Immediate Past Chair
Barry J. Bendes
Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge
1 Giralda Farms, 4th Floor
Madison, NJ 07940
973-376-7700
Fax: 888-325-9117
bbendes@eapdlaw.com

Trustee Liaison
Domenick Carmagnola

The committee addresses issues relating to the negotiation and issuance of opinions to third parties in a multitude of transactions, issues reports and recommendations, provides seminars on such issues and acts as a resource to members of the New Jersey Bar faced with complex issues involving the issuance or acceptance of third party legal opinions.

The committee explores the impact of labor and employment laws on the business law practitioner, covering areas that include employment, severance, and non-competition agreements in both the union and non-union context. The committee also examines litigation concerns such as wrongful termination, whistleblower, discrimination, prevailing wage, independent contractors, and the WARN Act.

The committee provides resources for and a forum for exploring and commenting upon the regulatory scheme and processes involved in the private placement and public offering process, and in the continuing obligations of registered companies and their principal shareholders, officers and directors. The committee also monitors developments in corporate practice and governance and provides a forum and resource for practitioners involved with practice and governance issues affecting public and private business entities, the duties and responsibilities of directors, managers, officers and others to the entities that they serve and to other constituencies. Makes legislative and regulatory proposals with corporate governance implications.

The committee provides a forum and resource for practitioners involved with environmental issues affecting businesses and transactions, including analyzing existing and proposed legislation, regulations, and guidance documents and where appropriate providing comments thereto, and proposes new legislation and/or legislative amendments to the Board where appropriate.

The committee focuses on the principal areas of litigation affecting business entities, promotes the establishment of business courts and other effective means of resolving business disputes and monitors litigation developments affecting business.

The committee examines the statutory basis for business entities in New Jersey as well as trends in other states. Reviews case law affecting New Jersey business entities. Recommends legislative changes and new laws to place New Jersey at the leading edge among all other states. Advises the membership and the rest of the New Jersey bar about important developments in the area through the use of programs and publications.

The committee focuses on developments in the area of closely held and family owned businesses, including succession planning counseling, litigation, acquisitions and sales, corporate governance, and the business lawyer's interaction with other professionals.

The committee provides a forum and resource to members of the New Jersey Bar Association engaged in representing biotechnology, genomics, pharmaceutical, medical device, healthcare science, diagnostic and other life science companies. The committee examines and monitors trends, current issues and other concerns of specific interest to the industry, with special focus on matters associated with intellectual property, licensing, product development, marketing and distribution, advertising, product liability, commercial transactions, FDA and international regulation, and securities law disclosure requirements applicable to the foregoing.

The committee provides a forum and resource to members of the New Jersey State Bar Association engaged in representing technology entrepreneurs, emerging growth technology companies and venture capital firms. The committee examines and monitors trends, current issues and other concerns affecting venture-backed companies. The convergence of corporate and intellectual property-related issues as they impact emerging growth companies is a focus of this committee.

The committee focuses on existing and developing laws and cases, as well as legislative, regulatory and industry trends that effect the broad range of New Jersey healthcare providers, businesses and ventures, both for-profit and non-profit. The committee provides an avenue for discussion among practitioners who represent clients operating businesses or are otherwise involved in the health care arena. The committee also analyzes federal and state lawmaking efforts that could have a direct effect on the health care community.