In celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Month, Stark & Stark’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee are shining a spotlight on some of our AAPI employees.

We sat down with Heather Morgan, a personal injury settlement coordinator in our Marlton office, to discuss her favorite cultural traditions, and what AAPI Month means to her.

Stark & Stark (S&S): What is your cultural identity?

Heather Morgan (HM): Korean-American.

S&S: What is your favorite cultural tradition?

HM: Korean Dol (or Doljanchi) is the first birthday celebration for a Korean child. “Dol” means birthday and “janchi” means banquet or feast. For the Doljanchi, parents celebrate by having a party with many traditional foods and rituals. This ceremony blesses the child with a prosperous future. The birthday baby wears a “hanbok” (traditional Korean clothing). The highlight of the “Dol” or “Doljanchi” is the “Doljabi”. The “Doljabi” is a fortune telling game where the parents lay out several symbolic items. Some Doljabi items include:

• Pencil: The baby will be a scholar.
• Paint Brush: The baby will be an artist.
• Money: The baby will be wealthy.
• Microphone: The baby will be an entertainer.
• Stethoscope: The baby will be a doctor.
• Gavel: The baby will be a lawyer.
• Computer Mouse: The baby will be a software engineer.
• Golf Ball / Baseball: The baby will be an athlete.

Whichever item the baby picks first predicts what type of person the baby will be when they grow up! I have two boys…ages 8 and 9. We had a Dol celebration for both boys when they turned 1 years old. My older son Kai picked a pencil and my younger son Jace picked a golf ball.

S&S: What does AAPI Heritage Month mean to you?

HM: To me, AAPI Heritage Month is a time to acknowledge, appreciate, respect and celebrate the rich and diverse culture, traditions and contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. It’s a great time to remember our own history and be proud of who we are. I am proud to be a Korean-American. It’s an opportunity to share my culture with the community and highlight all the positive contributions. It’s also a great opportunity to recognize the accomplishments and successes of AAPI individuals.

S&S: How do you think your culture has influenced you in your professional life?

HM: Respect, hard work and family are very important in our Korean culture. My family and I immigrated to the United States when I was 7 years old. We didn’t speak English and had to attend public school and integrate into my local community. My parents instilled within me the values of hard work and discipline. They taught me to respect others and by being disciplined, I could achieve success in my career and life.

S&S: What do you hope to see for the AAPI community in the future?

HM: I hope that we continue to believe that we can make a difference even if progress is slow and to appreciate, respect and celebrate all the different Asian cultures. I believe that we can always learn something from the perspective of others.

The post AAPI Month Employee Spotlight: Heather Morgan appeared first on Stark & Stark.

The law firm of Stark & Stark is pleased to announce that multiple attorneys have been selected for inclusion in the list of 2023 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers, which recognizes only the top 5% of attorneys in the state*, and the list of 2023 Pennsylvania Rising Stars, which recognizes only the top 2.5% of attorneys in the state*. Each of the Stark & Stark attorneys below were nominated in the PI General: Plaintiff category.

2023 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list:

• Joseph Cullen 
• Carin O’Donnell
• Tyler Tomlinson

2023 Pennsylvania Rising Stars list:

• Ian Abovitz

For more information about our attorneys and practices, please visit www.stark-stark.com.

“Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The patented selection process is multi-phased and includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations.” “The selection process for the Rising Stars list is the same as the Super Lawyers selection process, with one exception: to be eligible for inclusion in Rising Stars, a candidate must be either 40 years old or younger or in practice for 10 years or less.” (SuperLawyers.com).

*No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Courts of New Jersey or Pennsylvania.

The post Stark & Stark Attorneys Recognized by Pennsylvania Super Lawyers in 2023 appeared first on Stark & Stark.

Stark & Stark is pleased to welcome Nicole Durso, Esq. to our Yardley office. Nicole is a member of the Accident & Personal Injury Group, where she represents people who have suffered catastrophic injuries and wrongful death resulting from motor vehicle, motorcycle, trucking, bus, commercial vehicle, bicycle, pedestrian, and construction accidents.

Prior to joining Stark & Stark, Nicole served as in-house counsel to an insurance company, where she worked on the defense side. This gives her the unique knowledge and perspective necessary to now fight for the rights of her clients.

