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  • Jan 08, 2021Before the Deluge: Preparing for the Anticipated Rise in Bankruptcy Filings

    Melissa Anne Peña, a Member of law firm Norris McLaughlin, P.A., and Chair of its Bankruptcy & Creditors’ Rights Practice Group, along with Jerome F. Gallagher, Jr., and Bruce J. Wisotsky, also Members of the firm, will present the free webinar, “Before the Deluge: Preparing for the Anticipated Rise in Bankruptcy Filings.”

    Preparing for the Anticipated Rise in Bankruptcy Filings

    Even under the best of circumstances, navigating thru a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing can be stressful and fraught with uncertainty for all involved. Add in the disruptive effects of COVID-19, and it’s easy to appreciate the daunting task facing bankruptcy courts, debtors, creditors, and their lawyers. The pandemic has challenged many industries and as the economy has worsened through the pandemic, declaring bankruptcy has become the only lifeline left, and, given the ongoing economic uncertainties, a successful Chapter 11 reorganization has become all the more important.

    This webinar will address steps that can be taken to protect a creditor’s interests before and immediately after a bankruptcy filing by a customer, client, or counterparty to an agreement. The panelists will discuss the recommended actions to be taken:

    • Upon establishment of creditor-debtor relationship
    • When a customer/client appears to be in financial distress
    • Upon notice of bankruptcy filing

    When: Thursday, January 28, 2021

    10:00 – 11:00 a.m.

    Register for Norris McLaughlin, Attorneys at Law, Legal Events in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania

    Although questions will be taken at the conclusion of the webinar, we strongly encourage you to submit questions in advance to be sure we address your specific needs. Please submit your questions by 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 27, 2021, via email to marketing@norris-law.com with “BANKRUPTCY WEBINAR” in the subject line.

    About Your Attorney Panelists

    Melissa Peña

    Melissa concentrates her practice on commercial litigation and bankruptcy and creditors’ rights. Her clients include financial institutions, private lenders, creditors, and accounting firms. She has successfully represented secured creditors and unsecured creditors in Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases and state court insolvency proceedings. Melissa frequently handles commercial foreclosure actions, actions to enforce promissory notes and guarantees, lien priority disputes, fraudulent conveyance actions, and creditor enforcement matters. She has also defended accounting firms in disputes regarding alleged failure to detect criminal and fraudulent activity in the state and federal courts of New Jersey and New York.

    Outside the courtroom, Melissa handles commercial workouts, negotiating forbearance agreements on behalf of lenders and troubled cross-border transactions. She frequently represents investors seeking to acquire defaulted loans from the due diligence stage to closing on the sale. Melissa also helps lenders to liquidate their collateral through UCC sales, including sales of co-ops. In connection with her participation in the firm’s cross-border practice, she represents clients concerning inbound and outbound transactions that require working with government agencies such as the U.S. Office of Foreign Asset Control and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

    Jerry Gallagher

    Jerry engages in civil trial and appellate practice with a concentration in commercial litigation, creditors’ rights, construction, contract litigation, and commercial accounts receivable matters. He also provides legal services related to contract drafting and negotiations. Jerry serves as New Jersey counsel to several national companies and represents private businesses in several industries, including cosmetics, retail packaging, computer support, and specialty concrete products.

    Jerry’s more significant results for clients include: an appellate affirmance of a trial court’s dismissal of “spoliation of evidence” claims against a national financing company; a jury verdict dismissing claims against a national real estate developer for alleged violations of New Jersey’s Consumer Fraud Act; prosecuting fraud claims against an insurance broker on behalf of a premium finance company, resulting in a seven-figure money judgment; a jury verdict in favor of a commercial equipment leasing company including dismissal of “lender liability” counterclaims; dismissal of Consumer Fraud Act and punitive damages claims brought against a privately owned electronic parts testing company; domesticating foreign judgments; recovering payments on surety bonds posted to stay post-judgment collection proceedings pending appeal; obtaining numerous monetary judgments in favor of financial institutions and businesses on commercial loan and accounts receivable claims; and regularly represents contractors in residential and commercial construction disputes, lien claims and commercial collection actions.

    Bruce Wisotsky

    Bruce has represented debtors, creditors’ committees, equity committees, trustees, landlords, and other individual creditors in Chapter 11 and 7 bankruptcy proceedings in New Jersey, New York, Delaware, Florida, and other jurisdictions. He has also represented assignees for the benefit of creditors in state court insolvency proceedings. A significant portion of Bruce’s practice has involved out-of-court restructurings, either as counsel to companies and individuals experiencing financial difficulties or their creditors.

