Biography

Eric is Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Matrimonial Law Attorney and is a Fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Attorneys. He's also the former Co-Chair of the firm's Family Law Department.

Throughout his career, Eric's practice has focused on family law litigation and related matters, such as:

  • Litigation, mediation and arbitration of family law matters
  • Matrimonial actions, including complex matters involving valuation issues and high conflict matters
  • Custody and Parenting Time
  • Alimony and child support
  • Equitable distribution
  • Appellate practice in family law matters
  • Paternity
  • Grandparent visitation
  • Domestic violence
  • Negotiation and preparation of prenuptial, postnuptial, and cohabitation agreements
  • Negotiation and preparation of property settlement agreements
  • Enforcement and modification of agreements, orders, and judgments
  • Rights of cohabitants and palimony matters
  • Adoption

In addition to his work as a litigator, Eric can also serve as a mediator or arbitrator in divorce cases for those who wish to pursue alternative dispute resolution.

Eric's reported cases include:*

  • Steiner v. Steiner, 250 N.J. 358 (2022), 470 N.J. Super. 112 (App. Div. 2022) (certif. denied 2022) (case of first impression of adjudication of grounds for divorce under irreconcilable differences; no punitive counsel fee awards for meritorious defenses of claims)
  • Gnall v. Gnall, 222 N.J. 414, 119 A.3d 891 (2015) (courts must consider all statutory factors in determining alimony; duration alone is not determinative of whether alimony should be permanent vs. limited duration)
  • Maeker v. Ross, 219 N.J. 265 (2014) (landmark palimony case invalidating 2010 palimony statute with regard to relationships that pre-dated the statute)
  • Parish v. Parish, 412 N.J. Super. 39 (App. Div. 2010) (establishes new rules and procedures before judge can impose conditions upon filing motions in a family part case)
  • Eaton v. Grau, 368 N.J. Super. 215 (App. Div. 2004) ("hold harmless" provision in parties' property settlement agreement did not require ex-husband to remove ex-wife's name from the mortgage)
  • Moriarty v. Bradt, 177 N.J. 84 (2003) (grandparent visitation)
  • Wilde v. Wilde, 337 N.J. Super. 1 (App. Div. 2001) (grandparent visitation)
  • Crews v. Crews, 164 N.J. 11 (2000) (standard of living as it relates to alimony)
  • Brawer v. Brawer, 329 N.J. Super. 273 (App. Div. 2000) (the enforceability of an oral settlement agreement)

*Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.

Eric is Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Matrimonial Law Attorney and is a Fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Attorneys. He's also the former Co-Chair of the firm's Family Law Department.

Throughout his career, Eric's practice has focused on family law litigation and related matters, such as:

  • Litigation, mediation and arbitration of family law matters
  • Matrimonial actions, including complex matters involving valuation issues and high conflict matters
  • Custody and Parenting Time
  • Alimony and child support
  • Equitable distribution
  • Appellate practice in family law matters
  • Paternity
  • Grandparent visitation
  • Domestic violence
  • Negotiation and preparation of prenuptial, postnuptial, and cohabitation agreements
  • Negotiation and preparation of property settlement agreements
  • Enforcement and modification of agreements, orders, and judgments
  • Rights of cohabitants and palimony matters
  • Adoption

In addition to his work as a litigator, Eric can also serve as a mediator or arbitrator in divorce cases for those who wish to pursue alternative dispute resolution.

Eric's reported cases include:*

  • Steiner v. Steiner, 250 N.J. 358 (2022), 470 N.J. Super. 112 (App. Div. 2022) (certif. denied 2022) (case of first impression of adjudication of grounds for divorce under irreconcilable differences; no punitive counsel fee awards for meritorious defenses of claims)
  • Gnall v. Gnall, 222 N.J. 414, 119 A.3d 891 (2015) (courts must consider all statutory factors in determining alimony; duration alone is not determinative of whether alimony should be permanent vs. limited duration)
  • Maeker v. Ross, 219 N.J. 265 (2014) (landmark palimony case invalidating 2010 palimony statute with regard to relationships that pre-dated the statute)
  • Parish v. Parish, 412 N.J. Super. 39 (App. Div. 2010) (establishes new rules and procedures before judge can impose conditions upon filing motions in a family part case)
  • Eaton v. Grau, 368 N.J. Super. 215 (App. Div. 2004) ("hold harmless" provision in parties' property settlement agreement did not require ex-husband to remove ex-wife's name from the mortgage)
  • Moriarty v. Bradt, 177 N.J. 84 (2003) (grandparent visitation)
  • Wilde v. Wilde, 337 N.J. Super. 1 (App. Div. 2001) (grandparent visitation)
  • Crews v. Crews, 164 N.J. 11 (2000) (standard of living as it relates to alimony)
  • Brawer v. Brawer, 329 N.J. Super. 273 (App. Div. 2000) (the enforceability of an oral settlement agreement)

*Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.

Client Resources

Podcast: The Madoff Mess Hits Divorce Court

Eric was featured in a Forensic Perspective Podcast, a production of MSG Accountants, Consultants & Business Valuators. Eric discussed the decision issued by Acting New York State Supreme Court Justice Saralee Evans in the case of Simkin v. Blank, in which Mr. Simkin sought to reform his divorce agreement with his former wife because he was one of the many victims of the Bernard Madoff Ponzi scheme. Ultimately, Justice Evans dismissed the complaint in its entirety. Eric discussed how the Madoff case may impact other matrimonial outcomes. Click here for more.

Before Fox Rothschild

Eric was previously a partner at Donahue, Hagan, Klein, Newsome & O'Donnell, P.C. handling matrimonial law matters.

Beyond Fox Rothschild

Eric was appointed by the Supreme Court of New Jersey to the District XB Ethics Committee and served as the chair from September 2010 through August 2011.

Accomplishments

  • Completion of 40-hour Family Law Mediation Training at the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education.
  • Completion of Arbitration Training given by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. 

Bar Admissions

  • New Jersey
  • Pennsylvania

Court Admissions

  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Education

  • Widener University School of Law (LL.M., 1994)
    • in Taxation
  • Widener University School of Law (J.D., 1992)
  • State University of New York at Albany (B.A., cum laude, 1989)
  • American Bar Association Family Law Trial Advocacy Institute (2001)

Memberships

  • American Bar Association
  • American Association for Justice, Family Law Section
  • New Jersey State Bar Association
  • Essex County Bar Association
  • Morris County Bar Association
  • District XB Ethics Committee (2007-2011), Chair (2010-2011)
  • American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
  • Litigation Counsel of America