January - June 2015 Archives
On June 24, Diana Fredericks attended an informative presentation, “Reaching Your Goals: Wealth Management Strategies for Women” as presented by Allan Samilow of Merrill Lynch and Kristen Parks of Lincoln Financial. In Ms. Fredericks position as a family law attorney who often handles complex divorce matters, understanding clients’ goals and helping them to achieve same is a significant part of the divorce process. As many people going through a divorce are often faced with handling funds, retirement assets, pensions, annuities, etc. for the first time, it is critical that they hire an attorney familiar with these matters and in constant contact with the appropriate professionals to assist clients through these difficult times.
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Leslie Parikh was part of the 2015 Leadership Hunterdon graduating class on June 23. The graduation ceremony was held at Stanton Ridge Golf & Country Club and featured Carol Cronheim, assistant secretary of state of New Jersey, as the keynote speaker. Leadership Hunterdon was established in 2011 by the Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce to develop people as trustees of our communities and leadership resources to work for the betterment of Hunterdon County. Once a month from September through June, participants attend sessions targeted to specific aspects of the county such as business, education, tourism, environmental, agriculture, real-estate health care and government. Participants meet with leaders in Hunterdon County to gain in-depth knowledge of key community areas, as well as their own leadership success. The class concludes the program by working in teams on a White Paper that researches and focuses on a key issue in Hunterdon County, typically involving economic development as it impacts the creation of jobs and wealth and the improvement of quality of life.
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The next meeting of a men’s discussion group focusing on divorce will be held on Tues., June 23, 2015 from 6:30 pm until 8 pm at the United Way, located at 4 Walter E. Foran Blvd, Suite 401 in Flemington. The group is for men who are separated or divorced, or who are going through a divorce. This is a unique opportunity for men to hear from others and to provide their own perspectives to other men who are dealing with these issues. The program will be moderated by family law attorney William Rudnik of Gebhardt & Kiefer, P.C. and certified financial planner Craig Hyldahl of R.I.C.H. Planning Group, LLC. Future meetings will include other local professional moderators. Food and beverages will be provided. Any questions should be directed to William Rudnik at 908-735-5161 or brudnik@gklegal.com. Although not required, please RSVP to Mr. Rudnik so proper arrangements can be made for food and beverages.
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Diana Fredericks was elected to the Board of Trustees for the United Way of Hunterdon County at its June 17 annual meeting. The Board provides leadership and sets policy for the organization, which works to improve lives and conditions in Hunterdon County by focusing on education, income and health. Ms. Fredericks will participate on the CRISP Committee – Community Resource Investment & Strategic Planning. Over the next few months, this Committee will strive to open a new community volunteer center in Flemington. They are seeking volunteers.
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On June 17, Diana Fredericks attended the Women's Business Forum “Lunch n' Learn” meeting, featuring Clinton Mayor Janice Kovach as the guest speaker. Ms. Kovach’s topic was women and leadership. Ms. Fredericks is a committee member on the Women’s Business Forum, which is a committee of the Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce.
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On June 16, William Rudnik attended the NJ Bar Association Family Law Executive Committee meeting at the NJ Law Center in New Brunswick. The Family Law Section maintains and improves the practice of family law through effective interaction with the family courts and by informing members of current legislation and regulations.
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Diana Fredericks has been named to the esteemed 2015 New Leaders of the Bar list by the NJ Law Journal. The list recognizes fifty standout lawyers under the age of 40, who, after a rigorous evaluation process, are deemed to best represent the New Jersey legal profession’s up-and-coming leadership. According to the NJ Law Journal, these attorneys have built accomplished careers and, despite their youth, have established themselves as leaders within their firms and organizations, as well as within the larger legal community. They have developed practice niches, amassed strong books of business, demonstrated leadership qualities, shown expertise in litigation or transactional work, and committed themselves to pro-bono, charitable and professional volunteer work.
