Ridgefield 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...

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...

Co-Chair, Labor and Employment. Matthew Collins has extensive experience representing clients in all aspects of labor and employment law. He provides strategic counsel to clients on a wide range of labor and employment issues such as discrimination; harassment; whistleblowing; discipline and discharge; layoffs; collective bargaining agreements; reasonable accommodations for disabled employees; and compliance with state and federal family and medical leave acts and applicable wage and hour laws. He also conducts training in these areas for executives, directors, managers, supervisors, and employees and conducts internal investigations of employee complaints. Matthew drafts and provides advice on employment contracts, employment manuals, personnel policies...

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...

Alois Habjan represents owners and operators of real estate, as well as real estate developers, in a wide range of commercial and residential transactions including sales, purchases, leases, refinancings, and mortgage-backed securitizations.

Paul J. DeMartino, Jr. is an experienced business litigator representing clients in a broad range of commercial disputes in healthcare and real estate industries among others. Paul specializes in healthcare litigation with an emphasis in representing physicians, medical practices, ambulatory surgery centers and hospital systems navigate through complex business matters often involving contractual and shareholder disputes. More specifically, Paul has first-hand knowledge of the delicate issues that physicians and medical providers encounter daily from a clinical and regulatory perspective to the interpolitics between practice members, partners, employees, and hospital staff. Paul is an experienced advocate for clients involving restrictive covenants,...

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...

Carol Grelecki represents the Firm’s healthcare clients in a wide variety of corporate and transactional matters. Her clients include physicians and physician groups, specialty practice societies, independent practice associations, hospitals, clinical laboratories, utilization managers, billing companies, and other medical professionals. Carol also advises clients with regard to compliance, including matters pertaining to Medicare billing, fraud and abuse, and the Stark and Codey Laws. Additionally, she represents clients in regulatory matters, including healthcare facility licensing issues and the preparation of required policies and procedures. She also reviews and negotiates managed care participation agreements and handles provider complaints against managed care...

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.

Jeffrey Itzkowitz has over 30 years’ experience in all aspects of transactional real estate. His practice is primarily focused on commercial and corporate real estate transactions including leasing, sales, acquisitions, and all types of financing. His portfolio of matters includes development and construction projects, including the development of residential apartment houses, condominium, townhome, and single-family communities; conversions of existing properties to the condominium and cooperative form of ownership; limited liability company partnerships and related work; and environmental and land use issues. Jeffrey’s work also includes the representation of clients and landlords in the residential multifamily industry, as well as the...

Over the past 16 years, I have represented a wide variety of clients across numerous industries in high-stakes “hardball” commercial litigation. I am experienced in all areas of business litigation including, real estate, corporate shareholder and partnership battles, trusts and estates, lending and finance, intellectual property protection, employment, healthcare, bankruptcy adversary proceedings, foreclosure, and complex contractual controversies. In addition, I hold the Certified Trial Attorney designation by the New Jersey Supreme Court, a distinction reserved for less than 2% of the attorneys in New Jersey.

Andrew Kuder provides legal counsel to a broad array of health care entities, providers, including physician groups, ambulatory care facilities, telemedicine organizations, and hospitals. Andrew advises clients on health care compliance issues, including Stark law, anti-kickback, and fraud and abuse, physician and other provider contracting, as well as privacy and security and e-commerce issues in the health care space, including HIPAA, FTC Health rules, TCPA, CAN-SPAM, data breaches, and compliance with state-specific privacy and security rules. Additionally, he provides counsel to existing providers and new organizations regarding the provision of telemedicine services. Andrew also provides counsel on health care transactions, including transactions...

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...

I was born and raised in NJ. graduating Emory Law School, Atlanta Georgia in 1978. I was a Governor's Intern assigned to the Union County Prosecutor in 1977 while in Law School and became an Assistant Prosecutor there,1980-83. I was assigned to the Appellate Section, Juvenile Section, Assignment Judge's Trial Team, Elizabeth Project Trial Team, and the Narcotic Strike Force, handling over 300 files and trying 28 case to verdict. I learned how the police and prosecutors think and act.

I have only practiced criminal defense since leaving the Prosecutor's Office, first as a partner at Nassberg...

Fred has extensive litigation experience in divorce, child custody, domestic violence, and post-judgment enforcement matters, as well as in the preparation of pre-nuptial agreements. Fred is also a divorce and custody mediator. He completed the Rutgers Law School course on divorce mediation and has successfully mediated many matters. Fred is also trained in the new and growing field of collaborative divorce law, which enables a divorcing couple to resolve all marital issues in a non-confrontational and cost effective manner.

Daniel S. Swinton, Esq. Mr. Swinton received his J.D. at Pace University School of Law from which he graduated Cum Laude, as a Ranking Scholar and winner of the American Jurisprudence Award for Excellent Achievement in the Study of Wills and Trusts. Mr. Swinton is a contributing author of "Generations - Planning Your Legacy" (Esperti Peterson Institute 1999) and "Strictly Business" (Quantum Press 2002). In addition to his membership in the National Association of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) Mr. Swinton is a member of the American Bar Association, New Jersey State Bar Association, and the Union County Bar Association.

Kenneth W. Elwood handles a wide range of personal injury cases. Cases like medical malpractice, nursing home malpractice, products liability, automobile and premises liability cases are the types of cases he handles.

