Honorable James J. DeLuca, J.S.C. (Ret.) is Counsel to Harwood Lloyd, LLC and is located in Hackensack, New Jersey. His practice focuses on the resolution of commercial, probate, trust and estate disputes through mediation and arbitration as an alternative to traditional litigation. Judge DeLuca also provides discovery master services, consultation on case management, development of trial strategy and, in appropriate circumstances, serving as special fiscal agent/receiver.

Judge DeLuca was appointed to the Superior Court of New Jersey in February 2015. He initially served in the Civil Division; and in July of 2018, he was reassigned to the Chancery Division where he served until his retirement in December 2022. While in
the Chancery Division, Judge DeLuca handled all matters appropriate for the Chancery Division including General Equity matters, Probate and Guardianship matters and
Foreclosures.

Prior to his appointment to the bench, Judge DeLuca was a partner with the law firm of Okin, Hollander & DeLuca, LLP in Fort Lee, New Jersey where his practice focused on business litigation, bankruptcy, commercial and business transactions, and arbitrations. From 1979 to 1986, Judge DeLuca served as associate counsel and then general counsel to a commercial and consumer lender located in Paramus, New Jersey. Judge DeLuca began his legal career at a firm in New York City handling commercial and securities litigation.

Judge DeLuca received his B.A. from Queens College (City University of New York) in 1974 and his J.D. from Notre Dame Law School in 1977.

Elton is a well-known and respected litigator who approaches each client as a person, always taking into consideration their individual circumstances and needs. He is a compassionate and thoughtful advocate who takes great pride in crafting creative strategies that match the specific needs of each client.

During a storied career, Elton has taken on thousands of family, estate, guardianship, criminal, and civil cases. He has been appointed in dozens of guardianship matters as attorney for alleged incapacitated persons, as guardian, administrator, guardian ad litem, and in high conflict, complex, contested guardianship and estate actions. I have been appointed to conduct intensive in-depth investigations and assessments. He has been asked by the Courts to mediate high profile, high conflict, contested guardianship and family disputes.

Elton’s passion has always been family, guardianship, and estate practice, together with all the complexities that come along with each unique, family-oriented matter.

As a seasoned litigator, Elton now applies all of his background and experience to craft creative and innovative solutions for the most complex and high-conflict family, guardianship and estate matters. He is fair, understanding, and caring, yet decisive. Elton volunteers as a Bergen County Mandatory Early Settlement Panelist and has satisfied the New Jersey Supreme Court’s qualifications as a Rule 1:40 Family Mediator. Elton’s foremost goal is to provide each client with the highest level of professionalism, attention to detail and integrity. Elton’s sincere and genuine character is immediately evident when you meet him, giving every client the confidence that they are in the best hands, no matter the situation.

Gregory Ein is an associate in Connell Foley's Taxation and Estate Planning Group. An experienced litigator, he assists clients with estate and fiduciary litigation, guardianships and other trust and estate controversies. His experience also includes probate litigation and contested guardianships. Prior to joining Connell Foley, Gregory was a trust and estate associate at a northern New Jersey law firm. He served as a law clerk to the Honorable Bonnie Mizdol, A.J.S.C., New Jersey Superior Court.

Gregory received a New Jersey Judiciary Certificate in Mediation in 2015. He is heavily involved in the Bergen County Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division where he is currently president-elect; previously he served as secretary, treasurer and vice president.

Matthew represents clients in the area of estate litigation, with an emphasis in litigation involving will contests, disputes between fiduciaries and beneficiaries, guardianship matters, accountings, trust interpretation and reformation, and businesses.

Prior to joining Archer, Matthew was an attorney with Meyerson, Fox, Mancinelli & Conte, P.A. in New Jersey, where he handled a variety of civil matters, including commercial litigation, fiduciary litigation, estate and trust contests, contested guardianships, and appeals.

Following law school, Matthew served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Menelaos W. Toskos (Ret.) in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Chancery Division, General Equity and Probate Part in Hackensack, NJ.

Matthew received his J.D. from Villanova University School of Law. During law school, he was an intern with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission as part of its Student Honors Program, where he assisted in enforcement actions related to insider trading, market manipulation, and accounting fraud.

Brian E. Shea is a Partner with Meyerson, Fox, Mancinelli & Conte, PA. Brian practices in the areas of Guardianship Litigation; Chancery Litigation; Estate and Trust Administration and Litigation; and Matrimonial Litigation. Brian often performs services as Court Appointed Counsel for allegedly incapacitated individuals in Guardianship matters. Brian has also been appointed numerous times as Guardian ad Litem, for both children and adults, in Guardianship Litigations, Estate and Trust Litigations and other matters. Brian is a Court Approved Mediator and has also been selected to serve in the role of Arbitrator.

Brian received his undergraduate degree from St. Joseph’s University and his law degree from Seton Hall University School of Law. Prior to engaging in private practice, from September 2005 through August 2006, Brian served a one-year judicial clerkship in the Superior Court of New Jersey for the Honorable James B. Convery, J.S.C., Lead Dissolution Judge, Chancery Division, Family Part, Essex Vicinage. Brian is a graduate of the American Bar Association Section of Family Law National Institute for Trial Advocacy, an intensive professional training program in the art of Trial Skills.

Brian is also the current District Chairman of the Bergen County District II-B Fee Arbitration Committee and a former member of the Juvenile Conference Committee in Passaic County. Brian was appointed on January 1, 2021 by the Supreme Court of the State of New Jersey to the Supreme Court Committee on the Unauthorized Practice of Law for a three-year term.