Joseph J. Russell, Jr, Esq.

Joe, a Partner and Chair of the Matrimonial Department at Wilentz, has a full service family law practice--alimony, child custody and parenting time, child support, distribution of assets and liabilities, business valuations, protection of exempt assets, family trusts, domestic violence, same s*x marriage, prenuptial agreements are issues that, while perhaps foreign to his clients, Joe immerses hi

mself in every day. His diverse client base demonstrates the depth of his practice and includes: business owners, doctors, attor­neys, corporate executives, financial advisors, professional athletes, celebrities, television/ radio personalities, teachers, policeman, firemen and accountants. And because many of his cases focus on high net worth matrimonial disputes, Joe has developed a keen un­derstanding of the right strategic approach for every unique situation. While Joe spends a significant portion of his time litigating divorce cases, his mantra is dispute resolution. Joe is always prepared to go to the mattresses for his clients, but never at the expense of their goals and where a settlement that minimizes the financial and emotional costs provides a sensible and more holistic outcome. Joe regularly appears in the Family Part throughout New Jersey but he is particularly active in Monmouth, Ocean, Middles*x, Somerset, Bergen, Union, Morris and Ess*x Counties, pos­sessing an intimate knowledge of those courts and opposing counsel. In addition to having been appointed to serve on the Family Law Executive Committee to the New Jersey State Bar Association, Joe also serves on those committees in Ocean and Monmouth Counties, as well as an Early Settlement Panelist in Monmouth and Middles*x Counties and is certified as also a R. 1:40 Qualified Mediator, where he conducts both private and court appointed mediations. In addition to coaching his sons in sports, he devotes substantial time raising money and awareness for LADACIN Network — Lifetime Assistance for Developmental and Challenging Individual Need — a non-profit agency whose mission is to provide education, therapeutic, social, residential and support services for people with cerebral palsy or other physical disabilities in Mon-mouth/Ocean Counties. Joe founded and organizes an annual Polar Bear Plunge for LA-DACIN. Since 2009, this event has raised nearly $750,000.00 for LADACIN. Joe also serves on the LADACIN Network Rosebud Gala and New Jersey Marathon Committees. Articles & Publications:

Wilentz Family Law Case Digest: A Summary of 2014 New Jersey Family Law Opinions, Statutes and Court Rules, 2006­-2014

Events & Seminars:

Hot Tips in New Jersey Family Law, ICLE, 2014-2015

How the Trial of Domestic Violence Matter, Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA), 2008

Tax Issues Relevant to a Divorce Proceeding, ICLE

Awards & Achievements:

New Jersey Super Lawyers®–Rising Stars Edition, 2010 - Present

Top 40 Family Lawyer Under 40 in New Jersey, The American Society of Legal Advocates, 2015

Humanitarian of the Year, LADACIN Network, 2010