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    Contact

    (908) 252-4222
    jnjacobson@norris-law.com
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    Joel N. Jacobson

    Of Counsel

    Joel has been a partner with the firm for more than 45 years. He served on the firm’s management and compensation committees from 1986 through 2017 and chaired the real estate practice group.

    Joel’s practice focuses primarily on real estate and banking matters. His clients include a wide range of real estate investors and developers, numerous banks and other financial institutions, hotel owners and developers, a large fast-food franchise, and many non-real estate businesses with real estate needs. Among the types of matters handled by Joel are the following:

    • A broad range of commercial, industrial, office, and retail leasing transactions, including a 1,100,000 square foot warehouse lease, a 250,000 square foot office lease, and a lease of an FDA-approved laboratory with the equipment in place.
    • Purchases and sales of improved and unimproved real property, including transactions with complex approval contingencies and purchase price kickers.
    • Foreclosures, workouts, and sales with respect to thousands of commercial loans secured by real estate assets, including shopping centers, commercial and residential development projects, commercial office buildings, industrial buildings, mixed used properties, commercial office buildings, industrial buildings, mixed used properties, redevelopment projects, golf courses, tennis facilities, health care facilities, self-storage facilities, restaurants, catering facilities, gas stations, parking garages, and environmentally contaminated properties.
    • Structuring of corporations, joint ventures, partnerships, and limited liability companies in connection with real estate transactions.
    • Resolution of real estate disputes, including litigation and alternate dispute resolution.

    Joel has been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America®, Banking and Finance Law from 2006–2024. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey. Click here to review award methodology.

    Areas of practice

    • Banking & Financial Services
    • Bankruptcy, Creditors’ Rights, and Financial Restructuring
    • Business Law
    • Franchise Law
    • Real Estate, Finance, and Land Use

    Education

      • University of Pennsylvania Law School
        • J.D.
      • University of Pennsylvania
        • B.A., cum laude

    Professional Affiliations

      • American Bar Association
        • Corporate Section
        • Banking & Business Law Section
      • New Jersey State Bar Association
        • Debtor/Creditor Section
        • Banking & Business Law Section
        • Real Estate Law Section
      • Meritas
        • Board of Directors, 2003-2005
        • Former Chairman, Financial Services Section
      • Somerset County Bar Association
      • Chatham Township Planning Board 2004 – 2012
      • The Oscar and Ella Wilf Campus for Senior Living
        • Board Member

    Bar Admissions

      • New Jersey
      • New York
      • District of Columbia

    Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America®, Banking and Finance Law, 2006–2024.

    • Named the Best Lawyers® 2011 Banking and Finance “Lawyer of The Year” in Newark.

