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July - December 2016 Archives

“What Everyone Needs to Know About Divorce”

On Dec. 15, certified matrimonial attorney Diana Fredericks will discuss the legal issues surrounding divorce at a workshop entitled “What Everyone Needs to Know About Divorce.”  Other speakers will address family and financial issues. The workshop, presented by Second Saturday, will take place at the Park Ave. Club in Florham Park, NJ from 11 AM – 1:30 PM.  To register, call 908-766-4171 or visit secondsaturdaysnj.com.

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Richard Cushing was elected to a two-year term as Second Vice President of the New Jersey Institute of Local Government Attorneys (NJILGA), and Leslie Parikh was elected as a Trustee.  The elections were held during the organization’s annual meeting on Nov. 17, 2016. Mr. Cushing previously served as Treasurer and Secretary of the organization.

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Divorce Discussion Group for Men

The next meeting of a men’s discussion group focusing on divorce will be held on Tues., Dec. 6, 2016 from 6:30 pm until 8 pm at the United Way, located at 4 Walter E. Foran Blvd., Suite 401 in Flemington.  The group is for men who are separated or divorced, or who are going through a divorce.  This is a unique opportunity for men to hear from others, and to provide their own perspectives to other men who are dealing with these issues.  The program will be moderated by family law attorney William Rudnik of Gebhardt & Kiefer, P.C. and certified financial planner Craig Hyldahl of R.I.C.H. Planning Group, LLC.  Food and beverages will be provided.  Although not required, please RSVP to Mr. Rudnik at 908-735-5161 or brudnik@gklegal.com so proper arrangements can be made for food and beverages.

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Gebhardt & Kiefer was pleased to sponsor a float in the annual Clinton Christmas Parade on Dec. 2.

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Diana Fredericks has been appointed to the NJ Supreme Court’s Committee on the Unauthorized Practice of Law.  She will begin her three-year term on January 1, 2017.  The Committee’s mission is to issue advisory opinions about what constitutes the practice of law, and to investigate grievances alleging conduct that represents the unauthorized practice of law. 

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On Nov. 30, William Rudnik spoke on “Court Rules:  Recent Case Law and Legislative Changes” pertaining to the area of Family Law at the Hunterdon County Collaborative Law Pod meeting.

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Diana Fredericks is volunteering with the United Way of Hunterdon County’s Holiday Hands program.  Not only is she helping to plan the program, but she is also “adopting” several families that have holiday wish lists.  To adopt a family or support the program, please visit the Holiday Hands web page or call 908-237-1689.  

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Human Resource Law from A to Z

Leslie Parikh will be one of nine speakers at the National Business Institute’s upcoming seminar “Human Resource Law from A to Z.”  She will provide an overview of recent federal and state changes in employment law, including an update on same-sex benefits.  The seminar will take place on Dec. 6 and 7 at the Holiday Inn in Princeton, and offers continuing education credits for attorneys, accountants, human resource professionals and others.  Online registration is now open, or call 1-800-930-6182.

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Divorce Discussion Group for Men

The next meeting of a men’s discussion group focusing on divorce will be held on Thurs., Nov. 17, 2016 from 6:30 pm until 8 pm at the United Way, located at 4 Walter E. Foran Blvd., Suite 401 in Flemington.  The group is for men who are separated or divorced, or who are going through a divorce.  This is a unique opportunity for men to hear from others, and to provide their own perspectives to other men who are dealing with these issues.  The program will be moderated by family law attorney William Rudnik of Gebhardt & Kiefer, P.C. and certified financial planner Craig Hyldahl of R.I.C.H. Planning Group, LLC.  Food and beverages will be provided.  Although not required, please RSVP to Mr. Rudnik at 908-735-5161 or brudnik@gklegal.com so proper arrangements can be made for food and beverages.

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Divorce:  Free Private Consultations During Open House

If you are considering divorce, you undoubtedly have a lot of questions.  You may not be ready to hire an attorney, and you may feel uncomfortable attending a group seminar and asking personal questions in front of others. 

To get your questions about divorce answered in a comfortable, private setting, you may wish to take advantage of the free confidential divorce consultation offered by attorney Diana Fredericks at her Divorce Open House on Thurs., Nov. 17, 2016.  The open house will be held at the offices of Gebhardt & Kiefer in Clinton Township between 12 PM and 7 PM.

Ms. Fredericks, who is certified as a matrimonial attorney and is also trained in divorce mediation and collaborative divorce, will offer free 30-minute consultations throughout the day on a first-come, first-served basis to those who pre-register.  In addition, she will offer a 5% discount to any open house attendees who later wish to retain her services.

Ms. Fredericks will explain the legal process and answer your questions about separation, divorce, collaborative divorce, mediation, custody and parenting time, division of assets, alimony, child support, domestic violence, or post-judgment issues. 

