Biography
Hon. Edward A. Jerejian, P.J.Ch. (Ret.), Chair, of the Firm’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Practice, serves as a neutral mediator and arbitrator, assisting attorneys and individual parties in resolving disputes outside traditional litigation. He mediates and arbitrates all aspects of civil, chancery, and matrimonial litigation, and serves as a special adjudicator in matters requiring advanced case management and judicial oversight.
Judge Jerejian served with distinction as a member of the New Jersey Judiciary for almost two decades. He spent nine of those years in the Bergen County Chancery Division, General Equity and Probate Part, including nearly seven years as Presiding Judge. He also served in the Chancery Division, Family Part, and in the Criminal Division. He was further designated by Supreme Court Assignment Order as Acting Assignment Judge. During his tenure on the bench, Judge Jerejian resolved hundreds of cases and presided over countless trials, including some of the most complex and noteworthy matters in the State. He also authored numerous judicial opinions that continue to be cited by courts and practitioners.
In 2016, in addition to his regular judicial assignment, the Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court appointed Judge Jerejian to oversee a comprehensive statewide judicial review following revelations of misconduct at the New Jersey State Police Forensic Laboratory. The misconduct involved a supervisory laboratory technician who falsified drug test results, raising serious concerns about the integrity of thousands of criminal prosecutions. Over the course of six years, Judge Jerejian led an extraordinarily complex review process spanning thirteen counties and impacting more than 7,800 cases.
Since transitioning from the bench, Judge Jerejian has successfully mediated and arbitrated a broad range of disputes, including many complex, multi-party cases in both state and federal courts. His judicial experience and practical, solutions-oriented approach have helped parties resolve high-stakes cases efficiently and effectively.
He regularly handles matters involving shareholder oppression; LLC and corporate governance disputes; business dissolutions and partner buyouts; restrictive covenants and trade secrets; breach of contract, fraud, and related equitable claims; unjust enrichment and quantum meruit; and tortious interference with contractual and business relationships.
Judge Jerejian also frequently resolves disputes involving complex property and commercial transactions, including actions for specific performance of real estate contracts, partition of real estate, environmental and construction disputes, easement and title issues, condominium and cooperative housing matters, and commercial foreclosures.
In addition, his ADR practice includes statutory, tort, and regulatory matters such as whistleblower claims under the Conscientious Employee Protection Act (CEPA), discrimination claims under the Law Against Discrimination (LAD), professional malpractice, intellectual property disputes, consumer fraud, labor and employment matters, real estate broker liability, negligence and premises liability, private nuisance actions, serious personal injury claims, attorneys’ fee litigation, and claims for punitive damages.
The Judge also serves as a neutral in substantial probate and fiduciary litigation, including will contests, trust disputes, guardianship proceedings, fiduciary accountings, removal actions, spousal elective share issues, and challenges to estate administration.
He also mediates and arbitrates high conflict matrimonial litigation, including cases involving, business valuation, income determination, complex equitable distribution, support, relocation applications, post-judgment enforcement and modification, and the interpretation and enforcement of prenuptial and postnuptial agreements.
Before his appointment to the bench in 2006, Judge Jerejian was widely regarded as one of New Jersey’s most distinguished criminal defense attorneys. Over the course of his legal career, he handled numerous high-profile and legally significant matters, including more than twenty homicide trials taken to verdict. In 1999, the Bergen Record profiled his career and described him as the “owner of a string of impressive courtroom victories,” noting, among other accomplishments, eight outright acquittals in homicide cases.
Upon his appointment to the bench, The Newark Star-Ledger published a feature article titled “He Played Defense, Now He Calls the Shots,” chronicling his transition from high-stakes trial attorney to jurist. Former Bergen County Assignment Judge Sybil R. Moses remarked of his advocacy: “He was tough, but he was never disrespectful and always treated everyone in a professional manner, and when I say he was always prepared, that’s an understatement.”
Throughout his career, Judge Jerejian has been a frequent lecturer for many prestigious professional organizations, and since retiring from the bench, has become a sought-after speaker on complex financial litigation, including business torts, and civil trial strategy. His recent presentations include nationally broadcast webinars; Litigating Financial Fraud, (January 2026), and Tortious Interference with Contract and Prospective Economic Advantage: A Judicial Perspective, (July 2025). He was also an invited speaker at the USLAW National Conference, at the Broadmore, in Colorado Springs, Co, (September 2025), where he presented From the Bench to the Defense Table: A Judicial Perspective on Today’s Civil Defense Landscape.
Judge Jerejian is a member of the American Bar Association, the New Jersey State Bar Association, the New Jersey Association for Justice, the Bergen County Bar Association, the Essex County Bar Association, and the Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers of New Jersey.
