General Information

Year founded: 1914
This is the year the firm (or its earliest predecessor entity) was founded.
Logo for Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith & Davis LLP

Overview

Content is provided by the firm.

Firm Overview

The firm, which marked its 100th anniversary in 2014, serves a broad range of local, regional and national clients with interests in New Jersey and surrounding areas. Client trust and loyalty is earned through sophisticated, creative and cost-effective representation, proactive legal strategies, attention to detail and relationship-oriented service. Nine core departments and numerous interdisciplinary practice groups create an integrated service profile that meets the needs of entrepreneurs, small and mid-sized businesses, larger entities and individuals alike.

Litigation

Recognized as one of New Jersey’s premier litigation teams, the firm has the resources and efficiency to handle complex and ‘bet the company’ litigation and more routine matters. The practice encompasses commercial litigation, real estate, environmental, construction, estate, white collar defense, professional negligence, product liability, bankruptcy, banking, employment and ADR. The firm recognizes that each case is unique and that implementing an appropriate strategy to meet the client’s goals goes beyond legal analysis – business or personal circumstances, financial considerations, and the specifics of the matter are all taken into account.

Corporate

The firm’s corporate practice provides practical and efficient solution-oriented representation. A key competency is its sophisticated knowledge of both big picture issues and fine point details of business dealings in New Jersey. Clients include individuals, entrepreneurs, middle market companies, family-owned operations and regional and national corporations in various industries: manufacturing, food and beverage, sports, entertainment, retail, automotive, real estate, transportation, alternative energy, health care, banking and finance. The group serves as general counsel to companies without in-house legal resources. Other focuses include mergers and acquisitions, financing transactions, securities offerings and franchise law.

Real Estate

The real estate group provides comprehensive representation related to the acquisition, disposition, leasing, and renovation of commercial, industrial, and residential real estate in New Jersey. This experience encompasses financing and incentives, energy efficiency and sustainable design, commercial property tax appeals, planned real estate, brokerage law, restructuring and workouts, community associations and condominium law. Clients include buyers, sellers, lenders, owners, landlords, tenants, investors, corporations and REITS.

Redevelopment & Land Use

The Redevelopment & Land Use Department was established in 2014 with a focus on traditional development, redevelopment, land use and zoning, following a growth in demand for services in those areas. Experience encompasses projects of all sizes and levels of complexity throughout New Jersey, including residential, industrial, retail, office and mixed use. Legal services include project siting and property acquisition, financing and incentives, redevelopment and PILOT agreements, construction and environmental issues, zoning and land use planning, due diligence, permits, representation before community boards and regulatory agencies, appeals, prerogative writ actions and litigation.

Employment Law

The Employment Law Department services private and public sector clients in the areas of employment law counseling, compliance issues, and related disputes and litigation, with a primary focus on management. This includes representation in state and federal courts, before administrative agencies, and in arbitration proceedings. Our employment litigation experience includes claims related to discrimination, harassment, unlawful retaliation, whistleblower, wrongful discharge, contract issues, workplace torts, wage/hour disputes, and disputes involving restrictive covenants, non-compete and non-solicitation agreements. Group members counsel clients with regard to employment practices, compliance issues, risk management, employment policies, workplace issues, worker classification, employment contracts, employee handbooks, restrictive covenants, and other agreements. The firm conducts human resources audits, internal investigations and management and employee training programs. Work also encompasses employee benefits and executive compensation, including the drafting, negotiation and implementation of employment and separation agreements, equity and equity-based compensation arrangements, and incentive and deferred compensation arrangements.

Environmental

The environmental team counsels developers, property owners, manufacturers, REITS, landlords, tenants, lenders and trustees on the impact of environmental laws and regulations on real estate, business and lending transactions and operations, with a particular focus on New Jersey. The group has significant experience related to transactional issues, financing and cost recovery in brownfield and contaminated property cleanups and redevelopment. Other areas of focus include Superfund matters; environmental land use issues; transaction triggered environmental laws; disclosure obligations and enforcement proceedings; environmental due diligence and risk allocation; environmental insurance; EHS compliance and product stewardship.