Ms. Fredericks has been practicing for nine years, primarily in the area of family law. She is an accredited mediator and has also been trained in Collaborative Divorce. She currently serves as Vice President of the Hunterdon County Bar Association (HCBA), as Chair of the HCBA Scholarship & Budget/Finance Committees, and as a member of the HCBA Family and Collaborative Law Committees. She is also a member of the District XIII Ethics Committee and serves as an Early Settlement Panelist (ESP) in Hunterdon, Somerset and Warren Counties.
In the local community, Ms. Fredericks is a member of the Young Professionals Committee of the Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce, as well as a 2013 graduate of the Chamber's Leadership Hunterdon program. In addition, Ms. Fredericks is an active supporter of Anderson House and has been serving on the Gala Committee since 2012. Further, she will be sworn in as a Board Member of the Hunterdon County United Way on June 17.
Earlier this year, Ms. Fredericks was honored on the NJ Super Lawyers Rising Stars list by Thomson Reuters. She also maintains a 10.0 “Superb” rating on AVVO, a lawyer directory and rating service.
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Congratulations to the Town of Clinton on 150 years! Gebhardt & Kiefer was pleased to support Clinton’s anniversary celebration block party on May 30th.
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Gebhardt & Kiefer was pleased to support the Somerset County Bar Foundation’s 10th annual 5K Run/3K Walk on May 21, 2015. Gebhardt & Kiefer attorney Tara St. Angelo is a trustee for the Foundation.
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The next meeting of a men’s discussion group focusing on divorce will be held on Tues., May 19, 2015 from 6:30 pm until 8 pm at the United Way, located at 4 Walter E. Foran Blvd, Suite 401 in Flemington. The group is for men who are separated or divorced, or who are going through a divorce. This is a unique opportunity for men to hear from others and to provide their own perspectives to other men who are dealing with these issues. The program will be moderated by family law attorney William Rudnik of Gebhardt & Kiefer, P.C. and certified financial planner Craig Hyldahl of R.I.C.H. Planning Group, LLC. Future meetings will include other local professional moderators. Food and beverages will be provided. Any questions should be directed to William Rudnik at 908-735-5161 or brudnik@gklegal.com. Although not required, please RSVP to Mr. Rudnik so proper arrangements can be made for food and beverages.
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In May 2015, William Goodwin completed a 16-hour Collaborative Family Law training program and received a certificate in compliance with the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP). Mr. Goodwin can now accept Collaborative Divorce cases, and is a member of the NJ Council of Collaborative Practice Groups. Collaborative Divorce is a voluntary dispute resolution process in which parties settle without resort to litigation.
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The next meeting of a men’s discussion group focusing on divorce will be held on Tues., April 28, 2015 from 6:30 pm until 8 pm at the United Way, located at 4 Walter E. Foran Blvd, Suite 401 in Flemington. The group is for men who are separated or divorced, or who are going through a divorce. This is a unique opportunity for men to hear from others and to provide their own perspectives to other men who are dealing with these issues. The program will be moderated by family law attorney William Rudnik of Gebhardt & Kiefer, P.C. and certified financial planner Craig Hyldahl of R.I.C.H. Planning Group, LLC. Future meetings will include other local professional moderators. Food and beverages will be provided. Any questions should be directed to William Rudnik at 908-735-5161 or brudnik@gklegal.com. Although not required, please RSVP to Mr. Rudnik so proper arrangements can be made for food and beverages.
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Diana Fredericks participated in the annual United Way of Northern New Jersey Women's Leadership Council Spring Breakfast on April 23, 2015. The fundraiser helps to support women in Somerset County working towards financial self-sufficiency. Funds from past events have provided employment workshops, career training, financial literacy and savings education, educational tools for pregnant teens to improve health and delivery outcomes, and more.
