Strategic partnerships can be crucial to the success of a business. Restrictive covenants play a vital role in these agreements, offering valuable protection for your business interests while posing potential challenges—if not handled carefully. New Jersey has long enforced reasonable restrictive covenants, but state lawmakers are now considering legislation that could substantially limit the scope and enforceability of these covenants.  Crafting a well-thought-out partnership agreement can be both challenging and rewarding. Let’s take a look at the proposed legislation and its potential ..read more

Even though most of us have seen, heard, or read examples of civil litigation in the media (Erin Brokovich, anyone?), this type of legal matter is far from universally understood. There are lots of misconceptions about what civil litigation is, how it works, and what you should understand if you’re involved in a civil case.  Whether you’re filing a suit or are defending yourself from one, a clear understanding of how these matters work can ease your stress and help you make informed decisions. At Dressel/Malikschmitt, it’s our goal to make legal processes make sense for those in the middl ..read more

Are you considering filing a lawsuit against someone? Or, maybe you’ve been named as the defendant in one? If so, you probably have questions. Lots of them. You might wonder… Will I have to go before a judge? How long will the matter take to resolve? What exactly is this going to cost? Truthfully, predicting every aspect of a civil case is impossible, but having realistic expectations is key for a smooth progression. So, what does it take to file and pursue a civil case? Let’s get into it!  Basics of civil law Civil law addresses disputes between individuals or businesses. Plaintiffs ..read more

Kennedi’s Winning Essay Losing my father and other family members into the criminal justice system brought my attention to the law. Many of them were on their “third strike” and had public defenders who seemed to be on their tenth case of the day.  The odds were against their favor since birth; their environment and education were poor.  Observing minority and low-income communities like mine not being able to advance inspired me to choose a career centered around service to these affected communities. I want to help members of these impoverished communities to protect their legal a ..read more

Wondering how top business executives negotiate compensation packages that reflect their value and help them achieve their personal and professional goals?   We’re here to demystify the world of executive compensation with a clear, digestible definition of executive compensation, followed by effective tips for negotiating the executive compensation package you want.  Whether you aspire to reach the coveted C-suite or you’re simply curious about the inner workings of executive compensation, this overview of the subject will leave you more informed and prepared for the process.&nb ..read more

It’s the hot topic in the digests, CLEs, and at dinner parties: are lawyers concerned that computers are going to take their jobs? Are lawyers indispensable? What do lawyers even do?  These questions are often posed by the asker as a gleeful, existential inquiry that has more to do with outsiders’ views of the profession than honest curiosity about technology and the nuances of its impacts on the legal industry.  Let’s focus on a more interesting question, one of a higher order than simply “will AI replace lawyers?” Instead, let’s ask ourselves this: when will AI replace judges? Fert ..read more

Omar’s Winning Essay: “Are you sure? A lot could change within a year.”  In 2019, I decided to take a gap year after college and understood the worry in my mother’s voice. Thoughts of my grandmother’s struggles during her immigration to the U.S., my mother dropping out of community college after her first semester due to hardship, and fears of deportation of family members raced through my mind. Uncertainty has been a prevailing theme in our family, and pausing my studies meant that I assumed a risk for my future and my family’s. This uncertainty in my personal life led me to the New San ..read more

When people think about wage and hour claims, they usually think of minimum wage violations. However, state and federal labor laws govern many other areas of employer conduct, including when to pay employees, overtime pay, child labor, breaks, recordkeeping, and other wage and hour matters. Companies must follow many rules and regulations, both nationally and at the state level in New Jersey. Even diligent business owners can sometimes find themselves on the wrong side of a legal dispute regarding their wage and hour practices.  The first step in avoiding wage and hour claims is understan ..read more

In a recent victory, Dressel/Malikschmitt LLP represented former Chief Operating Officer George Polson in a compensation dispute against the chemicals company Vivimed Labs Inc. USA. The case, Polson v. Vivimed Labs, revolved around Vivimed’s denial of promised compensation to Polson following the partial sale of the Global Specialty Chemicals Division, which he headed for four years. Our client’s claim for breach of contract was based on the company’s failure to pay the plaintiff annual bonuses, incremental salary increases, additional stock grants or cash in lieu of a 401(k) plan, and special ..read more

A few days ago, Gov. Murphy signed a new law that is designed to protect shoppers from surprise credit card fees, and prevent businesses from making a profit off of credit card fees. This change should help ensure that New Jersey’s historically strong consumer protection laws keep pace with changes in consumer behavior. What’s New? New Jersey businesses have always been able to pass the fees they are charged by credit card processing companies on to consumers who choose to pay via credit card.  But some businesses have not been telling customers that they will be paying these fees. And ot ..read more