Accolades

Recognition is rewarding.

Our law firm excels as a collaborative practice due to the legal acumen and depth of knowledge our individual lawyers bring to the table on behalf of the firm’s clients. Our attorneys are broadly recognized for their prominence, and are frequently cited for the quality of their work within their respective areas of practice:

» The Best Lawyers in America© 2025 (a trademark of Woodward/White, Inc.) recognizes 56 of our attorneys across 39 areas of practice. 

» Best Lawyers® ranked the firm on the 2025 "Best Law Firms" list as a New Jersey First Tier Best Law Firm in 34 practice areas. 

» New Jersey Super Lawyers 2024 Edition (a Thomson Reuters business) recognizes 34 of our attorneys in 18 practice areas.

» Chambers USA 2024 (a publication of Chambers and Partners) names 20 of the firm’s attorneys practicing in the areas of Litigation: General Commercial, Corporate/M&A, Real Estate, Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use, Environment, Healthcare, Construction, Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations, and Banking & Finance. In addition, the firm’s Family Law practice and its chair are named in the Chambers High Net Worth 2024 Guide. 

» Benchmark Litigation (a publication of  Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC) ranks the firm as "Highly Recommended"in the Dispute Resolution practice area. Paul A. Rowe is listed as a Local Litigation Star - New Jersey in the Construction and General Commercial practice areas; Barry S. Goodman is listed as a Local Litigation Star - New Jersey in the Antitrust, General Commercial and Securities practice areas; Alan S. Naar is listed as a Local Litigation Star - New Jersey in the General Commercial practice area; John D. North is listed as a Local Litigation Star - New Jersey in the Bankruptcy, Construction and General Commercial practice areas.

» National Law Journal 2024 NLJ 500 (a publication of ALM Media Properties, LLC) ranked the firm at 473 in their listing of the 500 largest law firms in the United States.

» Lexology Index (published by Law Business Research Ltd.) lists several of our lawyers in their respective areas of practice: Dennis A. Estis and Steven Nudelman (Construction); Martin E. Dollinger, Jack Fersko, Christine F. Li and Lydia C. Stefanowicz (Real Estate); and David B. Farer (Environmental and Climate Change)

» MSI Global Alliance member firms have a diverse and expansive knowledge and understanding of the legal issues faced by clients across a wide range of industries. We’re proud to be the only firm in the New Jersey legal market selected for membership in the MSI network of independent, medium-sized general practice law firms.

Please visit our Award Methodology page for a description of the standard or methodology on which these accolades are based. Attorney Advertising: No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.

As a further testament to their stature within the legal community, a number of our attorneys have been selected for membership or appointed to fellowship in important industry associations and prestigious professional colleges: 

» American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers: Frank A. Louis

» American Bar Foundation: Glenn Berman, Dennis A. Estis, David B. Farer, Jack Fersko, Robert M. Goodman, Robert B. Hille, Donald A. Kessler, Jemi Goulian Lucey, Stephanie G. Reckord, Paul A. Rowe, Wendell A. Smith and Mark H. Sobel.

» American Board of Trial Advocates: John D. North

» American College of Commercial Finance Lawyers: Lydia C. Stefanowicz

» American College of Employee Benefits Counsel: Thomas C. Senter

» American College of Environmental Lawyers:  David B. Farer (Past President), Barbara J. Koonz

» American College of Family Trial Lawyers:  Frank A. Louis

» American College of Mortgage Attorneys:  Thomas J. Denitzio, Jr., Lydia C. Stefanowicz

» American College of Real Estate Lawyers:  Wendell A. Smith (Charter Member), Martin E. Dollinger, Jack Fersko, Christine F. Li, Steven G. Mlenak, Lydia C. Stefanowicz and Ann M. Waeger

» American College of Trial Lawyers:  Paul A. Rowe, John D. North, John Zen Jackson

» American College of Trust & Estate Counsel:  Michael A. Backer and Michael K. Feinberg

» College of Community Association Lawyers:  Wendell A. Smith (Charter Member), Dennis A. Estis, Christine F. Li, Caroline Record

» Construction Lawyers Society of America: Dennis A. Estis, Steven Nudelman and Stephanie G. Reckord