    Bruce lectures on various bankruptcy issues before the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education, the Turnaround Management Association, and the Essex County Bar Association. He has addressed topics including prosecution and defense of preference actions, treatment of tax claims in bankruptcy proceedings, executory contract issues, and retention bonus issues. Bruce is included in The Best Lawyers In America in the Bankruptcy Litigation and Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights Law sections and New Jersey Super Lawyers in the Bankruptcy & Creditor/ Debtor Rights section. He was also named the Best Lawyers Bankruptcy Litigation “Lawyer of the Year” in the Woodbridge, New Jersey, Metro Area in 2020, 2018, and 2016.

    Posted in: Bankruptcy & Creditors' Rights, Bruce J. Wisotsky, Events, Jerome F. Gallagher, Jr., Melissa A. Peña | Tags: , , ,

  • Jul 11, 2018Jerry Gallagher and Passaic Optimist Club Raise $18,600 for Passaic High School Students

    Jerome F. Gallagher Jr., a Member of law firm Norris McLaughlin, P.A., Trustee of the Passaic Optimist Foundation, and Chair of its Golf Outing Fundraiser Committee, has raised more than $18,600, all of which will fund scholarships for Passaic High School students. Nearly 100 golfers, 50 sponsors, and countless others helped to make the 21st annual Passaic Optimist golf outing at Ballyowen Golf Club in Hamburg, New Jersey, on June 28 a success.  Due in part to the great support for this event, the trustees of the Foundation have approved more than $41,000 in scholarships, a new record for the Club.  To be a part of the Club’s fundraising efforts, visit passaicoptimistfoundation.org.

    Gallagher was asked about his motivation for chairing this event, and noted: “The best part of our fundraising efforts is listening to the stories of these young, motivated students, learning how these scholarships make a critical difference in their lives, and assuring them that others care about their success.”  Gallagher grew up in the City of Passaic and recalls the challenges of growing up in a poor, urban environment.  “I came from a family of modest means, but through hard work was fortunate to receive a quality education at the New Jersey Institute of Technology and Rutgers School of Law.  I have made giving back an integral part of my community service to help create positive opportunities for these young, promising students.”  The outing is supported by many Passaic High School alumni, as well as friends and clients of Norris McLaughlin, P.A., many of whom are not from Passaic, but who readily support the firm’s efforts to fund scholarships for young graduates.

    Gallagher is a member of the firm’s Litigation, Bankruptcy & Creditors’ Rights, and Construction Law Practice Groups.  He engages in civil trial and appellate practice, concentrating in the areas of commercial litigation, creditors’ rights, auto finance defense litigation, construction lien and contract litigation, and title insurance matters.  He is past Chair of the Industrial Advisory Board to NJIT’s Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, and in June 2018 was appointed to the NJIT Board of Visitors.  He also is a member of the Professionals Group Advisory Council for Provident Bank, the Morris County Chamber of Commerce, and the Metro Builders and New Jersey Home Builders Associations.  Gallagher earned his B.S., with distinction, from NJIT in 1980, and his J.D. in 1983 from Rutgers School of Law at Newark.

    Posted in: Jerome F. Gallagher, Jr., News | Tags: , , , ,

  • May 29, 2018Jerry Gallagher Appointed to NJIT’s Newark College of Engineers Board of Visitors

    Jerome F. Gallagher, Jr., a Member of law firm Norris McLaughlin, P.A., has been appointed to the Newark College of Engineers (NCE) Board of Visitors at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT).

    One of the oldest and largest professional engineering schools in the United States, NCE has been providing quality engineering education since 1919 and is the largest of the colleges at NJIT.  An estimated one in four professional engineers in New Jersey are NJIT alumni.  The NJIT and NCE alumni work in virtually every region of the world, often as CEOs or presidents of large engineering companies.

    A member of the firm’s Litigation, Bankruptcy & Creditors’ Rights, and Construction Law Practice Groups, Gallagher engages in civil trial and appellate practice, concentrating in the areas of commercial, creditors’ rights, construction lien, and contract litigation.  He regularly represents public and private companies in commercial loan and accounts receivable default matters.  He also represents contractors and owners in business contract and construction law litigation matters.

