Former New Jersey Appellate Division Judge Garry S. Rothstadt Enhances Mediation and Arbitration Capabilities at Cole Schotz

Cole Schotz P.C. is pleased to announce that the Hon. Garry S. Rothstadt (Ret.) has joined the firm’s Hackensack office as Of Counsel and will be serving as a mediator and arbitrator and will be accepting court appointments to serve in various roles, such as special master in pending lawsuits. Judge Rothstadt brings to the firm twenty-one years of experience as a judge on the Superior Court of New Jersey.

At Cole Schotz, Judge Rothstadt will consult on legal strategies in complex commercial and fiduciary matters. His experience on the bench – in all phases of litigation and dispute resolution – will further bolster the capabilities of the firm’s full-service Litigation Department and specifically its Alternative Dispute Resolution practice.

“Judge Rothstadt combines his judicial experience, which includes a history of successfully assisting litigants in resolving their matters, with his litigation expertise to deliver a deliberate and creative approach to legal proceedings as well as a remarkable ability to amicably resolve difficult disputes,” said Warren Usatine, co-managing shareholder of Cole Schotz and co-chair of the Litigation department. “We are excited to welcome Judge Rothstadt with his seasoned legal perspective to our team.”

During his last nine years with the court, Judge Rothstadt was assigned to the court’s Appellate Division, deciding appeals from all of the state’s trial courts and administrative agencies. He has authored hundreds of opinions, addressing all areas of the law, many of which were published by the court.

Prior to his service in the Appellate Division, Judge Rothstadt sat as a trial judge in Passaic County, serving three years in the court’s Criminal Division, three years in the Family Division and six years in the Civil Division. He was also called upon to handle cases assigned to General Equity and the court’s Probate Part. Earlier in his career, he built his practice as an attorney focusing on business and family cases, as well as real estate matters. 

“I admire Cole Schotz’s collaborative approach, responsiveness and overall quality client-service,” said Judge Rothstadt. “The New Jersey team has earned its reputation as both a regional powerhouse and an established national practice. I look forward to working alongside such talented legal professionals.”

In addition to his positions as an attorney and a member of the judiciary, Judge Rothstadt is a visiting instructor at Rutgers Law School-Newark, where he received his J.D. in 1983 and was a co-recipient of the school’s award for most promising trial attorney. He also earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in History at Rutgers.

Cole Schotz’s Litigation Department works expertly and efficiently on cases of local, regional and national significance. The attorneys are knowledgeable in areas including bankruptcy, corporate, employment, financial services, environmental, real estate, intellectual property and white collar litigation.