Press Release, January 1, 2007

January 2007 – Cole, Schotz, Meisel, Forman & Leonard, P.A., one of the largest law firms in the New York/New Jersey area, has named five new members, bringing the total number of members in the firm to 60.  David M. Bass has joined the firm as a member, and Carl A. Rizzo, Sean M. Lipsky, David P. Steinberger and Christopher J. Caslin have become members of the firm.

David Bass concentrates his practice in bankruptcy and restructuring, insolvency and creditors’ rights, and related litigation.  He has represented a broad spectrum of clients, including corporate and major lending and financial service institutions in bankruptcy, complex commercial litigation and loan workouts.  Mr. Bass has also represented trustees and official committees in bankruptcy cases throughout the United States.  He is experienced in all aspects of reorganization and liquidation matters, and has considerable expertise in litigating disputes arising under the Uniform Commercial Code, as well as other business and commercial litigation.

Carl Rizzo's practice includes concentration in commercial litigation matters and chancery practice relating to contractual disputes, surety, construction and construction liens, real estate transactions, commercial tenancy, employment covenants and partnership/shareholder discord. He also concentrates in land use and zoning matters, including both the prosecution of and objection to development applications, as well as an extensive prerogative writs practice. Mr. Rizzo also has a wide-reaching base of other litigation experience ranging from tax court ad valorem proceedings to administrative appeals and applications concerning advantaged business designations as well as matters relating to attorney ethics and disciplinary proceedings.

Sean Lipsky’s practice focuses on litigating complex commercial and corporate disputes, shareholder actions, commercial real estate disputes, surety claims, insurance coverage claims, insurance defense actions and tax disputes in the state and federal courts of New Jersey and New York.  In addition, he has litigated actions before the American Arbitration Association.  Mr. Lipsky also has represented numerous clients before the appellate courts in New Jersey and York, including the New Jersey Supreme Court, resulting in a number of reported decisions.

David Steinberger's practice focuses on the environmental aspects of corporate and real estate transactions, including compliance auditing, due diligence investigations and negotiating the environmental provisions of those transactions.  Mr. Steinberger has experience handling matters involving the New Jersey Industrial Site Recovery Act and Spill Act, and he has successfully obtained brownfield funding for clients redeveloping contaminated properties.  Mr. Steinberger also represents clients in environmental enforcement and litigation matters, and provides general counseling under a wide range of environmental laws.  He has experience in environmental land use matters, including the recently enacted New Jersey Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act.

Christopher Caslin's practice focuses on financing, acquisition, leasing and development of commercial real estate. He has handled a wide range of sales, acquisitions and financings involving various types of real estate in the tri-state area and throughout the country, including hotel and resort properties, golf courses, office buildings, retail shopping centers, multi-family apartment projects and industrial/warehouse facilities.  Mr. Caslin also has experience representing borrowers and lenders in real estate financing transactions, including conduit loans, and has handled several international real estate financing transactions involving real estate projects in Mexico, Canada, the Dominican Republic and the Fiji Islands.

Cole, Schotz, Meisel, Forman & Leonard, P.A. is one of the largest law firms in the New Jersey/New York Metropolitan Area.  The firm, which has offices in Bergen County, New Jersey and Midtown Manhattan, has a client base consisting of a wide array of private and public business enterprises, ranging from closely held to Fortune 500 companies.  The firm’s key practice areas include: Bankruptcy & Corporate Restructuring; Corporate, Finance & Business Transactions; Construction Law; Employment; Environmental; Litigation; Real Estate; and Tax, Trusts & Estates.