Levy, Ehrlich & Petriello

Practice Areas:

Business and Commercial Law - Commercial Litigation - Construction Law - Employment Law - Estate Planning - Family Law - Insurance Law - Landlord/Tenant - Personal Injury - Real Estate - Taxation

BUSINESS AND COMMERCIAL LAW

We provide a wide variety of services to our business clients including the organization of corporate, partnership, and limited liability companies, preparation of agreements, sale and purchase of businesses, analyzing financial statements, due diligence representation relating to financing and funding for business operations, employee relations and employment agreements, restrictive covenants, and dissolution.

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COMMERCIAL LITIGATION

We represent the interests of individuals and businesses in litigation in state and federal courts in New Jersey and New York, in both trial and appellate courts. The subject matter of this litigation varies, depending upon the problems and concerns of our clients, but includes contract interpretation, business torts, transaction disputes, and suits for amounts due.

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CONSTRUCTION LAW

We represent suppliers, subcontractors, contractors, and owners in all aspects of the construction process, including document preparation, contract negotiation, contract performance, financing and warranty issues, construction liens, claims against sureties, and litigated claims in state and federal court.

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EMPLOYMENT LAW

We represent management and employees in various matters concerning employment, including wrongful termination and discharge, discrimination claims, whistleblower-conscientious employee claims, breach of contractual obligations and family leave issues. We represent management and employees in the preparation of employee, consultant, and independent contractor contracts, and in the enforcement of these contracts by injunctive relief obtained through the courts, and litigation for compensatory damages.

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ESTATE PLANNING

We handle all facets of estate planning, including distribution of an individual's property at his or her death, taking into account wills, taxes, insurance, property, and trusts so as to gain maximum benefit of all laws and, at the same time, carrying out the person's wishes. We also handle probate proceedings to prove the validity of a will and to administer the estate of a decedent. The probate process, generally, includes collecting a decedent's assets, liquidating liabilities, paying necessary taxes, and distribution of property to heirs.

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FAMILY LAW

We handle a full range of family law matters including adoption, divorce, separation, premarital agreements, paternity, custody, alimony, and support.

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INSURANCE LAW

Our firm represents individual and commercial policyholders who have been wrongfully denied insurance coverage or benefit payments in cases involving disability, automobile, health, homeowners, life, or general liability policies. We take all legal action necessary to compel enforcement of the insurance contract and recover all damages caused by the insurance company including damages caused by the insurance company's "bad faith" and unfair practices.

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LANDLORD TENANT

Our representation in landlord-tenant matters typically involves the filing of complaints for eviction on all grounds allowed under the New Jersey statutes, including non-payment of rent, disorderly tenant, overcrowding, drug cases and habitual late payment of rent. All evictions are expeditiously processed within 48 hours. We then appear in court and either negotiate a settlement or proceed to trial. We also insure that our clients are aware of their rights and obligations under New Jersey statutes so that procedural rules and regulations are followed, thus producing the highest possible success rate in the litigation of these matters.

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PERSONAL INJURY

We represent individuals who have been harmed due to the negligence or misconduct of others resulting in physical injury, emotional distress, property damage, or loss of reputation. Our firm handles cases involving automobile accidents, dangerous premises, medical malpractice, defective products, workplace accidents, and intentional torts, such as fraud, assault and battery, and defamation.

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REAL ESTATE

Our firm's real estate experience includes planning for land acquisition, new construction and rehabilitation development, in both the residential and commercial areas, formation of legal entities, negotiation and preparation of contracts for the purchase and sale of property, negotiation and preparation of construction contracts, preparation and processing of mortgage documents to lenders such as HUD, FHA, MFA, EDA and other governmental agencies and private lenders, representation before planning and zoning boards, tax structuring and analysis, condominium conversions, real estate tax appeals, formation of Urban Renewal Associations, environmental compliance, quiet title actions, eminent domain, and foreclosures.

For the past 15 years our firm has represented the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development ("HUD") in the sale of repossessed properties in New Jersey. We also represent the United States Department of Justice in the foreclosure of properties in New Jersey.

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TAXATION

We represent individuals and commercial clients in matters with tax implications, identifying and addressing state and federal tax issues, structuring transactions in such a way as to minimize taxes and avoid inherent tax problems. Our attorneys represent taxpayers in tax controversies, audit examinations, installment payment arrangements, offers in compromise, and in the Tax Court. Two of our attorneys, Ira Levy and Alan Ehrlich, have served as chairman of the Essex County Bar Association's Tax Committee and have lectured on various tax topics.

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