FLORHAM PARK, NJ, JANUARY 20, 2014 – Bressler, Amery & Ross, P.C. announced that MaryJane Dobbs has joined the firm as Counsel and that attorneys David J. Butler and David G. Smitham have been promoted to Counsel. Ms. Dobbs, who joined from Marcus, Brody, Ford & Kessler, will be resident in the firm’s NJ office, while Mr. Butler and Mr. Smitham will continue to be based in New York.
MaryJane, known as “M.J.,” will continue to grow her practice in the areas of labor and employment and family law. She dedicates a significant part of her practice to counseling companies and privately-held businesses on numerous employment concerns including workplace policies and procedures and compliance issues. M.J. has developed a particular niche representing transportation carriers in personal injury cases, employment disputes and criminal actions.
Clients also rely on M.J. to represent them in complex commercial litigations in State and Federal Court dealing with contract disputes, employment discrimination and wrongful termination. In the family law context, M.J. has garnered particular expertise handling custody and parenting time issue.
“I’ve known of Bressler’s great reputation for many years,” said M.J. Dobbs. “I’m honored to join a firm held in such high regard. I look forward to growing my practice here and delivering the level of exceptional service and strategic counsel the firm is known for,” she continued.
M.J. is an active member of the Defense Research Institute and served as chair for the 2012 DRI Trucking Seminar. She is the co-author of Special Considerations in Cases involving Civil RICO, published in the 1993-1998 New Jersey Federal Civil Practice Handbook and has been a contributor to DRI publications on various litigation issues.
M.J. received her J.D. from Rutgers School of Law-Newark, and was a magna cum laude graduate of the University of Dayton, Ohio, where she earned a B.A.
David J. Butler joined Bressler in 2006. His practice is primarily focused in securities litigation, securities arbitration and securities enforcement proceedings. David frequently represents client financial institutions and their employees in a range of matters before state and federal courts and self-regulatory industry organizations. In addition, David has extensive experience in litigating complex commercial and insurance matters.
David earned his J.D. from Brooklyn Law School and received a B.A. from Seton Hall University.
David Smitham came to the firm in 2003 after a career in trading and sales at several investment banks. He practices in the firm’s securities law group where he calls on his very strong background in international equities and derivatives when dealing with securities and commercial litigation matters. He represents financial firms in arbitration proceedings before FINRA and in regulatory matters.
David received his J.D., magna cum laude, from Brooklyn Law School and his B.A. from Sheffield University, UK.