With one of the largest matrimonial law departments in New Jersey, the law firm of Einhorn, Harris, Ascher, Barbarito & Frost, P.C.
has the right team to get the job done.

EACH DIVORCE PRESENTS UNIQUE ISSUES. The more complex the case, the more issues arise. Finding one lawyer who has expertise in these areas can be difficult, but Einhorn, Harris, Ascher, Barbarito & Frost, P.C. can solve this problem for you: they offer an experienced team of lawyers covering the full spectrum of family law.

With 16 attorneys in their matrimonial-law department, this firm tackles cases from the most simple to the most complex. Each attorney in the department concentrates on a particular area. Fees are based on the particular lawyer's level of experience. A divorcing client who comes in with a fairly straightforward matter enjoys the benefit of having an experienced matrimonial lawyer work on his or her case at a very reasonable rate. A client with a complicated case can take advantage of the knowledge and experience of a senior partner.

CONTACT New Jersey Divorce Lawyers Einhorn, Harris, Ascher, Barbarito & Frost, P.C. 165 East Main Street (Route 53) P.O. Box 3010, Denville, NJ 07834-3010 Tel: (973) 627-7300 Fax: (973) 627-0869 www.einhornharris.com

"We offer our clients a team approach," says Patricia Barbarito, a partner in the matrimonial department at Einhorn. "Teams are assigned to complex matters to ensure that clients' phone calls are returned promptly, that routine work is done at an associate's billing rate, and that the strategy and major decisions are undertaken by a more experienced lawyer."

Barbarito, a certified matrimonial lawyer and former chair of the Family Law Section of the New Jersey State Bar Association, is the 2004 recipient of the Tischler Award, presented by the New Jersey State Bar Association for lifetime contributions to the advancement of family law. She has been with the firm for the last 31 years.

"Our practice is general, but we are not general practitioners," says Barbarito. "A matrimonial case often involves other legal issues that can be addressed by an attorney in one of our departments -- such as taxation/trusts & estates, business/commercial, real estate, criminal, or personal injury."

The firm's philosophy is unique in that each case is analyzed and an action plan is formulated, so that the case doesn't develop a "life of its own." "Our experience and training enable us to approach issues in a very clear and organized fashion," says Barbarito.

The matrimonial attorneys in this firm know that divorce is a major life transition, and they strive to make the process as straightforward and painless as possible for each of their clients.

The firm's policy is to attempt to resolve cases by negotiation first, but they are not reluctant to defend their clients' rights in court. "We always make every effort to settle a case, but we are trained advocates and are prepared to litigate a case if need be," says Barbarito.

The law firm has been providing clients with high-quality, cost- effective legal services since 1961. Located in Denville, the hub of Morris County, this full-service law firm employs attorneys with a wide range of experience. Their team of experienced lawyers seeks to provide the understanding, personal involvement, and objectivity necessary to address their clients' unique legal issues.

THE MATRIMONIAL LAW TEAM

Patricia M. Barbarito, a former Chair of the Family Law Section, New Jersey State Bar Association has practiced law with the firm since 1980. A Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and Certified Matrimonial Law Attorney, Ms. Barbarito handles cases in the area of divorce, custody, domestic violence and related areas. Ms. Barbarito also oversees a team of matrimonial attorneys uniquely suited to handle a wide range of cases, from simple to complex, permitting a client to have their particular needs met in a cost effective fashion.

Extensive involvement with the Executive Committee of the Family Law Section of the New Jersey State Bar Association, membership of the Family Division Practice Committee of the Administration of Office of the Court's for the Supreme Court of New Jersey, have resulted in Ms. Barbarito being integral in the shaping and practice of law in the matrimonial area.

In 2004, Ms. Barbarito was selected to receive the Saul A. Tischler Award from the New Jersey State Bar Association Family Law Section. This prestigious award is presented annually in recognition of a person who has made a substantial impact upon the development of family law and the legal profession.

Ms. Barbarito is a prominent speaker in the Family Law field, she has lectured extensively for the institute of Continuing Legal Education, various civic organizations, and has appeared on numerous television programs regarding matrimonial law. A Certified Arbitrator, Ms. Barbarito has orchestrated seminars, supervised legal interns for the New Jersey Battered Women's Service and has established the Battered Women legal advocacy project. Ms. Barbarito has also been a co-chair person for the task force on domestic violence court procedure sub-committee in Morris County, and a Trustee of the Morris County Bar Association.

Michael R. Ascher, a partner with the firm, gained extensive trial experience as a Deputy Attorney General in the Division of Criminal Justice and as Assistant Passaic County Prosecutor. He is presently engaged in a litigation practice handling both criminal and complex civil matters. His practice includes all categories of criminal cases, including drunk driving defense cases and matters involving the Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS). He specializes in sex offenses, drug and white collar crimes, computer crime, conspiracy, fraud and theft cases.

