Paul A. Rowe

Partner

Chairman Emeritus

Iselin

T: 732.549.5600

F: 732.476.2411

prowe@greenbaumlaw.com

Recognized nationally for a career focused on high-profile, complex commercial disputes and sophisticated matrimonial litigation in state and federal courts
Decades of experience and success as a trial lawyer representing clients in high profile matters in state and federal courts, including jury and non-jury trials
A preeminent authority on the practice of law in New Jersey, has authored definitive legal treatises on business litigation and chancery practice in the state

Paul is a foundational figure in New Jersey’s legal community. A tenacious trial lawyer with a career that spans decades, he has long been recognized both statewide and nationally as one of the most formidable practitioners of complex commercial and matrimonial litigation. His career has been characterized by the shrewd legal judgment and sharp-sighted instincts that have made him a trusted advisor in some of the most prominent and highly publicized litigations in New Jersey history.

Paul’s influence on the practice of law extends far beyond the courtroom. He is the original author of New Jersey Business Litigation, the definitive resource utilized by practitioners and the judiciary to navigate business disputes. He also serves as the co-author of the Guidebook to Chancery Practice in New Jersey, which remains the standard textbook for judges and equity lawyers throughout the state. These seminal works continue to shape the legal landscape and serve as a testament to his deep intellectual command of the law.

Throughout his practice, Paul has successfully managed a diverse portfolio of sophisticated matters, including partnership and corporate disputes, antitrust cases, professional malpractice defense, stock fraud, intellectual property disputes, construction matters, complex chancery litigation, and high-profile matrimonial cases. His enduring legacy of success in both jury and non-jury trials remains the hallmark of the firm’s commitment to excellence and high-stakes advocacy.

Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.

Areas of Focus

Practice Areas

Family Law

Alimony

Family Law

Alimony

Credentials

Bar Admissions

New York, 1961
New Jersey, 1962

Education

Columbia Law School, LL.B., 1961
Tufts University, B.A., 1958

Recognition

American College of Trial Lawyers Fellow
International Academy of Trial Lawyers Fellow
American Bar Foundation Fellow
Listed in Chambers USA (a publication of Chambers and Partners) in the Litigation: General Commercial practice area (2003 – present)
Listed in The Best Lawyers in America (a trademark of Woodward/White, Inc.) in Appellate Practice, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Family Law, Litigation - Construction, and Litigation - Real Estate (1989 – present)
Selected by Best Lawyers (a trademark of Woodward/White, Inc.) as Woodbridge "Lawyer of the Year" in Family Law and Litigation - Construction (2025); as Newark "Lawyer of the Year" in Bet-the-Company Litigation (2011); as Woodbridge "Lawyer of the Year" in Appellate Practice (2013); as Woodbridge "Lawyer of the Year" in Litigation – Real Estate (2014)
Listed in New Jersey Super Lawyers (a Thomson Reuters business) in the Business Litigation, Family Law, Construction Litigation: Business, and Appellate practice areas (2005 – present)
Listed as a Local Litigation Star in New Jersey in Benchmark Litigation (a publication of Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC) in the Construction and General Commercial practice areas (2013– present)
Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rated AV Preeminent (a trademark of Internet Brands, Inc.)
Recipient of the Lifetime Achievement in Litigation Award from the New Jersey Law Journal (2014)
Recipient of the Robert J. Cirafesi Chancery Practice Award from the Middlesex County Bar Association (2014)
Recipient of the National Judge Learned Hand Award by the American Jewish Committee (2013)
Recipient of the Trial Bar Award from the Trial Attorneys of New Jersey (1993)

Please visit our Award Methodology page for a description of the standard or methodology on which these accolades are based. Attorney Advertising: No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.

Of Note

The only attorney to receive the number one ranking for peer votes in the annual New Jersey Super Lawyers (a Thomson Reuters business) selection process for four consecutive years (2012 - 2015), was featured on the cover and profiled in the 2013 edition of New Jersey Super Lawyers magazine and appeared on the publication’s Top Ten list for 11 consecutive years.

Experience

Representative Matters

In a six-month jury trial, Paul represented the main defendant against a plaintiff’s suit of $200 million alleging construction defects and consumer fraud in an Edgewater condominium development. The jury returned a less than $8 million verdict against the client, Hartz Mountain Industries Inc., and about 25 other defendants, including subcontractors.
Served as co-lead trial counsel for the general creditors in the liquidation of Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Co., the largest such liquidation in United States history. Paul’s clients, the general creditors, eventually received 125% of their claims under a seven-year liquidation plan.
Represented Penthouse International Ltd. as lead trial defense counsel in a high-profile breach of contract, antitrust, and tortious interference matter arising from the attempted sale of Atlantic City casino properties. Following a 10-month trial, the court dismissed the plaintiffs’ $2 billion antitrust claim and all remaining claims.

Published Cases

In the then-largest known divorce award in New Jersey history, Paul was retained to represent the wife in Ciasulli v. Ciasulli (2004), a landmark case involving a marital estate valued at approximately $75 million. Following a four-month trial, the client was awarded $37.5 million, plus alimony and attorney and experts’ fees. The decision addressed post-filing business valuation and the treatment of growth attributable to favorable economic circumstances, rather than the husband’s efforts or abilities.

Affiliations

Memberships

American Bar Association: Litigation Section; Family Law Section
New Jersey State Bar Association: Family Law Section; Equity Jurisprudence Special Committee; Fee Arbitration Committee (past Chair)
Essex County Bar Association (past President)
Middlesex County Bar Association
Legal Services Foundation of Essex County (Trustee and past President)
New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education (former Trustee)