» International Academy of Trial Lawyers:  Paul A. Rowe and John D. North

» Litigation Counsel of America:  Dennis A. Estis (Charter Fellow), John D. North (Senior Fellow), Steven Nudelman, Stephanie G. Reckord

» National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys:  Michael K. Feinberg

» Product Liability Advisory Council:  Robert M. Goodman

We are proud of the numerous awards bestowed upon our lawyers throughout the years, some of which are listed here:

» 2024 Founders Gold Award to James A. Robertson, presented by the New Jersey Chapter of the Healthcare Financial Management Association  

» 2024 Good Scout Award to George W. Crimmins, presented by the Patriots' Path Council Boy Scouts of America

» 2024 Professional Lawyer of the Year Award to Joel Clymer, presented by the Garden State Bar Association and the New Jersey Commission on Professionalism in the Law

» 2024 Raymond A. Brown Award to Joel Clymer, presented by the Garden State Bar Association

» 2024 Amicus Curiae Award to Robert B. Hille, presented by the New Jersey State Bar Association in recognition of his contributions to the state bar’s amicus curiae efforts in Facebook vs. State of New Jersey, a case of first impression before the New Jersey Supreme Court.

» 2024 Young Lawyer of the Year Award to Kersten Kortbawi, presented by the Middlesex County Bar Association

» 2024 Outstanding Young Lawyer Award to Joseph A. Natale, presented by the Morris County Bar Association

» 2023 Legacy Award to Jack Fersko, presented by the New Jersey Chapter of NAIOP

» 2023 Peter Perlman Service Award to Stephanie G. Reckord, presented by the Litigation Counsel of America

» 2023 40 Under 40 Nation's Best Advocates Award to Joel Clymer, presented by the National Bar Association

» 2023 Professional Lawyer of the Year Award to Emily A. Kaller, presented by Trial Attorneys of New Jersey (TANJ) and the New Jersey Commission on Professionalism in the Law

» 2023 Robert J. Cirafesi Chancery Practice Award to the Hon. Glenn Berman (Ret.), presented by the Middlesex County Bar Association 

» 2023 Amicus Curiae Award to Robert B. Hille and Kersten Kortbawi, presented by the New Jersey State Bar Association in recognition for their volunteered time and expertise to advance friend-of-the-court arguments, legislative positions, diversity and inclusion in society, and improvements in areas of practice.

» 2021 Good Scout Award to Robert S. Goldsmith, presented by the Patriots' Path Council Boy Scouts of America

» 2021 Founders Gold Award to James A. Robertson, presented by the New Jersey Chapter of the Healthcare Financial Management Association  

» 2021 Transactional Award to Michael K. Feinberg, presented by the Middlesex County Bar Association

» 2019 Trial Bar Award to John D. North, presented by Trial Attorneys of New Jersey

» 2019 Professional Lawyer of the Year Award to Jemi Goulian Lucey, presented by the New Jersey Women Lawyers Association and the New Jersey Commission on Professionalism in the Law  

» 2019 Associate of the Year Award to Robert S. Goldsmith, presented by the New Jersey Builders Association in recognition of his dedication and commitment to the NJBA and the building industry in New Jersey

» 2018 Woman of the Year Award to Nancy Isaacson, presented by the International Women's Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation New Jersey Network

» 2018 Hall of Fame Award to Ann M. Waeger, presented by Commercial Real Estate Women, New Jersey Chapter (CREW NJ)

» 2018 Arthur H. Miller Lawyer Achievement Award to Thomas J. Denitzio, Jr., presented by the Middlesex County Bar Association

» 2018 Alumnus of the Year Award to the Hon. Michael R. Casale (Ret.), presented by the Bloomfield Educational Foundation in recognition of distinguished professional achievement

» 2017 Touchstone Award to Thomas C. Senter, presented by the Englewood Hospital and Medical Center Foundation for philanthropic leadership and support 

» 2016 Professional Lawyer of the Year Award to John D. North, presented by the Trial Attorneys of New Jersey and the New Jersey Commission on Professionalism in the Law

» 2015 Arthur H. Miller Lawyer Achievement Award to Glenn Berman, presented by the Middlesex County Bar Association

» 2014 President's Award to Caroline Record, presented by the Community Associations Institute New Jersey Chapter

» 2014 Amicus Curiae Award to Judah Skoff, presented by the New Jersey State Bar Association in recognition for his volunteered time and expertise to advance friend-of-the-court arguments, legislative positions, diversity and inclusion in society, and improvements in areas of practice.