Devoting her practice entirely to divorce and family law, Ms. Fredericks is an experienced attorney who is currently a partner at Gebhardt & Kiefer and serves as President of the Hunterdon County Bar Association.  She is also an adjunct professor at Raritan Valley Community College.  In addition, she was named to the 2015 “New Leaders of the Bar” list by the NJ Law Journal, and she is one of only ten attorneys statewide to be named to the New Jersey State Bar Association Leadership Academy for 2016 - 2017.  

To reserve your free, private consultation with Ms. Fredericks at the Divorce Open House on Nov. 17, call 908-735-5161.

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William Rudnik was a featured speaker at the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education (NJICLE) seminar “Hot Tips in Family Law” on Nov. 11.  His topic was “Litigating in a Manner to Maximize (or Minimize) an Attorney Fee Application Based on Yueh v. Yueh.”  Mr. Rudnik also wrote a paper on the topic.

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On Nov. 10, Diana Fredericks and fellow members of the NJ State Bar Association Leadership Academy traveled to Trenton to visit the State House.  They met with several key officials in the Senate Chamber and observed the Senate Judiciary Committee Hearings.

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In her capacity as President of the Hunterdon County Bar Association, Diana Fredericks presented opening remarks at the swearing in ceremony for new Hunterdon County Judge Haekyoung Suh on Nov. 9.

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On Nov. 8, William Rudnik spoke at the Hunterdon County Bar Association’s 2016 Election Day Marathon for continuing legal education.  He discussed “Court Rules, Recent Case Law, and Legislative Updates” in the area of Family Law. 

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Veterans Resource Fair

On Sat., Nov. 5, Hunterdon Medical Center will host a Veterans Resource Fair from 10 am – 1 pm.  Veterans and their families are invited to this free event to learn about local resources and services available in Hunterdon and nearby counties.  Attorney William Rudnik of Gebhardt & Kiefer will volunteer at the event, providing free legal advice to veterans on family law matters.  For more information about the event, contact Erinn at 908-788-6600 or Bob at 908-763-2331.

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Free Estate Planning Seminar

On Nov. 3, 2016, John Manfreda will present a seminar on “Estate Planning for the Modern Family” at the monthly meeting of the Hunterdon County Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender (LGBT) support group.  The presentation will begin at 6:30 PM at the North County Branch of the Hunterdon County Library on Halstead St. in Clinton.  The meeting is open to the public.  For more information about the LGBT meetings, visit www.glbtofhunterdoncountyofnj.com.

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In her capacity as President of the Hunterdon County Bar Association, Diana Fredericks presented opening remarks at the swearing in ceremony for new Superior Court Judge Robert A. Ballard, Jr. on Nov. 2 at the Hunterdon County Historic Courthouse.

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Divorce Discussion Group for Men

The next meeting of a men’s discussion group focusing on divorce will be held on Thurs., Oct. 27, 2016 from 6:30 pm until 8 pm at the United Way, located at 4 Walter E. Foran Blvd., Suite 401 in Flemington.  The group is for men who are separated or divorced, or who are going through a divorce.  This is a unique opportunity for men to hear from others, and to provide their own perspectives to other men who are dealing with these issues.  The program will be moderated by family law attorney William Rudnik of Gebhardt & Kiefer, P.C. and certified financial planner Craig Hyldahl of R.I.C.H. Planning Group, LLC.  Food and beverages will be provided.  Although not required, please RSVP to Mr. Rudnik at 908-735-5161 or brudnik@gklegal.com so proper arrangements can be made for food and beverages.

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Diana Fredericks attended the Vicinage XIII “Meet the Law Clerks” event, hosted by the Warren County Bar Association on Oct. 25 at Hawk Pointe Golf Club.  She was one of 18 attorneys who volunteered to “adopt” a clerk during the event, which involved introducing the clerk to various attorneys and judges. 

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On Oct. 20, Mark Chazin attended the Board of Directors meeting for the Somerset County Business Partnership (SCBP).  The Board discussed the SCBP’s 2017 objectives, including creating a culture of health, wellness and sustainability in Somerset County; promoting Somerset County as a desirable place to live, work and play; advocating for a statewide business reform agenda; and addressing transportation challenges.  Mr. Chazin is a former chairman of the Somerset County Chamber of Commerce, which is the predecessor organization of the SCBP, and has been a member of the Board for over 25 years.  He is also an active member of the SCPB Finance Committee.

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Gebhardt & Kiefer was pleased to be a sponsor of the Lambertville Historical Society’s 34th annual Autumn House Tour on Oct. 16.

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Gebhardt & Kiefer is pleased to announce that Brian Flanagan has joined the firm as a Partner.  His practice will focus on civil litigation, primarily in the areas of personal injury, employment law and civil rights.

