THOMAS J. LANZA

For over twenty-five years Mr. Thomas J. Lanza (“Thom”) has advised clients on ways to preserve family assets and shares a variety of estate planning techniques with his clients.  Additionally, he advises heirs, guides executors, administrators, trustees, and beneficiaries through the probate process.

Thom’s twenty year experience as a Municipal prosecutor has provided him with a unique knowledge of all aspects of the municipal court practice.  He has the ability to effectively work with the most complex municipal court cases.

Areas of Practice

• Business Transactions – represents various business entities and individuals in the formation, sale, purchase, and organization of businesses
• Estate Planning and Administration, Wills, Trusts, Power of Attorney and Living Wills – he advises individuals and families in the preservation of family assets, and the drafting of their wills and trust documents, and handles disputes that may arise from these documents.
• Real Estate Practice – represent clients in all aspects of selling, acquiring and leasing both residential and commercial real estate
• Municipal Court – represent clients in all municipal court matters including drug charges, DWI violations, traffic violations, driving while suspended, no-insurance, domestic violence, ordinance violations

Bar Admissions

• New Jersey, 1988
• Pennsylvania, 1988
• U.S. District Court District of New Jersey, 1988
• U.S. Supreme Court, 1996

Education

• Seton Hall University School of Law, Newark, New Jersey J.D. – 1988
• Seton Hall University, South Orange, New Jersey
• B.A. – January, 1978
• Major: English /Secondary Education Classes/Seminars
• Special Presenter, Peoples Law School, Raritan Valley College
• Pitfalls to avoid in residential and commercial real estate transactions

Honors and Awards

Hall of Fame SPHS – For outstanding dedication and contributions in the areas of education, academic accomplishments, community service, government service, volunteerism and service to humanity

Past Employment Positions:

• Lanza & Lanza LLP
• Thatcher & Lanza, Partner and Attorney at Law, 1998 – 2005
• Prosecutor for Borough of South Plainfield, New Jersey, January 11, 1993 – Present
• Senior Prosecutor for Township of Piscataway, New Jersey, January 1, 2007 – Present
• Lee, Chu, Walters and Colimbini, Law Clerk, 1986 – 1988
• Prosecutor for Borough of Dunellen, 2013 – Present
• TD Bank (previously Commerce Bank) review and closing attorney for small business loans (SBA Loans)

Pro Bono Activities

• Co-Chair – Coaches Care, Inc. 501c.3 – Charity raising funds for children’s health issues), 2005 – Present
• Trustee – South Plainfield Soccer Association, 2003 – 2007
• Member – Sacred Heart School – SAC committee, 2009
• Advisor – South Plainfield Junior Football Association

KENNETH W. THOMAS

Areas of Practice

Personal Injury
Litigation Percentage
80% of Practice Devoted to Litigation

Bar Admissions

• Arkansas, 1999
• New Jersey, 1999
• California, 2004
• U.S. District Court District of New Jersey, 1999
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of Arkansas, 2004
• U.S. District Court Western District of Arkansas, 2004
• U.S. District Court Central District of California, 2004
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of California, 2004
• U.S. District Court Northern District of California, 2005
• U.S. District Court Southern District of California, 2005
• U.S. Supreme Court, 2004

Education

• University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Leflar Law Center, Fayetteville, ArkansasJ.D.
• Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey B.S. – 1995
• Honors: Golden Key
• Honors: National Honor Society
• Honors: Dean’s List
• Major: Accounting
• Representative Cases

State of New Jersey v. Darrell Thomas, 2013 WL 1222695 (N.J. Super. A.D.) (2013)
Marcinczyk v. State of New Jersey, Police Training Commission, et al., 5 A.3d 785 (N.J.) (2010)
Gazzillo v. Board of Ed., S. Hunterdon Regional High School, 2005 WL 3695758 (N.J. Super. A.D.) (2006)
Diemer v. Plath, 2005 WL 3999741 (N.J. Super. A.D.) (2005)
Vacca v. City of Linden, et al., 2002 WL 31740448 (N.J.Super.A.D.) (2002)

Honors and Awards

• New Jersey Super lawyers-Rising Stars 2013
• AIOFLA 10 Best Award in Client Satisfaction 2015& 2016
• National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys Top 10 Attorney Award 2015 &2016

Professional Associations and Memberships

• California State Bar, Member, 2004 – Present
• Hunterdon County Bar Association, Member, 2003 – Present
• New Jersey Association for Justice (formerly Association of Trial Lawyers of America), Member, 2000 – Present
• New Jersey State Bar Association, Member, 1999 – Present
• Arkansas State Bar Association, Member, 1999 – Present
• American Institute of Family Law Attorneys, member
• American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys, member
• International Academy of Collaborative Professionals, member

Past Employment Positions

• Lanza & Lanza LLP
• Rotolo Midlige, Associate Attorney, September 9, 1999 – November 15, 2002

Pro Bono Activities

• Matrimonial Early Settlement Panelist-Hunterdon County Ancillary Businesses
• 1:40 trained matrimonial mediator
• Trained as a collaborative law attorney