A Century of Legal Excellence

After practicing in New York following his 1924 Harvard Law graduation, David L. Cole relocates to New Jersey and forms the firm Roemer & Cole with Charles H. Roemer. Roemer later departs the firm to pursue public service and local civic involvement, while Cole goes on to become a nationally renowned labor mediator, serving under every U.S. president from FDR to Nixon.

Mendon J. Morrill joins David L. Cole, and the firm becomes Cole & Morrill, marking the beginning of a longstanding partnership that helped shape the firm’s future.

Harry Nadell, who previously served as senior enforcement attorney in the New York Regional office of the War Labor Board, joins the firm, which changes its name to Cole, Morrill & Nadell. Oscar Berman is made partner.

Leonard I. Garth joins the firm.

Morrill J. Cole (David’s son) joins the firm, advocating for technological innovation, including early computer adoption, and establishing the firm’s enduring embrace of new technologies.

Mendon Morrill is appointed to the U.S. District Court by President Eisenhower.

Founder Mendon Morrill dies.

Leonard Garth is appointed to the U.S. District Court by President Nixon. The firm becomes Cole, Berman & Belsky.

Leonard Garth is elevated to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.

Michael H. Forman joins, expanding the Trusts, Tax & Estates (TT&E) practice.

The firm is officially formed with the State of New Jersey as Cole, Berman and Belsky, P.A.

David L. Cole and Bernard L. Belsky die.

Edward M. Schotz’s firm (Shavick, Schotz, Nadler & Konner) merges with Cole, Berman & Belsky, leading to the formation of Cole, Schotz, Bernstein, Meisel & Forman, P.A., significantly expanding the firm’s real estate and corporate practices.

Samuel Weiner joins the firm.

Firm relocates to Hackensack, New Jersey, where its headquarters remain to this day.

Michael D. Sirota joins the firm.

Hugh M. Leonard joins, strengthening the Bankruptcy practice. He later leads the Bankruptcy & Corporate Restructuring Department and served as a U.S. Trustee for Region 3.

The firm changes its name to Cole, Schotz, Meisel, Forman & Leonard, P.A.

Current managing partners Randi W. Kochman and Warren A. Usatine both join the firm, starting as summer associates.

Established a presence in New York with a legal business partner, enhancing corporate and litigation capabilities. Michael D. Sirota and Michael S. Meisel co-author Debtor-Creditor Law and Practice, part of the New Jersey Practice Series.

Expanded presence in New York with a merger with Angel and Frankel. Michael A. Chagares, a former firm attorney, is appointed to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.

Expansion into Maryland and Delaware.

Edward Schotz passes away. The firm opens its first office in Texas.

Justice Samuel Alito delivers the inaugural Judge Leonard Garth lecture at Rutgers–Newark.

The firm changes its name to that of its current iteration: Cole Schotz P.C.

Florida office opens in Boca Raton. Morrill Cole dies. The Honorable Donald H. Steckroth joins the firm.

Michael D. Sirota and Warren A. Usatine co-author the New Jersey Bankruptcy Manual.

Amid COVID-19, Cole Schotz avoids layoffs, showcasing resilience; Michael D. Sirota and team, as counsel to Modell’s Sporting Goods, secured the first court-ordered, months-long suspension of Chapter 11 cases during COVID-19, establishing a novel, precedent-setting strategy later adopted nationwide in major retail bankruptcies.

J. Kate Stickles appointed U.S. Bankruptcy Judge for Delaware.

Randi W. Kochman becomes the firm’s first female co-managing shareholder.

After having proudly served for over twenty years as a judge in the Superior Court of New Jersey, the Honorable Garry S. Rothstadt, J.A.D. joins the firm, expanding its Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) services.

Having served as partner from 2001 to 2019, Edward S. Kiel becomes a U.S. District Court judge.

Cole Schotz wins Law Firm of the Year and Glenn Kazlow wins Unsung Hero award from the New Jersey Legal Awards. Offices launched in Washington, D.C. and Miami, featuring Philip A. Selden, former Acting U.S. Attorney for Maryland, and Luis A. Salazar, formerly of Salazar Law, respectively. N.J. Superior Court Judge Thomas J. LaConte rejoins the firm as Of Counsel.

Cole Schotz P.C. celebrates its 100th Anniversary, marking a century of legal excellence.