Pashman Stein Opens Monmouth County Office In Bell Works

HOLMDEL, NJ — Well-known New Jersey law firm Pashman Stein has expanded their presence in Monmouth County, signing a ten-year lease on a 6,500-square-foot office at Bell Works in Holmdel.

The terms of the lease were not disclosed.

Pashman Stein Walder Hayden is still headquartered in Hackensack, but about two years ago they opened a satellite office in Monmouth County, opening a small office in downtown Red Bank in April 2017. They opened the satellite branch in response to corporate growth in Monmouth County, the firm said in a statement.

Their decision to now upgrade into Bell Works is seen as an aggressive expansion of their move into Monmouth County business and political circles — and a sign of how popular Bell Works is becoming. Pashman Stein will now have offices located in the same building as Nvidia/Nokia, iCIMS, Jersey Central Power & Light, Smith Eibeler law firm and OceanFirst Bank, all of which have offices in Bell Works. Bell Works is also home to the constituent offices of 13th Legislative District legislators Senator Declan O'Scanlon (R) and Assemblywoman Serena DiMaso (R).

There are several high-end restaurants opening up at Bell Works, and a rooftop hotel is being planned for the future. Bell Works is also home to the Holmdel public library and Holmdel Montessori school.

"The progressive office environment of Bell Works, with its 'metroburb' of shops, services and restaurants, symbolizes the thriving economic growth in the region of Monmouth County," said the law firm in a statement. "Pashman Stein, which has more than 55 attorneys and a staff of over 40, now has offices in Bergen County and Monmouth County in New Jersey, and in Westchester County in New York."

Pashman Stein specializes in commercial litigation and white-collar crime and government investigations. They're currently involved in a civil lawsuit filed against former Mets star Lenny Dykstra over a multi-million-dollar real estate deal to purchase The Gran Centurions, a wedding venue in Clark.

In the 1960s and '70s, Bell Works was the headquarters for Bell Labs/Alcatel-Lucent. The aging building in disrepair was purchased in 2007 by Ralph Zucker, president of Somerset Development, and today it's been reborn as a tech, office, retail, dining and hospitality hub just off the Parkway in northern Monmouth County.

Pashman Stein has been in operation in Hackensack since 1995.

“Jay Colao and Tracy Julian opened the Red Bank office in 2017 with a strong litigation and family law focus," said Michael S. Stein, managing partner. "Matt Smuro and Andy Bayer joined the firm last year, adding depth in those two practice areas with Andy having additional experience in public and government work. These lawyers have deep roots in Monmouth County. We are excited about our move into the impressive Bell Works, and our significant physical commitment to Monmouth County will enable us to be a closer part of the area’s corporate community, expanding our footprint in practices including real estate, land use, and trusts and estates.”

The lawyers in Pashman Stein’s new Bell Works location include:

Joseph J. (Jay) Colao, Jr., Partner: Colao primarily litigates business disputes. He also devotes substantial time and effort to assisting his on-going business clients with avoiding those disputes. Colao also handles probate litigation matters, including will contests, fiduciary claims and contested guardianship proceedings as well. He also serves as the attorney for the Borough of Spring Lake, is a former assistant counsel for Monmouth County, the Monmouth Construction Board of Appeals and trustee of the Monmouth Bar Association.

Tracy Julian, Partner: Julian chairs the firm’s Family Law Group and represents clients in all phases of litigation, arbitration and mediation related to family law and business conflict. Her family practice serves clients with issues such as divorce, alimony, child support, parenting time and custody. She is a qualified NJ Ct. R. 1:40-12 family law mediator, able to assist clients to resolve their differences through mediation. In addition, Julian has significant experience in commercial litigation and frequently handles matters involving dissolution of commercial entities, buy-outs, and the challenges of planning to operate a family business post-divorce.

Andrew Bayer, Partner: Bayer’s practice focuses on municipal law, land use and civil litigation. He serves as General Counsel, Planning Board, and Special Affordable Housing Counsel to municipalities throughout New Jersey. He serves as Special Counsel to governmental entities in litigation matters including the defense of civil rights, employment discrimination and New Jersey Tort Claims Act claims. In addition, Bayer represents healthcare providers in commercial and employment litigation disputes, and before the New Jersey Department of Health in connection with regulatory compliance issues including Medicaid billing disputes.

Matt Smuro, Counsel: Smuro’s practice focuses on family law, representing clients in all phases of matrimonial litigation, arbitration and mediation. He handles a wide range of matters including divorce, custody and visitation, alimony, equitable distribution, and child support. In addition to traditional family law issues, Smuro has significant experience resolving cohabitation disputes that center around the payment of alimony. He was named “Monmouth County Top Lawyer” in Monmouth Health & Life Magazine for 2018.

“Bell Works highlights the thriving economic growth in this region, while other local communities are also experiencing a similar surge in development,” said Julian. “Surrounding towns such as Red Bank, Asbury Park, and Long Branch have evolved into business, entertainment and hospitality destinations. As new tenants in Bell Works, we look forward to contributing to this region’s prosperous future.”