Is there an area of law, or law related issue, which your organization would like to hear more about?   We would be happy to hear from you.  Each of our attorneys is passionate about their field of practice and welcomes opportunities to teach and discuss topics of mutual interest or concern.  Just give us a call or contact us by email, and we will get back to you quickly to talk about how we can help make your meeting a success.

Bob Shanahan has completed a two-day, Interdisciplinary Collaborative Law training session, which was held at the New Jersey State Bar Law Center, on November 19 and 21. Collaborative Law seeks to mediate matters by using the assistance of various professionals to work out differences and create a plan for the future. Primarily used in divorce matters, Bob sees this process as having much potential in the Elder Law area, when parents, children and other family members may disagree about issues of care, custody and housing. This process would be an alternative to litigation, which is costly and often harms family relations.

November 22, 2011 saw a "Marathon Continuing Legal Education Day", which was run by the Hunterdon County Bar Association, for its member attorneys. During the program, Bob Shanahan gave a course entitled, "The Problem with Living Wills", and educated his fellow bar members on the practical aspects of these documents in hospitals, including our own Hunterdon Medical Center. Larisa Golub, MD, assisted by presenting common case scenarios encountered by doctors, with real-life examples of dilemmas these Advance Directives may cause. Bob had practice recommendations for attorneys, physicians, and for the public at large. The program was well received.

The Firm is very pleased to announce that Nicole L. Voigt has been named a partner. Nicole joined the Firm two and a half years ago and has excelled as an associate during this short period of time.  In addition to general business, commercial and residential transactions, Nicole has firmly established herself as an effective problem solver in environmental, land use and zoning matters. Nicole earned a Bachelor of Science in Ecology & Systematic Biology from the California Polytechnic State University, and followed up with valuable research and inventory monitoring experience with the National Park Service in conjunction with the University of Colorado, Boulder. A 2000 graduate of the Northeastern University School of Law, Nicole served as an associate with the law firms of Bowditch & Dewey, LLP and Lawson & Weitzen; both are in Boston. Nicole is the mother of two very active boys.

Kevin Kilcommons was awarded the 2010 Hunterdon County Bar Association's Professional of the Year during the Bar Association's September installment dinner. Kevin was later honored by the New Jersey Bar Association's Committee on Professionalism in the Law, together with professional award recipients from each of the county bar associations. Also honored in the same class during a State Bar luncheon on October 6, 2010 were retired Justice John E. Wallace and the Hon. Paul J. Fishman, U.S. Attorney for New Jersey.

From Wednesday, November 3 through Saturday, November 6, Bob attended the national conference of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys in San Diego, California.  At the conference, Bob was able to learn about advancements in the elder law field, in such areas as advance directives, guardianships, elder abuse remedies, and the like.  He found it very inspiring and well worth the time spent.   www.naela.org

Bob Shanahan will speak at PNC Bank's client appreciation night at Beaver Brook, on October 27.  In conjunction with other speakers on investments, Bob will discuss the impact of Estate and Inheritance Taxes on estates.

On October 20, Bob will be speaking before the Hunterdon Regional Ethics Committee, and invited guests, on the statutory purposes of Medical Ethics Committees and the role of medical powers of attorney.  The Hunterdon Regional Ethics Committee is composed of  people that work in long-term care nursing homes in our county.  There are social workers, nurses, administrators, chaplains, physicians and a few other disciplines on the committee.

Bob Shanahan will be sworn in as the President of the Hunterdon County Bar Association on September 22, 2010.

We would like to announce that Pearl Westreich, our long-time real estate paralegal, has retired.  Pearl was with us when we opened our doors for business in 1997.  Although she had no formal paralegal training, in a short time, she became very proficient and, we dare say, became one of the best paralegals in Hunterdon County.  We wish her well,  and thank her for her many years of service.

Unity Bank, on Old Highway 22 in Clinton, will be holding its home mortgage seminar on May 19, from 6-8pm.  Bob Shanahan will be participating by speaking about the role of an attorney in a residential real estate transaction.

May is National Elder Law Month.  As part of a nationwide observance of National Elder Law Month by the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), Bob Shanahan will be giving a presentation, "Living Wills and Healthcare Powers of Attorney: The Legal and Practical Issues", at Independence Manor, in Flemington, on May 17th, from 6:30-8:00 pm.   The legal purpose of living wills, who is bound by them, when they become effective, DNR orders, and hospital ethics committees will be discussed.  All are welcome.

