Pashman Stein

Pashman Stein Pashman Stein Walder Hayden is one of New Jersey’s leading law firms providing a full range of pra For more information, go to www.pashmanstein.com.

Pashman Stein Walder Hayden is a full service business law firm offering a wide range of corporate and personal legal services. Headquartered in Hackensack, New Jersey, the firm serves a diverse client base including regional Fortune 500 companies, emerging growth entities and individuals, as well as out-of-state corporate counsel, law firms and individuals with interests in the New York metropolitan region.

Pashman Stein Walder Hayden P.C. is pleased to share that Raymond M. Brown, Dillon McGuire and Chelsea J. Nkrumah, attor...
05/29/2026

Pashman Stein Walder Hayden P.C. is pleased to share that Raymond M. Brown, Dillon McGuire and Chelsea J. Nkrumah, attorneys in the firm’s Criminal Defense practice, recently secured the dismissal of election fraud charges against Paterson Councilman Michael Jackson, bringing an end to a six-year prosecution brought by the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General.

On May 14, the Attorney General’s Office issued a proposed order dismissing the indictment against Jackson, stating that further prosecution “is no longer in the interest of justice.” The dismissal follows years of litigation in which McGuire challenged the state’s case and defended Jackson against allegations tied to a high-profile election fraud investigation in Paterson.

Throughout the proceedings, McGuire consistently maintained that the state lacked sufficient evidence against his client and publicly questioned the timing and handling of the prosecution.

“I think the state realized they didn’t have a case,” McGuire said. “It took way too long for them to realize it.”

McGuire also successfully represented Jackson in a lengthy legal battle over the state’s attempt to access the contents of the councilman’s cell phone during a related witness tampering investigation. Earlier this year, the Attorney General’s Office withdrew its subpoena seeking access to the device, marking another significant development in the case.

The dismissal represents the latest setback for prosecutors in a series of election fraud cases stemming from Paterson’s 2020 municipal elections.

To read more about the case, click here: https://zurl.co/ZJghV

Pashman Stein Walder Hayden P.C. is proud of the results he has achieved for clients. Of course, each legal matter is unique on many levels, and past successes are not a guarantee of results in any other pending or future matters.

Pashman Stein Walder Hayden P.C. is pleased to announce that Donald W. Clarke has joined as partner in the firm’s Bankru...
05/28/2026

Pashman Stein Walder Hayden P.C. is pleased to announce that Donald W. Clarke has joined as partner in the firm’s Bankruptcy, Restructuring & Creditors’ Rights and Litigation practices. He has substantive experience in a wide range of complex commercial matters concerning bankruptcy, restructuring and state court insolvency.

“Don will play a significant role in bolstering our team, particularly our growing New Jersey bankruptcy practice,” said John W. Weiss, chair of the firm’s Bankruptcy, Restructuring & Creditors’ Rights practice. “He is well known in the New Jersey insolvency community, and brings longstanding relationships, practical experience, and a strong understanding of the legal and business landscape, particularly in New Jersey.”

Clarke helps debtors-in-possession manage their estates in an effort to retain control of their assets and minimize their liabilities. He assists interested investors in their efforts to fund the acquisition of debtors or their assets through a range of structured financial transactions. Clarke represents Chapter 7 and Chapter 11 Trustees in their oversight of the reorganization, liquidation, and administration of bankruptcy estates. He also helps creditors protect their interests in bankruptcy cases, while enforcing their rights to maximize their recoveries.

“We are thrilled to welcome Don to our firm,” said Michael S. Stein, managing partner of Pashman Stein Walder Hayden P.C. “He enhances our ability to handle sophisticated matters and strengthens a team that clients already rely on for complex, high-stakes work.”

