Dennis A. Estis

Professional Memberships

Superior Court of New Jersey List of Civil Mediators (1998 – present);

American Arbitration Association (AAA);

Litigation Counsel of America Senior Charter Fellow;

American Bar Foundation Fellow;

College of Community Association Lawyers Fellow;

National Conference of Bar Presidents Fellow;

Construction Lawyers Society of America Charter Fellow;

New Jersey State Bar Association: Construction Law Section; Dispute Resolution Section (former Board of Directors); Nominating Committee (former Member); Equity Jurisprudence Committee (former Chair);

Middlesex County Bar Association: President (2003-2004);

Middlesex County Bar Foundation: Board of Trustees (former Member);

New Jersey Institute of Local Government Attorneys: Senior Trustee;

New Jersey Builders Association;

Community Associations Institute;

American Bar Association: Construction Litigation Committee of the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Sections (former Co-Chair); Forum on Construction Law;

Diversity Law Institute;

Trial Law Institute;

Editorial Board of the Journal of Community Association Law (former Member)

Personal

Jewish Federation of Central New Jersey Board of Directors (past Member);

NYU Law School Alumni Association New Jersey Chapter (past President);

NYU Law School Alumni Association Board of Directors (former Member);

Johns Hopkins University New Jersey Alumni Chapter (former Co-Chair);

Democratic Party of Union County, New Jersey (past Chair);

The Discovery Orchestra Board of Trustees (past President);

Career

Dennis represents clients in complex commercial litigation, with an emphasis on construction matters and alternative dispute resolution (ADR). In addition, his practice is focused in the area of condominium and community association law.

Throughout his career, Dennis has served as counsel to numerous national real estate developers, contractors, corporations, and public and private sector entities. He has represented a number of New Jersey municipalities and municipal entities, including one of the state’s major sewerage authorities. His clients have also included a significant number of condominium associations throughout New Jersey.

An American Arbitration Association (AAA) trained mediator and arbitrator, Dennis has participated in hundreds of ADR proceedings on behalf of private and public clients. His mediation experience with construction matters includes complex construction defect cases in condominiums, disputes between architects and contractors, and claims by subcontractors for lack of payment. He has mediated disputes between condominium associations and unit owners including those involving non-payment by owners, and disputes between unit owners. His experience as a mediator also encompasses disputes between physicians in a medical practice, business disputes between the buyers and sellers of an existing business, disputes between partners and shareholders as to their mutual rights, insurance coverage disputes, and more.

Dennis has additional litigation experience related to real estate and commercial disputes, and general equity matters.

Work Highlights

Represented the City of Elizabeth in complex infrastructure litigation arising from the premature collapse of retaining walls supporting a major roadway and bridge over the New Jersey Turnpike, following a $3 million repair project.

The firm is representing a condominium association in $15 million construction and governance litigation against multiple defendants, involving veil-piercing claims and allocation of responsibility for significant structural and common-area defects, while also advising on risk mitigation through renovation and construction contracts.

Represented Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey in high-stakes litigation and trial against a municipality concerning sewer utility access and alleged overcharges, including claims exceeding $2 million. The firm successfully tried the case and is defending the result on appeal before the New Jersey Appellate Division.

Represented the New Jersey Schools Development Authority in long-running condemnation and environmental remediation litigation, securing recovery of more than $4 million in escrowed funds to reimburse cleanup costs incurred by the client.

Education

Awards