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Practice Areas
Services Offered by Rubino Law Group LLC
RUBINO LAW GROUP, LLC has the experience and skills necessary to ensure our clients receive the highest level of legal representation in a cost effective and timely manner. The firm provides legal counsel to individuals and businesses in a wide variety of complex legal matters, specifically in the areas of real estate, land use, zoning, business law, employment law, collaborative divorce, mediation and litigation.
COLLABORATIVE DIVORCE
This method of divorce was created in 1990 by a Minnesota family lawyer named Stu Webb, who saw that traditional litigation (going to court) was not always helpful to parties and their families, and often was very damaging. Since 1990, the collaborative law movement has spread rapidly to most of the United States, Europe, Canada and Australia. According to the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals, of which Renée A. Rubino is a member, more than 10,000 lawyers have been trained in collaborative law in the United States, with collaborative practitioners in at least 46 states. Ms. Rubino belongs to the North and Central Jersey Collaborative Divorce groups and regularly presents workshops on mediation and collaborative divorce.
In a collaborative divorce, the parties strive to reach a fair settlement on all marital issues without going to court. This is accomplished through a series of meetings, sometimes called joint sessions, between the two parties and their lawyers. A great additional benefit of the collaborative process is the use of other neutral experts, such as divorce coaches, child specialists and financial experts, when necessary and agreed to by the parties. The primary focus of the four-way meetings or "Four-Ways" is to identify the priorities, goals, needs and interests of the parties, and help them progress towards and create a settlement that is consistent with those priorities, goals, needs, and interests. The parties make their own decisions based on their own standards. At the Rubino Law Group we believe that in most instances the parties themselves, and not a Judge, are better suited to make decisions related to the care and custody of their children and the equitable distribution of the marital assets.
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FAMILY LAW
When it comes to divorce, complex and sensitive issues can result in outcomes with lifelong emotional and financial consequences. The family law attorneys at the Rubino Law Group, LLC are unique because, although seasoned litigators, they strive to first find an amicable way for couples to dissolve their marriage, thus placing the well being of the family, especially children, before anything else. In that regard, we are highly experienced divorce mediators and trained in collaborative divorce. These are saner, faster and less expensive ways to handle all the issues that arise in a divorce, such as custody, visitation, child support, alimony, equitable distribution of assets, education expenses, medical coverage, and the like.
Divorce Mediation
Separation and divorce are among the most painful and disruptive events that an individual and family can experience. The problems are both financial and emotional, deeply touching all members of the family. Mediation, like collaborative divorce, aims at reducing this tension, not increasing it. With the help of the mediator, couples negotiate their own settlement and learn techniques for resolving future differences.
Mediators show people how to work together productively in spite of their anger by helping couples separate their spousal role, which is ending, from their parental role, which is lifelong. Couples learn to evaluate their present financial condition and provide for their future financial needs. When necessary, other experts can assist, such as lawyers, therapists, child specialists, and financial experts.
With the mediator's help, agreements can be reached to handle both immediate and long range concerns. The mediator will focus on the relevant issues and help identify possible options. You will not only actively participate in the negotiations, you will control the final outcome, which often results in a reasonable solution and a mutually satisfactory agreement that considers the needs of all family members. The mediator works to facilitate communication and ensure that neither party dominates the other. Even though one party may be more powerful or a better negotiator, the mediator helps to balance the power. In cases where the imbalance of power is too strong, or domestic violence is involved, the mediator will terminate the mediation and suggest collaborative divorce or litigation, where both sides will be represented by attorneys.
After mediation, the parties are encouraged to take the written settlement agreement to be reviewed by their own independent attorney before signing it. The agreement may then be used as the basis for an uncontested divorce, where the final documents are filed with the court.
While mediation is especially helpful when children are involved, it is also ideal for couples who do not have children, whose children are grown, or who have step children involved.
Distinction between Mediation and Collaborative Divorce
While there is a parallel between collaborative divorce and mediation, in that both are facilitative processes, in collaborative divorce each party is represented by counsel, as opposed to appearing alone before a neutral third party, the mediator. A mediator (who may or may not be an attorney) does not “represent” either side, he or she merely facilitates communication between the parties to help them reach a settlement. Outside counsel is strongly recommended before entering into the final agreement. In collaborative divorce, the attorneys serve as advocates for their clients, advise them on the law and the consequences of various options, and assist in the negotiations.
We also handle the full array of post-judgment applications including modification issues concerning alimony, child support, changes in primary residence and changes in parenting time schedules.
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BUSINESS LAW
Whether you are looking to start a business, purchase or sell a business, or obtain sound legal advice on the every day affairs of your business, we have the experience, knowledge and integrity to guide you through. In addition to helping you select and form the proper business entity, such as a limited liability company (LLC), corporation or partnership, we will draft all documents necessary for a strong foundation, including operating agreements, shareholders agreements, and/or partnership agreements.
As with other matters, our attorneys work together to meet the client’s needs by integrating our areas of expertise when necessary. For example, once a business entity has been formed and all necessary documents filed with the State, employment contracts or contracts with vendors may be needed, contractual disputes may arise, or additional estate planning for the owners may become necessary. Our combined experiences allow us to serve all of the client’s needs in a cost-effective and efficient manner.
We make every effort to learn everything we can about a client’s business because our clients rely on us to help them resolve impediments, take advantage of opportunities, and anticipate problems. The growth and success of our clients’ businesses is our first priority.
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REAL ESTATE
As governmental regulation increases in the areas of planning, zoning and land development, so does the need for public and private sector entities to employ sound legal counsel in achieving their land use objectives. Our attorneys have experience with many areas involving real property, including, residential sales, purchases and refinancing, commercial property sales, purchases and refinancing, commercial leasing, land use, zoning, redevelopment law, condemnation/eminent domain, environmentally contaminated property, and contractual disputes/litigation.
We have experience in the public sector, such as representing the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) in connection with the redevelopment of Atlantic City, as well as the private sector, having handled matters for such companies as Vornado Realty Trust and Mack Management. Our attorneys also have substantial experience in condemnation, having represented numerous condemning authorities, such as the CRDA, the Jersey City Redevelopment Authority (JCRA), and many municipalities. We also represent private business owners against such condemning authorities as the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) and New Jersey Transit (NJT) with respect to highway improvement and road widening projects, as well as businesses fighting to stop redevelopment areas and eminent domain abuse.
Our many years of experience representing both condemning authorities and business owners have enabled us to develop skills and expertise in all facets of eminent domain law, from trial courts to appellate courts.
Whether negotiating and drafting agreements for sale or purchase, handling eminent domain issues, or appearing before local land use boards to obtain the necessary approvals for site plans, subdivisions, variances and other permits, the Rubino Law Group, LLC has the experience and skill necessary to achieve its clients’ goals in a cost effective and timely manner.
Reported Decision: Casino Reinvestment Development Authority v. Teller
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