Gibbons Directors Michael Griffinger and Frank Vecchione Honored at Essex County Bar Association Annual Dinner

News

October 22, 2014

Michael R. Griffinger, a Director in the Business & Commercial Litigation Department of Gibbons P.C., and Frank J. Vecchione, a Director in the firm’s Financial Restructuring & Creditors’ Rights Department, were honored as Fifty Year members of the Essex County Bar Association (ECBA) at the organization’s annual dinner on October 16, 2014.

Twelve other prominent lawyers and judges were also honored at this event, where Governor Brendan T. Byrne received the 2014 Lifetime Achievement Award.

“This honor recognizes Mike and Frank’s longstanding commitment to the legal profession,” stated Patrick C. Dunican Jr., Chairman and Managing Director of Gibbons. “Throughout their 50 year careers, they have built reputations that are respected throughout the profession, by their clients, peers, and friends.”

At Gibbons, Mr. Griffinger’s practice is focused primarily on sophisticated corporate and commercial disputes, securities litigation, and antitrust matters. He has recently served as Chairman of the Judicial and Prosecutorial Appointments Committee of the New Jersey State Bar Association; Chairman of the Board of Volunteer Lawyers for Justice; and Chairman of the Board of Legal Services Foundation. In the broader community, Mr. Griffinger has served on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center since 1995, and he founded the Fresh Air Fund Games. Recognition for his outreach efforts has been extensive. For example, in a single year, Volunteer Lawyers for Justice bestowed on Mr. Griffinger its “Champion of Change” Award; Trial Attorneys of New Jersey its Trial Bar Award; and the Association of the Federal Bar of New Jersey its William J. Brennan, Jr. Award. He earned his JD from Columbia Law School, his MBA from Columbia Business School, and his BA from Cornell University. He served as a Lieutenant in the United States Navy from 1958-1961.

At Gibbons, Mr. Vecchione represents distressed debtors (including law firms) in the restructuring of their financial affairs, both outside of court and in court under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code. He also represents trustees and other fiduciaries in both state and federal court. Mr. Vecchione has spent the bulk of his professional career representing parties, mainly debtors, in the restructuring of their financial affairs. At the same time, for 21 years, he was an adjunct professor at Seton Hall Law School, offering a course in debtor-creditor relations and bankruptcy. In 1991, Mr. Vecchione was inducted as a fellow in the American College of Bankruptcy. In 1992, he was honored by Seton Hall Law School as the Outstanding Alumnus and in 1993, he was elected to Fellowship in the American Bar Foundation. He earned his JD from Seton Hall University School of Law and his BA from Syracuse University, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.