David Mebane

Mebane is executive vice president and general counsel at RWJBarnabas Health. With more than three decades with the health care system, which he played a part in establishing, Mebane is responsible for all of RWJBarnabas’ legal work, insurance and compliance, and he is president of its captive insurance company. Earlier in the year, the NJBIZ 2024 Leader in Law reflected on how his position has evolved along with his employer. “My role, and it’s requirements, has changed greatly as my organization has evolved from a tightly knit network of hospitals to a modern, sophisticated, academic health system with a world class board and progressively complex legal issues arising in response to the rapidly changing health care environment,” Mebane explained. “Because of our legal department of 10 exceptional attorneys, we are able to support the system’s increasingly complex transactions and other legal work and have maintained a strong reputation within the system.” It’s worth nothing, too, that Mebane founded that legal department, beginning with the formation of Barnabas Health in 1996. Currently, the network boasts 12 acute care hospitals, more than 38,000 employees, 9,000 physicians and an extensive network of freestanding facilities. As RWJBarnabas continues to grow, for example with the state’s first freestanding cancer hospital due in New Brunswick – a $750 million collaboration between RWJBarnabas and Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey with New Brunswick Development Corp. – evolution seems inevitable for both RWJBarnabas and Mebane.

William Mergner

Co-managing partner at Leary Bride Mergner & Bongiovanni PA in Cedar Knolls, Mergner was sworn in as president of the New Jersey State Bar Association this past May. Having been with the firm since receiving his JD from the Marshall Wythe School of Law at the College of William and Mary, Mergner practices civil litigation and has tried more than 220 jury trials to verdict in state and federal courts in New Jersey. He has also overseen a significant number of appeals before the New Jersey Appellate Division, the New Jersey Supreme Court and the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. Laying out his agenda during NJSBA’s Annual Meeting and Convention in Atlantic City, Mergner highlighted three focal points: continuing the association’s study of AI and its applications in the legal field, combating the threat of non-lawyers practicing law and owning firms, and building up membership in the group’s sections and committees. He described the groups as “the heartbeat of the NJSBA,” an organization with which his own experience runs deep. “I cannot emphasize enough the influence our Association has when our members are engaged,” Mergner said in Atlantic City. “As we all know, when the state bar mobilizes around a cause, we can speak powerfully on the issues that face our profession.”

Audrey Murphy

As executive vice president and co-chief legal officer for Hackensack Meridian Health, a network of 17 hospitals and more than 500 patient care locations in New Jersey, Murphy and her department provide legal advice for the state’s largest health system. She is also the chief officer for team member health & safety for Hackensack Meridian Health’s workforce of 35,000-plus team members. Before beginning her legal career at Hackensack University Medical Center in 1992 as associate counsel and director of risk management, Murphy worked as a critical care nurse, nurse manager, supervisor and clinical specialist, an experience that made her want to do more to ensure the rights of patients are being protected. Over the last three decades, Murphy has received numerous accolades, including being named as NJBIZ General Counsel of the Year for Health Care and as one of the Best 50 Women in Business. Most recently, Murphy was recognized last year with a Changemakers in Health Care Award from Pace University, which is given to alumni who are leaders in the health care sector.

Sheilah O’Halloran

O’Halloran serves as executive vice president, general counsel and interim compliance & privacy officer at Atlantic Health System, an integrated health care delivery system with 20,000 employees that serves more than half of New Jersey through seven hospitals and its network of multispecialty practices, partnerships and services. At Atlantic Health, O’Halloran is a key legal resource on major health system initiatives, such as the acquisition of new hospitals, adaptation of technologies, joint ventures, adding multispecialty medical offices in new markets and development of one of the largest ACO’s in the country. An honoree on multiple NJBIZ Law Power 50 lists, O’Halloran is gearing up to complete a strategic partnership with Saint Peter’s Healthcare System aimed at advancing patient-centric, high-quality care and cost-effective services. Under the definitive agreement announced in January, Atlantic Health would make significant investments in the Catholic nonprofit’s service area, which includes Saint Peter’s University Hospital, the Saint Peter’s Foundation, a network of primary and specialty care physician practices, and other outpatient facilities.