Stark & Stark is excited to have Nicole join our team. Welcome to the firm!

The post Stark & Stark Welcomes New Associate Nicole Durso, Esq. appeared first on Stark & Stark.

Stark & Stark is pleased to welcome Dipa Rapole, Esq. to our Hamilton office. Dipa is a member of the Business & Corporate, Commercial Real Estate, and Zoning & Land Use Groups. She handles a wide range of matters for the real estate industry, including commercial transactions, leasing, condominium and homeowner association formation, and representation of developers and landowners in land use applications.

Prior to joining Stark & Stark, Dipa handled a wide range of commercial real estate matters at another New Jersey law firm.

Stark & Stark is excited to have Dipa join our team. Welcome to the firm!

The post Stark & Stark Welcomes New Associate Dipa Rapole, Esq. appeared first on Stark & Stark.

Stark & Stark is pleased to announce that 24 of its attorneys have been selected for inclusion in the list of 2023 New Jersey Super Lawyers, which recognizes only the top 5% of attorneys in the state*, and the list of 2023 New Jersey Rising Stars, which recognizes only the top 2.5% of attorneys in the state*. The Stark & Stark attorneys were nominated across various practice categories, including Workers’ Comp., Estate & Probate, Family Law, Business Lit, PI Med Mal: Plaintiff, IP Lit, and PI General: Plaintiff.

2023 New Jersey Super Lawyers list:

• Vicki W. Beyer
• Robert Bratman
• Michael G. Donahue
• Steven L. Friedman
• Tommie Ann Gibney
• Craig S. Hilliard
• Evan J. Lide
• Denise M. Mariani
• Bryan M. Roberts
• Joel R. Rosenberg
• John A. Sakson
• Domenic B. Sanginiti, Jr.
• David M. Schmid
• Bruce H. Stern

2023 New Jersey Rising Stars list:

• Taylor DeSantis
• Joseph W. Gable
• Bhaveen R. Jani
• Michael J. Jordan
• Brian E. Kasper
• Jonathan Lauri
• Gene Markin
• Cory Rand
• Chinsu Shajan
• Christopher Weidman

For more information about our attorneys and practices, please visit www.stark-stark.com.

“Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The patented selection process is multi-phased and includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations.The selection process for the Rising Stars list is the same as the Super Lawyers selection process, with one exception: to be eligible for inclusion in Rising Stars, a candidate must be either 40 years old or younger or in practice for 10 years or less.” (SuperLawyers.com).

*No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey

The post Stark & Stark Attorneys Recognized by New Jersey Super Lawyers in 2023 appeared first on Stark & Stark.

New office of 76,000 sq. ft. will house nearly 200 employees.

Stark & Stark announced today its headquarters has moved to a new location at American Metro Center (AMC) in Hamilton, NJ. Founded in 1933, the firm is one of the oldest law practices in New Jersey. The move reflects Stark & Stark’s continued growth as it provides a full range of legal services for businesses and individuals.

Stark & Stark’s completely renovated new site (100 American Metro Boulevard, Hamilton, NJ) is 76,000 square feet and will be occupied by nearly 200 employees. AMC is adjacent to NJ Transit’s Hamilton Train Station, off Sloan Avenue. With high exterior windows, skylight rows, and original steel beams, the building is defined by its historical use of architecture and ability to evolve with modern-day design.

“We are very excited to announce our commencement of operation in this new space,” said Stark & Stark Managing Shareholder Michael Donahue. “This is a new milestone in our history of commitment to our community. We truly look forward to bringing our clients, our community partners and our employees to a space that is beautifully designed and provides state-of-the-art technology.”

He added, “The location could not be more attractive. Positioned just walking distance from the NJ Transit train station, the accessibility to New York, Philadelphia, and the Northeast Corridor are undoubtedly premier features for employees and clients.”

With HOK serving as architect, Sweetwater Construction Corp. served as general contractor of this significant renovation of Stark & Stark’s new space in the historic building. Tactix Real Estate Advisors represented Stark & Stark as its commercial real estate brokerage firm. Watchdog provided project management support throughout the renovation. Bala Consulting Engineers served as the engineering design firm.

Mr. Donahue concluded, “The successful execution of this project was made possible through the meticulous coordination of operations within many departments and professionals managed by Chief Operating Officer Gregory Deatz.”