Flanagan is a highly accomplished litigation attorney with extensive experience in state and federal courts, and has served as lead counsel in more than 70 jury trials.  He possesses many years of employment and civil rights litigation experience, as well as prosecutorial experience.  He most recently served as Chief, Tort Litigation & Judiciary in the Law Division of the NJ Department of Law & Public Safety.  Prior to that, he was a Deputy Attorney General specializing in civil rights and employment law for the State Police/Employment Litigation Sections. His work history also includes roles as Deputy Bureau Chief with the Division of Criminal Justice, Assistant Prosecutor for Burlington County, and Counsel for the State Commission of Investigation.

Flanagan has served as an adjunct law professor for Rutgers University School of Law, as well as an instructor for the National Attorneys General Training and Research Institute, the New Jersey Attorney General’s Advocacy Institute, and the Criminal Justice Training Academy.  He is a graduate of Widener University School of Law, and also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science from Rutgers University.  He is licensed to practice law in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and before the United States Supreme Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. 

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On Oct. 6, John Manfreda will serve on a panel of experts discussing “The Essentials of Estate Planning & The Tax Benefits of Planned Giving” at a dinner seminar at Fiddler’s Elbow Country Club in Bedminster.  Mr. Manfreda will cover general estate and gift tax planning topics, with an emphasis on charitable and philanthropic gift tax planning.  The seminar begins at 6 PM and is sponsored by Unity Financial Services.  To reserve a spot, contact Dustin Coughlin by Sept. 30 at 908-713-4521 or dustin.coughlin@unitybank.com.

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On Sept. 29, Leslie Parikh conducted a seminar for Harmony Township on the subject of Municipal Ethics Law.  Her topics included conflicts of interest, gifts, codes of ethics, nepotism, complaint procedures, penalties and disciplinary actions, and use of public resources.  Ms. Parikh is available to give similar seminars to other municipal organizations upon request.

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The next meeting of a men’s discussion group focusing on divorce will be held on Thurs., Sept. 29, 2016 from 6:30 pm until 8 pm at the United Way, located at 4 Walter E. Foran Blvd., Suite 401 in Flemington.  The group is for men who are separated or divorced, or who are going through a divorce.  This is a unique opportunity for men to hear from others, and to provide their own perspectives to other men who are dealing with these issues.  The program will be moderated by family law attorney William Rudnik of Gebhardt & Kiefer, P.C. and certified financial planner Craig Hyldahl of R.I.C.H. Planning Group, LLC.  Food and beverages will be provided.  Any questions should be directed to William Rudnik at 908-735-5161 or brudnik@gklegal.com.  Although not required, please RSVP to Mr. Rudnik so proper arrangements can be made for food and beverages.

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Gebhardt & Kiefer was pleased to be a sponsor of the 7th Annual Jersey Shore Golf Challenge fundraiser, held on Sept. 23, to benefit the Fighting Children’s Cancer Foundation.

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Gebhardt & Keifer was pleased to support the Crime Stoppers of Hunterdon County fundraiser on Sept. 18 at Valley Crest Farm.

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Congratulations to Diana Fredericks, who was installed as the president of the Hunterdon County Bar Association at the 2016 Installation Dinner on Sept. 14.

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Gebhardt & Kiefer was pleased to support the United Way of Hunterdon County’s Tools 4 School initiative again this year.  Employees contributed numerous school supplies, and the firm matched all donations made by employees. 

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Gebhardt & Kiefer was pleased to be a sponsor of the Clinton Township Fraternal Order of Police golf tournament on August 1 at the Stanton Ridge Country Club.

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Congratulations to Diana Fredericks, who is one of only ten attorneys statewide to be named to the New Jersey State Bar Association (NJSBA) Leadership Academy class of fellows for 2016 - 2017.  

The goal of the Academy is to raise the level of awareness and engagement regarding concerns facing the legal profession through the study of ethical, professional and public service issues; build relationships, networking and leadership opportunities among future leaders of the bar of New Jersey; and develop well-informed, committed leaders upon whom the NJSBA, state, federal and local government entities, local bar associations and community groups can call upon for leadership and service.

Fredericks has been practicing for ten years, primarily in the area of family law.  She is certified as a Matrimonial Attorney by the NJ Supreme Court, is an accredited mediator, and is also trained in Collaborative Divorce.  She is the President-Elect of the Hunterdon County Bar Association (HCBA) and serves on many HCBA committees. Fredericks is also a member of the District XIII Ethics Committee and serves as an Early Settlement Panelist (ESP) in Hunterdon, Somerset and Warren Counties.  In 2015, Fredericks was named to the esteemed New Leaders of the Bar list by the NJ Law Journal.

In the local community, Fredericks is an active member of the Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce, as well as a 2013 graduate of the Chamber's Leadership Hunterdon program.  She serves as an Executive Board Member of the Hunterdon County United Way and is Vice President of the Community Resource Investment and Strategic Planning Committee.  Fredericks is also an adjunct professor at Raritan Valley Community College, serving their Paralegal program.

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