Cooper Levenson Attorneys at Law

Cooper Levenson’s Banking & Financial Services department has a long and distinguished history of representing financial institutions of all sizes and types on a wide range of assignments, including those related to sophisticated loan document transactions and loan work-outs.

We understand the competitiveness within the banking industry, and our clients appreciate - and have come to rely on - the speed, accuracy, and cost efficiency of our work. We see ourselves as partners in their success, and they rely on us to assist them in an extensive array of financial matters, including:

• Casino finance
• Secured lending
• Asset-based lending
• Lease finance
• Land development loans
• Commercial real estate finance
• Corporate finance
• Resort and time-share projects financing
• Construction and permanent loans
• Loans
• Debt restructuring
• Securitized loans

Supported by the significant legal and technological resources of our full-service firm, we are uniquely equipped to handle a large volume of even the most complex cases in a thorough and expeditious manner

It is well known and widely acknowledged that Cooper Levenson provides aggressive, effective representation for individuals and business entities facing criminal investigations or charges brought by municipal, state, and federal agencies. Our extraordinary success in defending the rights and interests of our clients is based on the experience, principles, and practices of our attorneys and support staff.

• Prosecutorial experience - As detailed in their individual profiles, the attorneys in this practice established and honed their litigation skills as high-level state and federal prosecutors. Their enhanced understanding of the law and familiarity with the system are invaluable assets in the zealous defense of our clients.
• Creative approach - Our attorneys are skilled in assessing the true exposure of our clients and devising creative legal arguments to deflect prosecution, avoid conviction, or structure an optimal negotiated outcome.
• Top experts in support roles - In the process of conducting crucial independent field investigations, we employ a range of certified experts, including forensic accountants, fraud examiners, and former FBI agents. Their findings and testimony can be pivotal in achieving a dismissal or successful defense.
• Prompt, aggressive response - From the first indication of a criminal investigation or impending charge, our attorneys move immediately to assess individual and/or corporate exposure, and begin negotiations with the appropriate agencies to minimize the disruption to ongoing business operations.
• Full range of federal defense - We represent clients in all matters concerning government investigations and complex white-collar criminal litigation, including actions brought by the FBI, IRS, Secret Service, HHS/OIG, FDA, EPA, DEA, DOL, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
• Team approach - Given the reality that criminal matters can involve both state and federal agencies, our attorneys take a multi-disciplinary team approach, and are fully capable of defending clients in parallel prosecutions.
• Accessibility - Going through a criminal investigation or prosecution can be an overwhelming experience. We make it a priority to be available to our clients when they need us, informing them of every development in real-time, and doing what’s necessary to guide them through each step of the process.

Family & Divorce Law

Joy, disappointment, hope - emotions like these are thoroughly intertwined in the issues of family law. Cooper Levenson is sensitive to the feelings of these matters and understands that when the heart is involved, clear-headed legal guidance is more important than ever.

We strive to be firm advocates for our clients while also ensuring matters are resolved expeditiously and cost-effectively. Cooper Levenson represents people throughout New Jersey in family law matters. Our practice includes:

• Divorce and separation
• LGBTQ+
• High net worth divorce
• Prenuptial agreements
• Alimony and maintenance
• Domestic violence
• Property division
• Child support
• Child custody
• Emergency orders for custody
• Violations of court orders
• Cases involving special-needs children
• Adoption
• Mediation
• Civil unions
• Grandparents’ rights issues

At Cooper Levenson, our personal injury department can provide the legal assistance you need in a professional, sensitive and effective way. When the malice or negligence of others causes an accident, we help our clients seek financial relief from those responsible. We take pride in being the champion of our client's rights.

Real Estate

Our attorneys are experienced with the entire range of issues that could arise in real estate transactions. We provide services to a wide range of entrepreneurial and institutional clients, including:

• Developers
• Lenders
• Borrowers
• Brokers
• Landlords
• Tenants
• Redevelopers
• Condominium and time share developers
• Investors

We understand the economics and pressures of our clients’ businesses. Our clients depend on:

• our willingness to go the extra mile to close deals promptly and cost effectively
• our knowledge and experience of both sides of each transaction
• our personalized and focused approach
• our expansive team and network of professionals from every discipline

Project Development and Investments: We represent developers, investors and tenants in all types of commercial, residential and mixed use projects, including hotels, casinos, residential, commercial, and multi-family residential. We have particular expertise in representing casinos, tenants and developers of power centers, regional malls and strip shopping centers in connection with site assemblage and other complex land acquisitions, agreement of sales, lease negotiations, reciprocal easement agreements and development approvals. We also represent redevelopers in urban redevelopment and other matters.

Condominiums, Timeshare and Mixed-Use Projects: We help plan and develop residential and commercial condominium projects of every size and scope. Owners and owners associations look to us for assistance in management and litigation matters, in condominium leasing and management contracts, and in other operating agreements.

Construction and Permanent Lending: Our attorneys have a wide range of experience in structuring, negotiating and documenting acquisitions, construction and permanent loans involving residential, commercial and industrial projects. Many of these loans involve representations of banks, finance companies, pension funds, insurance companies and private lenders. Other loans involve debt restructuring and complex seller financing of acquisition transactions.

Employment Law

The Employment Law specialists at Cooper Levenson have successfully litigated and provided effective on-going legal and compliance advice regarding the full range of employment law issues encountered by employers, including, by way of example, the following:

• Sexual Harassment Claims
• Hostile Work Environment Claims
• Bias and Discrimination
• Claims based upon Gender, Age, Race, National Origin, Sexual Orientation, Disability and all other protected immutable characteristics
• Claims made under all State and Federal Anti-Discrimination Laws and Regulations
• Claims made under the New Jersey Conscientious Employee Protection Act
• Americans with Disabilities Act Claims
• Family and Medical Leave Act / Family Leave Act Claims
• Retaliation Claims
• Federal Whistle-Blower claims
• QuiTam/False Claims Act claims
• Breach of Contract Claims
• Non-Compete Claims and Litigation
• Fair Labor Standards Act Claims
• State Wage and Hour Claims
• Prevailing Wage Claims
• Claims brought before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
• Claims brought before the New Jersey Division of Civil Rights
• Claims brought before the National Labor Relations Board
• Workers Compensation Retaliation Claims
• Drafting, Reviewing and Revising Employee Handbooks, Policies and Procedures
• Internal Training for Employees and Supervisors
• Internal Investigations of Discrimination/Harassment Claims

These claims have included class action suits and claims in both state and federal courts. We also regularly represent our clients’ interests before State and Federal Administrative Agencies.

Chairman Russell L. Lichtenstein has been recognized as one of the premiere trial attorneys in New Jersey and has an impressive collection of favorable jury verdicts in employment matters. Russell is rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell in Labor Law, Employment Law, Employment Litigation. He has been named to the New Jersey Super Lawyers list, a Thomson Reuters business, in the employment litigation field every year since 2005. Russell has also earned the distinction of being recognized by the New Jersey Supreme Court as a Certified Civil Trial Attorney and by the National Board of Trial Advocacy as a Certified Trial Advocate.

The Practice Group takes special pride in its “team approach” to providing employers with direct access to immediate legal resources and answers on issues including discipline and termination, medical leave, discrimination/harassment investigations, state and federal compliance, and the ever-changing panoply of laws, regulations and rules that govern the employer/employee relationship.

In all matters, we strive to develop successful working relationships with administrators and staff, and are committed to providing the highest level of legal representation, fully supported by the substantial resources of the firm and our other practice areas. More than advisors, our attorneys can be relied upon as partners.