Jonathan I. Epstein is the partner in charge of the firm's Princeton office. Jon specializes in real estate development and commercial litigation. He offers a wealth of expertise with over 30 years experience as both a transactional lawyer and a litigator of commercial disputes. Jon's cross-disciplined practice enables him to provide insights and judgments that can only be gained from the type of broad-based experience that Jon brings to every engagement.
Real Estate. Jon's practice involves all facets of real estate - structuring deals, land acquisitions, zoning and planning, financings and workouts of real estate transactions, as well as litigation arising out of virtually any type of real estate venture. Jon counsels developers and lenders, large and small, on the myriad legal issues confronted by clients in today's regulatory and business environment, from the formation of a development entity through the sale, syndication, workout or restructuring of a real estate transaction. His real estate clients are local, regional and national developers, including the largest shopping center REIT in the country and national residential real estate developers as well as financial institutions, title companies, hotel operators and property managers. Jon represents clients on redevelopment projects and land use applications in municipalities throughout the state, specializing in contested land use cases, as well as regulatory matters before state, county and local government agencies. Jon has also served as counsel for developers on many multifamily housing projects from land acquisition through sale, often employing unique and complicated financing techniques.
Commercial Litigation. Jon represents developers, lenders and corporate and individual clients in commercial litigation, with an emphasis on real estate-related matters and all facets of corporate litigation, including oppressed shareholder cases and partnership disputes. Jon handles all types of business litigation, including prerogative writ actions and commercial foreclosures, throughout the state. He has litigated many complex cases in state and federal trial and appellate courts, and has argued cases in the New Jersey Supreme Court. By virtue of the depth of his experience in both litigation and real estate, Jon offers clients substantial expertise when faced with problematic real estate projects, land use matters, redevelopment projects or loans secured by real estate. For several years, Jon represented the largest manager of multifamily housing in the country in its capacity as court appointed receiver in one of the most complex contested foreclosure actions in the history of New Jersey involving 38 apartment complexes securing over $300 million in debt. Jon is lead counsel for a joint venture in a suit seeking damages in excess of $100 million from the Bayonne Local Redevelopment Authority and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey for an alleged breach of a redevelopment agreement and violation of the State Redevelopment Law. Jon has litigated numerous business breakups involving many different sectors, including real estate development companies, law firms, accounting firms, technology businesses, title companies, retail businesses, restaurants, wealth management firms and energy companies.
Corporate Counseling. Jon also counsels small to mid-sized corporate clients on corporate governance. With support from the firm's corporate and securities group, he provides pre-litigation counseling and advises corporate clients and board members on issues arising out of day-to-day business operations or corporate transactions. Jon draws on the talents of the firm's corporate lawyers to assist on corporate law aspects of the complex shareholder and partnership litigation that he handles.
In General. Jon was the recipient of the New Jersey Commission on Professionalism Professional Lawyer of the Year for Mercer County for 2005 and the Learned Hand Award from the American Jewish Committee for 2011. He has been named in Business News New Jersey "Who's Who" as one of New Jersey's top business leaders. Jon was the 2000-2001 president of the Mercer County Bar Association. Before his selection as president, for many years Jon served as a trustee of the Mercer County Bar Association. Jon has also served as a member of the District VII Ethics Committee, a trustee of the Legal Aid Society of Mercer County and a trustee of the Mercer Bar Foundation. He has also served as a master in the Mercer County Inn of Court. Early in his career, Jon was an adjunct professor at Seton Hall University School of Law, where he taught a clinic on civil litigation. Jon received his bachelor's degree from Hobart College and his J.D., with honors, from Rutgers University School of Law-Camden. He resides in Pennington with his wife Terri.
Professional & Civic Associations
· Former Mercer County Bar President
Speaking Engagements
4/27/2010, "New Jersey Law Office Management 101"
Jonathan Epstein, New Brunswick, NJ