History of the evolving of Simon, O’Brien & Knapp
In the 1950’s, Paul Bangiola, a true hero as a fighter pilot in World War II, opened a law firm in Morris Plains, NJ. For a short time in the 1960’s, Paul Bangiola partnered with a local municipal court judge. In September of 1967, Paul Bangiola hired Sheldon Simon, Esq. Simon having completed a judicial clerkship in Morris County for the Honorab
le Alexander P. Waugh (Assignment Judge for Morris, Sussex and Warren Counties), as well as his clerkship with the Honorable Edward F. Soon thereafter, the name of the firm became “Bangiola & Simon, Esqs.” and remained that way until the mid-1980’s when Paul Bangiola was sworn in as a Judge of the Superior Court (Morris County). Simon practiced by himself for a while prior to hiring Catherine Enright, Esq. following her completion of a judicial clerkship with the Honorable Donald G. Soon thereafter, the firm name was changed to “Simon & Enright, Esqs.” and remained that way until 2009 when Catherine Enright was sworn in as a Judge of the Superior Court. Judge Enright remains as a sitting judge and is the Presiding Judge of the Family Court for Morris and Sussex Counties. When Judge Enright accepted her judgeship, an associate of the firm, Jaime O’Brien, Esq. became a partner. The firm name became “Simon & O’Brien, Esqs.” at the end of 2009. In January of 2012, another associate of the firm, John Knapp, Esq., became the third partner in the firm, thereby creating the present law firm of “Simon, O’Brien and Knapp, Esqs.” From the date of its inception, under the guidance and wisdom of Paul Bangiola, the firm has continually been located in Morris Plains, NJ.
