Paul A. Rowe

Chairman of the Firm
Chair, Litigation Department

Practice Focus  

Mr. Rowe's practice is primarily one of major and complex litigation in a variety of fields focusing heavily on sophisticated and complex corporate and business matters and high profile complex matrimonial matters. Throughout his career he has tried to conclusion numerous cases including some of the most heavily publicized litigations in New Jersey.   They have ranged from construction cases, partnership and corporate dissolutions, stock fraud, anti-trust, matrimonial and chancery litigation of all types.  Mr. Rowe is the author of New Jersey Business Litigation, the primary source book describing how New Jersey courts have dealt with business issues in litigation. He is also the co-author of the standard textbook utilized by judges and equity lawyers throughout the state entitled, Guidebook to Chancery Practice in New Jersey.  He has been recognized throughout New Jersey and nationally for his successful litigation and trial accomplishments.

Representative Matters

• In a recent seven month jury construction trial in which his client was sued for $200 million for construction defects and consumer fraud, the jury returned a verdict against Mr. Rowe’s client of less than eight million dollars.
• Mr. Rowe was lead trial counsel for the general creditors in the rehabilitation and liquidation of Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company, the largest life insurance company liquidation in United States history, which resulted in his clients, the general creditors, receiving at the end of the seven year rehabilitation period 125% of their claims.
• Mr. Rowe was lead trial counsel for a defense in a ten month breach of contract, anti-trust and malicious interference trial involving Atlantic City casinos in which, at the conclusion, the plaintiffs' $2 billion anti-trust claim and all of its other claims were dismissed.
• Mr. Rowe procured the largest known equitable distribution award in New Jersey history at the conclusion of a three month trial.

Professional Activities / Honors

• One of 490 lawyers worldwide listed in the 2008 International Who’s Who of Commercial Litigation.
• Listed in the 2008 International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers.
• Listed in The Best Lawyers in America since 1989, in the Bet-the-Company, Appellate Law, Business Litigation and Family Law categories.
• Listed as one of the Top Three Attorneys in Super Lawyers - New Jersey Edition, as well as being selected in the business litigation category.
• Listed in Chambers USA - America’s Leading Business Lawyers  since the initial publication in 2003, in the Litigation practice area.
• Listed in the Law Dragon 3000 Directory of Leading Lawyers in the category of Commercial Litigation.
• Recipient of the Trial Bar Award of the Trial Attorneys of New Jersey.
• Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.
• Fellow of the American Bar Foundation.
• One of 500 United States Fellows of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers.
• Trustee of the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education.
• Member of the Supreme Court Committee on Masters and Hearing Officers.
• Member of the Section of Litigation and Section of Family Law of the American Bar Association.
• Past chair of the Fee Arbitration Committee of the New Jersey State Bar Association.
• Past president of the Essex County Bar Association.
• Past president of the Legal Services Foundation of Essex County.

Books

• Author, New Jersey Business Litigation, New Jersey Law Journal Books, 2002, Second Edition, 2006.
• Co-author, Guidebook to Chancery Practice in New Jersey , New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 2008.

Bar Admissions

• New York, 1961
• New Jersey, 1962
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
• U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
• U.S. Tax Court