In The News

Brown & Connery is pleased to announce that William T. Freeman, Esquire, will be presenting at the NJICLE seminar, “Back to Basics: The Fundamental Building Blocks for a Strong Workers’ Compensation Practice” on February 25, 2026 from 1-4pm. The seminar will focus on the essential procedural steps for managing workers’ compensation claims effectively. For more information about this course or to register, please visit https://njsba.com/product/back-to-basics-the-fundamental-building-blocks-for-a-strong-workers-compensation-practice/. Mr. Freeman is a partner at the firm and leader of the workers’ compensation defense group.

Partner, Louis R. Lessig, Esquire was a speaker at the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) 2026 Annual Conference in Las Vegas.  He presented on “Workplace Retaliation: Recognizing Risk and Responding Right.” During the session Louis discussed the challenges companies in the automotive industry face in regard to employment retaliation and provided options for organizations to proactively address this growing economic issue impacting their respective balance sheets.

Shawn C. Huber served as presenter for the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education seminar “Introduction to Civil Trial” on December 6, 2025. The seminar provided a thorough introduction to the civil trial process for newly admitted attorneys and attorneys that have not practiced civil law. The seminar explored the essential aspects of pre-trial civil litigation, from initial intake through evidence presentation at trial. Mr. Huber is a partner with the firm and concentrates his practice in personal injury, commercial litigation, municipal law, and subrogation matters. He has been certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Civil Trial Attorney since 2011.

Brown & Connery attorneys Maggie McHugh and Nayomi Torres-Velez recently presented a highly informative seminar for the Camden County Bar Association, “Handling Internal Investigations and Employee Disciplines”, as part of the Association’s “All-Day-CLE” program.  This presentation comprehensively addressed the latest issues and trends involving these types of complex investigations, as well as the factors impacting employee discipline.  Ms. McHugh and Ms. Torres-Velez both serve as attorneys with the firm’s Labor and Employment Group, representing a wide range of public and private employers.

Congratulations are in order for attorney, JOSE JIMENEZ, who will be sworn in at the New Jersey Hispanic Bar Association’s 46^th Annual Installation and Swearing-In Ceremony being held on October 29, 2025 at the Pleasantdale Chateau in West Orange, New Jersey.  Jose will be installed as the Representative of Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem Counties.

Ryan Kelly, Esquire will travel to Baylor University as coach of Villanova Law School’s National Trial team to compete in the Tournament of Champions Mock Trial Competition. Sponsored by the National Institute of Trial Advocacy and Trial Lawyers for Justice, this invite-only competition brings together the top 16 trial advocacy programs across the country. Mr. Kelly has helped his students prepare a complex murder trial, which included dense expert reports, dozens of exhibits, and a number of complicated evidentiary issues. His students will have an opportunity to try the case four times in two days in an attempt to advance to the semifinals.   Brown & Connery would like to wish Ryan and the Villanova Law School National Trial Team the best of luck at the upcoming tournament.  Let’s bring home that trophy.

Brown & Connery has commenced its 2025 summer law clerk program and is excited to welcome to this year’s summer law clerks: Julia Hoff and Holly Robins.

This year, Brown & Connery welcomes a dynamic pair of law students whose backgrounds reflect a wide array of accomplishments and experiences.

• Julia Hoff is a rising 3L student attending Rutgers Law School. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Rutgers University in New Brunswick. She is currently a Staff Editor for the Rutgers International Law & Human Rights Journal.
• Holly Robins is a rising 3L student at The University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Russian & East European Studies from the University of Chicago. Her thesis work, an examination of Jewish representation in post-war polish media, was published in UChicago’s Jewish Studies journal.

Brown & Connery congratulates Susan M. Leming and Kathleen E. Dohn, partners of the firm, on being sworn in as Immediate Past President and Trustee, respectively, of the Association of the Federal Bar of New Jersey (“AFBNJ”) for the 2025-2026 term.  The firm also congratulates the Judges of the ReEntry Court and Pretrial Opportunity Program on receiving the William J. Brennan, Jr. Award.  The event was well attended by many attorneys of the firm and Brown & Connery proudly served as a sponsor.

Brown & Connery is proud of Ms. Leming’s successful year as President of the AFBNJ and the tremendous growth of the organization under her leadership.

On June 3, 2025, several attorneys of the firm participated in the Devereux New Jersey 4^th Annual Golf Classic at Forsgate Country Club.  Devereux is one of the nation’s largest nonprofit organizations providing services, insight, and leadership in the field of behavioral healthcare.  The proceeds from Devereux’s Golf Classic directly support individuals facing emotional, behavioral, and cognitive challenges.  Attorneys of the firm who participated in the event included James Clancy, Jose Jimenez, Arlette Leyba, and Alyssa Lott.  Brown & Connery was proud to sponsor the event.

William F. Cook served as a speaker for the Camden County Bar Association’s Civil Practice Update on May 13, 2025.  This annual seminar covers key developments in New Jersey appellate cases in various practice areas, including employment law, commercial litigation, complex litigation, and trial advocacy.  Mr. Cook also discussed recent changes to the New Jersey Court Rules and potential upcoming rule changes of importance to practitioners.  Mr. Cook is a partner with the firm and a co-chair of the CCBA’s Civil Practice Committee.