Introducing the only team of its kind in New Jersey…
The Members of Ferro Labella & Weiss L.L.C.
are proud to announce the newest member of our growing
Alternative Dispute Resolution Practice
The Honorable Bonnie J. Mizdol, A.J.S.C. (Ret.)
The firm’s ADR practice now boasts three distinguished former judges with more than 55 years of combined judicial experience. Judge Mizdol served as the Assignment Judge and as the Presiding Judge of the Family Part; and Judge Doyne was also the Assignment Judge and both he and Judge Contillo were the Presiding Judges of the Chancery Division.
Experience counts. So when it matters most, choose FLW’s Alternative Dispute Resolution practice.
To continue reading about Judge Bonnie J. Mizdol, please click here.
To read more about our ADR practice, click here.
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Appellate Advocacy
Often times, a client’s interests, rights, and obligations are not satisfactorily resolved at the trial level. Prosecuting or defending an appeal is an essential part of the litigation landscape. The appeal process differs substantially from the trial process and requires a particularized ability to organize, synthesize, and present persuasive written and oral arguments. The firm has significant experience in the appellate process concerning matters we have handled at the lower court level and matters that have been brought to our firm after entry of the underlying judgment or determination being appealed. Members of the firm have clerked for the New Jersey Supreme Court and thereby gained particular valuable insight.
The firm’s appellate advocacy practice includes:
- Prosecuting appeals
- Defending appeals
- Moving for relief before appellate courts
Construction Law
From concept, planning and contracts to post-construction disputes, the advice offered by Ferro Labella & Weiss’s construction attorneys is an essential component of their clients’ “blueprint for success.”
Time-and-again, developers, builders, contractors, subcontractors, lenders, architects and engineers turn to the FLW attorneys to provide the foundational guidance they need. Understanding the perils and pitfalls inherent in construction projects is critical. Ferro Labella & Weiss attorneys have the experience and know-how required to help their clients overcome these obstacles.
FLW attorneys provide legal services and advice to clients in a wide array of construction matters, including:
- Bid preparation
- Negotiation and drafting of contracts and sub-contracts
- Prosecution and defense of bid protests
- Construction dispute litigation, arbitration, and mediation
- Lien litigation
- Surety/bond disputes
Employment Law
Business clients often require the counsel of attorneys with extensive experience in employment-related matters. Avoiding the pitfalls of employment disputes and litigation requires a deliberate and nuanced approach. Ferro Labella & Weiss’s accomplished and skillful employment attorneys apply this approach in advising clients on both current and anticipated employment disputes as well as daily employment issues. With a unique blend of corporate and hands-on litigation experience, FLW has the expertise necessary to balance the needs of businesses with the risk and expense of litigation.
FLW attorneys offer a broad range of employment counseling, including:
- Employment litigation, arbitration and mediation
- Representation in State and Federal investigations including the NJ Division on Civil Rights, the EEOC, the DOL, and the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice
- State and Federal compliance matters
- HR and personnel issues ranging from hiring to firing
- Development of employee handbooks
- Preparation of compliant, employment related policies and forms
Chancery/Equity Litigation
“That which is fair and just” is the desired outcome of chancery litigation. In matters where the firm seeks court intervention to obtain emergent and equitable relief on behalf of its clients, FLW’s attorneys work tirelessly to secure the fair and just results that their clients deserve. When seeking relief in these specialized courts, clients can rely on the experienced FLW attorneys to lead the way. Whether asserting claims or defending them, Ferro Labella & Weiss has the expertise and resources needed to meet the complex demands of today’s chancery litigation.
FLW offers a full range of chancery/equity litigation services, including:
- Defending and prosecuting applications for temporary, preliminary, and permanent injunctive relief
- Defending and prosecuting oppressed minority shareholder actions and membership and partnership disputes
- Restrictive covenant litigation such as non-competition, non-solicitation, and non-disclosure matters
- Corporate raiding disputes
- Misappropriation of commercial interests
Corporate Investigations
Private and public companies often require outside legal counsel to conduct internal investigations of possible wrongful conduct by employees, vendors or business partners. Ferro Labella & Weiss attorneys are highly experienced in working with management, boards of directors, executive officers, and shareholders in conducting these investigations.
With an appreciation of civil, regulatory, administrative and criminal consequences, FLW’s attorneys and their retired jurists are qualified to guide clients through the entire investigatory process—often working closely with former IRS, FBI and other state and federal agency employees.
