Past president of the Hispanic Bar Association of N.J. named general counsel for NJCC

Melinda Colón Cox, with over 15 years’ legal experience, has been named as general counsel and chief compliance officer of New Jersey Community Capital, the organization announced Tuesday.

Cox, a past president of the Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey, brings impressive credentials to the nonprofit organization. She will lead legal operations of the New Brunswick-based nonprofit community development financial institution offering her legal guidance, as she collaborates with clients and colleagues alike to improve internal processes and enhance efficiency consistent with NJCC’s risk framework.

“NJCC has reached more than 115,750 people since its inception, and we’re excited to add Melinda’s expertise to our leadership team, while continuing to strengthen and streamline services to New Jersey communities,” said Bernel Hall, CEO and president of New Jersey Community Capital. “Melinda’s experience throughout her career and focus on financial literacy and real estate investment makes her an incredible asset to our team and organization.”

“It’s an honor to join New Jersey Community Capital’s legal team as its first general counsel and I look forward to becoming fully ingrained in the important community-building work the organization is doing,” Cox said. “It has always been a goal of mine to find an organization that I could find mission alignment with and I am eager and excited to be in an environment that is receptive and appreciative of the myriad skills and contributions that I will offer to the communities and clients NJCC serves.”

Cox joins NJCC from PIB Law, where she served as a partner and member of the Executive Committee and her practice emphasis was on commercial and civil litigation, contested foreclosures, consumer finance and protection, contract disputes and state and federal regulatory compliance. Cox was the firm’s first associate and the first female partner in PIB Law’s Somerset headquarters, as well as the first female partner of its Executive Committee. Prior to joining PIB Law, Cox was a law clerk to U.S. District Court Judge Michael Shipp for the District of New Jersey. She also served as an associate at a large New Jersey firm, in its Redevelopment Strategic Business Unit and Commercial Real Estate teams.