O’Halloran joined the Morristown-based network as assistant general counsel in 2010 after 27 years in private practice at Schenck Price Smith & King. She assumed the role of Atlantic Health’s general counsel in 2016, overseeing legal matters, risk management and claims management functions.  During her tenure, Atlantic Health’s legal department has grown to a staff of about 30, including corporate and litigation attorneys, clinical risk and patient relations managers and insurance professionals. In addition to overseeing innovative frameworks for partnerships to improve care, O’Halloran plays a critical role in negotiating and structuring financial terms and investments, ensuring fiscal stability and smart growth for the organization for many years to come. O’Halloran – who received a bachelor’s degree from Montclair State University, master’s degree from University of Montreal and law degree from Seton Hall University School of Law – is actively involved with the YMCA in the Westfield area. She’s also a member of the American Health Lawyers Association, the New Jersey Hospital Association In-House Counsel Constituency Group and the Health and Business Sections of the New Jersey State Bar Association.

Michael O’Mullan

As the new managing partner of Morristown-based Riker Danzig LLP, O’Mullan is responsible for day-to-day operations at one of New Jersey’s oldest and largest law firms. In taking on the role in January, O’Mullan succeeded Lance Kalik and Michael O’Donnell. Kalik now serves as a New Jersey superior court judge, Family Division, in Somerset County, while O’Donnell remains active on Riker Danzig’s executive committee and continues his practice in the litigation group. When Riker Danzig announced last fall that O’Mullan would become the next managing partner, its leadership described him as the ideal choice to carry forward the firm’s legacy. The top-ranking firm – which is over 140-plus years old – represents some of the largest public corporations in the U.S., as well as emerging growth companies and middle-market businesses. As a partner at the firm for nearly 20 years, O’Mullan has been deeply involved in shaping growth and direction, serving significant roles on the management and strategic planning committee. As a member of the commercial litigation group, O’Mullan helps clients navigate complex business and commercial disputes. His practice has an emphasis on financial services, securities litigation, products liability actions, insurance matters, business litigation and consumer claims. A graduate of Fordham University School of Law and Rutgers University, O’Mullan spent the first five years of his career as a litigation associate at Cahill Gordon & Reindel in New York City. He’s also a frequent speaker on civil discovery matters and cybersecurity issues and has been quoted numerous times on cyber breaches and liability issues.

Rajiv Parikh

Parikh was among a group of former Genova Burns partners who launched PEM Law LLP in March. The founders said that PEM Law is aimed at ushering a new era of innovative legal counsel and setting a new industry standard for law firm Environmental, Social, and Governance efforts – offering comprehensive legal services to the public and private sectors with a focus on several practice areas. A well-known and regarded litigator, who previously served as general counsel to the New Jersey Democratic Party and worked on the campaigns of high-profile politicians – Parikh believes that PEM Law is poised to handle complex legal issues for clients with the law serving as just one tool in its arsenal. “We believe our creative approach to problem solving guarantees high-value personalized and effective legal counsel for all clients, regardless of their size or needs,” said Parikh. “Whether in government or business, the work ethic and diverse perspectives of the PEM Law team represent a much-needed addition to the New Jersey legal landscape.”

Donald Pepe

A partner and chair of the commercial real estate department at Little Falls-based business law firm Scarinci Hollenbeck LLC, Pepe is a prominent figure in New Jersey’s real estate industry. His practice is devoted entirely to complex real estate development and real estate transactional work – with an emphasis on retail and residential. He works closely with business executives and in-house counsel to develop strategies for targeting acquisitions, land purchase negotiations, managing and evaluating feasibility studies, representing corporate interests before local, state and federal approval authorities and securing approvals. Given his focus, Pepe has been actively involved in some of the state’s most significant projects, including the redevelopment of New Jersey’s “Gold Coast” in Jersey City, Hoboken, Bayonne and Fort Lee, and NY Vue, which will be the tallest building in Bayonne. He was also successful in the May 2023 closing of two premiere hotel properties located in Weehawken, in a transaction valued at $100 million. In June, Scarinci Hollenbeck expanded its CRE group as part of an effort to better service client needs in the New Jersey-New York metropolitan region. Led by Pepe, the group grew from nine to 15 attorneys, positioning it to provide a more robust level of support, including specialized services in real estate litigation, construction litigation, commercial & industrial leasing, and landlord-tenant matters. A graduate of Rutgers University School of Law and Montclair State University, Pepe is an active member of the International Council of Shopping Centers, New Jersey Builders Association, Shore Builders Association and the Monmouth Ocean Development Council. He was also named as one of NJBIZ’s 2024 Leaders in Real Estate, Construction and Design.