Attorney Sharon B. Kessel holds an important role in preparing and prosecuting clients' cases at Blume Forte Fried Zerres & Molinari

Robert A. Ballard, III, who joined O’Connor, Parsons, Lane & Noble LLC in 2017 as a Partner, is an expert in employment law, focusing on cases of wrongful termination and workplace harassment. Additionally, he has a strong practice in personal injury law, dealing with a variety of cases, including slip and falls and automobile accidents. Robert Ballard has extensively represented employees in various claims against employers, including harassment, discrimination, and unlawful retaliation cases, covering a spectrum of issues like sexual and racial harassment, hostile work environments, and FMLA and NJFLA violations. His practice also extends to criminal law, managing cases such...

Debra D. Tedesco, Esq. brings experience in multiple litigation areas, such as commercial and estate litigation, insurance coverage, reinsurance, judgment collection, bankruptcy, and family law. Beyond her litigation expertise, Ms. Tedesco offers skilled advice in business formations and sales, as well as in the acquisition and disposition of residential and commercial real estate, coupled with straightforward estate planning services. Additionally, she is a skilled family law mediator with substantial training and experience. Ms. Tedesco honed her skills at one of New Jersey's most distinguished large law firms, where she received extensive training and mentoring. Her primary focus there was representing large...

Dan Bause, a Partner at O’Connor, Parsons, Lane & Noble LLC since 2012, has developed a wealth of litigation and trial expertise during his time with the firm. His specialization is employment law, focusing on wrongful termination and workplace harassment issues. Dan has notably represented many employees in legal actions against their present and past employers, covering a range of issues such as sexual and racial harassment, hostile work environments, and various forms of discrimination including race, disability, age, and pregnancy. He also tackles cases of unlawful retaliation and violations of the FMLA and NJFLA. Additionally, Dan's practice includes personal...

Erika Marshall provides legal counsel to medical professionals and healthcare entities in the area of healthcare business transactions and related matters. Prior to joining Brach Eichler, Erika worked in the franchise division of Realogy Holdings Corporation where she handled multi-branded franchise agreements in the contracts department. Previously, she was an Associate at Ambrosio, De Pierro & Wernick, LLC where she worked on various types of matters encompassing civil litigation, family law, and legal malpractice.

Elizabeth Candido Petite is a member of Lindabury’s Wills, Trusts and Estates practice group where she concentrates her practice in the areas of estate planning and administration and tax law. Elizabeth is experienced in preparing estate planning documents including wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, durable powers of attorney and advance directives for health care.

Elizabeth also has experience creating and funding family limited liability companies and other corporate structures to transfer personal wealth and family businesses to the next generations. She offers practical solutions to problems, large and small, so that her clients have confidence that their assets are...

I have been practicing family law for 30 years, focusing on resolving complex family matters efficiently and cost-effectively. As a certified mediator and parent coordinator, I assist families in navigating disputes without prolonged litigation. I serve as a panelist for the Family Law Early Settlement Programs in Morris, Somerset, Essex, and Union counties. I am a member of the Barry I. Croland Inn of Court, the first teaching Inn of Court in the United States, and have served on the Family Law Executive Committee of the New Jersey State Bar Association. Additionally, I am an active member of the New Jersey...

For more than two decades, David has focused his career on matrimonial and family law matters. David is an experienced trial attorney handling complex divorce proceedings, including business valuations, custody disputes, high income alimony, child support proceedings, and equitable distribution of assets; including distribution of multi-faceted assets, business interests and deferred compensation. He has tried numerous family law matters, including domestic violence proceedings and custody and parenting time matters, as well as Appellate proceedings, post-judgment cohabitation, alimony modification applications, and change of circumstances motions and hearings. He handles cases in all aspects of mediation and arbitration, and is admitted...

Vilson Gashi, an associate at O’Connor, Parsons, Lane & Noble, LLC, focuses on personal injury and medical malpractice cases. He became part of the firm in 2023, after completing a clerkship with Judge Mark P. Ciarrocca, P.J.Cv., in the Civil Division of the Superior Court of New Jersey, Union Vicinage. Vilson Gashi graduated with a J.D., concentrating in Health Law, from Seton Hall University School of Law in 2022. While at Seton Hall, he completed internships at the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office and Bristol Myers Squibb. Before law school, he obtained his Pharm.D. from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy at...

Matt spends his time advising startups, mid-size companies, and entrepreneurs, primarily with intellectual property issues. He helps his clients advance their business goals by working with them to create, develop, and subsequently leverage their intellectual property portfolios, with emphasis on patent law and trademark law. Matt is one of the few true specialists on the intersection of intellectual property, cannabis, and hemp, and has been active in the space since 2017. Matt has obtained patents and trademarks on behalf of his clients in the cannabis industry, for both plant-touching and ancillary businesses. Matt is a regular speaker at cannabis industry...

Middlebrooks Shapiro & Nachbar, P.C. provides our Bankruptcy Clients (Chapter 7, 13 and 11) with large firm experience and effectiveness with the attention and affordability that only a boutique bankruptcy firm can offer.

I am an aggressive New Jersey attorney with extensive experience in Business and Divorce Litigation. I advocate with focus, skill and determination, representing clients in litigation, as well as mediation and arbitration. I am dedicated to resolving complex matters to effectively advance my clients' interests. Outside of the office, I have been commended for my work advocating for special needs children needing accommodations in schools.