To read more about Don and his work, click here: https://zurl.co/ozF3Q

Pashman Stein's Trusts & Estates and Elder Law & Special Needs Planning practice groups have published their monthly new...
05/28/2026

Pashman Stein's Trusts & Estates and Elder Law & Special Needs Planning practice groups have published their monthly newsletter. This issue of the newsletter discusses how Pashman Stein’s integrated Family Law and Trusts & Estates teams work together to help clients navigate major life transitions by ensuring that divorce, remarriage, support obligations, and estate planning strategies are fully coordinated to protect families and assets long term.

To read the full newsletter, click here: https://zurl.co/cVRQy

Pashman Stein Walder Hayden P.C. represented the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in the Chapter 11 cases of Co...
05/27/2026

Pashman Stein Walder Hayden P.C. represented the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in the Chapter 11 cases of Conscious Content Media Inc., the education technology company behind the Begin brand, as the company moved closer to confirmation of its reorganization plan in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.

The Committee, represented by Pashman Stein attorneys Joseph C. Barsalona II and Alexis R. Gambale, along with co-counsel from Jenner & Block LLP, voiced strong support for the debtor’s plan during a May 14 hearing before U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Brendan L. Shannon. Barsalona stated during the hearing that the Committee was “very supportive” of the plan, which is expected to both eliminate approximately $106.5 million in debt obligations and position the reorganized company for future growth with the inflow of the expected $20 million of committed exit financing.

Judge Shannon indicated he was prepared to confirm the plan once documentation relating to $20 million in exit financing is finalized.

To read more about it in Law360, click here: https://zurl.co/F0FKp

Pashman Stein Walder Hayden P.C. is proud to announce that Hon. Mary F. Thurber, J.S.C. (Ret.), Special Counsel to Pashm...
05/27/2026

Pashman Stein Walder Hayden P.C. is proud to announce that Hon. Mary F. Thurber, J.S.C. (Ret.), Special Counsel to Pashman Stein Walder Hayden’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Practice Group, was named Chair-Elect of the New Jersey State Bar Association’s Dispute Resolution Section during NJSBA’s annual meeting in Atlantic City. Judge Thurber has a long history of active involvement in both State and County Bar Associations. Prior to ascending the bench, her Honor was actively involved in the State Bar’s Construction and Public Contracts Committee, founding and editing its Newsletter and assisting in its transition to Section status, of which she served as Co-Chair.

Judge Thurber also served as a Trustee of The Bergen County Bar Association for nine years and was a frequent delegate to the State Bar’s General Council.

To read more about Judge Thurber and her work, click here: https://zurl.co/M4s3Z

David N. Cinotti, partner in the firm’s Litigation and Appellate Advocacy practices, was featured in Law360 discussing t...
05/26/2026

David N. Cinotti, partner in the firm’s Litigation and Appellate Advocacy practices, was featured in Law360 discussing the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision in Adrian Jules v. Andre Balazs Properties et al., a ruling that provides important clarity regarding federal court jurisdiction in arbitration-related proceedings.

In its unanimous decision, the Supreme Court held that when a federal court has jurisdiction over an underlying dispute and sends the matter to arbitration, it retains jurisdiction to later determine whether the resulting arbitral award should be confirmed or enforced. The ruling addresses uncertainty that arose following the Court’s 2022 decision in Badgerow v. Walters. Commenting on the significance of the decision, Cinotti explained that the ruling provides greater certainty and efficiency for parties engaged in arbitration proceedings.

“The alternative, which the court rejected, would be that a federal court decides whether a dispute is arbitrable but a state court (ordinarily, given the procedural quirks of the [Federal Arbitration Act]) decides whether the resulting award is enforceable, with separate appellate processes for those different decisions,” Cinotti told Law360.

"Jules means that when a federal court sends a case to arbitration, it also has jurisdiction to hear the post-award relief, and the appeal as to the original decision and the post-award decision can be heard together, rather than splitting the issues between federal and state courts," said Cinotti.

“The Supreme Court has never held that Sections 9-11 of the [Federal Arbitration Act] apply in state court (unlike Section 2), although many state courts have assumed they do. Returning the case to federal jurisdiction assures that post-award relief is governed by the FAA,” Cinotti told Law360.