Healthcare

From regulatory issues to complex transactional and litigation matters to day-to-day business counseling, attorneys in the firm's Healthcare Department possess a sophisticated understanding of the unique healthcare business environment, bothin New Jersey and beyond. They counsel a roster of clients that includes many of New Jersey’s foremost healthcare systems, hospitals and medical facilities, medical staffs, organized delivery systems (ODSs), physician-hospital organizations (PHOs), independent practice associations (IPAs), physicians and physician group practices, physician and hospital-physician joint ventures, pharmaceutical companies, managed care organizations, home health agencies, nursing homes, healthcare industry vendors, medical device manufacturers, private equity funds, and industry-associated financial and corporate entities. This inclusive representation has propelled the team to statewide and national prominence within the healthcare field.

Tax, Trusts & Estates

The tax and estates practice offers a full spectrum of legal services related to business and personal tax issues, estate planning and estate administration. Representation encompasses wealth preservation and accumulation strategies; asset protection planning; tax minimization; federal and state tax controversies; succession planning; elder law; employee benefits and executive compensation; and estate litigation. Clients include individuals, business owners, corporate executives, and nonprofit and tax exempt entities.

Family Law

The family law practice provides responsive and personalized “boutique” service backed by the comprehensive support of a full service business law firm. Attorneys are among the preeminent practitioners in New Jersey. Representation through negotiation, mediation, litigation or appeal encompasses divorce, separation, child custody and guardianship, child support, spousal maintenance, equitable distribution, domestic violence, adoption, pre- and post-nuptial agreements, post judgment enforcement and modifications, and the emerging areas of collaborative divorce and planning issues for special needs children.

Rankings

Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith & Davis LLP is nationally ranked in 1 practice areas and metro ranked in 34 practice areas. Best Law Firms rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process.

Read how Best Law Firms ranks firms

National Rankings

Tier 3
Tier 3 for Land Use and Zoning Law

Metro Rankings

New Jersey
Tier 1 for Appellate Practice
Tier 1 for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Tier 1 for Bet-the-Company Litigation
Tier 1 for Commercial Litigation
Tier 1 for Construction Law

About Our Clients

The firm's clients include private and public entities, for profit and not-for-profit enterprises, entrepreneurs, family owned businesses, larger corporations with international reach, and businesses with a local or regional focus.

Rankings

National Rankings

Tier 3
Tier 3 for Land Use and Zoning Law

Regional Rankings

New Jersey
Tier 1 for Appellate Practice
Tier 1 for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Tier 1 for Bet-the-Company Litigation
Tier 1 for Commercial Litigation
Tier 1 for Construction Law
Tier 1 for Corporate Law
Tier 1 for Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Tier 1 for Elder Law
Tier 1 for Environmental Law
Tier 1 for Family Law
Tier 1 for Family Law Mediation
Tier 1 for Health Care Law
Tier 1 for Insurance Law
Tier 1 for Land Use and Zoning Law
Tier 1 for Litigation - Bankruptcy
Tier 1 for Litigation - Construction
Tier 1 for Litigation - Labor and Employment
Tier 1 for Litigation - Real Estate
Tier 1 for Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Tier 1 for Municipal Law
Tier 1 for Real Estate Law
Tier 1 for Trusts and Estates
Tier 2 for Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law
Tier 2 for Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
Tier 2 for Energy Law
Tier 2 for Litigation - Banking and Finance
Tier 2 for Litigation - Environmental
Tier 2 for Litigation - Health Care
Tier 2 for Litigation - Municipal
Tier 2 for Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants
Tier 2 for Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
Tier 2 for Securities / Capital Markets Law
Tier 3 for Litigation - Trusts and Estates
Tier 3 for Public Finance Law

