses on civil cases and family law matters, prejudgment and post judgement, as well as custody and parenting time and the resolution of disputes through mediation, typically a more amicable and cost effective approach than litigation. Judge Chrystal also...

Daniel J. Plaia is a results-oriented lawyer who focuses on representing plaintiffs in personal injury and trial litigation matters. Daniel brings a compassionate approach to client care and to negotiations and uses it to his client’s advantage. Prior to joining Brach Eichler, Daniel worked for a global casualty insurance company where he gained valuable trial experience successfully handling several automobile and slip and fall cases to verdict. In addition, Daniel worked for a national law firm in their New York office where he handled all aspects of construction and Labor Law litigation.

Vanessa Coleman is an associate in the Healthcare Law practice group at Brach Eichler, focusing her practice on general corporate, transactional, regulatory as well as litigation matters. Prior to joining Brach Eichler, Vanessa was a Deputy Attorney General at the State of New Jersey Office of the Attorney General. Vanessa provided legal counsel to healthcare regulatory agencies that issue professional licenses including the state boards of medical examiners, nursing, pharmacy, respiratory care, ophthalmic dispensers and technicians, kosher/halal group, and chiropractic examiners. Prior to her work at the Attorney General’s office, Vanessa clerked at the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office in the...

Mark E. Critchley focuses his practice on assisting business and individual clients in contractual and commercial disputes. Mark is an experienced litigator in federal and state courts involving contractual disputes, consumer fraud, shareholder disputes, construction litigation and probate litigation. Mark works with clients at all stages to achieve the most efficient and beneficial result for the client. Prior to joining Brach Eichler, Mark was a Deputy Attorney General for over five years with the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General, Division of Law. As a member of the Consumer Fraud Prosecution Section, Mark led investigations and litigations on behalf of...

Ellen De Lisi is a transactional attorney focused on all aspects of commercial lending. She represents institutional lenders primarily in New Jersey and Pennsylvania in varied transactions involving real estate and corporate/asset-based loans. Ellen has experience in both secured and unsecured financings, including acquisition, construction, permanent and health care loans as well as lines of credit, participations, and co-lending arrangements. Ellen also represents institutional lenders in modifications and amendments to all types of commercial lending transactions.

Rebecca Falk is an associate attorney at Brach Eichler. She is a member of the firm’s Healthcare practice group, where she negotiates, drafts, and advises on variety transactions, including payor arrangements and employment relationships. Rebecca approaches her practice with enthusiasm and ingenuity drawing from her passion for medical research, science, and law. She also advises the firm’s healthcare provider clients on regulatory matters, such as the No Surprises Act and HIPAA. Before joining Brach Eichler, Rebecca worked as an associate at Wolfe Pincavage. She also served as a legal intern at Hercules Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and was a research assistant at...

Jeremy Hylton is a litigator focusing on personal injury and appellate advocacy. As a former defense attorney, Jeremy utilizes his knowledge to navigate his clients through the intricacies of the legal adversarial system and understands what it takes to posture your case for the best possible resolution. Jeremy has considerable trial experience and is always willing to pursue a jury verdict on behalf of his clients if a settlement cannot be reached.

Debra Levine brings an extensive background in the law governing healthcare and professional licensure to Brach Eichler, specifically in the areas of state regulation, disciplinary matters, and the interrelationship between the various scopes of practice associated with different categories of licenses. She focuses her work on the business aspects of the practice of medicine as well as on provider disciplinary matters. Prior to joining Brach Eichler, Debra was, for 27 years, counsel to the New Jersey State Board of Medical Examiners, where she was responsible for advising the Board on disciplinary, investigative, and regulatory matters. Debra counseled the Board during Board...

Cynthia Liba provides legal counsel to various health care entities including ambulatory care facilities, physicians, and hospitals. Her focus is primarily on health care business transactions and regulatory compliance issues. Prior to joining Brach Eichler, Cynthia was an Agency Attorney at the New York City Human Resources Administration (HRA) within the Office of Legal Affairs, Health and Community Services Litigation and Program Counseling Unit. Cynthia also served as a legal intern with the United States Attorney’s Office, Civil Division – Western District of Pennsylvania; the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Department of Risk Management; and the New York State Attorney...