McManimon, Scotland & Baumann is joining with Trenk DiPasquale Della Fera & Sodono P.C., the law firms announced Wednesday.
The new 51-attorney firm will work under the MS&B name starting Oct. 1, with the principal office located in Roseland, where MS&B is settled.
The firm also will maintain an office in Newark and combine two offices in Trenton.
The joinder will combine firms with distinct specialties; MS&B has 36 lawyers, while TD brings 15.
MS&B is known for its public and structured finance, land use and development, environmental, corporate and securities, litigation and affordable housing practice areas.
TD is recognized for its commercial litigation practice group as well as its corporate restructuring, debtor/creditor and insolvency capabilities.
MS&B Chair Joseph P. Baumann Jr., said combining will make both firms better.
“This joinder of our two firms presents an enormous opportunity for the combined firm to continue to distinguish itself on an expanded platform in the New Jersey legal community,” he said.
TD Founding Partner Richard D. Trenk said the firms have plenty in common.
“The character, culture, commitment to the community and diversity, and the quality representation of both firms are remarkably consistent and refreshing,” he said. “We are confident that we are going to have a highly successful combined enterprise that will render great results for our clients. It’s time to get to work.”
The firm said it will provide a full array of legal services to its clients, with specialties in project development and public and private structured finance, corporate services including corporate restructuring and insolvency, and complex commercial litigation.
Some of TD’s previous work includes representation of:
- Babyland Family Services Inc., a not-for-profit provider of child care, foster care and services for HIV/AIDS babies, battered women and children in Newark and East Orange in its Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition, resulting in the successful reorganization of Babyland and allowing it to continue to provide critical services to women and children in need;
- Barry Sharer, Chapter 7 trustee in bankruptcy for Joseph Uzzolino, former Teamsters Union president, in securing a $5 million award for breach of contract in connection with the sale of a business;
- Hudson Healthcare Inc., the not-for-profitmanagement company that operated Hoboken University Medical Center in HHI’s Chapter 11 proceeding, resulting in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey’s approval of the sale of HHI’s assets, which ultimately allowed the consummation of the sale of HUMC’s assets.
MS&B has provided transactional legal services on many of the state’s highest-profile projects, including:
- Prudential Center Arena in Newark, leading the environmental, real estate acquisition and financing efforts;
- Military Ocean Terminal at Bayonne, leading the redevelopment, environmental and finance efforts in connection with the repurposing and revitalization of the terminal, a major economic driver for the region;
- Asbury Park Waterfront redevelopment and infrastructure financing efforts, including the recently completed Asbury Hotel;
- Triple Five Worldwide affiliate Ameream LLC’s public finance counsel in connection with the transformative American Dream at the Meadowlands Project in East Rutherford.
MS&B member Glenn F. Scotland said he is eager to get started.
“On a personal and professional level, this joinder is both exciting and exhilarating,” he said. “There are few instances in our careers when we find ourselves at that special intersection between an institutional commitment to excellence and an across-the-board fondness and respect for the individuals that will be part of the combined enterprise. At MS&B, greater things lie ahead.”