Practice Areas

The below are areas of legal specialty volunteered by the firm and do not designate a specialty in which a Best Law Firms ranking is held.
  • Administrative / Regulatory Law
  • Appellate
  • Appellate Practice
  • Arbitration
  • Arbitration and Mediation
  • Banking and Finance Law
  • Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
  • Bet-the-Company Litigation
  • Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
  • Civil Rights Law
  • Commercial Landlord Tenant
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Community Association Law
  • Community Associations
  • Condominiums
  • Construction
  • Construction Law
  • Corporate
  • Corporate Compliance Law
  • Corporate Law
  • COVID-19
  • Criminal Defense: General Practice
  • Criminal Defense: White-Collar
  • Development
  • Elder Law
  • Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law
  • Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
  • Employment Law - Management
  • Energy Law
  • Environmental Law
  • ERISA
  • Family Law
  • Family Law Arbitration
  • Family Law Mediation
  • Franchise Law
  • Health Care Law
  • Insurance Law
  • Labor Law - Management
  • Land Use and Zoning Law
  • Litigation
  • Litigation - Banking and Finance
  • Litigation - Bankruptcy
  • Litigation - Construction
  • Litigation - Environmental
  • Litigation - Health Care
  • Litigation - Insurance
  • Litigation - Labor and Employment
  • Litigation - Land Use and Zoning
  • Litigation - Real Estate
  • Litigation - Trusts and Estates
  • Litigation and Controversy - Tax
  • Mediation
  • Mergers & Acquisitions
  • Mortgage Banking Foreclosure Law
  • Municipal Law
  • Planned Real Estate
  • Private Equity
  • Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
  • Real Estate
  • Real Estate Law
  • Real Property Law
  • Regulatory
  • Securities / Capital Markets Law
  • Tax Law
  • Transactions
  • Trusts and Estates
  • Utilities Law
  • Workouts and Restructurings
  • Zoning

Individuals Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America®

Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith & Davis LLP has 46 lawyers recognized for individual performance in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. By receiving this Best Lawyers recognition from their peers for their professional excellence, these lawyers made Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith & Davis LLP eligible for evaluation for Best Law Firms rankings. For almost two decades, Best Lawyers has awarded these singular accolades, making them the foundation of our Best Law Firms awards. Read more about our Best Lawyers process here.
Spinning circle
{{ practiceAreaName }}
{{ lawyer.FirstName[0] }}{{ lawyer.LastName[0] }} {{ lawyer.FirstName[0] }}{{ lawyer.LastName[0] }} {{ lawyer.Locations[0].City }}{{lawyer.Locations[0].StateCode ? ', ' + lawyer.Locations[0].StateCode : '' }}

Office Locations

Red Bank, NJ
River Centre Building One, Suite 122
331 Newman Springs Road
Red Bank, NJ 07701
United States
732-476-2660 Call our Red Bank, NJ location at 732-476-2660 Get Directions Get directions to our Red Bank, NJ location

Management and Personnel

Managing Partner
W. Raymond Felton

Contacts

Environmental Department
David B. Farer (732) 476-2476
Family Law Department
Mark H. Sobel (973) 577-1780
Litigation Department
John D. North (732) 476-2630
Real Estate Department
Jack Fersko (732) 476-3354
Redevelopment & Land Use Department
Robert S. Goldsmith (732) 476-2620
Tax, Trusts & Estates Department
Michael A. Backer (732) 476-2450
Alternative Dispute Resolution Practice Group
Alan S. Naar (732) 476-2530
Banking & Financial Services Litigation Practice Group
John D. North (732) 476-2630
Bankruptcy & Financial Restructuring Practice Group
David L. Bruck (732) 476-2440
Construction Practice Group
Dennis A. Estis (732) 476-2510
Criminal Defense & Regulatory Compliance Practice Group
Christopher D. Adams (732) 476-2692
Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation Practice Group
Thomas C. Senter (732) 476-2650
Employment Law Practice Group
Maja M. Obradovic (732) 476-2454
Energy, Renewable Resources & Sustainable Development Practice Group
Barbara J. Koonz (973)577-1894
Higher Education Practice Group
Jemi Goulian Lucey (732)476-2502
Planned Real Estate Practice Group
Christine F. Li (732) 476-2680
Product Liability Practice Group
C. Brian Kornbrek (973) 577-1820
Real Estate & Commercial Financing Transactions Practice Group
Thomas J. Denitzio, Jr. (732) 476-2610
Real Estate Brokerage Practice Group
Barry S. Goodman (732) 476-2560
Find the Best Law Firms
Search for a Law Firm
Search our directory of over 16,000 firms across the Globe.
Search
Is Your Law Firm Ranked?
Enhance your firm's reputation and visibility with our marketing opportunities.
Marketing Opportunities
Ranked Practice Areas
See the practice areas included in our Best Law Firms research.
Practice Areas