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Five attorneys from Gebhardt & Kiefer Law Offices have been named to the prestigious 2015 New Jersey Super Lawyers® and Super Lawyers Rising Stars lists. Senior partners Richard Cushing, William Goodwin, Jr., and John Manfreda are selected to the 2015 NJ Super Lawyers list, and junior partner Diana Fredericks and associate Daniel Makoski are selected to the 2015 NJ Super Lawyers Rising Stars list (which honors top attorneys who are 40 years old or younger and who have been practicing for ten years or less).
Each year, no more than five percent of the lawyers in the state are selected to receive the Super Lawyers and Rising Stars designations. The selected attorneys are chosen through a multi-phase, patented selection process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, independent research evaluation of candidates, and peer reviews by practice area.
“Having five Gebhardt & Kiefer attorneys named to this year’s Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists is recognition of our firm’s commitment to our clients and our profession,” said managing partner Mark Chazin, who was previously recognized on the Super Lawyers lists in 2009, 2010 and 2011 for his primary practice area of Estate Planning & Probate. “We appreciate this acknowledgement of the high standards we set for our attorneys.”
Richard Cushing, who is recognized on the Super Lawyers list for his primary practice area of State, Local & Municipal law, has been practicing trial and municipal law for 43 years. He represents numerous municipalities, school boards and counties as either special counsel or municipal counsel, and has lectured and written extensively on public entity issues. In addition, he regularly represents public entities and others in the state and federal courts and before administrative agencies. Mr. Cushing is a past president of the Hunterdon County Bar Association and was the recipient of the Hunterdon County Professional Lawyer of the Year award for 2001 from the NJ State Bar Association Commission on Professionalism. He is also a past recipient of the Cordon D. Griffin award for Excellence in Municipal Law, as well as the Mayor's Award in Hampton Borough. In addition, Mr. Cushing is a former adjunct professor of law at Seton Hall University, and a former municipal court judge.
William Goodwin, who is recognized on the Super Lawyers list for his primary practice area of Family Law, has been practicing for 34 years. He is certified by the Supreme Court of NJ as a matrimonial attorney, and is also an accredited mediator. He holds an “AV Preeminent” rating for ethical standards and legal ability from Martindale-Hubbell. Mr. Goodwin is a Past President of the Hunterdon County Bar Association (HCBA), and a current member of the HCBA Family Practice and Seminar Committees. He won the Hunterdon County Professional Lawyer of the Year award in 2002. He is also a former member of the District XIII Ethics Committee and a former member and former chair of the District XIII Fee Arbitration Committee.
John Manfreda, who is recognized on the Super Lawyers list for his primary practice area of Estate Planning & Probate, has been practicing for 35 years. He holds an “AV Preeminent” rating for ethical standards and legal ability from Martindale-Hubbell. He served continuously as President of the Greater Middlesex/Somerset County Estate Planning Council from 2005 to 2014, and has served continuously on its Board of Trustees since 1989. He also served as President of that organization from 1994 to 1996. Mr. Manfreda lectures extensively on estate and business planning matters, and has presented at the Small Business Development Center of Raritan Valley Community College, the Runnymeade Lecture Series, the NJ Institute for Continuing Legal Education, and the National Business Institute. Since 2009, Mr. Manfreda has produced and presented a series of Estate Planning seminars for the Hunterdon County Library System's Adult Education Program, which has drawn thousands of attendees. He also frequently presents programs to many Seniors’ Clubs in Central New Jersey. In addition to advising clients on estate and gift tax planning and asset protection planning, Mr. Manfreda has extensive experience in matters involving contested probate and guardianship actions in the Chancery Courts.
Diana Fredericks, who is selected to the Super Lawyers Rising Stars list for her primary practice area of Family Law, has been practicing for nine years. She is an accredited mediator and has been trained in Collaborative Divorce. She currently serves as Vice President of the Hunterdon County Bar Association (HCBA), and also serves as Chair of the HCBA Scholarship & Budget/Finance Committees. Ms. Fredericks is a member of the District XIII Ethics Committee, as well as the HCBA Family and Collaborative Law Committees. She maintains a 10.0 “Superb” rating on AVVO.