Wednesday, April 14th, from 6:00-8:30pm   "Guardians and End of Life Decision Making"   This program, sponsored by Volunteer Guardianship One on One, Inc., will be held at the Hunterdon County Hospice.  Speakers will be board member Bob Shanahan, board member Rev. Jim DeVries and Dr. Susan Bauman, who is the Director of Palliative Care Services at Hunterdon Medical Center. www.volunteerguardianship.org

Nicole Voigt teaches Legal I and Legal II, courses on business formation and contracts, respectively, for the Small Business Development Center, located at the Raritan Valley Community College. These classes may be taken independently, or along with other coursework as part of the Entrepreneur Certificate Program. Classes are offered in both the spring and the fall. For information on upcoming classes, visit www.sbdcrvcc.com.

Residential real estate contracts executed on or after January 1, 2010, must comply with the reformed Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA), requiring use of the updated HUD-1 and HUD-1A forms at closing. In part, closing costs must be compared to the lender’s previously issued Good Faith Estimate, and deviations beyond certain tolerances are penalized and may, in practical effect, delay closing. Attorney Nicole Voigt is currently offering a brief presentation on key points that realtors should be aware of to facilitate timely sharing of necessary information and to avoid delays in closing. Real estate offices interested in inviting Nicole to present may contact her at (908) 713-1862.

Associate Attorney Nicole Voigt (left) and Andrea Lovas, Manager of Donor Relations and Events for SAFE in Hunterdon (right), attended the successful January 21, 2010 Bunco Blizzard fundraising event, sponsored by the Business Women’s Charitable Foundation. Proceeds from the fundraiser benefited, in part, breast cancer awareness. www.bizwomencharity.com

On Monday, December 21, 2009, a Hunterdon County jury returned a verdict in the amount of $352,000.00 in favor the firm's client, the Union of Independent Flight Attendants. Kevin prosecuted this breach of contract case for over three weeks before the Hon. Peter Buchsbaum.

Kevin has been elected to the Board of Trustees of the New Jersey Collaborative Law Group, Inc. The NJCLG is a not-for-profit organization of interdisciplinary collaborative professionals, which is devoted to educating the public about the benefits of collaborative divorces rather than traditional dissolutions through litigation.

In December 2009, Kevin presided over the grand opening of the Open Cupboard Food Pantry's new location, which is now located next to Rite Aid on Old Highway 22 in Clinton.  Attending the event was Congressman Leonard Lance (7th District), who spoke and cut the ribbon in addition to bringing boxes of food collected at his congressional office. Kevin is president of the board of directors and has been active with the Open Cupboard for over a dozen years.

Nicole has been accepted as a member of the New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners.www.njawbo.org.

On November 17, 2009, Bob will be addressing the Hunterdon County Medical Society, at its monthly meeting, on "Advance Directives: An Attorney's Perspective".   Bob is looking for feedback from the medical community about the practical aspects of Advance Directives in end of life care.  He would like to see a joint County Medical Society-County Bar Association commission to discuss these and other issues.

The Board of Directors of Volunteer Guardianship, One on One, Inc. has elected Bob Shanahan as its Vice President. Volunteer Guardianship. One on One, Inc. is an organization which trains and supports volunteers to become guardians for those who cannot act for themselves and have no family to undertake the responsibility.  www.volunteerguardianship.org

Bob Shanahan has been invited to speak to the Hunterdon County Regional Ethics Committee on powers of attorney, at its regular meeting on October 21, in Flemington.  The Regional Ethics Committee is composed of physicians, nurses, other healthcare workers and members of the community, and is available to assist in addressing ethical concerns and needs of long-term care residents in the County.

On Wednesday, September 30, Bob Shanahan became the President-Elect of the Hunterdon County Bar Association.  www.huntcolaw.org

Briteside Adult Day Care Centers, Inc. has announced that Bob Shanahan has been appointed to its Advisory Board.  Bob is looking forward to assisting this worthy organization which assists so many families in Hunterdon County.  For more information on Briteside see www.britesideadultdaycenter.org

Bob Shanahan is scheduled to join a presentation on Volunteer Guardianship One on One Inc, to the Hunterdon Regional Ethics Committee on June 18.  Bob is a member of the Board of Directors of Volunteer Guardianship, which is an organization which trains and supports volunteers to become guardians for those who cannot act for themselves and have no family to undertake the responsibility.  www.volunteerguardianship.org The Hunterdon Regional Ethics Committee is composed of  people that work in long term care nursing homes in our county.  There are social workers, nurses, administrators, chaplains, physicians and a few other disciplines on the committee.

May 5, 2009  Bob Shanahan spoke at a meeting sponsored by PNC Investments, at the Beaver Brook Country Club, on "How to Avoid or Minimize the Tax-Man by Properly Planning Your Estate".    The types of federal and state death taxes were discussed.