This attorney has been selected for the recognitions mentioned herein, which have been conferred by the corresponding publications and/or organizations noted. An overview of the award selection methodologies for these recognitions can be found at https://www.gibbonslaw.com/awards. Links to certain specific methodologies are embedded in individual entries. Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.
Mr. Brady is an experienced trial lawyer and appellate practitioner. He regularly litigates matters before the state and federal courts of New Jersey, New York, and the surrounding region. A significant portion of his practice focuses resolving construction disputes through litigation, mediation, and arbitration. Additionally, he has extensive experience in litigation involving covenants not to compete and confidentiality provisions. He often litigates matters involving partnership and shareholder disputes, including oppression and dissenter’s rights cases. He also represents large franchisors and licensors in commercial disputes, trademark litigation, and enforcement of franchise and license agreement obligations.
Mr. Brady represents large corporations and individuals in virtually all aspects of complex commercial litigation in both state and federal courts throughout the region. Recent representations have included, inter alia:
- Defending the developer of high-end residential units in design defect claims
- Defending large national franchisors in defense of claims brought by former franchisees and employees of franchisees
- Defending shareholders in a closely held corporation valued at more than $70 million from claims of minority shareholder oppression
- Representing a number of electric utilities and power generators in a challenge to New Jersey’s Long Term Capacity Agreement Pilot Program on the basis of various constitutional claims including field preemption, conflict preemption, and violation of the dormant commerce clause and
- Defending the City of Newark in constitutional challenge to municipal ordinances enacted pursuant to the New Jersey Economic Stimulus Act
Mr. Brady has served as an adjunct professor of law at Seton Hall University School of Law. He regularly speaks at continuing legal education seminars on issues related to franchise law, construction law, and civil procedure. Having risen to the rank of Eagle Scout as a youth, Mr. Brady is an active volunteer in the Patriots’ Path Council of the Boy Scouts of America, where he serves in various roles, including Scoutmaster, Chair of the Sussex District, and member of the Council Executive Board.
Areas of Focus
Construction Litigation
Mr. Brady has been lead counsel in disputes involving contract termination (both prosecuting on behalf of owners and defending on behalf of contractors), liens, surety bonds, extra work claims, defective work claims, scheduling, and delays.
Franchise Law
Mr. Brady advises franchisors on disputes ranging from termination and restrictive covenant litigation and termination and non-renewal disputes to transfer and succession issues, enforcement of system standards, and vicarious liability issues.
Additionally, he regularly assists in counseling companies on the initial decision to franchise, helping them to navigate the myriad state and federal registration and disclosure laws. Thereafter, his wide-ranging services include drafting franchise agreements and disclosure documents; developing internal policies and best practices for managing a franchise and distribution system; negotiating with suppliers, distributors, and other third parties; litigating and arbitrating when necessary to enforce contracts with franchisees, area developers, and others; and defeating antitrust, Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), and other high-stakes claims.
Restrictive Covenant Litigation
Mr. Brady has significant experience both enforcing and challenging restrictive covenants, including non-compete, non-solicit, and confidentiality/non-disclosure covenants, as well as other trade secret and unfair competition related disputes. He ably generates effective court papers quickly to support or oppose emergency applications for injunctive relief and, if necessary, to file emergent appeals. Mr. Brady is equally experienced following these matters through to conclusion, often through negotiations after the immediate situations are brought under control by emergency court proceedings.
Minority Shareholder Disputes
Mr. Brady regularly represents both oppressed minority shareholders and majority shareholders accused of oppression. In these tense cases that often involve closely held family businesses, he balances zealous advocacy with the sensitivity necessary to resolve emotionally charged disputes between family members and/or former friends.
Appellate Litigation
Mr. Brady draws on his experience as a former law clerk to the then Presiding Judge of the Appellate Division and as an Adjunct Professor of Appellate Advocacy in support of his appellate practice. Mr. Brady has argued appeals in the New Jersey state court system and various federal circuit courts throughout the Northeast.
Recently, Mr. Brady was responsible for briefings before the Superior Court of New Jersey Appellate Division and the Supreme Court of New Jersey, which successfully defended Newark city ordinances that were challenged by various taxpayers for violating the commerce clause of the United States and New Jersey Constitutions.
Credentials
Education
Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law (LL.M., Trial Advocacy)
Seton Hall University School of Law (J.D.)
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- Associate Editor, Seton Hall Legislative Journal
- Member, Moot Court Board
Villanova University (M.A.)
University of Massachusetts - Amherst (B.A., cum laude)
Professional Admissions
State of New Jersey
State of New York
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
United States District Court for the District of New Jersey
United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York
United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
United States District Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
Supreme Court of the United States
Professional Activities
Seton Hall University School of Law
Adjunct Professor, 2003-Present
John C. Lifland American Inn of Court Master
New Jersey State Bar Association
Chairman, Section on Franchise Law, 2013
University of Massachusetts Amherst Alumni Association, 2012-Present
Vice President of Governance, 2015-Present
New Jersey State Bar Association
Equity Jurisprudence Section
Franchise Law Section
Association of the Federal Bar of the State of New Jersey
American Bar Association
Forum on Franchising
Judicial Clerkship(s)
Law clerk to the Honorable Joel A. Pisano, United States District Court, District of New Jersey, 2001-2002
Law clerk to the Honorable John E. Keefe, P.J.A.D. Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division 2000-2001