Judge Jerejian is qualified by the New Jersey Supreme Court as a Rule 1:40 Mediator for Economic Mediation in Family Law cases, and is also an approved Federal District Court Mediator.
Judge Jerejian is available for in-person, remote, or travel-based mediations and arbitrations to accommodate counsel and their clients throughout New Jersey.
Education
University of Miami School of Law, J.D., 1985
Vassar College, A.B., Political Science, 1982
Amherst College, 1980-1981
Admissions
New Jersey
United States Supreme Court
United States 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals
United States District Court, District of New Jersey
United States Tax Court
Judge Jerejian’s Articles:
Judge Jerejian’s Opinions:
• Namerow v. PediatriCare Associates, LLC 461 N.J. Super 133 (Ch. 2018)
• State v. Minotti, 2014 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 2614
• State v. Clark, 2014 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 2766
• Capital One. N.A. v. Fleckenstein, 2015 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 3041
• Anim Inv. Co. v. Shaloub, 2016 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 2777
• Deutsche Bank Nat’I Trust Co. v. Hochmeyer, 2017 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 102
• Bank of Am. N.A. v. R.H. Surgent, LLC, 2018 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 1615
• In re Estate of Rubin, 2018 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 2381
• Go Express, Inc. v. AutoDrop, Inc., 2018 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 2252
• Williams Drug, LLC v. Patel, 2018 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 2499
• Tuli Realty, LLC v. Tower Saron Two 2015, LLC, 2018 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 2519
• Tedesco v. Fieldstone Condo. Ass’n, 2018 N.J. Super. Un pub. LEXIS 2529
• In re Estate of Mayo, 2018 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 2530
• Tamakuwala v. Suratwala, 2018 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 2670
• Plaut v. Eye Inst. of Paramus, LLC, 2019 N.J. Super. Un pub. LEXIS 29
• 802 Absecon Blvd. v. Fairview Inv. Fund II. LP, 2019 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 152
• Parente v. Garas Constr., LLC, 2019 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 183
• In re Estate of Rosenthal, 2019 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 531
• Cestone v. Cestone, 2019 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 1146
• In re the Estate of Tuzzolo, 2019 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 1288
• In re Estate of Giordano, 2019 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 1326
• Murphy Prop. Acquisition, LLC v. Pfister Chem. Inc., 2019 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 1483
• Odabash v. Brown, 2019 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 1576
• Presbyterian Church of the Palisades. Inc. v. Hwang, 2019 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 1877
• Marca( Mfg., LLC v. Constellation NewEnergy, Inc., 2019 N.J. Super. Un pub. LEXIS 2257
• Jackson v. Estate of Robinson, 2019 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 2258
• Petrella v. Hackensack Bd. of Educ., 2019 N.J. Super. Un pub. LEXIS 2687
• Deutsche Bank Nat’I Trust Co. v. Deangelis, 2020 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 652
• BV001 Reo Blocker, LLC v. HB United States Props, LLC, 2020 N.J. Super. Un pub. LEXIS 985
• Moradi v. Geroski, 2020 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 1196
• Leonite Capital. LLC v. Martin, 2020 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 1563
• 1530 Owners Corp. v. Americana Assocs., 2020 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 1687
• Rasulova v. Aguila, 2021 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 1121
• Gramkow, Carnevale. Seifert & Co. v. CPAs4MDs, P.A., 2021 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 1767
• In re Estate of Dong Won Kim, 2021 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 2584
• In re Estate of Hekemian, 2022 N.J. Super. Un pub. LEXIS 191
• East/West Funding, LLC v. 339 River Road Holdings, LLC, 2023 N.J.Super. Un pub. LEXIS 491
• East/West Funding, LLC v. 575 River Rd. Edgewater, LLC, et. al., 2024 N.J. Super. Un pub. LEXIS 588
• BUPM NJ Assets, LLC v. 15 Nkrth Dean Street, et. al., 2024 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 596
• Cynthia Birkitt v. Mohammad Adwan and HL Builders, LLC, 2024 N.J. Super Unpub. LEXIS 786
