NJSBA Family Law Section

Hello Family Law Section members,

On Friday, Aug. 10, NJICLE will present Summer CLEfest - Family Law Track from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Sheraton Atlantic City Convention Center in Atlantic City.

The Family Law Track includes:
(AM Session) Negotiating Family Law Settlements
(PM Session) Alimony

AM Session (9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.)
Negotiating Family Law Settlements

Earn up to 3.6 credits.
Featuring: Hon. Lawrence R. Jones (Ret.);  Hon. Marie Lihotz, PJAD (Ret.); Hon. Robert A. Fall, JAD; Albertina Webb, Esq.; Curtis J. Romanowski, Esq.; R. Joseph Gunteski, CPA, CFF

The overwhelming majority of divorce cases settle without a trial. Some settle through mediation, others via the collaborative law process or some additional means of alternate dispute resolution. Sometimes it's the judge who nudges the parties toward settlement. Most often, it's the attorneys who hammer out the agreement. No matter how it's done, it's the lawyer's job to help their clients navigate the negotiation process and have the case conclude in a fair and equitable manner.

Negotiating a cease fire between warring parties is no walk in the park. It takes patience, skill, diplomacy and a solid knowledge of the law to negotiate a settlement that maximizes a client's best interests yet doesn't alienate the other side.

Make plans to attend and hear some of New Jersey's most respected family law practitioners share their knowledge and insight about what makes an effective family law negotiator. In the end, you'll walk away with the strategies you can use to help settle your next case.

PROGRAM
9:00 Welcome and Opening Remarks by Moderator - Hon. Lawrence R. Jones (Ret.)
9:05 Settlement Conferences:
   A) What Makes or Breaks a Successful Settlement Conference:
   B) Largest Obstacles to Settlement: Issues or Personalities;
   C) Clashing Attorneys: How to Navigate from Conflict to Compromise.- Hon. Robert A. Fall
9:40 Settlement Conferences cont'd:
   A) In Chambers Settlement Conference with Trial Judge: Do's and Don'ts;
   B) Protecting the Record for Appeal: "Unenforceable settlement agreements" (substance and procedure);
   C) Counsel vs Self-Represented Adversary: Extra Considerations- Hon. Marie Lihotz, PJAD (Ret.)
10:15 Break
10:30 The CPA View:
   A) Complex Financial Issues and Preparation Tips to Increase Productiveness at a Settlement Conference;
   B) Timing Considerations in settling Complex Economic Issues (i.e., before or after discovery)- Joseph Gunteski, CPA
11:05 Dealing with All Those Emotions:
   A) Understanding the Emotional Side of Dispute Resolution in Family Court;
   B) Constructive Ways to Deal with Emotional Issues at the Settlement Table- Curtis Romanowski, Esq.
11:40 Dealing with Clients, Adversaries and "Friends":
   A) Tips: Dealing with Difficult Clients;
   B) Dealing with Difficult Adversary's – How not to let a Difficult Adversary Impact your Advocacy for your Client;
   C) How to Deal with Non-Party Participants in Litigation (parents, paramours and "well-meaning" friends and advisors)- Albertina Webb, Esq.
12:15 Adjourn

PM Session (1:15 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
Alimony

Earn up to 3.6 credits.
Featuring: Hon. Lawrence R. Jones (Ret.); Hon. Marie Lihotz, PJAD (Ret.); Frank A. Louis, Esq.; Jeralyn L. Lawrence, Esq.; Michael A. Weinberg, Esq.

The "new" alimony statute was passed in 2014. Its most headline grabbing feature was the elimination of permanent alimony. But the law also contained a less publicized, but equally important change – the codification of the comparability of the standard of living.

In the landmark Crews decision, the New Jersey Supreme Court held that the goal of alimony was to allow the dependent spouse to maintain a standard of living reasonably comparable to the standard established during marriage. The essence of the new alimony law is comparability, with neither party having a greater entitlement to a standard of living. The focus in no longer on the dependent spouse, but on comparability of life style post-divorce between both parties. And this shift, although on its face a subtle one, is a fundamental change and impacts how family lawyers should be preparing, arguing and settling cases.This interactive seminar brings together some of the state's leading family law practitioners for in-depth discussions about the significance of the new alimony statute's treatment of the standard of living - and how it impacts matrimonial practice.

TOPICS
- Did the New Alimony Law unintentionally overrule Crews and earlier caselaw?
- Defining the Standard
- How the statute's comparability language affects your cases
- How you should be drafting the Case Information Statement to reflect the new alimony law's statutory changes
- Comparability and other factors, such as leisure time, savings and pensions
- How to use the comparability language in the statute to argue for an enhanced alimony award.
- Asset Distribution, tax consequences and comparability

Credits (for the full day)
NJ CLE: This program has been approved for 7.2 credits (50 minute hour)
Matrimonial Attorney Certification: 7.2 general credits pending
PA CLE: 6.0 substantive credits pending ($24 fee – separate check payable to NJICLE must be submitted at the end of the program)
NY CLE (Transitional & Non-transitional): 7.0 professional practice credits

The tuition for the full-day event is $260.
The one-day registration is $170.

Click here to register for Summer CLEfest - Family Law Track.
Click here to download a form to register.
For questions or to register by phone, please contact an association representative at 732-214-8500.