The Supreme Court’s decision in Jules is the latest in a series of arbitration-related rulings interpreting the Federal Arbitration Act and reinforcing the judiciary’s continued focus on consistency and predictability in arbitration proceedings.

To read the full article in Law360, click here: https://zurl.co/KkLJv

Pashman Stein Walder Hayden P.C.’s Bankruptcy, Restructuring & Creditors’ Rights Practice was recently honored with the ...
05/22/2026

Pashman Stein Walder Hayden P.C.’s Bankruptcy, Restructuring & Creditors’ Rights Practice was recently honored with the “Chapter 11 Restructuring of the Year Award: Lower Mid-Market” at the 2026 Turnaround Atlas Awards. The firm received the recognition alongside Novo Advisors LLC (“Novo”) and Jenner & Block LLP (“Jenner”) for representing the Chapter 11 Trustee in the billion-dollar bankruptcy proceedings involving educational technology companies Epic! Creations, Inc. (n/k/a Saga Formations, Inc.), Neuron Fuel, Inc. (n/k/a Pajeau, Inc.), and Tangible Play, Inc.

Pashman Stein attorney Joseph C. Barsalona II attended the awards ceremony and accepted the award on the firm’s behalf. Pictured with Joe are (from left to right) Peter Rosenbaum Partner at Jenner, Sandeep Gupta, Founder and Managing Partner of Novo, Wen Rittsteuer Managing Director of Novo, and Edward Prokop Partner at Jenner.

The recognition highlights the firm’s continued strength in complex bankruptcy and restructuring matters, particularly in high-profile Chapter 11 proceedings involving significant financial and operational challenges.

To read more, click here: https://zurl.co/UMl7p

Pashman Stein Walder Hayden P.C. is pleased to announce that Matthew S. Decker has joined as an associate in the firm’s ...
05/21/2026

Pashman Stein Walder Hayden P.C. is pleased to announce that Matthew S. Decker has joined as an associate in the firm’s Litigation and Corporate & Business Law practices. His arrival continues the growth of the firm’s Philadelphia office, which opened in March 2025.

“We are pleased to welcome Matt to Pashman Stein, where he adds depth to both our litigation and corporate benches,” said Pashman Stein Managing Partner Michael S. Stein. “Matt brings a combination of experience that is particularly valuable to our clients. His training in complex litigation at an Am Law firm, together with his time as in house counsel at Chubb, gives him insight into both advocacy and practical business decision making.”

Drawing from both large firm and in-house experience, Decker brings a practical, business-focused approach to managing risk, developing case strategy, and partnering with clients to support their broader objectives. He has broad experience advising clients on how to optimize their use of emerging technologies while mitigating the uncertainties of developing legal and regulatory frameworks. Decker is an IAPP-Certified Information Privacy Professional, United States.

To read more about Matthew and his work, click here: https://zurl.co/8UJEb

Leah M. Eisenberg, partner in the firm’s Bankruptcy, Restructuring & Creditors’ Rights practice, was recently quoted in ...
05/19/2026

Leah M. Eisenberg, partner in the firm’s Bankruptcy, Restructuring & Creditors’ Rights practice, was recently quoted in a Bloomberg Law article titled, “Cannabis Bankruptcy Relief Broadens With Delaware Court Ruling.” The article discusses a recent landmark ruling whereby the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware granted Chapter 15 recognition to The Cannabist Company Holdings Inc., whose subsidiaries operate in the cannabis industry, while expressly reserving the rights of a secured lender that had argued recognition would violate U.S. public policy. Although the ruling was fact specific and issued without a formal written opinion, it nonetheless supports consideration of Chapter 15 as a viable tool for non-U.S. cannabis related companies seeking U.S. Bankruptcy Code stay protection and asset coordination—without automatically triggering an objection by the Office of the United States Trustee (UST). This is notable given the UST’s longstanding practice of seeking dismissal of domestic bankruptcy cases involving cannabis on the ground that continued cannabis activity violates federal law.

