At its final gathering before the Annual Meeting and Convention in May, the New Jersey State Bar Association’s Board of Trustees approved several measures and recognized outgoing Trustees whose terms will conclude at the end of this cycle.
NJSBA President Christine A. Amalfe honored Stephen E. Parrey, Brian J. Neary, Michael R. Paglione, Scott R. Malyk and Brandon Lee Wolff for their service and dedication to the Association. She emphasized that their departure from the Board marks not an end, but a transition to continued leadership within the Association’s sections, committees and broader initiatives.
“Their contributions have advanced the mission of the Association and strengthened this Board as one of the most effective voices in the state for protecting the interests of lawyers, improving the practice of law and promoting a fair, efficient and independent system of justice for the people of New Jersey. Their dedication and leadership will be long remembered and deeply appreciated,” Amalfe said.
Amalfe also recognized Immediate Past President William H. Mergner Jr., who will conclude his service on the Association’s Executive Committee in May. During his 2024–25 presidency, Mergner helped advance the Association’s mission to strengthen the voice of the legal community and advocate for attorneys, judges and legal professionals statewide, Amalfe said. His tenure coincided with key developments, including the Judiciary’s rollout of a pathway for disbarred attorneys seeking reinstatement and the Association’s successful challenge to ACPE Opinion 745, which had prohibited New Jersey attorneys from paying referral fees to out-of-state lawyers.
Among its action items, the Board approved a name change for the Casino Law Section to the Gaming Law Section, reflecting the broader scope of the practice area, including internet gaming and emerging prediction markets.
In addition, the Board approved several awards recognizing service to the profession and the public. The Board names James A. Lewis V. as the 2026 recipient of the Mel Narol Award, and Valerie A. Jackson as the 2026 Judge Lisa P. Thornton Award. Both honors recognize leadership in advancing inclusion within the legal profession. The awards will be presented during the Diversity Committee’s annual luncheon at the NJSBA Annual Meeting and Convention.
The Board also selected Barry D. Szaferman of Szaferman, Lakind, Blumstein & Blader, PC as the 2026 recipient of the NJSBA Professional Lawyer of the Year Award. He will be honored at the New Jersey Commission on Professionalism in the Law Awards Luncheon on June 11.