New Jersey, Fair Lawn New Jersey Divorce Lawyers

We Will Guide You Through the Divorce Process

Two years into his career as a journalist, John E. Finnerty found himself facing an important life decision. “I was offered a job at the New York Post,” he recalls. “But suddenly, it occurred to me that I didn’t want to sit back and just report the news: I wanted to be at the forefront, making policy, and helping decisions come out the right way, instead of just watching them come out.”

Finnerty knew that law could provide him with this opportunity. After graduating from Rutgers Law School in 1972, he clerked for a NJ Supreme Court Justice and made another decision: to concentrate in family and matrimonial law. “I was assigned cases dealing with the initial constitutional challenges to, and interpretation of, the then-recently passed NJ statute on equitable distribution,” he recalls. “I was attracted to matrimonial law because it involved the representation of individual human beings during an emotional time in their lives. In addition, I felt that the field would provide me with an opportunity to help create and shape principles regarding the equitable distribution statutes.”

Helping You Make Informed and Rational Decisions During Your Divorce

Since 1973, this NJ attorney continues to offer the clients his unique historical perspective on the development of matrimonial law in New Jersey. Together with fellow principals, Marilyn J. Canda, Paul J. Concannon and the firm’s two other experienced attorneys, Finnerty tries to help his clients make informed and rational decisions that are not fuelled by passion, rage, emotion, or anger. “We are psychologically sophisticated and compassionate, but we mince no words. We tell our clients what we think in view of the facts they present, the law, and our sense of what the provable truth may be. After helping clients define their objectives, we chart a course with them, and are tireless, but sensible, advocates on their behalf.

A highly respected Certified Matrimonial Law Attorney since 1998, Finnerty has tried and litigated many precedent-setting NJ cases, including Lepis v. Lepis and Nehra v. Uhlar. In 1998 he was awarded the Saul Tischler award by the New Jersey State Bar Association, which recognized a lifetime of contributions to the advancement of family law in NJ. He also served as Chairman of the NJSBA Family Law Section for the 1993-94 term. He has been a member of the NJ Supreme Court Family Part Practice Committee for eleven, two-year terms and was Chair of that Committee’s Subcommittee on Custody and Parenting from 2002 through 2008.

Finnerty has been peer-review designated as an AV Preeminent Attorney for 30 years by Martindale Hubbell. He has been selected by his peers each year since 2005 for inclusion in Woodward White’s list of “Best Lawyers in America”. for Family Law During that same time, Finnerty has also been consistently included in the “New Jersey Super Lawyers”. list for Family Law by Thomson Reuters and New Jersey Monthly. In addition, since 2012, his partner Marilyn J. Canda has either been designated on the “Rising Stars” or “Super Lawyers” lists for Family Law by Thompson Reuters and New Jersey Monthly. No aspect of the above information has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey, but the methodology used in connection with the accolades referenced is available for inspection from the indicated websites of each organization.

Compassionate Divorce Lawyers with Experience and Knowledge

If you are looking for experience, knowledge, and caring representation from attorneys at the forefront of their profession, look no further than the law firm of Finnerty, Canda & Concannon, P.C.

Here are biographical sketches of the partners, associates and key support staff:

John E. Finnerty
Chairman,
Finnerty, Canda
& Concannon, P.C.

John E. Finnerty

John E. Finnerty, a Certified Matrimonial Attorney, is the chairman of Finnerty, Canda & Concannon, P.C. Mr. Finnerty is also Chairman of the New Jersey Supreme Court Family Part Practice Subcommittee on Parenting and Custody for the 2004-2006 term. He is also the former chair of the Family Law Section of the New Jersey State Bar Association. In 1998, he was awarded the Saul Tischler Award for a lifetime contribution to family law in the State of New Jersey. Mr. Finnerty is a frequent lecturer for the Institute of Continuing Legal Education, and regularly contributes articles to national and State Family Law publications.

Mr. Finnerty received his J.D. from Rutgers University School of Law, Newark in 1972 and his M.A. in Political Science from Brown University in 1968. He received his B.A. in Political Science from Brown University in 1965.

Mr. Finnerty is a member of the New Jersey State and American Bar Association. He is also a member of the Association of Trial Lawyers and the Bergen County and Essex County Bar Associations.

