LaVecchia joins McCarter & English

Former New Jersey Supreme Court Justice Jaynee LaVecchia has joined McCarter & English, one of the state’s largest law firms, as a partner.

LaVecchia retired from the bench on December 23 after nearly 22 years as a Supreme Court justice.

She will join McCarter’s business litigation group.

“As a retired Justice of New Jersey’s highest court, she is uniquely qualified to advise clients on both trial strategy and appellate issues as well as facilitate the resolution of complex disputes,” said former U. District Court Chief Judge Jose Linares, a McCarter & English partner.  “I am thrilled to be able to collaborate with Justice LaVecchia, someone who displays such extraordinary talent, intelligence, and grace.”

LaVecchia’ public service career began in 1984 when the 29-year-old attorney became a deputy state attorney general.  She became an assistant counsel to Gov. Thomas Kean in 1986 and later became deputy chief counsel.  Kean nominated her to serve as chief judge for the Office of Administrative Law in 1989, a post she held for five years.

Whitman put LaVecchia in her cabinet as the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance in 1998.

On Christmas Eve 1999, Whitman announced her nomination of LaVecchia, then 45, to the Supreme Court.  She replaced Marie Garibaldi, the first woman to serve as a state Supreme Court Justice.

“I am thrilled to begin this new phase of my career at McCarter and proud to be joining a team of attorneys distinguished by their powerful and unwaveringly professional advocacy for their clients,” LaVecchia said. “I look forward to collaborating with the trial and appellate teams, and to expanding the firm’s already impressive alternative dispute resolution practice.”