N.J. Superior Court Judge LaConte Rejoins Cole Schotz as Of Counsel

Cole Schotz on Thursday announced the Honorable Thomas LaConte (Ret.) has returned to its Hackensack office as Of Counsel where he will contribute to the firm’s Alternative Dispute Resolution and litigation support services, following his 20-year tenure as a Superior Court judge in New Jersey.

LaConte’s practice at Cole Schotz will focus on mediating and arbitrating a wide variety of civil disputes, including construction litigation, corporate and commercial disputes, contract issues and matters involving municipal and local governments.

Most recently LaConte served on the Superior Court of New Jersey and spent more than 30 years at Cole Schotz, where he was a trusted authority on construction and commercial litigation.

With his return to the firm, LaConte joins an ADR bench that includes Hon. Donald Steckroth and Hon. Garry Rothstadt J.A.D. (Ret.). Prior to his retirement in June, Judge LaConte presided over countless civil trials, evidentiary hearings and dispositive motions.

“It is a privilege to welcome Judge LaConte back to the firm,” Warren Usatine, co-chair of the Litigation department at Cole Schotz said. “His three decades at Cole Schotz coupled with his deep judicial experience will make him an invaluable asset to our Firm. As a mediator, Judge LaConte’s legal acumen, experience, creativity, tenacity and temperament will undoubtedly help facilitate settlement of complex disputes.”

“It was an honor to serve the state of New Jersey in my capacity as a judge for the past two decades,” LaConte said. “I can think of no better next step for this phase of my career than to return to the law firm where I first began my practice. I am thrilled to once again work alongside my Cole Schotz colleagues to carry on the firm’s history of excellence through my work on ADR matters.

Judge LaConte has also held key positions within the legal community, including serving as President of the Passaic County Bar Association and as Trustee of both the Passaic County Bar Association and Bergen County Bar Foundation.

He received his B.A. from Lafayette College and was awarded his J.D., with honors from Rutgers School of Law in 1974.