Donald A. Kessler

My years of experience on the bench and in private practice have demonstrated the importance of fully understanding personalities and how relevant facts and applicable law impacts the ability to help resolve business and family law disputes.

Judge Kessler focuses his practice on resolving commercial and family law disputes through mediation and arbitration as an alternative to traditional litigation.  His experience as a judge of the equity court enables him to deal with business disputes encompassing a broad range of matters, including those related to contracts, real property, construction, employment, unfair competition, intellectual property, corporate and LLC issues, and consumer fraud.  In the area of family law, Judge Kessler's experience encompasses issues related to alimony, child support, custody, equitable distribution, relocation, domestic violence and reimbursement of counsel fees.  His ability to  guide parties and their counsel towards achieving a reasonable resolution of their issues can help them save both time and money.  Judge Kessler is also available to provide discovery master services and consultation on case management, development of discovery, trial strategy and review of briefs.

In 2019, Judge Kessler retired from the New Jersey Judiciary following ten years in the New Jersey Superior Court, Essex County Vicinage.  During this time, he conducted numerous trials and heard a wide variety of matters in both the Chancery and Family Divisions.  In addition, he was frequently asked to lecture before bar and judicial groups on a wide variety of topics related to his areas of expertise, and was also called upon to address new judges and the New Jersey Judicial College on issues related to promoting fairness in the courtroom.  

Prior to his time on the bench, Judge Kessler spent 35 years in private practice, concentrating on complex litigation and business counseling.  He represented clients in matters involving breach and enforcement of contracts, construction, business dissolution, enforcement of restrictive covenants, securities fraud, antitrust disputes, corporate theft and business fraud cases.  He also represented individuals in complex divorce cases.