6.04.26
Firm Earns Debut Chambers USA Energy & Natural Resources Ranking
Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith & Davis LLP is pleased to announce that Chambers USA 2026, published by Chambers and Partners, has recognized the firm and 18 of its attorneys among New Jersey’s leading law firms and lawyers across 10 practice areas. The 2026 guide marks the firm’s first Chambers ranking in Energy & Natural Resources and recognizes practice leader Barbara J. Koonz in that category.
In the latest edition, the firm and its attorneys are listed in Litigation: General Commercial, Corporate/M&A, Real Estate, Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use, Environment, Healthcare, Construction, Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations, Energy & Natural Resources, and Banking & Finance.
The following highlights the Chambers USA 2026 editorial commentary regarding the firm and its attorneys.
Litigation: General Commercial
Practice Review:
“Provides sophisticated support to a broad client base, including significant domestic and international businesses. It offers strength at trial and appellate level, as well as in arbitration and mediation. The firm is noted for its experience in wide-ranging commercial disputes, including professional liability cases, RICO litigation, consumer finance class actions and business torts. The team is routinely sought out by real estate and developer clients for representation in corporate disputes.”
Recognized Attorney Reviews:
- John D. North “maintains a broad practice in commercial litigation, with substantial experience representing clients in jury and non-jury trials.”
- Paul A. Rowe “is adept at handling high-profile and complex business disputes, including those with cross-border elements.”
Corporate/M&A
Practice Review:
“A well-established New Jersey firm with a solid corporate team. It demonstrates particular strength in real estate-related transactions and also provides advice on corporate finance and M&A. The team represents clients in the automotive and healthcare industries, among others.”
Recognized Attorney Review:
- Raymond Felton “represents both purchasers and target companies in M&A transactions. He is chair of the corporate department.”
Real Estate
Practice Review:
“A superb group for real estate matters, with an active and robust practice across the entire spectrum of work. Also demonstrates expertise in transactional work including sales, acquisitions, leases, financing and tax issues. The team displays further strength handling litigation matters along with environmental issues associated with development projects. Has extensive experience acting for regional and national developers, private equity investors and landlords and tenants.”
Recognized Attorney Reviews:
- Jack Fersko “is recognized as an expert in real estate transactions, development projects and financing matters. He has additional expertise in environmental law issues.”
- Kenneth T. Bills “lends his expertise across all aspects of commercial real estate transactions, representing commercial property owners, developers, redevelopers and financial institutions.”
- Christine F. Li is “renowned for her expert handling of development projects, including notable expertise in condominium law.”
- Thomas J. Denitzio, Jr. “offers considerable expertise in handling transactional and financing matters, alongside expertise in insolvency and tax issues.”
Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use
Practice Review:
“Handles varied zoning and land use projects involving mixed-use buildings, industrial premises and brownfield redevelopment sites, assisting with issues including the acquisition of planning permits and site approvals.”
Recognized Attorney Reviews:
- Robert S. Goldsmith “assists clients with an array of matters relating to development and redevelopment projects. He has expertise in permitting and design issues as well as wider contentious matters.”
- Steven G. Mlenak “advises clients such as developers, municipalities and owners on a range of development projects.”
Environment
Practice Review:
“Noted strength in contaminated site remediation, particularly brownfield cleanups. Also adept at conducting environmental due diligence and providing counsel on air, water and wetlands laws and permits. Proficient in advising on the environmental elements of commercial transactions. Sought out by a diverse range of clients, including developers, property owners and manufacturers.”
Recognized Attorney Reviews:
- David B. Farer “has an exceedingly broad practice which encompasses environmental litigation, regulatory compliance, transactional issues and redevelopment work.”
- Jay A. Jaffe “assists large corporations with environmental issues within a transactional context, including leasing and facility development matters. He also manages regulatory compliance.”
- Barbara J. Koonz “advises domestic and overseas businesses on environmental permitting for redevelopments and renewable energy projects.”
Healthcare
Practice Review:
“A highly regarded team active in the New Jersey healthcare market, acting for a broad client base of providers, pharmaceuticals and those investing in the industry. It has an extensive regulatory practice that includes areas such as Stark Law and HIPAA compliance, as well as certification issues. The firm is also noted for its strong transactional and litigation experience, and for its dedicated private equity practice that advises both sponsors and portfolio companies.”
Recognized Attorney Reviews:
- James A. Robertson “is respected for his representation of a wide range of healthcare providers in diverse regulatory and corporate mandates. He also offers notable strength in litigation such as reimbursement appeals.”
- John W. Kaveney “has experience representing and advising a range of clients including pharmacies, healthcare providers and healthcare systems in a variety of state and federal regulatory issues.”
Construction
Practice Review:
“An established practice focused on representing developers, owners, condominium associations and general contractors in litigation. Experienced in handling a broad range of disputes, including claims relating to defective construction and design, negligence and construction delays.”
Recognized Attorney Reviews:
- Dennis A. Estis “is regularly called upon for his advice in litigation and arbitration. He is recognized for his expertise in condominium work.”
- John D. North’s “expertise includes disputes involving condominium association law.”
- Steven Nudelman’s “practice encompasses a wide spectrum of issues ranging from construction lien claims to contract negotiations and drafting. He represents a wide range of clients, including owners, developers, general contractors, subcontractors and design ”
Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations
Practice Review:
“A robust white-collar crime practice, representing both individuals and corporate clients in a range of matters. The group regularly handles internal and government investigations, as well as litigation concerning FCA, FCPA and environmental violations, among other areas.”
Recognized Attorney Review:
- Mary E. Carpenito “brings extensive experience and expertise to the New Jersey white-collar bar. She is noted for her representation of clients in criminal defense, internal investigations and grand jury investigations.”
Energy & Natural Resources
Practice Review:
“Commended for its strong energy and natural resources practice, which advises clients on an array of regulatory and transactional work predominantly pertaining to projects, especially within the solar sector. It adeptly assists developers in obtaining regulatory approvals and with zoning issues, and further possesses experience representing clients before the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities.”
Recognized Attorney Review:
- Barbara J. Koonz “has gained commendation for adeptly assisting clients in an array of regulatory and transactional mandates in the renewable energy space, such as acquisitions, leasing, and project consultation. As chair of the firm's energy & renewable resources practice group, she has prominently assisted clients such as developers, large corporates, and nonprofit organizations, and has experience representing them before the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities.”
Banking & Finance
Recognized Attorney Review:
- Lydia C. Stefanowicz “is commended for her commercial lending and real estate finance practice. Her work on CMBS and mezzanine financings is of particular note.”
Chambers USA rankings are based on extensive independent research, including interviews with clients and attorneys, and evaluate qualities such as legal ability, professional conduct, client service, commercial awareness, diligence, and commitment. The complete methodology can be viewed on the Chambers and Partners website.
Attorney Advertising
No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.