All the best,
Barbara

------------------------------
Barbara Straczynski
Director of New Media and Promotions
New Jersey State Bar Association
New Brunswick NJ
(732) 937-7524
[email protected]
------------------------------

Original Message------

Hello Family Law Section members,

On Friday, Aug. 10, NJICLE will present Summer CLEfest - Family Law Track from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Sheraton Atlantic City Convention Center in Atlantic City.

The Family Law Track includes:
(AM Session) Negotiating Family Law Settlements
(PM Session) Alimony

AM Session (9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.)
Negotiating Family Law Settlements

Earn up to 3.6 credits.
Featuring: Hon. Lawrence R. Jones (Ret.);  Hon. Marie Lihotz, PJAD (Ret.); Hon. Robert A. Fall, JAD; Albertina Webb, Esq.; Curtis J. Romanowski, Esq.; R. Joseph Gunteski, CPA, CFF

The overwhelming majority of divorce cases settle without a trial. Some settle through mediation, others via the collaborative law process or some additional means of alternate dispute resolution. Sometimes it's the judge who nudges the parties toward settlement. Most often, it's the attorneys who hammer out the agreement. No matter how it's done, it's the lawyer's job to help their clients navigate the negotiation process and have the case conclude in a fair and equitable manner.

Negotiating a cease fire between warring parties is no walk in the park. It takes patience, skill, diplomacy and a solid knowledge of the law to negotiate a settlement that maximizes a client's best interests yet doesn't alienate the other side.

Make plans to attend and hear some of New Jersey's most respected family law practitioners share their knowledge and insight about what makes an effective family law negotiator. In the end, you'll walk away with the strategies you can use to help settle your next case.

PROGRAM
9:00 Welcome and Opening Remarks by Moderator - Hon. Lawrence R. Jones (Ret.)
9:05 Settlement Conferences:
   A) What Makes or Breaks a Successful Settlement Conference:
   B) Largest Obstacles to Settlement: Issues or Personalities;
   C) Clashing Attorneys: How to Navigate from Conflict to Compromise.- Hon. Robert A. Fall
9:40 Settlement Conferences cont'd:
   A) In Chambers Settlement Conference with Trial Judge: Do's and Don'ts;
   B) Protecting the Record for Appeal: "Unenforceable settlement agreements" (substance and procedure);
   C) Counsel vs Self-Represented Adversary: Extra Considerations- Hon. Marie Lihotz, PJAD (Ret.)
10:15 Break
10:30 The CPA View:
   A) Complex Financial Issues and Preparation Tips to Increase Productiveness at a Settlement Conference;
   B) Timing Considerations in settling Complex Economic Issues (i.e., before or after discovery)- Joseph Gunteski, CPA
11:05 Dealing with All Those Emotions:
   A) Understanding the Emotional Side of Dispute Resolution in Family Court;
   B) Constructive Ways to Deal with Emotional Issues at the Settlement Table- Curtis Romanowski, Esq.
11:40 Dealing with Clients, Adversaries and "Friends":
   A) Tips: Dealing with Difficult Clients;
   B) Dealing with Difficult Adversary's – How not to let a Difficult Adversary Impact your Advocacy for your Client;
   C) How to Deal with Non-Party Participants in Litigation (parents, paramours and "well-meaning" friends and advisors)- Albertina Webb, Esq.
12:15 Adjourn

PM Session (1:15 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
Alimony

Earn up to 3.6 credits.
Featuring: Hon. Lawrence R. Jones (Ret.); Hon. Marie Lihotz, PJAD (Ret.); Frank A. Louis, Esq.; Jeralyn L. Lawrence, Esq.; Michael A. Weinberg, Esq.

The "new" alimony statute was passed in 2014. Its most headline grabbing feature was the elimination of permanent alimony. But the law also contained a less publicized, but equally important change – the codification of the comparability of the standard of living.

In the landmark Crews decision, the New Jersey Supreme Court held that the goal of alimony was to allow the dependent spouse to maintain a standard of living reasonably comparable to the standard established during marriage. The essence of the new alimony law is comparability, with neither party having a greater entitlement to a standard of living. The focus in no longer on the dependent spouse, but on comparability of life style post-divorce between both parties. And this shift, although on its face a subtle one, is a fundamental change and impacts how family lawyers should be preparing, arguing and settling cases.This interactive seminar brings together some of the state's leading family law practitioners for in-depth discussions about the significance of the new alimony statute's treatment of the standard of living - and how it impacts matrimonial practice.

TOPICS
- Did the New Alimony Law unintentionally overrule Crews and earlier caselaw?
- Defining the Standard
- How the statute's comparability language affects your cases
- How you should be drafting the Case Information Statement to reflect the new alimony law's statutory changes
- Comparability and other factors, such as leisure time, savings and pensions
- How to use the comparability language in the statute to argue for an enhanced alimony award.
- Asset Distribution, tax consequences and comparability

Credits (for the full day)
NJ CLE: This program has been approved for 7.2 credits (50 minute hour)
Matrimonial Attorney Certification: 7.2 general credits pending
PA CLE: 6.0 substantive credits pending ($24 fee – separate check payable to NJICLE must be submitted at the end of the program)
NY CLE (Transitional & Non-transitional): 7.0 professional practice credits

The tuition for the full-day event is $260.
The one-day registration is $170.

Click here to register for Summer CLEfest - Family Law Track.
Click here to download a form to register.
For questions or to register by phone, please contact an association representative at 732-214-8500.

All the best,
Barbara

------------------------------
Barbara Straczynski
Director of New Media and Promotions
New Jersey State Bar Association
New Brunswick NJ
(732) 937-7524
[email protected]
------------------------------