• East/West Funding, LLC, v. 339 River Road Holdings, LLC, 2024 N.J. Super. Un pub. LEXIS 948
• In the Matter of the Estate of Hariet Cohen, 2023 N.J. Super. Un pub. LEXIS 665
• Spencer’s Savings Bank, S.L.A. v. Arther Wein and Lawerence B. Seidman, 2024 N.J. Super. Un pub. LEXIS 2070
Professional Speaking:
- Speaker, “When Business and Matrimonial Divorce Collide: Protecting the Enterprise While Litigating the marriage”, Boardwalk Seminar 2025, April 30, 2026
- Speaker, “Collectability and Realistic damages in Business Tort Litigation: From Pleadings to Payday”, Boardwalk Seminar 2025, April 30, 2026
- Speaker, “Judges Roundtable: Business Torts, Equity, and the Impact of Artificial Intelligence on the NJ Business Litigation Landscape” Boardwalk Seminar 2025, April 30, 2026
- Speaker, “Working with Experts: Valuation, Forensic Accounting, and Damages Proof in Business Tort and Business Divorce Cases”, Boardwalk Seminar 2025, April 30, 2026
• Speaker, “Litigation Financial Fraud,” Webinar, MyLawCLE, January 15, 2026
• Speaker, “Mastering Elder Law: Advanced Strategies for Attorneys”, “Protecting Seniors from Romance Scams”, Bergen County Bar Association (BCBA), October 16, 2025
• Speaker, “From the Bench to the Defense Table: A Judicial Perspective on Today’s Civil Defense Landscape,” USLAW, The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs, CO, September 19, 2025
• Speaker, “Tortious Interference with Contract and Perspective Economic Advantage: A Judicial Perspective, Webinar, MyLawCLE, July 24, 2025
• Speaker, Chancery v. Law: The Practical Considerations and Implications of each Venue, Boardwalk Seminar 2025, May 1 2025
• Speaker, Chancery Roundtable, New Jersey Judicial College, November 26, 2024
• Speaker, Hot Topics in Chancery Practice in New Jersey, New Jersey Institute of Continuing Legal Education, (NJICLE), June 5, 2024
• Speaker, Chancery Hot topics, Bergen County Bar Association (BCBA), June 5, 2024
• What’s New With LLC’s in 2024, New Jersey State Bar Association Annual Meeting and Convention, May 16, 2024.
• Speaker, Hot Topics in Estate Litigation, Webinar, New Jersey Institute of Continuing Legal Education, March 28, 2024
• Speaker, Complimentary Dispute Resolution, Bergen County Bar Association (BCBA), October 6, 2023
• Speaker, Chancery Kickoff, Bergen County Bar Association (BCBA), September 14, 2023
• Keynote Speaker, Judge Robert Wilson Retirement Dinner, May 4, 2023
• Keynote Speaker, Bergen County Bar Association (BCBA) Formal Dinner, May 4, 2023
• Speaker, Business Litigation, The Good, Bad and the Equity, New Jersey State Bar Association Annual Meeting and Convention, May 18, 2023
• Speaker, What’s New with LLC’s, New Jersey State Bar Association Annual Meeting and Convention, May 18, 2023
• Speaker, Hot Topics in Estate Litigation, Webinar, New Jersey Institute of Continuing Legal Education, (NJICLE), March 30, 2023
• Speaker, Crossover Between Chancery and the Business Court, Speaker, Civil Judges Conference, July 20, 2022
• Speaker, General Equity Case Management Best Practices, Chancery and Civil Judges Conference, July 20, 2022
• Speaker, Guardianships, Bergen County Bar Association (BCBA), June 15, 2022
• Speaker, Business Litigation, The Good, Bad and the Equity, New Jersey State Bar Association Annual Meeting and Convention, May 19, 2022
• Speaker. Hot Trends in Chancery, Bergen County Bar Association (BCBA), April 27, 2022
• Speaker, Crossover Between Chancery and the Business Court, New Jersey Institute of Continuing Legal Education, (NJICLE), March 29, 2022
• Speaker, Definitive Guide to Chancery Practice in NJ, New Jersey Institute of Continuing Legal Education, (NJICLE), January 26, 2022
• Speaker, Chancery Updates: Guardianships & General Equity Practice Going Forward, Bergen County Bar Association (BCBA), June 16, 2021
• Speaker, Chancery Update, New Jersey State Bar Association Annual Meeting and Convention, May 19, 2021
• Speaker, Avoiding LLC Litigation with Properly Drafted Operating Agreements, New Jersey State Bar Association Annual Meeting and Convention, May 19, 2021
• Speaker, Chancery Practice During the Pandemic, Bergen County Bar Association (BCBA), June 17, 2020
• Speaker, Estate Litigation and Guardianships, Bergen County Bar Association (BCBA), January 28, 2020
• Speaker, Chancery 2020: Pandemic Practice, New Jersey State Bar Association Annual Meeting and Convention, May 15, 2020
• Ins and Outs of the Chancery Practice, Bergen County Bar Association (BCBA), Young Lawyers Meeting Section, January 27, 2019
