On the Move

A child advocacy team was created at Gibbons, led by commercial and criminal litigation partners Debra A. Clifford and Mary Frances Palisano. The team’s object is to advise on special education law, school discipline, student rights, and juvenile delinquency and criminal matters. Clifford and Palisano counsel parents and guardians of special needs students in their efforts to secure necessary educations services, support, and accommodations under New Jersey and federal law, the firm said. The team aims to resolve disputes through negotiation, or litigation before the Office of Administrative Law or state or federal courts. “Child advocacy at first didn’t seem to be a natural fit for Gibbons, which mainly represents corporate clients rather than individuals,” managing partner Patrick C. Dunican Jr. said in a statement. “But—noting the high level of need in this area in their pro bono practices and personal lives, and relying on the notion that a large number of the professionals we work with at our clients’ companies are, in fact, parents themselves—Deb and Mary Fran were able to get the practice off the ground and make a difference to the firm’s bottom line while, more importantly, providing much-needed assistance to area parents and families.” According to Gibbons, Clifford recognized client demand for legal advice in special education law as the parent of a child in special education programs, and Palisano’s criminal defense experience allowed the team to add school discipline and juvenile delinquency to it offerings.

Pearlman & Miranda Brings On Partner Caccavelli

Michael J. Caccavelli joined Pearlman & Miranda in Bloomfield as a partner. He focuses on real property taxation, redevelopment law and civil litigation, and he has experience litigating complex real estate tax appeal cases involving such properties as office complexes, hotels, manufacturing facilities, general industrial and warehouse properties, power generation plants, and retail centers. He is admitted to practice in New Jersey and the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, as well as the U.S. Supreme Court.

Orloff Lowenbach Adds Associate Tilipman Alexander