May 17, 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
Bridgewater, NJ (May 17, 2011) – David R. Strickler and David C. Roberts, Members of the Bridgewater-based law firm Norris McLaughlin, P.A. will present “Pre-Nuptial Symposium: A Business Marriage,” on Monday, May 23, 2011, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the firm’s Bridgewater office. Along with Norris McLaughlin, P.A., the event is being hosted by Raritan Valley Community College and New Jersey Small Business Development Centers.
“When you own and operate a business with one or more people, your relationship is something like a business ‘marriage.’ But like a real marriage, the rosy scenario you hope and plan for at the beginning can sometimes end up in disagreement leading to a desire to end the relationship. As with a real marriage, a business ‘marriage’ needs to be created with an eye toward how the co-owners can ‘divorce’ if and when it’s decided to end their relationship. Woe to the business owners who fail to plan -- who fail to establish the business version of a ‘prenuptial agreement,’” explained Roberts.
This program is ideal for owners of thriving existing small businesses, those considering taking the plunge and starting a new business and those considering a separation from their fellow business partners. The three-hour symposium will explain steps one can take at the start of their business, or even while it is operating, to make a future “divorce” amicable and predictable; how the process of separating from a business partner can lead to difficult and expensive litigation as each owner blames the other for the business problems, for failure to pull his or her load, or failure to change as necessary with changes in the business; and how the courts will decide the value of a business upon the “divorce” of its owners. To help illustrate the problems and pitfalls involved in “corporate divorces”, the symposium will include a mock legal argument by Strickler and Roberts. The attorneys will represent two hypothetical owners in the throes of their own messy “corporate divorce,” utilizing real-world issues that have arisen in such cases. Workshop participants get to play the role of Judge, deciding how the hypothetical owners must separate and how the issues should be decided.
Strickler is a Member of the firm’s Litigation Group. He has litigated a variety of business disputes, with special emphasis on cases involving telecommunications matters, antitrust issues, UCC disputes, securities and shareholder disputes, intellectual property rights, and restrictive covenant matters.
Strickler litigates regularly in federal and state courts in New Jersey, and he has appeared before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board in the District of Columbia. He has authored a chapter in Commercial Litigation in New Jersey, entitled "Pleading and Motions in Business and Commercial Cases."
Strickler was an "Olin Fellow in Law and Economics" at the University of Miami School of Law where he received his law degree and he was a member of the Law Review editorial board. He is also trained as an economist, having received his M.A. in the field from Columbia University in 1977.
Roberts devotes his practice to handling complex commercial litigation matters, such as fraud, fraudulent transfers, trade secret, restrictive covenant litigation, employment litigation, environmental matters, and insurance coverage litigation.
His practice has a particular emphasis on partnership and shareholder disputes (including oppression and dissenter’s rights cases) with a focus on attempting to resolve matters through mediation, if such an approach fits within client’s goals and objectives. In 2007, Roberts launched the Shareholder Dispute NJ blog, www.nmmlaw.com/category/sdnj/, which addresses minority shareholder disputes in New Jersey. In addition, he writes and lectures extensively on this topic.
Roberts earned his J.D., summa cum laude, from Rutgers School of Law-Newark in 1991, where he was a Tischler Scholar (1990), and his B.S., summa cum laude and Order of the Coif, from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey in 1988.
Back To Top
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume you consent to our cookie policy. Learn more