PRACTICE AREAS Stryker, Tams & Dill LLP is a full service diversified law firm. We practice in the following areas:
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Appellate
Banking
Bankruptcy
Communications
Corporate and Commercial
Employment Law
Family Law
Franchising
Insurance
Intellectual Property
Litigation
Municipal and Land Use
Personal Injury
Product Liability
Professional Malpractice
Legal Malpractice - Lawyer and Law Firm Practice Group
Medical Malpractice
Other Professional Malpractice
Real Estate
Regulatory Affairs
Telecommunications
ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION
ADR is the process of resolving legal conflicts without going to trial. It can take the form of
arbitration, mediation, or early neutral evaluation.
Stryker Tams expertly analyzes each dispute and advises our clients when ADR is in their best
interests. The Firm utilizes creative and efficient alternatives to traditional litigation when, in
appropriate circumstances, it is determined that ADR would be more cost effective, achieve faster
results, preserve troubled relationships, offer greater confidentiality, or allow for more ‘customized’
solutions than litigation. It is because of these benefits that our attorneys will often advise and assist
our corporate clients in implementing a litigation avoidance framework that incorporates ADR into
their company policies.
Our attorneys have extensive experience and training in ADR. The Firm routinely advises our clients
on the legal consequences resulting from participation in the various forms of ADR available to
them. As well as representing clients in civil litigation and commercial disputes, our attorneys often
serve as independent arbitrators and mediators. We are experienced in managing disputes for matters
involving banking, construction, corporate dissolutions, employment and human resources issues,
general business disputes, information technology, insurance coverage claims and personal injury.
We also offer innovative services in case consultation and complex case management.
Attorneys practicing in this area:
Bennett J. Wasserman
Douglas S. Brierley
Brian E. Curtis
APPELLATE
Attorneys practicing in this area:
Charles H. Friedrich III
Harold Friedman
John J. Rizzo
Douglas S. Brierley
BANKING
We advise and represent banks and other financial institutions with regard to all matters across the spectrum of financial services and financial transactions. The Firm provides prompt and reliable representation to major banks and bank groups, finance and mortgage companies, thrift institutions, commercial lenders, insurance lenders and other institutional lenders.
Attorneys practicing in this area:
Charles H. Friedrich III
Robert A. Marsico
Jeffrey A. Donner
Martin G. Gilbert
Brian E. Curtis
Donovan Bezer
BANKRUPTCY
The Firm competently and expeditiously handles all aspects of bankruptcy, insolvency and debtor-creditor relations and counsels business in financial difficulty.
We assist our clients in the following areas:
- Federal bankruptcy and state insolvency proceedings and out-of-court workouts,
compositions and restructurings
- Prosecution and defense of bankruptcy-related litigation
- Collateral preservation and recovery
- Protection of secured creditors rights
- Reorganization and restructuring plans and strategies for financially distressed companies
- Post-petition financing
Attorneys practicing in this area:
Jeffrey A. Donner
Martin G. Gilbert
COMMUNICATIONS
The Firm is well entrenched in the specialized field of Communications. We are especially experienced in the telephone and cable television industries. From policy questions to compliance with technical rules, to licensing, we are able to bring our clients vital assistance to help them confront the complex, sophisticated and rapidly fluctuating business and legal matters before them.
Attorneys practicing in this area:
Dennis C. Linken
Donovan Bezer
Melissa Kanbayashi
CORPORATE AND COMMERCIAL
We assist public and private clients in meeting their strategic corporate objectives in diverse commercial, financial and corporate transactions.
Attorneys practicing in this area:
John J. Rizzo
Charles H. Friedrich III
Dennis C. Linken
Harold Friedman
Robert A. Marsico
Jeffrey A. Donner
Gary J. Cucchiara
Martin G. Gilbert
Douglas S. Brierley
Brian E. Curtis
Donovan Bezer
Melissa Kanbayashi
Employment
Stryker Tams expertly assists our private sector, public entity, and non-profit clients, from the small entrepreneur to the national corporation, with their employment needs. We provide comprehensive guidance and strategic planning for our clients across a wide range of industries, including banking, pharmaceuticals, insurance, health care, professional services, entertainment media, retail, and manufacturing.
We help to foster our clients' businesses, identify and analyze potential liabilities and minimize potential risks in their employment and HR matters. From negotiating and preparing contracts and employment agreements, to counseling and assisting clients in the creation and modification of their employee handbooks, to developing and reviewing personnel policies and procedures relating to various terms and conditions of employment including benefits, discipline and testing, to preparing severance agreements, we keep our clients' best interests at the forefront.
