Former U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge Mark Falk has joined Walsh Pizzi O’Reilly Falanga, where he will lead the firm’s mediation, arbitration and special master appointments practice.
Falk, who served the District of New Jersey with distinction before retiring, brings a wealth of legal and judicial experience gained over his four-decade legal career.
Before taking the bench, he was a partner with several top law firms over 25 years in private practice, specializing in complex litigation and serving as lead trial counsel in numerous high-profile cases in the state and federal courts.
Falk brings experience in resolving complex, challenging disputes, as he conducted thousands of settlement conferences and mediations while on the bench. Falk has also held several judicial leadership positions, including as president of the Federal Magistrate Judges Association.
“I decided to join Walsh because of the firm’s dedication to high-quality legal work in its sophisticated practice, but mostly because of my respect and admiration for the firm’s attorneys,” he said. “I look forward to collaborating with my new colleagues, many of whom I have worked with in the past. I have had many opportunities to observe their practice in court; they are excellent lawyers dedicated to resolving client matters effectively and efficiently.”
Liza Walsh, co-founder and managing partner of the firm, said the firm is thrilled to add Falk.
“We are honored to welcome Judge Falk, a respected jurist with a reputation for fair-mindedness,” she said. “Our clients will be well-served by his deep knowledge of the law, experience as a mediator and pragmatic approach. In addition to assisting clients with complex litigation matters, he will act as a mediator or arbitrator, helping parties reach a mutually agreeable resolution to their conflicts.”
Falk currently is an adjunct professor of law at Rutgers Law School and Fordham Law School.
He holds a law degree cum laude from New York Law School, where he was a published member of the Law Review, and a bachelor’s degree from Antioch College. He was a law clerk to the Hon. John C. Demos, assignment judge, New Jersey Superior Court.
