July 2022 Newsletter

Axelrod Performing Arts Annual Gala Celebrates Honoree James G. Aaron

On Thursday, June 23, the Axelrod Performing Arts Center (APAC) invited guests to a Gala affair — an evening to honor James G. Aaron, Esq. The event celebrated Mr. Aaron as well as APAC’s mission  to provide cultural arts to the community. The event is the theatre’s principal fundraiser of the year and ended with a special performance by Tony Award nominee, and Broadway Star, Jarrod Spector and his 10-piece band. “We’re excited to celebrate our longtime supporter and friend, Jimmy Aaron” said CEO Jess Levy. Mr. Aaron, a partner at Ansell Grimm & Aaron, PC, has served as a leader and longtime board member supporting the expansion and advancement of APAC programming. “This event is both a spectacular party and an opportunity to applaud and support the work Jimmy’s contributions to APAC, and the mission of Axelrod Performing Arts Center’s innovative work, and cultural experience for theatre lovers.” Event organizer, Karen Rafiqi, coordinated the event along with dedicated APAC staff members. The Honorary Committee for the event included Co-Chairs, Elise Feldman and Ira Kreizman.

The Cannabis Law Practice Continues Training through the National Business Institute on July 19

The National Business Institute (NBI) is hosting a speaker event titled, “Marijuana Business Law in New Jersey.” NBI is an organization dedicated to providing continuing education and learning for professional. Joshua Bauchner will cover the following topics: Application Procedures: Avoiding Mistakes Grounds for License Refusal, License Renewals, License Transfers, Appealing Application Denials. This will be presented as a LIVE Online Seminar. Please click HERE for registration information.

MINI-ROUNDTABLE: Q&A Report with Cannabis Industry Experts and Advocates

Financier Worldwide Magazine, publisher of the quarterly e-magazine, Corporate Disputes, reached out to Ansell Grimm & Aaron’s Cannabis Law Practice Chair, Joshua Bauchner, to participate in a special Q&A report titled, “Cannabis Regulation and the Litigation Landscape.” This report is available online and registration is free. Please click HERE  to be directed to the latest edition.

Ansell Grimm & Aaron, PC Celebrates Nomination at New Jersey’s First-Ever Cannabis Industry Awards Gala

Ansell Grimm & Aaron, PC attended the New Jersey Cannabis Insider Awards Gala as an “Excellence in Cannabis Law” nominee on June 9, 2022. The Cannabis Awards Gala marked New Jersey’s first-ever cannabis industry awards event. A few hundred thought-leaders and supporters gathered at the Carteret Performing Arts Center to recognize 24 businesses for their excellence in the Cannabis industry. “We feel honored to be recognized and have our firm included among the inspired community that comprises the New Jersey Cannabis industry,” said Joshua Bauchner, Chair of the Cannabis Law Practice. The award recipients were announced during the evening and attendees enjoyed celebrating a new milestone for the cannabis industry.

Jackson Planning Board Approves Warehouse on Herman Road

The members of the Jackson Planning Board voted 8-1 to grant preliminary and final major site plan approval to an applicant who plans to construct a 35,361-square-foot, one-story warehouse on Herman Road. The application of 498 Herman Jackson, LLC, was heard during the board’s June 6 meeting in the municipal building. The applicant was represented by attorney Jennifer S. Krimko of the firm, engineer Thomas Muller, and architect David Collins.

Asbury Park Free Summer Concert Series Returns in Summer 2022

ASBURY PARK, NJ — The Asbury Park Music Foundation announces a full return to multiple free live music series this summer. The 2022 summer music series starts with Music Mondays in Springwood Park. There are performances booked through July and August for the sixth season of this popular event. AP Live on the Asbury Park boardwalk also returns, with free music on Wednesday nights right next to MOGO. Lakehouse Academy bands, some of which feature APMF scholarship students, will open the show each week followed by local artists of all genres.

CWCBExpo: A B2B Tradeshow To Remember

Ansell Grimm & Aaron, PC attended the CWCBExpo at the Javit’s Center during its 3-day cannabis industry event. New York is rapidly becoming one of the largest cannabis economic sectors. AG&A met with industry leaders and demonstrated its commitment to diverse and inclusive business practices.