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

    • Representation of nationwide hotel owner with respect to the acquisition and sale of hotels, development of new hotels, joint ventures, tax issues, land use matters, franchise issues, management agreements, and employment matters
    • Representation of one of the largest Wendy’s franchisees in Staten Island and New Jersey with respect to all aspects of its business, including ground leases, construction contracts, purchases and sales of restaurants, financing transactions and employment matters
    • Representation of a redeveloper in connection with a redevelopment project in Long Branch, New Jersey
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    Norris McLaughlin, P.A. is pleased to announce that 31 of our attorneys have been included in the 2025 Best Lawyers® lists, including 4 attorneys recognized in the 2025 edition of “Lawyer of the Year” Award, 16 attorneys recognized in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®, and 15 attorneys recognized in the 2025 edition...
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    Norris McLaughlin, P.A. is pleased to announce that 28 of our attorneys have been included in the 2024 Best Lawyers® lists, including 13 attorneys recognized in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® and 15 attorneys recognized in the 2024 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America. The attorneys included in the Best...
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    Norris McLaughlin is pleased to announce that 15 of our attorneys have been included in the 2023 Best Lawyers® lists. 14 of the firm’s attorneys have been included in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® and one has been included in the 2023 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America™ list. Additionally, two firm attorneys received a...
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    The law firm of Norris McLaughlin, P.A., is pleased to announce that fifteen of the firm’s attorneys have been selected for inclusion in the 2022 Best Lawyers® lists. Fourteen attorneys have been included in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America© and one is included in the 2022 Best Lawyers “Ones to Watch”...
    September 1, 2020
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    The law firm Norris McLaughlin, P.A., has announced that sixteen of its attorneys have been selected for inclusion on the list of The Best Lawyers in America© for 2021, including three recognized as Best Lawyers® 2021 “Lawyer of the Year” in Woodbridge. An additional four attorneys were named in the inaugural edition of “Best Lawyers:...
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    Nineteen attorneys from law firm Norris McLaughlin, P.A., were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in the 2020 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©. The firm’s 2020 Best Lawyers include: Morris S. Bauer– Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law Martha N. Donovan– Environmental Law, Litigation – Environmental William A. Dreier– Arbitration, Mediation Victor S. Elgort– Trusts...
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    Nineteen lawyers from the law firm of Norris McLaughlin, P.A., were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in the 2019 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. The firm’s 2019 Best Lawyers in America include: Morris S. Bauer - Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law Martha N. Donovan - Environmental Law, Litigation - Environmental...
    April 30, 2018
    Joel Jacobson on Panel for Meritas Member Contacts
    Joel N. Jacobson, a Member of law firm Norris McLaughlin, P.A., and chair of its Real Estate & Finance Practice Group, will be a panelist for the Meritas session “Calling All Member Contacts! Learn How to Capitalize on Your Meritas Membership” on Saturday, May 5, 10:45 a.m. – noon, at the 2018 Meritas Annual Meeting...
    January 25, 2018
    Steven Karg Named Norris McLaughlin, P.A. Meritas Member Contact
    Steven A. Karg, a Member of the law firm Norris McLaughlin, P.A., has been named the firm’s Main Meritas Member Contact, replacing Joel N. Jacobson, a Member of the firm and Chair of its Real Estate Practice Group.  Jacobson has been the firm’s representative to Meritas since 1991, when the firm first joined Meritas.  Melissa...
    August 15, 2017
    Fifteen Norris McLaughlin Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in Best Lawyers
    Fifteen lawyers from the Bridgewater-based law firm Norris McLaughlin, P.A., were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in the 2018 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©. The firm’s 2018 Best Lawyers include: Morris S. Bauer, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law Martha N. Donovan, Environmental Law, Litigation – Environmental William A....
    August 15, 2016
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    Fourteen lawyers from the Bridgewater-based law firm Norris McLaughlin, P.A., were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in the 2017 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©. The firm’s 2017 Best Lawyers include: Morris S. Bauer, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law Martha N. Donovan, Environmental Law, Litigation – Environmental William A....
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    Fifteen lawyers from the Bridgewater-based law firm Norris McLaughlin, P.A., were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in the 2016 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©. The firm’s 2016 Best Lawyers include: Morris S. Bauer, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law Martha N. Donovan, Environmental Law, Litigation – Environmental William A....
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    Bridgewater, NJ (August 20, 2014) – Fourteen lawyers from the Bridgewater-based law firm Norris McLaughlin, P.A., were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2015. More than a third of the Members of Norris McLaughlin, P.A. appear in this year’s edition of Best Lawyers. The firm’s 2015 Best Lawyers include: Morris...
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    October 5, 2011 Norris McLaughlin, P.A. 721 Route 202-206, Suite 200 P.O. Box 5933 Bridgewater, NJ 08807-5933 Contact: Edward C. Miller, Jr. Chief Marketing Officer (908) 722-0700 x4224 ecmillerjr@nmmlaw.com Twenty-Eight Norris McLaughlin, P.A. Attorneys Named Among Best Lawyers Bridgewater, NJ (October 5, 2011) – The Bridgewater-based law firm Norris McLaughlin, P.A. is pleased to announce...
    March 24, 2011
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    November 3, 2010
    Joel N. Jacobson Named 2011 Best Lawyers Banking Lawyer of the Year in New Jersey
    November 3, 2010 Norris McLaughlin, P.A. 721 Route 202-206 P.O. Box 5933 Bridgewater, NJ 08807-5933 Contact: Edward C. Miller, Jr. Chief Marketing Officer (908) 722-0700 x4224 ecmillerjr@nmmlaw.com Joel N. Jacobson Named 2011 Best Lawyers Banking Lawyer of the Year in New Jersey Bridgewater, NJ (November 3, 2010) – Joel N. Jacobson, a Member of the...
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    November 21, 2008
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    The Bridgewater law firm Norris McLaughlin, P.A., is pleased to announce that 17 of its members have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers In America® 2009 edition. Almost one-third of the members of Norris McLaughlin, P.A. appear in this year’s edition of Best Lawyers. The firm is ranked first in Somerset County and...
    March 31, 2008
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    The Somerville law firm Norris McLaughlin, P.A. is pleased to announce that Joel N. Jacobson, a member of the firm, has been re-elected as the Chairman of the Chatham Township, New Jersey Planning Board. A resident of Chatham Township, Jacobson has been with Norris McLaughlin, P.A. for more than 32 years, including 29 years as...
    January 28, 2008
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    Articles

    January 15, 2020
    NEW LIFE FOR BANKRUPT PROJECTS


    Blog



    Publications

    • Featured, “The Future of Banking: Digital Apps, Big Data and Artificial Intelligence,” COMMERCE Magazine, June 2018
    • “Foreclosure Delays Require Creative Solutions,” WithumSmith + Brown, P.C. Newsletter, November 2010
    • “Local Counsel With A Big Reach: Meritas Membership Extends Norris McLaughlin’s Real Estate Practice,” The Metropolitan Corporate Counsel, May 2007
    • “Meet the Real Estate Lawyers,” Real Estate New Jersey, July/August 2006
    • “New Life for Bankrupt Projects?,” New Jersey Law Journal, June 12, 2006
    • “Has Your Investment Real Estate Syndication Gone Bad?,” Real Estate Law Alert, July 2001
    • “The Interplay and Intersection Between Real Estate and Environmental Law in Transactions,” Norris McLaughlin, P.A., Bridgewater, NJ, May 7, 2019
    • “Calling All Member Contacts! Learn How to Capitalize on Your Meritas Membership,” 2018 Meritas Annual Meeting, Miami Beach, FL, May 5, 2018
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