A partner with Morristown-based Riker Danzig, Lance Kalik, has been confirmed by the New Jersey Senate to serve as a Superior Court judge for the state of New Jersey.
Kalik built a robust insurance litigation practice in Riker Danzig’s Insurance and Reinsurance Practice, becoming a partner in 2003, and ultimately became co-chair of the practice.
Kalik has represented insurers in complex coverage and bad faith lawsuits across the U.S., as well as defending attorneys in significant legal malpractice disputes. Representing clients in state and federal courts in New Jersey and New York, Kalik’s career has also included notable insurance agency malpractice suits, environmental liability cases and construction defect disputes.
At Riker Danzig, Kalik is a member of the firm’s Executive Committee, and concluded two three-year terms as co-managing partner of Riker Danzig in December. He serves on the firm’s Diversity and Hiring committees.
“Lance’s deep respect for the law and his enormous depth of legal knowledge will be of great benefit to those who appear before him. We are extremely proud that Lance is continuing the firm’s long tradition of public service,” firm co-Chairman Brian O’Donnell said.
Kalik is not the first Riker Danzig attorney to be appointed to the state and federal courts. Attorneys from Riker Danzig who are currently serving as state and federal judges include New Jersey Supreme Court Justice Anne Patterson, U.S. District Court Chief Judge Renee Marie Bumb, U.S. District Court Judge Zahid Quraishi, New Jersey Superior Court Appellate Division Judge Robert Gilson and New Jersey Superior Court Judge Mark Baber. Former New Jersey Supreme Court Justice Stewart Pollock and former New Jersey Superior Court Judges Victor Ashrafi, James Rothschild and Travis Francis are currently of counsel with Riker Danzig.
During his career, Kalik was appointed by the New Jersey Supreme Court to serve on the Ad Hoc Committee on Attorney Malpractice Insurance, the Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee and the District XIII Ethics Committee.
Among other legal distinctions, Kalik received the Anti-Defamation League’s Sidney Wilf Distinguished Leadership Award in 2015. The award honors young leaders in business, community affairs and charitable endeavors who have attained the pinnacle of success in their chosen fields while providing influence and inspiration for positive change in the community.