Daniel Makoski, who is selected to the Super Lawyers Rising Stars list for his primary practice area of Estate Planning & Probate, has been practicing for seven years. In addition to his law degree, he also holds an L.L.M. in Taxation. In addition to his work in the estate planning and estate & trust administration areas of the law, Mr. Makoski has extensive experience advising clients on estate and gift tax planning; contested guardianship actions; personal income tax matters, including tax-efficient methods of acquiring and distributing assets; negotiating with tax authorities to minimize or eliminate tax deficiencies; appearing in the U.S. Tax Court; and handling IRS appeals. Further, Mr. Makoski has significant expertise counseling business clients on business formation, mergers & acquisitions, restructuring, governance, and dissolution.
Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business, rates outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The Super Lawyers lists are published nationwide in Super Lawyers Magazines and in leading city and regional magazines and newspapers across the country. The complete NJ Super Lawyers lists will be published in the April issue of NJ Monthly magazine.
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Diana Fredericks attended the 13th annual United Way Women's Leadership Council Spring Breakfast on April 23. The event was held at the Basking Ridge Country Club. Gebhardt & Kiefer supported the event with a monetary donation to the United Way.
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Mark Chazin participated in the quarterly Board of Directors Meeting of the Somerset County Business Partnership (SCBP) on April 16, 2015. Mr. Chazin has served on this Board for over 25 years, and is also a member of the SCBP Finance Committee and a prior Chairman of the Somerset County Chamber of Commerce (the SCBP predecessor organization).
A key agenda item at the meeting, which was held at the NJ Audubon Society in Bernardsville, was SCBP’s collaboration with the NJ Chamber of Commerce and other regional Chambers to identify and prioritize the top business issues in NJ. Based on the outcome of a member poll, the chambers will rally around 2-4 issues to improve the competitive position of NJ businesses.
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Gebhardt & Kiefer, PC was pleased to support the Hunterdon Hills Lions Club with an ad in the Club’s annual Dinner Dance ad journal. The Club is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2015, and its fundraising efforts continue to benefit the visually and hearing impaired, as well as people in need in the community. The Dinner Dance was held on April 18.
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On April 7 and 8, Deborah Rosenthal presented a seminar to managers, department heads and supervisors in large Middlesex County and Cumberland County municipalities on “Behavior and Demeanor in the Workplace.” Topics covered included bullying and workplace respect; discipline; proper management style; performance evaluations; demeanor issues with subordinates; office gossip; favoritism; appropriate use of internet, email, cell phones, tablets and laptops; social media concerns; medical privacy; ADA; and do’s and don’ts of the interview and hiring process. Ms. Rosenthal is available to present similar seminars to municipalities and other employers upon request.
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On March 30, Diana Fredericks attended a Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce event featuring Gretchen Rubin, best-selling author of “The Happiness Project”, who spoke about her latest release entitled “Better Than Before: Mastering the Habits of Our Everyday Lives”.
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Gebhardt & Kiefer, PC was pleased to support the Tewksbury Woman’s Club’s fundraising event, the “Taste of Tewksbury”, on March 28.
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Gebhardt & Kiefer, PC was pleased to support the first annual “Star Celebration” of Volunteer Guardian One on One, Inc. (VGOO), which took place on March 25 at the Grand Colonial. The celebration honored the volunteer efforts of Rabbi Evan Jaffe. The purpose of VGOO is to provide high quality guardianship services to adult individuals, typically the elderly suffering from a disability or physical and mental disease, who have no family members or friends to serve in that capacity.