    Gallagher previously served as Chair of the Industrial Advisory Board to NJIT’s Civil and Environmental Engineering Department.  He is a member of the Professionals Group Advisory Council for Provident Bank, the Morris County Chamber of Commerce, and the Metro Builders and New Jersey Home Builders Associations.  He is also a Trustee of the Passaic Optimist Foundation and Chair of its Golf Outing Fundraiser Committee, which funds scholarships for Passaic High School students.

    Gallagher earned his B.S., with distinction, from NJIT in 1980, and his J.D. in 1983 from Rutgers School of Law at Newark.

    Posted in: Jerome F. Gallagher, Jr., News | Tags: , , ,

  • Jul 14, 2017Jerry Gallagher and Passaic Optimist Club Raise $20,300 for Passaic High School Students

    Jerome F. Gallagher, Jr., a Member of the Bridgewater-based law firm Norris McLaughlin, P.A., Trustee of the Passaic Optimist Foundation, and Chair of its Golf Outing Fundraiser Committee, has raised more than $20,300, all of which will fund scholarships for Passaic High School students.  Nearly 100 golfers, 50 sponsors, and countless others helped to make the 20th annual Passaic Optimist golf outing at Ballyowen Golf Club in Hamburg, New Jersey, on June 29 a success.  Due in part to the great support for this event, the trustees of the Foundation have approved more than $37,000 in scholarships, a new record for the Club.  To be a part of the Club’s fundraising efforts, visit passaicoptimistfoundation.org.

    Gallagher was asked about his motivation for chairing this event, and noted: “One of the best parts of the Club’s fundraising efforts is meeting with these young, motivated students and reading their letters describing how grateful they are to receive these scholarships.”  Gallagher grew up in the City of Passaic and recalls the challenges of growing up in a poor, urban environment.  “I came from a family of modest means, but through hard work was fortunate to receive a quality education at the New Jersey Institute of Technology and Rutgers School of Law.  I have made giving back an integral part of my community service to help create positive opportunities for these young, promising students.”

    The outing is supported by many Passaic High School alumni, as well as friends and clients of Norris McLaughlin, P.A., many of whom are not from Passaic, but who readily support the Firm’s efforts to fund scholarships for young graduates.

    Gallagher is a member of the Firm’s Litigation, Bankruptcy & Creditors’ Rights, and Construction Law Practice Groups.  He engages in civil trial and appellate practice, concentrating in the areas of commercial litigation, creditors’ rights, auto finance defense litigation, construction lien and contract litigation, and title insurance matters.

    Gallagher regularly represents public and private companies in commercial loan and accounts receivable default matters.  He also represents contractors and owners in business contract and construction law litigation matters.

    Gallagher serves as Chair of the Industrial Advisory Board to NJIT’s Civil and Environmental Engineering Department and is a member of the Professionals Group Advisory Council for Provident Bank, the Morris County Chamber of Commerce, and the Metro Builders and New Jersey Home Builders Associations.  He earned his B.S., with distinction, from NJIT in 1980, and his J.D. in 1983 from Rutgers School of Law at Newark.

    Posted in: Jerome F. Gallagher, Jr., News | Tags: , ,

  • Apr 22, 2016Jerome Gallagher to Be Honored at NJIT Civil & Environmental Engineering Commencement Celebration

    Jerome F. Gallagher Jr., a Member of the Bridgewater-based law firm, Norris McLaughlin, P.A., will be honored at the Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) Department’s Commencement Celebration in the Atrium at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) Campus Center on May 17.

    Gallagher will receive CEE’s 2016 “Distinguished Alumni Award” for his exceptional achievements in career, public service, and volunteer activities, which have brought honor to the CEE Department.  The Awards Committee’s selections are based on important creative efforts; contributions to social, educational, or technological progress; and distinguished leadership in his profession, industry, or public service.

    Gallagher serves as a chair of the CEE’s Industrial Advisory Board.  He is a member of the firm’s Litigation, Banking & Financial Services, Bankruptcy & Creditors’ Rights, and Construction Law Groups.  He engages in civil trial and appellate practice, and concentrates in the areas of commercial banking, creditors’ rights, auto finance defense litigation, construction contract litigation, and title insurance matters.

    Gallagher earned his B.S., with distinction, from NJIT in 1980, and his J.D. from Rutgers School of Law at Newark.

    Posted in: Jerome F. Gallagher, Jr., News |

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