Michael has been involved in significant cases on both the trial and Appellate level. He successfully argued before the New Jersey Supreme Court in State v. Dispoto, 189 NJ 108 (2007) that the Domestic Violence Act could not be used as a bootstrap mechanism by the police to obtain evidence to sustain the issuance of a criminal search warrant. He also developed the trial argument that led the New Jersey Supreme Court to change the manner in which juries are instructed in the prosecution of sex crimes involving children, State v. P.H. 178 NJ378 (2004).

Michael Ascher won a 5-year legal battle before the New Jersey Supreme Court. He obtained an important Appellate decision in a child abuse and neglect case, NJDYFS v. S.S. 372, NJ Super 13 (App. Div. 2004). There, he advocated for the right of an abused wife whose name was wrongfully placed in the DYFS Central Registry.

Michael also serves as a member of the Morris County Criminal Practice Committee.

Peter T. Harris, Esq. has been a senior partner in the firm of Einhorn, Harris, Ascher, Barbarito, Frost & Ironson since joining the firm in 1974 after completing a clerkship in the Appellate Division. Mr. Harris successfully completed and published an article for the Rutgers Law Review and graduated among the top few students in his law school class.

Mr. Harris has practiced matrimonial law for over twenty-five years in both the trial and settlement of divorce cases. Mr. Harris has extensive experience in cases involving custody and divorce cases involving equitable distribution of businesses, real estate, stock, stock options, retirement plans and other complex financial issues.

Mr. Harris frequently appears in court in all the northern counties of New Jersey including Morris, Essex, Sussex, Warren, Passaic, Bergen, Hunterdon, Union and Somerset counties. He also appears in several central and southern counties as well.

Mr. Harris has for many years participated in the Morris County Early Settlement program.

Mr. Harris also has extensive trial experience in personal injury cases.

Bonnie C. Frost is Einhorn, Harris, Ascher, Barbarito, Frost and Ironson's Administrative Partner. Since joining the firm in 1985, Ms. Frost has practiced in the Matrimonial area, handling various cases such as divorce, custody, domestic violence, and paternity issues. She has authored numerous works in the area, including the Women's Legal Rights Booklet. She co-authored the State Bar, Family Law Section's Position Paper on Matrimonial Law 1997. In addition to being a member of the State Bar Family Law Executive Committee since 1994, she is also a Certified Matrimonial Law Attorney, Fellow of The American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, and Vice-Chair of the Disciplinary Review Board, intermediate Appellate body for the attorney disciplinary system.

Stephen P. Haller has practiced family law since his admission to the Bar in 1977. Throughout his career, he has litigated numerous complex cases on issues which range from child custody and relocation to valuation of businesses and professional practices. A custody matter litigated by Mr. Haller is among the leading cases in current New Jersey jurisprudence, Chen v. Heller, 334 N.J. Super, 361, 759 A. 2d 873.

Mr. Haller represented former New Jersey Governor, James McGreevey in the trial of his custody and divorce case in 2008. The trial highlighted substantial issues involving joint custody, parenting time, celebrity goodwill valuation and employment evaluation.  Intense television, radio and print coverage accompanied the entire hearing, giving the case wide public exposure.

Mr. Snyder concentrates his practice on all areas of family law, including alimony, child support, custody, parenting time, grandparents' visitation, equitable distribution and domestic violence cases. He has litigated international custody cases, most notably the case of Anyanwu v. Anyanwu, 339 N.J. Super 278 (App.Div. 2001), involving the return of a child from Nigeria. He has litigated complex financial cases, including the trial level proceedings of the landmark case, Steneken v. Steneken, 183 N.J. 290.

He is a member of the New Jersey State Bar Association and an officer of the Family Law Executive Committee, serving in the capacity of Secretary of the Section and the former Legislative Chair of the Section.  As a member of the State Bar, he has contributed to the New Jersey State Bar Association's amicus curiae brief, submitted in the matter of Lewis v. Harris, 185 N.J. 415, 2006, a landmark New Jersey case, addressing the issue of same sex couples' right to a legally recognized marriage. As former Legislative Chair, he has testified on behalf of the New Jersey State Bar Association before state legislative sub-committees on hearings involving open adoption legislation. He is the recipient of the New Jersey State Bar Association's Annual Distinguished Legislative Service Award for 2007. He has been interviewed on radio and television regarding emerging New Jersey family law issues, including appearing on NJN's talk show "Due Process", as well as providing debate and commentary on radio talk shows WNYC and WWRL - 1600 AM, New York radio. He has been recognized by Digital Press international as one of the leading divorce attorneys, age 45 and under of Northern New Jersey for 2004-2005.

