Hinshaw Expands in Northeast Adding New Jersey Office and Eight Lawyers

Four partners, one counsel, and three associates join firm in NJ and Boston

Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP today announced the addition of eight attorneys in its Consumer Financial Services practice and the opening of a New Jersey office in Iselin. Ben Raindorf, Anthony Scali, Mitchell Zipkin, and Robert Bailey have joined as partners, Kyle Stefanczyk as counsel, and Asha Abraham and Karena Straub are new associates. As part of this group, Donald Seeley has joined Hinshaw as an associate in the Boston office.

Formerly with Parker Ibrahim & Berg LLP, the group brings extensive experience with financial services litigation, commercial foreclosures, and a wide range of transactional matters.

"We are thrilled to have this highly skilled group of attorneys joining the firm as part of our strategic expansion in the Northeast," said Ellen Silverman, co-partner in charge of the New Jersey office. "They bring additional depth to our litigation capabilities in the financial services sector, representing banks, mortgage companies, and student loan servicers, as well as significant experience with commercial real estate and financial services transactional work."

Hinshaw attorneys— including Brian McGrath in New York, Samuel Bodurtha in Boston, Ofonedu-Ime Goodwyn in Miami, David Schultz in Chicago, and Stewart Spielman in New Orleans—have worked with attorneys in the group and have several shared clients.

"Their practices and experience complement the work of our existing Financial Services team," said Justin Penn, chair of the financial services practice. "The firm's decision to open an office in Iselin, New Jersey, makes strategic sense with our presence in New York, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. Iselin's location, at the convergence of four major highways and on the Amtrak Northeast corridor line, is geographically beneficial to many of our current clients and will provide expansive growth potential."

More information about the attorneys' practices and experience follows:

Iselin (NJ) Office, 33 Wood Avenue South, Suite 600

Ben Raindorf, partner, represents financial services companies, including banks and commercial and residential mortgage companies, in a wide range of litigation and transactional matters. A recognized thought leader, he also provides regulatory advice and counsel to industry leaders on financial services legislation and policy. In addition, he defends companies in federal and state courts against claims related to mortgage loan servicing and lending practices. He received his B.A. from Binghamton University and his J.D. from Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University.

Anthony Scali, partner, focuses his practice on representing banks and mortgage companies in litigation matters in state and federal courts, and has defended companies in individual and class actions under state and federal consumer protection laws. He also has significant experience representing financial services companies in general commercial and real estate transactions and advises companies on corporate formation and governance. He received his B.A. from Fordham University and his J.D., cum laude, from New York Law School.

Mitchell Zipkin, partner, represents financial services companies and mortgage servicers against claims involving various federal regulations and related state statutes, including TILA, RESPA, FCRA, FDCPA and the Telecommunications Protection Act (TCPA). He also defends clients against consumer finance litigation claims and advises companies on real estate transactional matters. He earned his B.A. from University of Wisconsin-Madison and his J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law.

Robert D. Bailey, partner, has extensive appellate and commercial litigation experience, with a focus on the financial services industry. He represents clients in a range of matters, including foreclosure, creditor's rights and title claims. In addition, he represents law firms in legal malpractice matters. He earned his B.F.A. from Massachusetts College of Art and Design, and received his M.B.A. and J.D. from Boston College.

Kyle Stefanczyk, counsel, is an experienced litigator with a focus on financial services matters and insurance defense. He received his B.A., cum laude, from Fairfield University and his J.D. from New York Law School.

Asha Abraham, associate, represents financial institutions in a wide range of litigation matters. Before her work in the financial services sector she represented the Securities Investor Protection Act Trustee in the liquidation of the estate of Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC. Prior to beginning her private law practice, she served as law clerk to the Hon. David F. Bauman in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Civil Division. She earned her B.A. from Rutgers College, Rutgers University, and her J.D. from Rutgers School of Law.

Karena Straub, associate, focuses her practice on bankruptcy and commercial litigation matters. She represents financial services companies in commercial foreclosures, creditors' rights and priority disputes. She earned her B.S. from Seton Hall University and her J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law.

Boston Office

Donald Seeley, associate, represents lenders, mortgage servicers and other financial services companies in litigation in state and appellate courts, and in arbitrations and mediations. He received his B.A. from Gettysburg College and his J.D. from New England School of Law.

Media Coverage

• Law360: Hinshaw & Culbertson Adds New Jersey Office And 8 Attys
• Bloomberg Law: Wake Up Call, August 30, 2021