Joshua S. Bauchner Speaks at The NORML Aspen Legal Seminar

The NORML Aspen Legal Seminar was held at the Gant Hotel from June 2 to June 4 in Colorado. Joshua Bauchner joined a cadre of presenters from across the nation who shared their insights on important issues in cannabis law in this fully accredited legal seminar.  Timely topics included: The Admissibility of Digital Evidence; 280E Battle with the IRS: How to Prepare and Represent Your Cannabis Client; Social Equity in NY & NJ; Marijuana and Child Custody Issues; Surviving an Overreaching Prosecutor; Attorney Fees In Criminal Cases; Overcoming Racial Bias When Representing a Black Defendant; Ethical Considerations in Representing the Cannabis Industry Client; The Future of Cannabis; and Annual Review of Important 4th Amendment Decisions.

NJSBA Cannabis Law Committee Co-Chairs Reappointed for 2022-2023 Term

The New Jersey State Bar Association (NJSBA) is instrumental in providing members with training and information. NJSBA announced its reappointment of Joshua Bauchner, Esq. and Lisa Gora, Esq. as the Co-Chairs of its Cannabis Law Committee. In their role as co-chairs, Josh and Lisa also moderated cannabis panels at the NJSBA Annual Convention in Atlantic City.

Andrea B. White Appointed to The New Jersey State Bar Association’s Family Law Strategic Planning Committee

Andrea B. White, Esq. was invited and accepted an appointment as a member of The New Jersey State Bar Association’s (NJSBA) Membership Committee in May 2022. The work of the committee is essential to advancing the interests of the Association, the legal profession, and the public. Andrea B. White also serves on the New Jersey State Bar Association Family Lawyer Editorial Board as a Senior Editor and on its Planning Committee for the Annual Mid-Year Meeting and Retreat. Her practice is exclusively devoted to Family Law at Ansell Grimm & Aaron where she assists clients in divorce, custody, parenting time, child support, alimony and domestic violence issues. Ms. White is certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Matrimonial Law Attorney and is qualified pursuant to R. I :40 to mediate family law cases. She also has been admitted as an Attorney and Counselor of the Supreme Court of the United States since 2006. Ms. White lectured at the NJSBA’s Annual Meeting on May 19 on the topic, “Re-examining Child Support Guidelines In 2022.”

Former Red Bank Council President Charged with Stealing Thousands from Non-Profit

Former Red Bank Council President Hazim Yassin has been charged with stealing thousands of dollars from a non-profit education foundation, acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Lori Linskey said. Yassin, 32, of the Lincroft section of Middletown, has been charged with third-degree theft by unlawful taking, the Prosecutor’s Office said. Yassin’s defense attorney, Robert A. Honecker, Jr., of Ansell Grimm & Aaron PC, defended his client’s charges in a phone call with the Asbury Park Press.

Athletes In Cannabis Conference Creates Community

The Athletes in Cannabis NY/NJ Regional Tradeshow was held on May 6 – 7, 2022 at the Hilton Newark Airport. Joshua Bauchner of Ansell Grimm & Aaron, PC was the Keynote Speaker and gave a poignant “State of the Cannabis” speech on Friday morning. This 2-day event allowed individuals from growers to cannabis lending companies to interact with retired members of the NFL, NHL, NBA, and MLB.

April 2022 Newsletter

Six Attorneys Named Super Lawyers

Ansell Grimm & Aaron is pleased to announce that six attorneys from the firm have been selected to the 2022 New Jersey Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists.* Selected as Super Lawyers again this year are Allison Ansell, Mitchell J. Ansell, and Andrea B. White. Named as Rising Stars this year are Alfred M. Caso, Ashley V. Whitney, and Nicole D. Miller. This is Caso’s first selection, Whitney’s second, and Miller’s fourth consecutive selection as a Rising Star. Each year, no more than 5% of lawyers in the state are selected to the Super Lawyers list, and no more than 2.5% are selected to the Rising Stars list. The list of New Jerse Super Lawyers is based upon surveys of the more than 35,000 lawyers across the state who have been licensed to practice for five years or more.
*No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court.

Ansell Grimm & Aaron Welcomes Carol J. Truss

We are pleased to announce that Carol J. Truss has joined Ansell Grimm & Aaron’s Commercial Real Estate Department. Ms. Truss previously served as a partner at Gross, Truss & Herstik in Freehold, New Jersey. Ms. Truss’s primary focus is on real estate, including commercial acquisitions/dispositions and refinances, commercial leasing and commercial property management matters. She also handles the purchase and sale of small businesses and the general representation of such businesses. Ms. Truss is an active member of the Monmouth Bar Association (MBA), and has served in several leadership roles for the MBA, including President, Trustee, and Chair of the Real Estate and Land Development Committee. She is also a past Chair and Lifetime Member of the New Jersey State Bar Association Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section Board of Consultors.
“Carol is a great addition to the AGA Commercial Real Estate Department,” Managing Partner Michael V. Benedetto said. “She brings vast experience as a counselor, as well as tremendous respect from the Bench and Bar.”