If necessitated, the Firm has extensive experience litigating on behalf of its clients in all areas of employment law. We regularly appear on behalf of employers and employees in state and federal courts and before administrative agencies in furtherance and defense of employment-related claims, including appearances before the Office of Administrative Law for matters arising in the NJ Division on Civil Rights (DCR) and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). We have a highly successful track record helping our clients with the following types of employment matters:
- Employment litigation defense of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation claims, as well as defense of wrongful discharge, whistle-blower, and other employee challenges to termination such as breach of employment contract and restrictive covenants
- Representation and counseling to management on hiring protocols, family and medical leaves, disability accommodations, substance abuse issues, and job performance
- Federal and State wage and hour claims, audits and investigations, as well as worker classification claims regarding consultants and independent contractors
- Negotiation and preparation of employment agreements, executive compensation packages, covenants not to compete, and separation/severance packages
- Preparation and review of employee manuals, employment policies, internal conflict management procedures, and litigation avoidance processes
- Conducting training, counseling, and internal complaint investigations
- Assistance in restructurings, downsizings, reductions-in-force
Attorneys practicing in this area:
John J. Rizzo
Gary J. Cucchiara
Brian E. Curtis
Melissa Kanbayashi
FAMILY LAW
At Stryker Tams, we are extremely sensitive to our responsibility to our clients to effectively, professionally and compassionately address the many issues that arise in this highly emotional and financially impactful area of law. While remaining faithful to this responsibility, properly protecting you, your children, your assets and your rights are our ultimate goals. The Firm has extensive experience successfully resolving matters amicably or providing vigorous and aggressive representation in a wide range of family related issues and problems.
Attorneys practicing in this area:
Harold Friedman
Gary J. Cucchiara
FRANCHISING
We counsel and represent franchisors and potential franchisees and entrepreneurs contemplating franchise related investments. We benefit and support the development, growth and maintenance of our clients' franchises, from initial creation and establishment of the franchise through its sale, transfer or termination and its growth in-between.
Attorneys practicing in this area:
Martin G. Gilbert
INSURANCE
We counsel and advise our insurance industry clients on a wide range of insurance matters, including coverage, regulatory compliance and proceedings and reinsurance, while routinely representing them before all courts and agencies.
Attorneys practicing in this area:
Martin G. Gilbert
Brian E. Curtis
Donovan Bezer
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
We assist our clients with the protection and preservation of their intellectual property assets. From copyright, trademark and service mark searches and registrations to the pursuit and defense of infringement and unfair competition claims in these areas, we consistently provide highly knowledgeable advice, counsel and representation.
Attorneys practicing in this area:
Charles H. Friedrich III
Martin G. Gilbert
Donovan Bezer
LITIGATION
Clients look to us to provide comprehensive guidance and swift, cost-effective and successful solutions to their litigation concerns.
Attorneys practicing in this area:
Jeffrey A. Donner
Harold Friedman
John J. Rizzo
Gary J. Cucchiara
Bennet J. Wasserman
Lisa Besson Geraghty
Douglas S. Brierley
Brian E. Curtis
MUNICIPAL AND LAND USE
The Firm provides a wide range of services with respect to matters involving public entities, including representing municipal and county governments, and their planning and zoning boards.
In addition, we have represented developers and other clients in connection with applications before planning boards and zoning boards of adjustment.
Attorneys practicing in this area:
Robert A. Marsico
Jeffrey A. Donner
Gary J. Cucchiara
Donovan Bezer
Melissa Kanbayashi
PERSONAL INJURY, WRONGFUL DEATH
The Firm has helped countless clients obtain full and fair compensation for injuries suffered by them. If you have been hurt because of someone else’s negligence, then you have been a victim of personal injury and you may be entitled to compensation. In order to determine this, you need to understand the concept of negligence. ‘Negligence’ is most generally described as acting in a careless manner, such that another person is harmed as a result of that carelessness. Our attorneys have been very successful in assisting clients who have sustained serious personal injuries, whether it be from an automobile accident, a slip-and-fall incident, or a result of a defective product. They are compassionate and assertive and will protect your rights while you are given time to recover from your injuries.
Attorneys practicing in this area:
Jeffrey A. Donner
Gary J. Cucchiara
Bennet J. Wasserman
Lisa Besson Geraghty
Brian E. Curtis
PRODUCT LIABILITY
The Firm has diversified expertise in handling numerous product liability matters for major manufacturers and distributors. We have special knowledge in the fields of manufacturing, media, chemicals, technology, pharmaceuticals, electronics and foods among many others.
Attorneys practicing in this area:
Lisa Besson Geraghty
Lawyer and Law Firm Practice Group
Our Lawyer & Law Firm Practice Group provides full-service representation to attorneys and law firms, assisting them in the broad range of internal and external disputes and operational challenges they confront in today’s increasingly adversarial climate, thus allowing practitioners to continue to serve their clients while avoiding unnecessary legal action, fiduciary duty scrutiny and the like. We focus our practice on the rapidly expanding area of the law governing lawyers, in all its aspects.