Donald Scarinci

A founding partner at Little Falls-based business law firm Scarinci Hollenbeck, Scarinci is one of the most highly respected attorneys in New Jersey and well known for his work in municipal, school, business and health care matters. Since establishing the firm in 1988, Scarinci has grown the practice from an eight-person shop focused on public and municipal law into a regional leader in environmental, land use, commercial real estate, transactional intellectual property and cannabis with 70-plus attorneys in New Jersey, New York and Washington, D.C. Within the past year, Scarinci Hollenbeck has completed two mergers aimed at expanding its range of legal services for clients. In October 2023, Spector & Ehrenworth PC joined, a move that brought together two of New Jersey’s top firms. In January, Warren Law Group, a New York City firm focusing on financial services, government investigations and business litigation, merged with Scarinci Hollenbeck. Scarinci is also a sought-after speaker and columnist when it comes to Constitutional Law, having written numerous pieces for online media and published two books, “David Brearley and the Making of the United States Constitution” and “Redistricting & the Politics of Reform.” Additionally, he edits the award-winning Constitutional Law Reporter, an educational website that contains an annotated U.S. Constitution and information about the Supreme Court. Last fall, he was appointed to serve on the advisory board of Term Limit the Court, an organization pursuing term limits for U.S. Supreme Court justices. Commenting to NJBIZ about his new role, Scarinci said, “I am honored to lend my support to this group of scholars and activists to help advance accountability by creating an 18-year term for U.S. Supreme Court justices. This plan allows every presidential term to consist of two appointments to the high court. It is bipartisan in every way and gives the public a say in the Supreme Court during every presidential election.” He went on to remark, “The public’s lack of confidence in the current Supreme Court will lead to a major social crisis in America unless something is done immediately. Elected officials are accountable directly to the people. However, the people have no oversight of judicial conduct and no practical mechanism to either appoint or remove Supreme Court justices.”

Jennifer Phillips Smith

A co-chair of the real property group at Gibbons PC, Smith counsels clients on redevelopment matters, with a focus on long term, multi-phase transformative projects. In addition to representing clients in connection with mixed use, industrial, restaurant, residential, retail, office, medical, educational and senior living projects, Smith maintains a niche practice in liquor licensing and alcoholic beverage control. She is also the firm’s lead land use attorney on several of New Jersey’s largest, most high-profile development and redevelopment projects, including a $2.5 billion redevelopment project along the Raritan River; the transformation of Asbury Park’s Waterfront; the development of multiple high-rise residential projects in Newark; and the redevelopment hundreds of industrial acres in Hudson County. Smith – who received an undergraduate degree from Georgetown University and law degree from Seton Hall University School of Law – has earned several accolades, including being named as one of NJBIZ’s Best 50 Women in Business in 2022 and the annual Power 100 list in 2020.

Nancy Erika Smith

A nationally recognized civil rights attorney with a reputation for fighting and winning employment law cases, Smith is best known for representing Gretchen Carlson and Julie Roginsky in their sexual harassment suits against Fox News and its former chief executive officer Roger Ailes. One of her latest legal battles is unfolding in Atlantic City, where she is representing casino workers in a lawsuit that seeks to overturn the state’s indoor smoking law. In a complaint filed in April in Superior Court, the workers claim that state officials have violated their constitutional rights by allowing casinos to force employees to work in toxic conditions that have caused life-threatening illness and death. Commenting on the legal action, Smith said, “We have taken this fight out of back room ‘money talks’ politics and put it in the courts where we are confident that the judge will find that casinos cannot knowingly poison their employees in the pursuit of profits. It’s immoral and legally indefensible.” Smith is also representing a former server at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster who alleges she was sexually harassed and coerced into sex by a supervisor, then tricked into signing an illegal non-disclosure agreement by the former president’s lawyer, Alina Habba. Since co-founding Smith Mullin in Montclair with her husband Neil Mullin, her 30-plus year career has included several important victories in cases against NJ Transit, the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, WWOR-TV, Prudential Insurance Co., Rutgers University and IBM Corp.

