Cole Schotz said July 24 that Thomas J. LaConte has returned to the firm as of counsel, following a 20-year tenure as a New Jersey Superior Court judge. LaConte will contribute to the firm’s alternative dispute resolution and litigation support services.
Based in the firm’s Hackensack office, LaConte will focus on mediating and arbitrating a variety of civil disputes, including construction litigation, corporate and commercial disputes, contract issues and matters involving municipal and local governments.
LaConte most recently served on the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division in the Passaic Vicinage and presided over civil trials, evidentiary hearings and dispositive motions until his retirement in June. Prior to his judicial appointment, he spent more than 30 years at Cole Schotz, where he was an authority on construction and commercial litigation.
In returning to Cole Schotz, LaConte joins an alternative dispute resolution group that includes Donald H. Steckroth, a former United States bankruptcy judge for the District of New Jersey, and Garry S. Rothstadt, also a former judge in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division and Appellate Division.
“It is a privilege to welcome Judge LaConte back to the firm,” said Warren Usatine, co-chair of the litigation department at Cole Schotz. “His three decades at Cole Schotz coupled with his deep judicial experience will make him an invaluable asset to our firm. As a mediator, Judge LaConte’s legal acumen, experience, creativity, tenacity and temperament will undoubtedly help facilitate settlement of complex disputes.”
LaConte said “I can think of no better next step for this phase of my career than to return to the law firm where I first began my practice. I am thrilled to once again work alongside my Cole Schotz colleagues to carry on the firm’s history of excellence through my work on ADR matters.”
The judge has also held key positions within the legal community, including serving as president of the Passaic County Bar Association and as trustee of both the Passaic County Bar Association and Bergen County Bar Foundation.