We are able to serve as a law firm’s law firm. Moreover, where conflict or malpractice issues arise, we serve as a law firm’s independent or “conflicts” counsel. We regularly handle malpractice litigation, ethical issues that require resolution, attorney advertising rule compliance, law firm billing disputes with clients, issues involving departing partners and dispute resolution among partners, defense of ethical misconduct grievances; insurance coverage disputes and law firm and partnership structuring issues. We also serve as personal counsel for lawyers and law firms who might find themselves underinsured in certain malpractice litigations. And, we serve as pro-active malpractice prevention and risk avoidance counsel.
We are among a very few law firms to institutionalize a lawyer counseling and advisory group and we have become one of the most called-upon and trusted practice groups in the field. We combine our expertise in the law governing lawyers, legal malpractice, and legal ethics with our strengths in litigation and counseling to help lawyers and law firms resolve a growing array of increasingly complex professional and practice issues.
Our group includes lawyers who have dedicated their careers to the interpretation and application of the Rules of Professional Conduct and accepted standards of law practice and includes seasoned litigators who are certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as Civil Trial Attorneys. Our lawyers serve as counselors, litigators and as consulting and testifying expert witnesses. Our lawyers have been elected to Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers and have AV and “Pre-eminent” standing with Martindale-Hubbell.
Attorneys practicing in this area:
Bennett J. Wasserman
Lisa Besson Geraghty
Jeffrey A. Donner
Douglas S. Brierley
Professional Malpractice - Medical Malpractice
We have achieved many favorable outcomes for those who have sustained serious injury or died as the result of negligence or malpractice of a whole range of health care providers. Those injured by a doctor, nurse, dentist, hospital, nursing home or other healthcare or medical professional or entity benefit from the close personal attention our attorneys give to each individual case. We also defend these professionals against claims where the professional may have insufficient liability or insufficient coverage.
Attorneys practicing in this area:
Jeffrey A. Donner
Bennett J. Wasserman
Lisa Besson Geraghty
Professional Malpractice - Other Professional Malpractice
The Firm furnishes professional malpractice representation to a wide range of professionals, including mediators, accountants, clergymen and brokers in the real estate and securities industries. Our ability to keep pace with the rapid expansion of liability litigation in these and other specialty areas sets us above and apart.
Attorneys practicing in this area:
Jeffrey A. Donner
Bennett J. Wasserman
Lisa Besson Geraghty
REAL ESTATE
At Stryker Tams, we provide lenders, borrowers, developers, contractors, real estate professionals and landlords the tools to handle the simplest to the most complex and sophisticated real estate matters. The Firm is well versed in all aspects of the acquisition, development, construction, financing, leasing and sale of commercial, office, industrial, retail, multifamily residential and industrial properties.
We also expeditiously handle the related environmental, zoning, land use, and regulatory matters involved in real estate transactions. We regularly appear before local governmental agencies and boards for issues such as obtaining approvals for site plans, subdivisions and variances, resolution of complex title matters, negotiation of easements and other property rights and obtaining permits and approvals necessary for real property development or redevelopment.
If the need should arise, we vigorously represent our clients' interests in court or through the alternate dispute resolution process.
Some of the projects in which we have been involved include:
- Development projects, in all phases, including the acquisition of land, financing, construction, architectural and related contracts and all other matters through the completion of the project
- Real estate financing transactions and projects, including the structuring of transactions for insurance companies, banks and other financial institutions
- Agreement negotiation and preparation, including operation, maintenance, management and lease agreements
- Construction contracts, defect claims and builders disputes
- Condemnation
- Tax-abated projects
- Three-dimensional conveyances
Attorneys practicing in this area:
Robert A. Marsico
Harold Friedman
Jeffrey A. Donner
Gary J. Cucchiara
Melissa Kanbayashi
REGULATORY AFFAIRS
Few law firms can match our experience when it comes to handling matters of regulatory compliance. We have attained a deep and thorough understanding of government rules, regulations and operations and how they impact and affect businesses. We help our business clients navigate through the increasingly complex regulatory challenges that impact many aspects of their business operations. We are uniquely positioned to service and deliver profound advantages for our clients, which include Fortune 500 companies.
Attorneys practicing in this area:
Dennis C. Linken
Donovan Bezer
Melissa Kanbayashi
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Our firm specializes in the ever-changing world involving telecommunications providers, particulary as to the needs of competitive providers. In addition to addressing their regulatory concerns, we vigorously represent their interests in disputes with incumbent providers.
Attorneys Practicing in this area:
Dennis C. Linken
Donovan Bezer