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On March 26, John Manfreda will present a 2-hour program entitled “Estate Planning for the Modern Family” from 7-9 pm at the Clinton Public Library on Halstead Street in Clinton. He will cover general estate planning topics such as Wills, General Durable Powers of Attorney, and Living Wills. He will also discuss sophisticated estate and gift tax planning and asset protection planning techniques. Special emphasis will be placed on Estate Planning for Blended Families and related topics.
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The next meeting of a men’s discussion group focusing on divorce will be held on Tues., March 24, 2015 from 6:30 pm until 8 pm at the United Way, located at 4 Walter E. Foran Blvd, Suite 401 in Flemington. The group is for men who are separated or divorced, or who are going through a divorce. This is a unique opportunity for men to hear from others and to provide their own perspectives to other men who are dealing with these issues. The program will be moderated by family law attorney William Rudnik of Gebhardt & Kiefer, P.C. and certified financial planner Craig Hyldahl of R.I.C.H. Planning Group, LLC. Future meetings will include other local professional moderators. Food and beverages will be provided. Any questions should be directed to William Rudnik at 908-735-5161 or brudnik@gklegal.com. Although not required, please RSVP to Mr. Rudnik so proper arrangements can be made for food and beverages.
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Read the latest post by Deborah Rosenthal on the Gebhardt & Kiefer Employment Law Blog: Defending Sexual Harassment Claims Against Employers
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Read the latest post by Daniel Makoski on the Gebhardt & Kiefer Tax Controversy Blog: Do You Qualify for Innocent Spouse Relief?
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On March 4, Diana Fredericks participated in the monthly Leads Exchange networking event sponsored by the Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce.
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Lori MacWilliam was selected by BWNICE (Business Women – Networking Involving Charity and Education) as the "Member of the Month" for February 2015.
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Read the latest post by William Rudnik on the Gebhardt & Kiefer Family Law Blog: Divorce Cases Involving Custody and Parenting Time with Infants
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William Goodwin and Diana Fredericks co-authored an article entitled “Changed Circumstances? The Impact of Increased or Decreased Parental Availability Post-Judgment on Parenting Time Arrangements”, which was published in the February 2015 issue of New Jersey Family Lawyer.
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For the second year in a row, Diana Fredericks has been named as a “10 Best Family Law Attorney for Client Satisfaction” in New Jersey by the American Institute of Family Law Attorneys (AIOFLA). The AIOFLA is a third-party attorney rating organization that publishes an annual list of the TOP 10 Family Law attorneys in each state. According to the AIOFLA, attorneys who are selected to the “10 Best” list must pass a rigorous selection process, which involves thorough research and independent evaluation to identify lawyers who have demonstrated the highest standards of client satisfaction.
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On Feb. 23, William Goodwin facilitated a seminar on Business Valuation Basics presented by Kal Barson, CPA/ABV, CFE, CFF and sponsored by the Hunterdon County Bar Association. Participating attorneys earned two NJ CLE credits.
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On Feb. 20, John Manfreda made a presentation at the Flemington Senior Center covering general estate planning topics such as Wills, General Durable Powers of Attorney, and Living Wills. He also discussed specific recommendations for estate and gift tax planning and asset protection planning, including Medicaid spend-down strategies. Mr. Manfreda is available to make similar presentations to large groups upon request.
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On Feb. 19, Diana Fredericks participated in the first class of the United Way’s Board Development Primer workshop. The program is designed to facilitate the recruitment, development and retention of leaders on boards and committees throughout the community. The first class focused on Committee Roles & Responsibilities.
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Diana Fredericks, who is trained in Collaborative Divorce, recently attended an advanced training seminar on “Managing High Conflict People in the Collaborative Process”. The session, sponsored by the New Jersey Collaborative Group (of which Fredericks is a member), focused on skills for dealing with the difficult behaviors of high conflict people, whether as individuals, or when involved in family problems, especially separation and divorce.
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Tara St. Angelo presented a seminar on “Potential Legal Issues in Local Government Use of Social Media” at the Annual Conference of the New Jersey League of Municipalities in November 2014. She will present a similar seminar at the Hunterdon County Clerks meeting on March 18, 2015, and is available to speak to municipalities on this topic upon request.