Click here for a PDF with directions to the Hamilton office.

About Stark & Stark:
Since 1933, Stark & Stark (www.stark-stark.com) has developed innovative legal solutions to meet our clients’ needs. Boasting one of the oldest law practices in New Jersey, Stark & Stark offers a full range of legal services for businesses and individuals. After 90 years, our attorneys continue to deliver practical, efficient solutions to clients in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, and throughout the United States.

The post Stark & Stark Announces Headquarters Move to Hamilton appeared first on Stark & Stark.

Stark & Stark is proud to announce that Shareholder Bruce Stern has been elected as Senior Trustee of the International Brain Injury Association (IBIA), an organization he has been involved in for over two decades.

“For the past 22 years I have had the honor of serving as Treasurer for IBIA. It is time to pass the torch to a younger generation,” said Bruce. “I look forward to serving in my senior role to assist our new board members to make IBIA a better and stronger organization to help survivors of traumatic brain injury.”

The IBIA is “dedicated to the development and support of multidisciplinary medical and clinical professionals, advocates, policy makers, consumers, and others who work to improve outcomes and opportunities for persons with brain injury.” Click here to learn more.

Bruce is a member of the firm’s Accident & Personal Injury, Construction Accident, Spinal Cord Injury, and Traumatic Brain Injury Groups. He specializes his practice in representing the victims of traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries and wrongful death.

Congratulations Bruce!

The post Shareholder Bruce Stern, Esq. Elected as Senior Trustee of the International Brain Injury Association appeared first on Stark & Stark.

Stark & Stark is pleased to welcome Ksenia Cutler to the Accident & Personal Injury Group in the Hamilton, NJ office. She represents clients who have suffered catastrophic injuries resulting from motorcycle accidents, car accidents, and truck accidents.

Prior to joining Stark & Stark, Ksenia worked for a criminal law attorney in Camden County. She is fluent in Russian.

Stark & Stark is excited to have Ksenia join our team. Welcome to the firm!

The post Stark & Stark Welcomes New Associate Ksenia Cutler appeared first on Stark & Stark.

Stark & Stark is proud to announce that Shareholder Bhaveen R. Jani has been recognized as an NJBIZ 2023 Leader in Law*. Following an open nomination period, honorees were chosen by a panel of independent judges with experience in the justice system. The selections were based on legal professionals – lawyers and general counsels – whose dedication to their occupation and to their communities is outstanding.

Bhaveen R. Jani, Esq. is a Shareholder and trial attorney in the Accident & Personal Injury Group at Stark & Stark. He focuses his practice in the areas of motor vehicle, tractor-trailer crashes, and premise liability matters which result in catastrophic spinal injuries and traumatic brain injuries. Mr. Jani frequently appears in federal, state, and appellate courts in New Jersey.

Mr. Jani has been a lifelong resident of New Jersey and was born in Hoboken and grew up in Edison. He is also a very active member of the bar and community. Bhaveen has served as President of the South Asian Bar Association of NJ (SABA-NJ) for two terms. The organization is the largest affinity bar association in NJ which represents the rapidly growing South Asian population and contains about 350 members who are judges, lawyers, and law students. Bhaveen was also appointed to a three-year term by the Supreme Court of New Jersey to the Committee on the Unauthorized Practice of Law. Bhaveen also serves on the Board of Governors for both the American Association for Justice (AAJ) and the New Jersey Association for Justice (NJAJ).

Bhaveen frequently lectures on a wide array of topics from evidence, trial strategy and case law, to diversity and inclusion.

Accordingly, diversity and inclusion are important to Bhaveen, both professionally and personally. Besides his work with SABA-NJ, Bhaveen also Chairs the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee at Stark & Stark. Mr. Jani also serves on NJAJ’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee.

“I am deeply honored to be recognized as an NJBIZ 2023 Leader in Law,” said Bhaveen. “This award is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our team at Stark & Stark. I am proud to be part of an organization that values diversity, equity, and inclusion, and I look forward to continuing to serve our clients and community with passion and commitment.”

Congratulations Bhaveen!

*No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.

The post Bhaveen R. Jani, Esq. Recognized as an NJBIZ 2023 Leader in Law appeared first on Stark & Stark.