The Honorable Ellen L. Koblitz (Ret.) is special counsel in the Alternative Dispute Resolution practice, Appellate Advocacy practice, and Family Law practice at Pashman Stein Walder Hayden. She focuses her practice on mediation and arbitration of Family, Chancery and Civil matters. In addition, she advises attorneys and clients on appellate matters, including reviewing appellate briefs and conducting moot court appellate arguments. Judge Koblitz is on the consumer panel of arbitrators of the American Arbitration Association and is a qualified NJ Ct. R. 1:40-12 mediator.

Judge Koblitz joined the firm in 2020 after serving as a judge in the Appellate Division of the New Jersey Superior Court for 10 years, including two years as Presiding Judge. In the Appellate Division, Judge Koblitz heard appeals from decisions of the trial courts, tax court, and state administrative agencies.

Judge Koblitz began her legal career in the New Jersey Office of the Public Defender and rose to the position of deputy public defender in charge of the Hudson and then the Bergen County regional office.

First appointed to the New Jersey Superior Court in 1993, Judge Koblitz served in the Special Civil Part and Criminal Part in Bergen County. She then served as Presiding Judge of the Family Part from 1998 to 2008, when she was tapped to serve as Presiding Judge of the Chancery Division in Bergen County.

While on the bench, Judge Koblitz served on numerous New Jersey Supreme Court Committees, including serving as chair of the Supreme Court Judicial Education Committee, chair of the Conference of Family Division Presiding Judges, chair of the Children in Court Improvement Committee, and vice chair of the Supreme Court Family Practice Committee.

Judge Koblitz joins Pashman Stein’s ADR practice team which includes the firm’s special counsel, Justice Gary S. Stein (Ret.), who served for more than 17 years as an associate justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court; the Honorable Ronny Jo Siegal (Ret.), a partner and former judge who served for more than eight years with the New Jersey Superior Court, Chancery Division, Family Part; and Barry H. Evenchick, a partner and former chief of the appellate section of the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.

Judge Koblitz passes her legal knowledge on to others through service as an Adjunct Professor at Rutgers University School of Law and presenter of numerous continuing legal education courses, as well as by mentoring lawyers within the firm.

Dillon McGuire is counsel in the Firm’s Criminal Defense and Governmental and Internal Investigations practice.

Dillon earned his J.D., magna cum laude, from Rutgers Law School, and was inducted into the Order of the Coif. While attending Rutgers Law School, Dillon was selected for a coveted fellowship with the Eagleton Institute of Politics and worked as a legislative aide in the non partisan Office of Legislative Services. In that role, Dillon drafted bills and sponsor statements for members of the New Jersey Senate and General Assembly, and worked closely with staff attorneys to research constitutional issues in connection with pending legislation. Following law school, Dillon served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Margaret M. Foti, P.J.Cr. – the presiding criminal judge in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Bergen Vicinage. Thereafter, Dillon clerked for the Honorable Robert J. Gilson, J.A.D., in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division.

Dillon’s legislative experience provides him with a unique understanding of our laws and the challenges that come with reading and interpreting statutes. Likewise, Dillon’s experience as a judicial law clerk has given him an in-depth understanding of the most effective litigation strategies and best practices at both the trial and appellate levels.

In Dillon's Words:
"Our criminal defense practice handles many high-stakes federal investigations and prosecutions, as well as criminal matters in the state and municipal courts. Criminal matters are inherently stressful for defendants and their families, and part of my job is to help my client navigate this sometimes scary and intimidating criminal justice process. To that end, an important aspect of my job is explaining the process at every stage to ensure my client is fully informed about what to expect at each court appearance. While a client may be offered a plea bargain, depending on the evidence in a given case and other factors, a plea resolution may or may not benefit the defendant. Unfortunately, however innocent men and women often feel pressured into pleading guilty simply to avoid the stress, cost, and risk of a jury trial. To me, the notion of even one innocent man or woman being imprisoned is morally repugnant. Thus, my goal is always to vigorously test the State’s proofs and file every motion necessary to vindicate my clients’ constitutional rights."

Samantha T. Alexander is an associate in the firm’s Corporate & Business Law practice and Commercial Real Estate practice. Her Corporate & Business Law practice focuses on advising entrepreneurs and emerging growth companies on a broad range of corporate and business matters, including startup formation and corporate governance, debt and equity financings, developing and implementing business initiatives, corporate reorganizations, and mergers and acquisitions.

Samantha‘s extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions includes structuring, drafting and negotiating asset purchase, stock purchase, and merger agreements and all related ancillary documents, as well as all aspects of the due diligence process, including drafting due diligence memorandums, analyzing target company agreements and documents, and drafting disclosure schedules.

Samantha also handles a wide array of commercial real estate matters, including preparing joint venture agreements, providing borrower representation in commercial mortgage transactions and negotiating commercial leases.