Aidan O'Connor Elected President of ACDL-NJ

Pashman Stein Partner O'Connor Elected President of ACDL-NJ Aidan P. O'Connor[Photo Credit: Bob Wallace.]
Pashman Stein Walder Hayden in Hackensack announced that Aidan P. O'Connor , a partner and co-chair of the firm's criminal defense practice group, has been elected president of the Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers of New Jersey (ACDL-NJ), beginning April 2021 for a one-year term. O'Connor recently served as the ACDL-NJ's vice president. "Since 1985, the ACDL-NJ has been blessed with leaders who are dedicated to protecting the rights of the accused, as well as being skilled trial lawyers in their own right. Aidan O'Connor certainly carries on this tradition," said Joseph A. Hayden , co-chair of the criminal defense and governmental and internal investigations practice at Pashman Stein Walder Hayden, in a statement. O'Connor defends allegations of securities fraud, insurance fraud, health care fraud, tax evasion, bank and mortgage fraud, and public corruption, among others. Pashman Stein managing partner Michael S. Stein said in a statement called O'Connor "a creative advocate who has the trial and negotiating skills that bring resolutions to difficult cases in both civil and criminal contexts, and he is a true leader." The ACDL-NJ has more than 500 members and advocates as amicus curiae in state and federal appellate courts on behalf of the interests of the criminal defense bar and its clients, the release noted. Before entering private practice, O'Connor was an assistant U.S. attorney in the District of New Jersey for 18 years, serving in the Criminal Division, the Organized Crime Strike Force, and as the chief of the Violent Crimes Unit. He was a recipient of the Director's Award for Superior Performance as an assistant U.S. attorney for his successful prosecution of a RICO case involving hundreds of millions of dollars in excise tax fraud and organized crime. O'Connor received his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law and his B.A. from Columbia University.

Siegel Speaks on Legal Planning for Vulnerable Adults

Shana Siegel, a partner at Norris McLaughlin in Bridgewater and chair of its elder care and

Shana Siegel Speaks on Legal Planning for Vulnerable Adults Shana Siegel [Photo Credit: Lynn Goodwin.]
special needs law practice group, presented a virtual seminar, "Specialized Legal Planning for Vulnerable Adults and Ethical Considerations Representing Clients with Diminished Capacity" on March 29, which was co-sponsored by the Federal Bar Association and myLawCLE. "In our office, we think a lot about solo seniors—older adults who live alone and have no immediate family. It is our duty to assist those who are vulnerable and to educate others who do the same," said Siegel in a statement. In her practice, Siegel focuses on representing seniors, individuals with special needs, and their families in connection with life care planning, public benefits, trust and estate planning, and long-term care advocacy. She is a certified elder law attorney. Prior to joining Norris McLaughlin, Siegel was with WanderPolo & Siegel for more than 10 years, including five years as partner Siegel is a past president of the New Jersey chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. She is also a member of the New Jersey Women Lawyers Association, the State Bar Elder Law Section, the Life Care Planning Law Firms Association, and the Bergen and Essex County bar associations. She earned her J.D. from Georgetown University in 1994 and her B.A. from Barnard College in 1989.