He was previously a Law Clerk for the Honorable Peter B. Cooper in Essex County, NJ. Mr. Snyder has participated in the Central Jersey Family Law Inns of Court. He is a member of the Morris County and Union County Bar Associations.  He is a graduate of the National Institute of Trial Advocacy program.

Mark Wechsler joined the firm in 1997. Mr. Wechsler served as a law clerk for the Honorable Martin A. Herman prior to beginning practice in the private sector. Mr. Wechsler litigated the lead case in New Jersey on the issue of international jurisdiction in child custody disputes [Poluhovich v Pellerano, 373 N.J. Super 310 (App.Div. 2004)]. He is certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a matrimonial law attorney. In 2008, Mr. Wechsler was elected as an Officer of both the Morris County Bar Foundation and the Morris County Bar Association. He served as a trustee of the Association as well as chairman of its Family Law Committee from 2006 - 2008. He serves as a Blue Ribbon Panelist for the Early Settlement Panel Program in Morris County. He is also a member of the New Jersey State Bar Association and that organization's family law section. Mr. Wechsler has lectured on behalf of the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education [ICLE] and also provides pro bono services to and lectures for The Women's Center at the County College of Morris. He received his B.A. from the State University of New York at Albany; his M.A. from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice; and his J.D. from the Widener University School of Law. Mr. Wechsler devotes his practice to matrimonial, divorce and family law.

Ivette R. Alvarez is counsel at Einhorn, Harris, Ascher, Barbarito, Frost & Ironson in Denville, New Jersey, where she concentrates her practice in civil litigation with an emphasis on matrimonial and family law. Ms. Alvarez is fluent in Spanish.

Ms. Alvarez graduated from Columbia Law School in 1985 and was admitted to practice in New Jersey and New York. Ms. Alvarez is a member of the New Jersey State, Garden State and Essex County Bar Associations. She currently serves as President of the Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey and also serves as immediate Past Chair to the Family Law Section of the New Jersey State Bar Association Family Law Executive Committee. She is a past Chair of the District V-C Fee Arbitration Committee and was appointed by the Chief Justice to serve on Several Supreme Court Committees including the Family Law Practice Committee, the Skills and Methods Ad Hoc Committee, the Family Division Practice Sub-Committee on Child Support and the Custody and Parenting Time Subcommittee. Ms. Alvarez was a Board Member and served on the Executive Committee and Finance Committee of Legal Services of New Jersey, and was a Board member of the Morris County Organization of Hispanic Affairs. She has also been a Board Member and Community Advisor for the Resource Center for Women. Ms. Alvarez is a recipient of the 2005 Professional Lawyer of the Year by the New Jersey State Bar Association.

Ms. Alvarez lectures and appears as a panelist on family law issues for the Institute of Continuing Legal Education, the Essex County Bar Association, the Hispanic Bar Association and the Hispanic Bar Foundation. She has presented at the 2000 and 2001 Family Law Bench Bar Conference and at the 2003 and 2004 Family Law Symposium.

She received her B.A., with Honors, from the State University of New York at Albany and her J.D. from Columbia University School of Law.

Ms. Fortunato joined Einhorn, Harris, Ascher, Barbarito, Frost & Ironson in 1997. She practices in the area of Matrimonial Law, including adoptions and termination of parental rights cases.

Linda Mainenti-Walsh is Of Counsel at Einhorn, Harris, Ascher, Barbarito, Frost & Ironson, P.C. where she has practiced for the last 7 years and has devoted her career to the practice of Family Law. She is a former law clerk to the Honorable B. Theodore Bozonelis, Morris County, Superior Court, Family Part, and has been practicing over 19 years having received her law degree from Seton Hall Law School in 1989. She has forged a reputation as a strong advocate with the ability to recognize and address issues with knowledge, preparedness and sensitivity whether in negotiating a settlement, presenting issues to the Court or bringing a matter to trial.

Ms. Mainenti-Walsh has served as a panelist for the Morris County Matrimonial Early Settlement Panel nearly 8 years, and as Chair of the District X Ethics Committee (1999-2000), Vice-Chair (1998-1999) and a member/investigator of the Committee for 2 years and as a recall investigator in 2004-2005.

Ms. Mainenti-Walsh was an adjunct professor for the Legal Studies Department of Montclair State University and serves as an instructor for the Institute of Continuing Legal Education (ICLE) Attorney Ethics Skills and Methods Courses in Family Law and Professional Responsibility and Ethics.

Ms. Mainenti-Walsh has appeared as a guest expert on Law Journal TV and has been published in Divorce Magazine Fall/Winter 2005 edition. In addition, she is a barrister of the Northern New Jersey Family Law Inn of Court and a member of Morris County and State Family Law Sections of the Bar.

Elizabeth M. Vinhal joined the firm in 2003. Mrs. Vinhal is a member of the firm's matrimonial law department. While at law school, she worked in the Family Law Clinic and earned the award of outstanding family law practitioner.