Dennis Toft

As chair of the environmental law group at Roseland-based CSG Law, Toft provides counsel on all aspects of environmental law, including regulatory counseling, environmental due diligence, permitting, enforcement and environmental litigation, development/redevelopment, and environmental insurance. Toft regularly appears before the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, the Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, municipal land use boards, the Office of Administrative Law, and in state and federal courts. During his 30-year career, Toft has worked with every N.J. governor and administration on environmental concerns and policy issues. He played a key role in the adoption of the New Jersey Brownfields and Contaminated Site Remediation Act — and in the development and adoption of the New Jersey Site Remediation Reform Act, which establishes a Licensed Site Remediation Professional program in New Jersey. Toft – who received his law degree from Columbia Law School and a physics degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology – has earned numerous accolades, including an ICON award from NJBIZ in 2019. He was also included on the 2021 Leaders in Law list and two Law Power 50 compilations in 2022 and 2023. Additionally, Toft is a trustee at the New Jersey Institute of Technology and environment/energy initiative chair of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce’s executive committee, as well as frequently tapped by the media to speak as a subject matter expert on environmental issues.

Peter Torcicollo

Since taking the reins as Gibbons PC’s managing director in early 2022, Torcicollo has maintained the standard set by longtime leader Patrick Dunican, who first transitioned to executive chairperson before departing the Newark-based firm in February. At Gibbons, Torcicollo oversees the firm’s operations, executes the executive committee’s directives and implements a strategic business plan. The firm was recognized by NJBIZ last fall for the 18th year in a row as Best Places to Work in New Jersey honoree – in the category of companies with 250-plus employees. Torcicollo is also a director in the firm’s business & commercial litigation group, which he previously chaired, and maintains a broad-based commercial litigation practice with substantial trial experience in various forums, including federal courts, the state courts of New York and New Jersey, and both AAA and private-party arbitration. Additionally, Torcicollo developed, launched and formerly led the firm’s top-ranked construction litigation practice. He’s been involved in many significant projects, including his role as lead counsel on litigation brought against American Dream, for which he represented the entities behind the project and secured a mutually beneficial settlement allowing the Meadowlands megamall to move forward. Along with being a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, Construction Lawyers Society of America and American Bar Foundation, Torcicollo is a Litigation Counsel of America inductee and Association of the Federal Bar of New Jersey trustee.

Ted Zangari

Zangari is a member of the management committee at Sill Cummis & Gross PC in Newark where he chairs the Real Estate Department and also leads the Redevelopment Law, Outside General Counsel, and Public Policy/Governmental Affairs Practice Groups. Zangari is also well known throughout the state. The leader is often at the forefront of issues as well as conversations. Zangari is editor of chief for Re-developNJ.com. Hosted by Sills, the blog details redevelopment and land use issues in the state. In March, Zangari led a panel discussion on how to help attract and grow companies here during the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce’s ReNew Jersey Summit. Earlier in the year, he ran an event for NAIOP New Jersey detailing “Effective ‘Air Cover’ for Local Officials Who Support Your Controversial Development Project.” And just last month, he moderated a talk highlighting the local real estate industry during the Boys Scouts of America Northern New Jersey Council’s 6th Annual Building Connections event. Named as an NJBIZ 2024 Leaders in Real Estate, Construction and Design honoree, Zangari reflected on his recent achievements. That included “making land” in the constrained North Jersey ports district by facilitating private-public partnerships as well as authoring a case study for a sold-out Rutgers Center for Real Estate Symposium (where he is a member of the executive committee), which he also moderated. Looking at uncertainty in the sector, Zangari is aware – and willing – to help. “[I]t’s been 15 years since the last real estate recession, so many of today’s CRE professionals are unprepared for the restructuring that lies ahead; the advice of industry veterans participating in the symposium helped close the knowledge gap.”

Editor’s note: This story was updated at 4:56 p.m. ET July 22, 2024, to correct information about Michael O’Mullan’s predecessors.