• Nuts and Bolts of Chancery Practice, New Jersey State Bar Association Annual Meeting and Convention, May 16, 2019
• Breaking Up is Hard to Do: Shareholder Oppression Litigation from a Judicial Perspective, Chancery and Civil Judges Conference, April 3, 2019
• Ins and Outs of the Chancery Practice, Bergen County Bar Association (BCBA), Young Lawyers Meeting Section, February 25, 2019
• 2018 New Jersey Judicial College, Foreclosure Update, November 20, 2018
• Foreclosure Update, New Jersey State Bar Association Annual Meeting and Convention, May 17, 2018
• Chancery Practice: All your Questions Answered, Bergen County Bar Association (BCBA), April 11, 2018
• Special Luncheon Presentation, 11th Annual Criminal Law Institute, New Jersey Institute of Continuing Legal Education, (NJICLE), Scheduled for November 18, 2017
• Faculty, 10th Annual Criminal Law Institute, New Jersey Institute of Continuing Legal Education, (NJICLE), Scheduled for November 19, 2016
• Speaker, Using Electronic information in Criminal Investigations and Prosecution, Webinar, New Jersey Institute of Continuing Legal Education, (NJICLE), June 14, 2016
• Faculty, 9th Annual Criminal Law Institute, New Jersey Institute of Continuing Legal Education, (NJICLE), and three New Jersey State Bar Association (NJSBA) Criminal Law & Certified Attorneys Sections, November 21, 2015
• Evidentiary Issues Concerning Social Media, New Jersey Association for Justice, Boardwalk Seminar, May 1, 2015
• Criminal Trial Practice-The Judicial Perspective, New Jersey Institute of Continuing Legal Education, (NJICLE), April 12, 2014
• Faculty, 7th Annual Criminal Law Institute, New Jersey Institute of Continuing Legal Education, (NJICLE), and three New Jersey State Bar Association (NJSBA) Criminal Law & Certified Attorneys Sections, November 23, 2013
• Advanced Criminal Practice, Bergen County Bar Ass. (BCBA), April 11, 2012
• Keynote Speaker, Peter Ciolino Professional Lawyer of the Year Award, “A Salute to Frank Lucianna, Esq,”,October 19, 2010
• Guest Lecturer, Family Law, “Domestic Violence”, Rutgers Law School, October 30, 2008
• Instructor, Criminal Trial Skills Program, Bergen County Bar Association, 2001-2002
• Moderator, “Litigating a Homicide Case”, New Jersey Institute of Continuing Legal Education, (NJICLE), September 16, 2000
• Instructor, Skills and Methods Training Course, “New Jersey Trial Preparation”, New Jersey Institute of Continuing Legal Education, (NJICLE), May 8 and 9, 2000
• Speaker, Bergen County Bar Foundation Community Legal Series, Bergenfield High School, October 5, 1999
• Moderator, “Litigating a Homicide Case”, New Jersey Institute of Continuing Legal Education, (NJICLE), August 11, 1999
• Instructor, Skills and Methods Training Course, “New Jersey Trial Preparation” New Jersey Institute of Continuing Legal Education, (NJICLE), May 17 and 18, 1999
• Speaker, “Litigating a Homicide Case”, New Jersey Institute of Continuing Legal Education, (NJICLE), August 12, 1998
• Instructor, Skills and Methods Training Course, “New Jersey Trial Preparation New Jersey Institute of Continuing Legal Education, (NJICLE), April 6 and 7, 1998 Published & Unpublished Opinions
• Instructor, Skills and Methods Training Course, New Jersey Trial Preparation” New Jersey Institute of Continuing Legal Education, (NJICLE), April 14 and 15, 1997
• Instructor, Skills and Methods Training Course, New Jersey Trial Preparation” New Jersey Institute of Continuing Legal Education, (NJICLE), October 21 and 26, 1996
• Moderator, Winning Your Criminal Trial Through Effective Opening and Closing Agreements” New Jersey Institute of Continuing Legal Education, (NJICLE), December 2, 1995
• Moderator, “Seventh Annual Super Saturday Seminar”, Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers of New Jersey, (ACDL-NJ), November 4, 1995
• Speaker, “Seminar in the Rockies”, Vail, Colorado, “The Indefensible case”, Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers of New Jersey, (ACDL-NJ), February 18, 1995
• Instructor, New Jersey Institute of Continuing Legal Education, (NJICLE), Skills and Methods Training
Course, “New Jersey Trial Preparation”, February 4, 1995
• Moderator, “Sixth Annual Super Saturday Seminar”, (Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers of New Jersey, (ACDL-NJ), November 5, 1994
• Speaker, “Criminal Practice Forum”, New Jersey Institute of Continuing Legal Education, (NJICLE), September 24, 1994