Dennis A. Estis

Education

• New York University School of Law, J.D., 1972
• Johns Hopkins University, B.A., 1969

Recognition

• Litigation Counsel of America Senior Charter Fellow
• American Bar Foundation Fellow
• College of Community Association Lawyers Fellow
• National Conference of Bar Presidents Fellow
• Construction Lawyers Society of America Charter Fellow
• Listed in Chambers USA (a publication of Chambers and Partners) in the Construction practice area (2020 – present)
• Listed in The Best Lawyers in America (a trademark of Woodward/White, Inc.) in the Construction Law, Municipal Law, Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Real Estate, Litigation - Municipal, Litigation - Construction, and Community Association Law practice areas (2005 – present)
• Selected by Best Lawyers (a trademark of Woodward/White, Inc.) as 2024 Woodbridge "Lawyer of the Year" in Construction Law; as 2019 Woodbridge "Lawyer of the Year" in Litigation-Real Estate; as 2018 Woodbridge "Lawyer of the Year" in Construction Law; as 2016 Woodbridge "Lawyer of the Year" in Construction Law; as 2014 Woodbridge "Lawyer of the Year" in Litigation-Construction; as 2013 Woodbridge "Lawyer of the Year" in Construction Law; as 2010 Newark "Lawyer of the Year" in Construction Law
• Listed in New Jersey Super Lawyers (a Thomson Reuters business) in the Construction Litigation: Business, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Environmental and Business Litigation practice areas (2005 – present); listed by Super Lawyers as one of the Top 100 Lawyers in New Jersey (2011, 2016)
• Listed in Lexology Index Thought Leaders: USA (published by Law Business Research Ltd.) in the area of Construction
• Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rated AV Preeminent (a trademark of Internet Brands, Inc.)
• Recipient of the Middlesex County Bar Association Arthur H. Miller Lawyer Achievement Award (2013)
• Recipient of the Middlesex County Bar Association Robert J. Cirafesi Chancery Practice Award (2012)
• Recipient of the Middlesex County Bar Association David Pavlovsky Service to the Bar Award (2009)

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Clerkships

• Former law clerk to The Honorable Samuel Allcorn, New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division

Published Cases

• In Nobrega v. Edison Glen Associates (2001), represented respondents in a landmark matter before New Jersey’s Supreme Court addressing whether a newly enacted statute could retroactively impair vested property rights, resulting in a decision providing guidance on statutory interpretation and constitutional limits.  
• In Horosz v. Alps Estates (1994), argued on behalf of the New Jersey Builders Association, amicus curiae in a New Jersey Supreme Court case clarifying when the Statute of Repose may restart, shaping long-term liability exposure for developers and construction professionals.  
• In Lamb v. Global Landfill (1988), successfully defended municipal clients before the New Jersey Supreme Court in a case defining when an injured party may extend the deadline to file a Notice of Tort Claim, reinforcing statutory protections for public entities
• In In re Request for Solid Waste Utility Customer Lists (1987), represented appellants in a New Jersey Supreme Court matter determining when customer lists are protected from disclosure versus subject to public access, balancing proprietary interests against public-interest considerations.
• In Tung v. Briant Park Homes, Inc. (1996), represented a condominium developer in Appellate Division litigation clarifying when purchasers may assert claims under PREDFDA, narrowing exposure to statutory liability.  
• In First National State Bank v. Commonwealth Savings & Loan (1980), represented a financial institution before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in a case affirming that specific performance is an available remedy to enforce a permanent lender’s standby loan commitment.   
• In Carlyle Towers Condo Association v. CrossLand Savings (1996), represented the plaintiffs before the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, in a matter which clarified that a law firm would not be required to withdraw from representation because the firm had previously represented a subsidiary of the primary defendant in the action.
• In Cardell Inc. v. Piscatelli (1994), argued before the New Jersey Appellate Division on behalf of the appellant in a case which clarified when a court is determined to have abused its discretion in not permitting the filing of an amended counter-claim.
• In In re the Appeal of Adoption of N.J.A.C. 5:25A-1.1 et seq. (1993), the New Jersey Appellate Division found that regulations adopted by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) regarding fire retardant treated (FRT) plywood were invalid because they were contrary to the legislative intent behind the New Jersey Home Warranty Act.
• In Jersey City v. Roosevelt Stadium Arena (1986), argued before the New Jersey Appellate Division on behalf of appellant-intervenor K. Hovnanian Companies, with the court holding that formal governmental action was required in order to approve a settlement where a municipality is a party to the action.

Personal

• Jewish Federation of Central New Jersey Board of Directors (past member)
• NYU Law School Alumni Association New Jersey Chapter (past President); Board of Directors (former member)
• Johns Hopkins University New Jersey Alumni Chapter (former Co-Chair)
• Democratic Party of Union County, New Jersey (past Chair)
• The Discovery Orchestra Board of Trustees (past President)

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