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The next meeting of a men’s discussion group focusing on divorce will be held on Tues., Feb. 24, 2015 from 6:30 pm until 8 pm at the United Way, located at 4 Walter E. Foran Blvd, Suite 401 in Flemington. The group is for men who are separated or divorced, or who are going through a divorce. This is a unique opportunity for men to hear from others and to provide their own perspectives to other men who are dealing with these issues. The program will be moderated by family law attorney William Rudnik of Gebhardt & Kiefer, P.C. and certified financial planner Craig Hyldahl of R.I.C.H. Planning Group, LLC. Future meetings will include other local professional moderators. Food and beverages will be provided. Any questions should be directed to William Rudnik at 908-735-5161 or brudnik@gklegal.com. Although not required, please RSVP to Mr. Rudnik so proper arrangements can be made for food and beverages.
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Read the latest post by Diana Fredericks on the Gebhardt & Kiefer Family Law Blog: Can Court Order Divorced Parent to Pay Child’s College Tuition?
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On Feb. 4, Deborah Rosenthal presented a seminar to managers and supervisors in a large Bergen County municipality on “Behavior and Demeanor in the Workplace.” Topics covered included bullying and workplace respect, discipline, proper management style, performance evaluations, demeanor issues by and to subordinates, office gossip, favoritism, appropriate use of internet, email, cell phones, tablets and laptops, social media concerns, medical privacy, ADA, and the do’s and don’ts during the interview and hiring process. Ms. Rosenthal is available to present similar seminars to employers upon request.
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Read the latest post by Diana Fredericks on the Gebhardt & Kiefer Family Law Blog: Divorce Litigation vs. Collaborative Divorce.
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On Jan. 24, William Rudnik was a speaker at the 2015 Family Law Symposium in New Brunswick. This event is one of the most highly attended continuing legal education programs in the state. Mr. Rudnik’s topic was “Parenting Times/Overnights with Infants”. Mr. Rudnik also co-authored an article on this topic.
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Mark Chazin has been named a Five Star Professional Estate Planning Attorney for 2015. The Five Star award is given to individuals who provide exceptional service based on research with peers, firms, consumers, and regulatory agencies. Mr. Chazin also received this award in 2014.
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Diana Fredericks will speak at a NORWESCAP workshop on Family Law for women on Wed., Jan. 21, 2015 from 10 AM to 2 PM in Flemington. The workshop will provide information to women who have decided to divorce, are in the process of a divorce, or have been divorced. Ms. Fredericks will speak about the new alimony statute and its effect on support, cohabitation, job loss and retirement. She will be joined by four other local attorneys, each of whom will address a different aspect of family law. Seating is limited and pre-registration is required. To register, or for further information, email sickingerth@norwescap.org or call 908-788-1453.
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The next meeting of a men’s discussion group focusing on divorce will be held on Tues., Jan. 20, 2015 from 6:30 pm until 8 pm at the United Way, located at 4 Walter E. Foran Blvd, Suite 401 in Flemington. The group is for men who are separated or divorced, or who are going through a divorce. This is a unique opportunity for men to hear from others and to provide their own perspectives to other men who are dealing with these issues. The program will be moderated by local family law attorney William Rudnik of Gebhardt & Kiefer, P.C. and certified financial planner Craig Hyldahl of R.I.C.H. Planning Group, LLC. Future meetings will include other local professional moderators. Food and beverages will be provided. Any questions should be directed to William Rudnik at 908-735-5161 or brudnik@gklegal.com. Although not required, please RSVP to Mr. Rudnik so proper arrangements can be made for food and beverages.
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Diana Fredericks served as a judge in the 2015 Hunterdon County High School Mock Trial Competition, which was held on Jan. 17, 2015 at the Hunterdon County Justice Center.
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