TEL: 201-525-6272
FAX: 201-678-6272
cmassaro@coleschotz.com
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Legal Secretary: Roberta Garey
TEL: 201-489-3000, ext. 5001
rgarey@coleschotz.com

Christopher Massaro is a partner in the firm's Litigation Department.  He has successfully resolved a variety of state and federal court matters for both individuals and businesses.  Although most of his cases are addressed in New Jersey, Mr. Massaro has also litigated matters in New York, Pennsylvania, Florida, Arizona and California.  During his career, Mr. Massaro has represented clients in disputes involving the following areas:

Commercial litigation
Contract litigation
Shareholder litigation
Probate/Estate/Trust litigation
ERISA litigation
Construction and surety litigation
Bankruptcy litigation
Employment litigation
Professional malpractice
Land use

Mr. Massaro is a member of the Bergen County Bar Association and a graduate of the Morris Pashman American Inn of Court, a professional association designed to enhance trial practice skills.  In addition, Mr. Massaro serves as a volunteer mentor for the students at New York Law School, and has acted as a judge for the New Jersey State Bar Association’s high school mock trial program on numerous occasions. 

Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Massaro served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Howard H. Kestin of the New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division.

Obtained a court order barring a subordinated lender from interfering with the repayment of an $8 million loan held by a commercial lender.

Prevented the majority shareholders of a closely-held corporation from wrongfully terminating a minority shareholder who was serving as the corporation’s president.

Invalidated a shareholder vote conducted by a large, private corporation that would have authorized the sale of all corporate assets in violation of the shareholders’ agreement and the interests of several shareholders.

Obtained partial summary judgment against a large health insurance company on behalf of a medical practice in a case involving ERISA benefit claims.  The remainder of the suit was subsequently settled on favorable terms for the medical practice.

Successfully defended appeals on behalf of hospitals involving claims of professional malpractice.

Settled a successor liability claim involving employment discrimination on terms that were favorable to the successor entity.

Member of the trial team that obtained a multi-million dollar judgment for a large commercial landlord in the United States District Court concerning a dispute with a commercial tenant.

Co-authored an appellate brief in a case involving land use/environmental issues, which was ultimately decided in favor of our client and culminated in a published appellate court opinion entitled In re New Jersey Dep’t of Envtl. Prot. ex. rel. Christ Church, 414 N.J. Super. 592, 999 A.2d 1168 (App. Div. 2010).

Resolved various probate and estate matters, including disputes involving will contests and interpretation, undue influence, tax issues and breaches of fiduciary duty involving the administration of estate assets by executors and trustees. 

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• Cole Schotz Names Four Attorneys to Partnership, Two to Special Counsel

• Ask A Lawyer: Clear, Prominent Arbitration Clause Can Settle Disputes, The Record, June 17, 2010
• Ask A Lawyer: Tax Appeal May Be a Sound Business Tactic, The Record, January 14, 2010
• Ask A Lawyer: Court Award Seldom Includes Attorney Fees, The Record, December 3, 2009, The Record
• Timing May Be Right for Property Tax Appeal, The Record, December 16, 2008
• New Jersey's Ambulatory Surgical Centers Continue to Face Uncertainty, Cole Schotz Docket, Fall 2008
• Form Contracts: Revising Them Now Can Save You Money Later, Meadowlands USA, Fall 2006
• The Price of an Education: When Employers Can Be Held Liable for their Employees’ Student Loans, Cole Schotz Docket, Winter 2005

• Commercial Clients are Urged to Consider Whether a Tax Appeal Makes Sense in Today's Troubling Real Estate Market, Real Estate & Construction Law Monitor

• New Jersey Appellate Practice: Navigating The Appeals Process From Start To Finish, Bergen County Bar Association, Continuing Legal Education Seminar, October 26, 2011

• New York Law School Alumni Mentor Program
• Justice Morris Pashman American Inn of Court
• Bergen County Bar Association
• New Jersey State Bar Association