» 2014 Lifetime Achievement in Litigation Award to Paul A. Rowe, presented by the New Jersey Law Journal

» 2014 Robert N. Wilentz Lifetime Achievement Award to Alan E. Davis, presented by the Middlesex County Bar Association

» 2014 Robert J. Cirafesi Chancery Practice Award to Paul A. Rowe, presented by the Middlesex County Bar Association

» 2014 Transactional Practice Award to Thomas J. Denitzio, Jr., presented by the Middlesex County Bar Association

» 2014 Founders Silver Award to James A. Robertson, presented by the New Jersey Chapter of the Healthcare Financial Management Association

» 2014 Trial Bar Award to John Zen Jackson, presented by Trial Attorneys of New Jersey

» 2013 National Judge Learned Hand Award to Paul A. Rowe, presented by the Metro New Jersey Region of AJC

» 2013 Arthur S. Horn Distinguished Service Award to Christine F. Li, presented by the New Jersey State Bar Association Real Property Trust and Estate Law Section

» 2013 Arthur H. Miller Lawyer Achievement Award to Dennis A. Estis, presented by the Middlesex County Bar Association

» 2013 Professional Lawyer of the Year Award to Emily A. Kaller, presented by the Middlesex County Bar Association and the New Jersey Commission on Professionalism in the Law

» 2012 Jerome Fien Distinguished Service Award to Caroline Record, presented by the Community Associations Institute New Jersey Chapter

» 2012 Robert J. Cirafesi Chancery Practice Award to Dennis A. Estis, presented by the Middlesex County Bar Association

» 2012 Young Lawyer of the Year Award to Jemi Goulian Lucey, presented by the Middlesex County Bar Association

» 2011 Inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award to Wendell A. Smith, presented by the Community Associations Institute New Jersey Chapter

» 2011 Founders Bronze Award to James A. Robertson, presented by the New Jersey Chapter of the Healthcare Financial Management Association  

» 2010 Lawyer Achievement Award to Barry S. Goodman, presented by the Middlesex County Bar Association

» 2009 Saul Tischler Award for Lifetime Achievement to Mark H. Sobel, presented by the New Jersey State Bar Association Family Law Section

» 2009 Smart Growth Award to Robert S. Goldsmith, presented by New Jersey Future

» 2009 David Pavlovsky Service to the Bar Award to Dennis A. Estis, presented by the Middlesex County Bar Association

» 2008 Burton Award for Distinguished Legal Writing to Alan S. Naar, presented by the Burton Foundation

» 2007 President’s Award to Robert S. Goldsmith, presented by the American Planning Association New Jersey Chapter

» 2007 Saul Tischler Award for Lifetime Achievement to Herbert S. Glickman, presented by the New Jersey State Bar Association Family Law Section

» 2006 Alumni Meritorious Service Award to Barry S. Goodman, presented by Rutgers University

» 2006 Industry Service Award to Jack Fersko, presented by the New Jersey Chapter of NAIOP

» 2006 Apex Award for Publication Excellence in Feature Series Writing to Steven Nudelman, presented by Communications Concepts, Inc.

» 2005 President’s Award to Jack Fersko, presented by the New Jersey Chapter of NAIOP

» 2000 Distinguished Alumnus Award to Wendell A. Smith, presented by Johns Hopkins University

» 2000 Distinguished Service Award to Christine F. Li, presented by the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education

» 1993 Trial Bar Award to Paul A. Rowe, presented by Trial Attorneys of New Jersey

» 1990 Heritage Award to Wendell A. Smith, presented by Johns Hopkins University

»1990 Saul Tischler Award to Frank A. Louis, presented by the New Jersey State Bar Association Family Law Section for his contributions to the advancement of family law

»1988 Byron Hanke Award for Outstanding Contributions to Community Associations to Wendell A. Smith, presented by the Community Associations Institute

»1980 Young Lawyer Award to Frank A. Louis, presented by the Ocean County Bar Association