What’s the only thing better the besting the competition in the courtroom? Doing it on the softball field.
At least, that was the feeling for the competitors in the annual Battle of the Barristers, an annual competition among firms and legal departments started by Pashman Stein Walder Hayden decades ago that raises money for the Newark Fresh Air Fund.
This year’s event, held Wednesday, offered an extra challenge – getting all the games in before the storm that rocked the state hit Brookdale Park in Bloomfield.
Without a call for a continuance, the teams got all the games in just in time, with Brach Eichler defeating McCarter English, 13-8, in the final.
“We are incredibly proud to have won the 2024 Battle of the Barristers,” Brach Eichler’s Allen Popowitz said. “It was a challenging day, but our team’s determination paid off. We are honored to host the 2025 tournament and look forward to continuing this great tradition of bringing together the legal community for a day of fun, competition, and camaraderie.”
This year’s event was organized by Genova Burns, the 2023 champions.
Genova Burns Chairman Angelo Genova said the firm was thrilled to take part.
“It has been a privilege for Genova Burns to participate and occasionally win the Battle of the Barristers over the years,” he said. “This event gives firms and legal departments a chance to give back to the community.
“All proceeds go the Greater Newark Fresh air fund, so its competition with a good cause. As this year’s hosts, we really tried to make it a firm family day so everyone got to enjoy the day.”
Genova Burns did just that, bringing in three women-owned catering trucks (Va Fa Napoli Pizza, Designer Dawgs and Cliffs Ice Cream) to supply food and drink.
Genova gave special thanks to Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and his team for their support. Baraka threw out the first pitch to Pashman Stein’s Justin Walder, who helped create the event decades ago.
Genova said everyone will walk away a winner.
Ed Bonett, a newcomer at the firm, certainly felt that way.
“The firm included my son and he and I had a blast,” he said. “The firm worked as a true team and built some relationships that will likely assist us all off the field as well.”
The following firms and legal departments participated:
- Brach Eichler
- Carella Byrne
- Cole Schotz
- Fox Rothschild
- Genova Burns
- Gibbons P.C.
- Lowenstein Sandler
- Mandelbaum Barrett
- McCarter & English
- Prudential Financial