Seth Rosenstein Defends Clients Targeted by Serial Plaintiffs

Seth Rosenstein of AGA’s Woodland Park and White Plains office had recently represented several businesses that were sued by serial Plaintiffs for purported violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and related state and municipal statutes. As in nearly all of the cookie cutter Complaints filed by Plaintiffs’ counsel in the ADA actions,  Plaintiffs generally alleged that accessibility barriers prevented them from entering Defendants’ place of business and/or accessing the business’ website.  Leveraging the fact that ADA Plaintiffs expect to settle counsel-driven litigation before actively litigating in exchange for substantial payouts, Mr. Rosenstein aggressively pursued discovery and motion practice to take counsel to task, and successfully compelled settlements for a fraction of what ADA Plaintiffs’ counsel typically demand and collect.

Ansell Grimm & Aaron Continues to Build Commercial Litigation Group

We are pleased to announce the addition of Kelsey Barber as an associate with Ansell Grimm & Aaron’s commercial litigation group, where she will continue to focus her practice on a variety of complex civil litigation matters. Ms. Barber received her B.A. in Historical Studies from Stockton University with a minor in Philosophical and Religious Studies. She thereafter obtained her J.D. from Rutgers Law School, where she was an editor of the Rutgers Journal of Public Policy and spearheaded Youth Court, a pro bono youth organization dedicated to teaching legal and ethical youth adjudication for school disciplinary actions in Camden. Ms. Barber previously clerked with the Honorable Linda Grasso Jones, in the Monmouth County Courthouse, Civil Division, where she also acted as a court appointed mediator. After her clerkship, Ms. Barber went on to work in established plaintiff and defense oriented firms, litigating in the areas of catastrophic tort, products liability, contract, employment, and complex business litigation.

Ansell Grimm & Aaron Named as Finalist for Excellence in Cannabis Law

Ansell Grimm & Aaron has been voted among the Top 3 nominees for the NJ Cannabis Insider 2022 Business Awards in the Excellence in Cannabis Law category. On June 9, 2022, NJ Cannabis Insider will host New Jersey’s first-ever cannabis business awards gala at the Carteret Performing Arts Center where businesses, including Ansell Grimm & Aaron, will be recognized for their achievements in the fields of law, social equity, building, innovation, and consultancy.

Ansell Grimm & Aaron Speaks on the Mid-Atlantic Cannabis Industry

Joshua Bauchner, a Partner serving as both Co-Chair of the Litigation Department and head of the Cannabis Law Practice group, will be discussing the cannabis industry’s legal landscape at a series of upcoming events. On April 28, Mr. Bauchner will moderate the New Jersey State Bar Association’s 4th Annual Cannabis Symposium. You can find program details and register to attend in person here or via webcast here. Mr. Bauchner will be speaking at the Athletes in Cannabis NY/NJ Regional Tradeshow, which will be held May 6 – 7, 2022 at the Hilton Newark Airport. Tickets for the event can be found here. On May 19, Mr. Bauchner will moderate a panel on adult-use licenses during the New Jersey State Bar Association’s Annual Meeting at the Borgata in Atlantic City. You can register for the Meeting here. On June 3, Mr. Bauchner will be discussing social equity in the New Jersey and New York cannabis markets at the 2022 NORML Aspen Legal Seminar. The seminar will be held June 2 – 4, in Aspen, Colorado, and registration information can be found here. Mr. Bauchner will also discuss licensing and professional ethics in New Jersey at the National Business Institute’s Marijuana Business Law in New Jersey Seminar on June 19, 2022.

Cannabis Regulatory Commission Special Meeting

On Monday, April 11, 2022 the Cannabis Regulatory Meeting held a special meeting open to the public. At the meeting the Commission approved 34 conditional licenses for cultivators and manufacturers, bringing the number of approved conditional licenses to 100+. The Commission also considered expanded ATC certifications for 7 existing ATCs including, Acreage-CCF, Curaleaf, Columbia Care, Verano, Ascend Wellness, GTI, and TerrAscend. The ATCs will still need to complete an operational assessment for regulatory compliance and submit payment of their full expansion fees before they are authorized to begin adult-use sales. Recordings of all Cannabis Regulatory Commission public meetings can be found here.