Ellen M. Seigerman joined the firm in June, 2002 and is a member of the firm's matrimonial law department. Ms. Seigerman was the recipient of the American Jurisprudence Award for Advanced Topics in Torts and graduated with honors.

Jennie L. Osborne joined the firm in 2004 and is a member of the firm's matrimonial law department. While at law school, Ms. Osborne was a member of the Seton Hall Legislative Bureau and served as a notes editor in 2002-2003. Ms. Osborne worked at the Center for Social Justice, Family Law Clinic, 2003.

Ms. Osborne was associate trial counsel to former N.J. Governor, James McGreevey, in his divorce and custody litigation in 2008. The trial highlighted substantial issues involving joint custody, parenting time, celebrity goodwill valuation and employment evaluation. Intense television, radio and print coverage accompanied the entire hearing, giving the case wide public exposure.

Jhanice V. Domingo is a member of the Matrimonial Law Department and handles divorce, custody and adoption cases. As a former prosecutor. Ms. Domingo also focuses on juvenile and domestic violence matters. Furthermore. she is involved with the firm's estates & trusts practice, particularly prenuptial agreements and guardianships. Ms. Domingo began her career in 2002 as Law Clerk for the Honorable Joseph P. Donohue,J.S.c., Chancery Division. Family Pan, Union County. and then gained experience as Assistant Prosecutor in the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office until 2003.

Ms. Domingo briefed and argued State of New Jersey vs. Russell Breitweiser, 373 NJ Super. 271 (App. Div. 2004), a published opinion which held that a defendant can be convicted of second-degree tender-years sexual assault if there was an unreasonable risk that the underage child might view the offensive conduct.

Ms. Domingo was admitted to the New Jersey Bar in 2002, and the U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey in 2003.

She received her J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law, Newark. NJ in 2002. and her B.A. from Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, in 1999, where she received "Dean's List" honors and majored in Psychology with a minor in Women's Studies.

Ms. Domingo is a member of the New Jersey State Bar Association, the Morris County Bar Association. and the Asian Pacific American Lawyers Association of New Jersey and served as APALA's Membership Committee Co-Chairperson in 2006. Ms. Domingo is also a member of the Women Lawyers of Union County and the American Inns of Court Family Law Inn, and has been recognized for her pro bono work with the Northeast New Jersey Legal Services Private Attorney Program.

Cimmerian Morgan began his career as a student attorney in the Rutgers Constitutional litigation Clinic and served as Law Clerk for The Honorable Julie M. Marino. J.S.c., in the New Jersey Superior Court in 2005 and 2006. He joined the firm in 2006 as a member of the Matrimonial Department.

Mr. Morgan was admitted to the New Jersey Bar in 2005, and the Pennsylvania Bar in 2006.

He received his J.D. from Rutgers. the State University of New Jersey School of Law, Newark in 2005 and his B.A. from Rutgers University. Rutgers College, New Brunswick, NJ in 2002, where he majored in Political Science and History. Mr. Morgan is also the recipient of the distinguished "Nelson MacDonald Award in Political Science" for best research paper.

Mr. Morgan devotes his practice exclusively to family law matters. including complex matrimonial litigation, child custody. child support, alimony. equitable distribution of assets, domestic violence, and matrimonial appeals.

Jamie Berger began her legal career as Law Clerk to The Honorable Eugene ladanza, J.S.C., New Jersey State Judiciary, Superior Court in 2006 and 2007. She joined the firm in 2007 as an Associate.

Ms. Berger was admitted to the New Jersey Bar in 2006, and she received her J.D. from Fordham University School of Law, New York, NY in 2006, where she received "Dean's List" honors.

Ms. Berger is the recipient of the distinguished "Archibald R. Murray Public Service Award:' for her work in the public sector.

She earned her B.S. from Indiana University, Kelly School of Business, Bloomington, lN in 2003.

For more information or to arrange a consultation,
contact Patricia Barbarito at:

165 East Main Street, (Route 53) P.O. Box 3010, Denville, NJ 07834-3010
Phone: (973) 627-7300
Fax: (973) 627-0869
Email Us
Website: www.einhornharris.com

Patricia Barbarito has written the following articles:

• "My husband and I have been living together during our separation because we cannot sell our house nor afford two properties. How can we make our situation better?"
• "Should I tell my lawyer the whole truth?"
• "Are you entitled to alimony based on the years married?"

Linda Mainenti-Walsh has written the following article:

• "Can I leave the marital home? Can I make my spouse leave the marital home?"

Ellen M. Seigerman, Esq. has written the following article:

• "Can you tell me what rights a grandparent has in  New Jersey regarding children of divorce?"

Talk to us before you make any decisions. Please complete and submit the form below, and we will contact you.

Listen to podcasts of previous TeleSeminars.