Areas of Emphasis:
Divorce Alimony Child Support Custody, Time Sharing and Relocation	Equitable Distribution Domestic Violence Palimony Modification and Appeals

Marilyn Canda
Partner

Marilyn Canda

Ms. Canda has been a partner at Finnerty, Canda & Concannon, P.C. since March, 2004. Before joining Finnerty, Canda & Concannon, P.C. in January, 2003, she was an associate at Law Office of David W. Crook. In 1996, Ms. Canda received her J.D. from the Rutgers University School of Law at Camden, New Jersey where she was a recipient of the Debroah Michael Richards Memorial Award for Excellence in Family Law. At Rutgers, she participated in the Domestic Violence Pro Bono Project, Moot Court competition, Juvenile Conference Committee at Camden County Family Court, Domestic Violence Intake Unit at the Bergen County Family Court, and the Civil Practice Clinic. She was also a judicial intern for the Honorable Mark M. Russello, JSC, Bergen County. Ms. Canda received her B.A. in English from Montclair State University in 1993.

In 2004, Ms. Canda completed intensive litigation training at the 18th Annual Family Law Advocacy Institute in Houston, Texas. Ms. Canda has lectured for the National Business Institute, has published articles on various Family Law topics and is a member of the New Jersey State Bar Association.

Areas of Emphasis:
Divorce Alimony Child Support Custody, Time Sharing and Relocation Equitable Distribution	Domestic Violence Palimony Modification and Appeals Adoptions and Name Change

Paul J. Concannon
Partner

(Fluent in Spanish)

Paul J. Concannon

Mr. Concannon has been an Associate at Finnerty, Canda & Concannon, P.C. since 2004. Mr. Concannon received his J.D. from New York Law School in 2002. After graduating, Mr. Concannon served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Harold C. Hollenbeck, J.S.C. in the Chancery Division, Family Part, Bergen County.

Mr. Concannon graduated on the Dean’s List at Seton Hall University in 1994, earning a B.A. with a double major in Criminal Justice and Spanish. Mr. Concannon was employed as a Bi-Lingual Probation Officer for the State of New Jersey, Child Support Enforcement Unit, Bergen County, from 1996 to 2002. Before joining the firm, Mr. Concannon practiced in the areas of family law, criminal law, estate administration, and labor law.

Mr. Concannon has been a member of the American Bar Association since 2003. Mr. Concannon participates as a pupil in the Northern New Jersey Family Law Inns of Court.

Areas of Emphasis:
Divorce Alimony Child Support Custody, Time Sharing and Relocation Equitable Distribution	Domestic Violence Palimony Modification and Appeals Municipal Court

Alisa H. Thatcher
Associate

Alisa H. Thatcher

Ms. Thatcher has been an Associate at Finnerty, Canda & Concannon, P.C. since 2011. Ms. Thatcher received her J.D. from Rutgers School of Law – Newark in 2010. Recently, Ms. Thatcher served as law clerk to the Honorable James J. Guida, J.S.C. in the Chancery Division, Family Part, Bergen County

Ms. Thatcher graduated with High Honors from Rutgers University in 2005, earning a B.A. in History. Before joining the firm, Ms. Thatcher was a Court appointed Special Advocate for abused and neglected children in Hudson County. Ms. Thatcher was employed in sales and marketing prior to attending law school.

Ms. Thatcher has been a member of the New Jersey Bar Association since 2009 and the Bergen County Bar Association since 2010. Ms. Thatcher has been a member of the American Bar Association since 2008. Ms. Thatcher participates as a pupil in the Northern New Jersey Family Law Inns of Court.

Marisa Tuch
Associate

Marisa Tuch

Ms. Tuch has been an Associate at Finnerty, Canda & Concannon, P.C. since 2010. Ms.Tuch received her J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center in 2003. Recently, Ms.Tuch served as law clerk to the Honorable Ronny Jo Seigal, J.S.C. in the Chancery Division, Family Part, Passaic County.

Ms. Tuch graduated Cum Laude at Duke University in 1996, earning a B.A. in Public Policy Studies.. Before joining the firm, Ms. Tuch practiced in the area of mergers and acquisitions in New York City at Latham & Watkins, LLP. Ms. Tuch was employed as an investment banker with Merrill Lynch prior to attending law school.

Ms. Tuch has been a member of the New Jersey Bar Association since 2003 and the New York Bar Association since 2004

Mack-Cali Corporate Center
17-17 Route 208 North
Fair Lawn, New Jersey 07410
Phone: (201) 845-4000
Please visit our website at: www.familylaw-nj.com
Email: [email protected]

John Finnerty has written the following articles:

FAQs:

Neeli Berger Margolis has written the following article:

The Use of Experts to Assist in the Resolution of Issues in Dispute

New Jersey, Fair Lawn New Jersey Divorce Lawyers

We Will Guide You Through the Divorce Process

Helping You Make Informed and Rational Decisions During Your Divorce

Compassionate Divorce Lawyers with Experience and Knowledge