Lowenstein Sandler is an AmLaw 200 corporate law firm with offices in New York, Palo Alto, Washington, D.C., and Roseland, NJ. In 2011, the firm was ranked 168th largest in the United States in terms of attorney headcount by the National Law Journal, and 136th in profit per attorney by the AmLaw 200 survey (June 2011). It had 267 attorneys in December 2011. Lowenstein Sandler represents public and private companies, financial institutions, investors, entrepreneurs, universities, and private clients in corporate, litigation and bankruptcy matters throughout the country. It also provides legal services in investment management, mergers and acquisitions, venture capital, intellectual property, technology, capital markets litigation, environmental law and litigation, insurance coverage, securities litigation, white collar criminal defense, real estate (including zoning matters,) trusts and estates, employment and employee benefits. The firm has been described as "well connected" politically and partners have been appointed to important positions in state government.
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History
The firm was founded in 1961 and was based in Newark, New Jersey. One of the firm's founders was Newark-born Alan V. Lowenstein who was also a leader of Newark's charter reform movement. In the early 1980s, it had 67 lawyers and a staff of 150, but moved to Roseland, New Jersey after a four-year decision-making process. In 1994, one of the firm's attorneys, Faith Hochberg, became the United States attorney for New Jersey, and succeeded Michael Chertoff at this position. In 2003, the firm was noted for promoting African-American David L. Harris, a one-time "radical", to head its litigation department. In 2004, the firm prevailed over six other competitors to represent creditors in the reorganization of Interstate Bakeries, the maker of Wonder bread, Twinkies, Devil Dogs; this case was considered to be one of the largest bankruptcy proceedings in the country.
The firm does a variety of corporate work; on one occasion, attorneys tabulated stockholder votes; it also handles legal work relating to real estate auctions. as well as decisions about whether a business should go public or not.
In February 2008, Michael Rodburg resigned as managing director after thirteen successful years of service in that position. He remains active as a Member of the Firm. In 2008, the firm opened an office in Silicon Valley, California, to expand its law practice in venture capital and technology. In 2009, the firm had branch offices in New York City and Palo Alto, California and had its main headquarters in Roseland, New Jersey Its headquarters occupies 257,107 square feet (23,886.0 m2) of office space in several buildings in Roseland.
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Staff
Thirty of the firm's attorneys are listed in "Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business" Several are listed in Best Lawyers in America.
Each September the firm typically hires 18 new associates, although in 2008, that number was reduced to 15. The economic downturn caused the firm, in February 2009, to lay off eight percent of its workforce; a company spokesperson was quoted as blaming the "rapidly slowing economy and slowing demand for legal services." New hires were paid $125,000 per year in 2007. This rate was raised to $140,000 in 2008. Incoming lawyers (in 2007) came from law schools such as Boston University, Cornell, University of Pennsylvania, Rutgers, Seton Hall, William & Mary, New York University and George Washington. Half the class had judicial clerkships. It offers bonus pay for associates who bring in business, do particularly good work or lots of it. The firm bills by the hour. The firm has more than 50 lawyers in its New York office.
Controversies
- In 1988, a judge ordered one Lowenstein attorney to step in to replace an ill lawyer for a reputed organized-crime leader, since Lowenstein had been involved in pre-trial work on the case. The lawyer defied the order, claiming that he couldn't do it because it would require reading a 27,000 page transcript, litigating without having established a relationship with the jury, and having to interrupt his work with five other clients. Attorney Matthew P. Boylan told the judge "I refuse" and this statement resulted in a contempt of court charge, including fines, and a running battle covered in newspapers. The contempt charge was upheld through appeals, and the firm ended up paying the fines.
- In 2000, a respected 45-member law firm broke up and 14 lawyers defected to Lowenstein Sandler. These defections led to a lawsuit, brought by ex-partners against Lowenstein. Lowenstein settled the case on the eve of the trial.
- Zulima V. Farber, a Lowenstein partner who became Attorney General, resigned in 2006 after an investigation found she had acted improperly by aiding a companion during a routine traffic stop.
- In 2006, the firm agreed with a state supreme court committee decision to ban attorney advertising which used the term Super Lawyer as promulgated by a local magazine.
Pro Bono Work
The firm has provided free legal services for organizations such as New York-based Children's Rights, which is a private child-advocacy organization. In 2003, the firm decided to waive approximately $1 million in legal fees regarding its advocacy of this organization. Several attorneys provided free legal services for the New Jersey Community Development Corporation to establish a halfway house for developmentally disabled adults by helping with such matters as securing financing, acquiring property and negotiating contracts. Litigator Patrick Whalen represented a Trenton police officer in a challenge to the Trenton Police Merit Board's 2000 decision to have him fired for incompetence. He eventually won a ruling that the firing had no basis and the officer was reinstated with backpay. In addition, the firm provides pro-bono work in the area of immigration cases. One attorney, Doug Eakeley, is active with the New Jersey Institute of Social Justice which is a Newark-based advocacy organization for New Jersey's urban areas and residents.
Notable lawyers & alumni
- Lewis J. Paper, the Democratic candidate for New Jersey State Senator in the 25th district in 1977, and a former Carter Administration official and author.
- Zulima Farber, former New Jersey Attorney General, is now a partner at the firm.
- Freda L. Wolfson, judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, worked at the firm prior to her appointment to the bench.
- Ted Wells, head of litigation at Paul Weiss and the 2006 National Law Journal attorney of the year.
- Faith Hochberg, who became US Attorney for New Jersey in 1994.
- Shavar Jeffries
- Christopher Porrino, who became Attorney General of New Jersey in 2016.
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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