Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer Awards & Achievements

Wilentz' Schaff honored by American Health Lawyers Association as Pro Bono Champion in February 2012

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 12:25:06

The American Health Lawyers Association has recently honored Michael Schaff, shareholder of Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer, P.A as one of their Pro Bono Champions in the February 2012. Mr. Schaff has negotiated and advised on contracts and governance issues for the Susan G. Komen Central and South Jersey Affiliate, and for the Circle of Life Children’s Center, Inc.

The Circle of Life Children’s Center (COL) is based in Newark and provides a variety of services for very ill children, primarily underserved urban children who face early death due to medical conditions at birth or chronic progressive life-limiting illness. COL’s Pediatric Palliative Care Consultation Service provides comfort care for the ill child (especially pain and symptom management) to ensure quality of life and support for families through education, assistance in communicating effectively with healthcare professionals, understanding options for treatment and eventual outcomes, and guidance in making difficult decisions. Counseling, including bereavement support, is also provided. In addition, the COL medical team educates healthcare professionals in best practices involving pediatric palliative care and end-of-life issues. The COL also works to bring about change in the current Medicaid Waiver System to allow for third party reimbursement for these important services.

AHLA Pro Bono Champions.pdf

Wilentz’ Hoffman Named Trustee Of The Year

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:06:29

The New Jersey Hospital Association has awarded John Hoffman, former managing partner of Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer, P.A., as the 2012 Trustee of the Year. The award was presented on January 27th 2012 at the 93rd Annual Meeting of the New Jersey Hospital Association at the Hyatt Regency Princeton.

The NJHA Hospital or Healthcare System Trustee of the Year Award is presented to individuals who have offered outstanding leadership, support and service to the hospital, system and community. From 2009 to the present, Mr. Hoffman has acted as chairman of the Board of Directors of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. During this time, his leadership guided to the development of a community relations committee by the RWJUH board. This movement has made the hospital one of a small quantity of institutions to have community input at a board-committee level. Commitment and passion for healthcare and the community are just a handful of things that make Mr. Hoffman a great example of what it takes to be a leader.

Mr. Hoffman has been a distinguished member of the New Jersey legal and business community for nearly 50 years. A graduate of Georgetown Law School, he joined the firm in 1963 and is the firm’s treasurer and vice-president. Mr. Hoffman concentrates his practice in public utility law, municipal authority law, administrative law, and redevelopment law and has been the recipient of numerous honors and awards. In 1998, he won the "Torch of Liberty" award from the Anti-Defamation League - an honor recognized in a Joint Legislative Resolution of the New Jersey Senate and General Assembly. He was voted "Citizen of the Year" in 2000 by the Woodbridge Chamber of Commerce, and in 2007, he received the Saint Thomas More Award from the Diocese of Metuchen. In 2010, John was the recipient of the L’Hommedieu Award for Outstanding Service from Middlesex County College, and was awarded the 2011 Lawyer Achievement Award by the Middlesex County Bar Association.

Willard C. Shih, Esq. Awarded 2011 Best Under 40 by the NAPABA

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 10:21:53

Woodbridge, NJ – The law offices of Wilentz’s Goldman and Spitzer (Wilentz) are proud to announce that Willard C. Shih, Esq. has been presented with the 2011 Best Under 40 award by The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA). The purpose of NAPABA’s “Best Under 40” award is to recognize talented individuals within the Asian Pacific American legal community in the United States and Canada under the age of 40 who have achieved prominence and distinction in their fields of endeavor.

NAPABA released this statement: "These individuals have not only attained prominence in their respective legal endeavors, they have also exhibited steadfast commitment to community and public service, particularly in the Asian Pacific American community. They have climbed high up the ladder of success; they have tried and won major trials; they have handled complicated deals; they have been entrusted with the responsibility of heading national practice groups -- and they have done it all at a relatively early stage of their careers."

Mr. Shih a shareholder at Wilentz is a member of the Commercial Litigation Team and co-chair of the firm’s Diversity Committee. His primary focus is on commercial litigation in fields including professional negligence defense, corporate and partnership disputes, unfair competition and consumer claims, estate litigation, and a variety of other complex business matters. He is a trial lawyer in courts in New Jersey, New York, and beyond with numerous favorable jury verdicts.

Mr. Shih has also served as an elected officer of the Asian Pacific American Lawyer’s Association of New Jersey and as a co-chair of its Professional Development Committee, and is a former member of the New Jersey State Bar Association’s Diversity Committee.

Managing Partner, Brian J. Molloy, admitted to American College of Trial Lawyers

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 15:55:50

Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer (“Wilentz”) is pleased to announce that managing partner, Brian J. Molloy, has become a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, one of the premier legal associations in America. Mr. Molloy became a Fellow on October 22, 2011 during the 2011 Annual Meeting of the College in La Quinta, California.

Established in 1950, the College is composed of a highly selected group of the trial bar from the United States and Canada. The College strives to improve and elevate the standards of trial practice, the administration of justice and the ethics of the trial profession. Fellowship is by invitation only, after careful investigation to those experienced trial lawyers who have mastered the art of advocacy and whose professional careers have been marked by the highest standards of ethical conduct, professionalism, civility and collegiality. Membership may not exceed one percent of the total lawyer population of any state or province, and lawyers must have a minimum of fifteen years trial experience before they can be considered. For further information on the College, visit: http://www.actl.com.

Mr. Molloy’s practice involves all types of business litigation. He has been lead counsel in several trials in many jurisdictions, and has extensive appellate experience in the state and federal courts. He is co-chair of the firm’s Appellate Practice Team, former Chair of the Ethics Committee and was appointed Special Ethics Master by the Supreme Court of New Jersey in several cases. Mr. Molloy has been retained by several major law firms to defend legal malpractice claims.

Willard C. Shih Receives 2011 Professional Lawyer of the Year Award

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 16:37:00

The Law Offices of Wilentz, Goldman and Spitzer, are proud to announce that Willard C. Shih has been awarded the 2011 Professional Lawyer of the Year Award by the Asian Pacific American Lawyers Association and the Commission on Professionalism in Law.

This award is given annually to lawyers from bar associations across the state who, by virtue of their conduct, competence and demeanor, set a positive example for others in the profession.