FLW attorneys offer a broad range of corporate investigatory services for matters, including:
- Claims of financial impropriety
- Board of Director initiated investigations
- Allegations of employee, vendor and client misconduct
- Defense of governmental criminal inquiries
- Defense of regulatory inquiries by government agencies
- White collar criminal defense
Business Litigation
From discovery and pre-trial preparation through formal courtroom proceedings, Ferro Labella & Weiss provides the knowledge, experience, and cohesive strategies needed to prevail. FLW’s business litigation attorneys handle complex disputes in state and federal courts, before government agencies and in arbitration. FLW litigators dig deep to develop the most effective path to success for a myriad of business disputes such as contract matters, shareholder and membership disputes and employment-related litigation. Clients will attest to FLW’s preparation and attention to detail at trial or oral argument, and at each step of the discovery process. In cases where arbitration is more expedient or a non-public forum is desired, FLW attorneys aggressively represent their clients in these private trials.
FLW’s business litigation practice provides counsel in a wide range of disciplines, including:
- Partner, shareholder and member disputes
- Employment disputes
- Contract disputes
- Business disputes with competitors and customers
- Litigation concerning trade secrets and confidential and proprietary information
- Technology and intellectual property actions
- Administrative and governmental agency actions
- Defense of executive boards in shareholder actions
- Prosecution and defense of claims of oppression and breach of fiduciary duty
Probate & Fiduciary Litigation
For decades, the accomplished attorneys at Ferro Labella & Weiss have effectively represented executors, beneficiaries, administrators, trustees, fiduciaries and others in probate and fiduciary litigation matters in the Chancery Courts.
Much of Ferro Labella & Weiss’s success in this highly complex area of the law is due to the firm’s multi-disciplinary approach. FLW’s experienced litigators work in tandem with their estate planning attorneys—and with input and advice from Ferro Labella & Weiss’s two retired Chancery Judges who each served as Presiding Judge of the Chancery Division.
The firm’s probate and fiduciary litigation group has handled high profile matters and disputes involving significant estates. FLW’s success in this area of practice is evidenced by the fact that their attorneys were repeatedly appointed by the Court to serve in a variety of highly trusted roles including guardian, special master, mediator, and expert.
FLW offers a variety of probate & fiduciary litigation services, including:
- Disputes involving the interpretation of wills or trusts
- Will contests
- Contested and uncontested guardianship actions
- Challenges to inter vivos transfers
- Malfeasance by fiduciaries
- Actions related to the appointment of Administrators
- Breach of fiduciary duty under a power of attorney
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Helping parties avoid the uncertainty and cost of litigation in the courts, through mediation or arbitration, and achieving a timely and just result are the guiding principles of Ferro Labella & Weiss’s highly regarded ADR practice.
Often, the skills and experience of a mediator or arbitrator are the most critical factors in achieving a successful ADR outcome. Fortunately for clients, FLW’s alternative dispute resolution practice is co-chaired by two of New Jersey’s most experienced and effective jurists: the Honorable Peter E. Doyne, (Ret.) and the Honorable Robert P. Contillo, (Ret.).
Judge Doyne is a distinguished, twenty-two-year veteran of the New Jersey Judiciary, having served as Presiding Judge of the Chancery Division, Presiding Judge of the Law Division and ultimately as Assignment Judge for the Bergen County Vicinage. Before his elevation to the Bench, Judge Doyne was a prolific practicing litigator and trial lawyer in the state and federal courts.
Judge Contillo, a distinguished sixteen-year veteran of the New Jersey Judiciary, served twelve years in the Chancery Division and eight as Presiding Judge, handling both General Equity and Probate cases. Before his elevation to the Bench, Judge Contillo maintained a well regarded commercial law practice.
Judge Mizdol is a distinguished, fifteen-year veteran of the New Jersey Judiciary, having served as Assignment Judge of Bergen County for eight years, and was appointed to the Superior Court in February 2006. Judge Mizdol served as Presiding Judge of the Family Part of Bergen from 2008 through April 2015.
Attorneys and clients who have worked with Judges Doyne and Contillo can attest to the fact that their insights, dedication, commitment, and results are exceptional.
Ferro Labella & Weiss’s ADR practice is designed to help litigants achieve a timely and cost-effective outcome. FLW’s state-of-the art mediation center exemplifies the firm’s dedication to that goal.
FLW attorneys mediate and arbitrate in a wide variety of business and personal disputes, including:
- Commercial disputes
- Trust/Probate matters
- Oppressed minority shareholder actions and other shareholder disputes
- Contract disputes
- Breach of restrictive covenants
- Limited liability company disputes
- Employment disputes, including CEPA and LAD claims
- Real estate disputes
- Medical and legal malpractice
- Personal injury matters