“This is notable given the US Trustee’s longstanding practice of seeking dismissal of domestic bankruptcy cases involving cannabis,” Eisenberg told Bloomberg Law.

To read the full article in Bloomberg Law, click here: https://zurl.co/rgtXh

To read more about Leah Eisenberg and her work, click here: https://zurl.co/Hx5Od

Howard Pashman, counsel at Pashman Stein, through the Justice Gary S. Stein Public Interest Center, recently represented...
05/18/2026

Howard Pashman, counsel at Pashman Stein, through the Justice Gary S. Stein Public Interest Center, recently represented amicus curiae Larry E. Daniel, Executive Director of the Digital Forensics Justice Initiative before the New Jersey Supreme Court in State v. Jule Hannah (A-44-24) (089819). The case involved whether cell site location information (“CSLI”), sometimes called historical cell site data, can only be presented to juries through expert testimony. CSLI is information that cell phone carriers keep such as which tower a phone connected to at a certain time, the times of calls and texts, and other data about a phone’s use. The defendant in the case, Jule Hannah, had been convicted of first-degree murder based on a police officer’s testimony about CSLI. The conviction was reversed on appeal and the Supreme Court affirmed the reversal.

In reversing the conviction, the Court adopted amicus’ argument that only expert testimony can provide the necessary scientific context to prevent juries from being misled by CSLI evidence. The Supreme Court established a new statewide standard governing the use of CSLI evidence in criminal trials, ruling that such testimony must be presented through a qualified expert witness rather than a lay witness.

The unanimous April 16, 2026 decision stemmed from Hannah’s appeal of his 2021 murder conviction in Cumberland County. At trial, a Bridgeton police officer testified about cell phone tower data that prosecutors used to place Hannah in the victim’s car at the time of the fatal shooting. The jury convicted Mr. Hannah of first-degree murder and weapons charges. Mr. Hannah appealed the conviction, the Appellate Division reversed, and the State appealed to the New Jersey Supreme Court.

Howard Pashman supported Hannah’s appeal to the Supreme Court. In a statement following the ruling, Pashman said the decision “protects the rights of criminal defendants and strengthens the quality of evidence that juries hear.”

CSLI “has become an increasingly common form of evidence in criminal trials," Pashman said in the statement.

Pashman argued that CSLI evidence does not by itself permit any reliable conclusions about the proximity of a phone to a cell tower. Rather, CSLI evidence can be affected by numerous variables, including terrain, weather conditions, antenna strength, and tower height, all of which may cause a phone to connect to a more distant cell site than the closest tower.” The Court cited those concerns in emphasizing the need for expert testimony to ensure jurors properly understand the limitations and reliability of CSLI evidence.

The ruling will have broad implications for criminal prosecutions across New Jersey, where CSLI evidence has become common in trials.

To read the full article, click here: https://zurl.co/oEZaF

Valerie Jules McCarthy, partner in the firm’s Family Law practice group, was recently highlighted in New Jersey Law Jour...
05/18/2026

Valerie Jules McCarthy, partner in the firm’s Family Law practice group, was recently highlighted in New Jersey Law Journal's "On the Move" column. The article discusses Valerie’s career in law, as well as her elevation to partner, which was made effective January 1, 2026.

“She is a member of the Family Law Executive Committee of the New Jersey State Bar Association and served as co-chair of the 2025 Annual Meeting Programming Committee for the National Association of Women Lawyers. McCarthy is also a member of the family law section of the Bergen County Bar Association, Women Lawyers in Bergen County, Association of Black Women Attorneys, and the Garden State Bar Association.”

“At Pashman Stein, McCarthy serves as chair of the firm’s Diversity Committee and is an active member of the Women’s Leadership and Wellness & Sustainability Committees,” the New Jersey Law Journal wrote.

McCarthy is also on the Host Committee for National Association of Women Lawyers’ 2026 Annual Meeting.

To read the full On the Move column in New Jersey Law Journal, click here: https://zurl.co/ZQJMD

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