The New Jersey Civil Justice Institute and the New Jersey Business and Industry Association today are announcing the launch of the New Jersey Litigation Center (NJLC) to legally protect the state’s job creators from overly broad and unduly burdensome laws and regulations.

The NJLC will represent New Jersey’s business community in legal actions to foster and protect the free enterprise system and defend unlawful government overreach, amid decades of business policy decisions that have led the state to be ranked as one of the least business friendly in the nation.

“NJBIA is well known for its advocacy work in the legislative and executive branches of government,” said NJBIA President and CEO Michele Siekerka. “But policymaking is a three-legged stool, with the judicial branch playing more of a role in recent years, thereby requiring the need to make the business case in the courtroom, not just the Statehouse.”

The New Jersey Civil Justice Institute is the leading voice of New Jersey’s business community on matters of law and legal policy.

It is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization supported by many of New Jersey’s largest employers, business associations and professional organizations, working to promote a fair, efficient, and predictable civil justice system.

“The New Jersey Litigation Center will provide the resources and strategic support necessary to protect New Jersey’s business community from unconstitutional laws, regulatory overreach, and abusive litigation," said NJCJI President Elissa Frank.

"We are incredibly excited about this partnership and look forward to working together to advance a fair and balanced legal environment where Garden State businesses can thrive. We are grateful to our supporters who share this vision and are helping make this important work possible.”

The NJLC is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization that relies on tax-deductible support from like-minded individuals, organizations, foundations, and other contributors.

Modeled after the nonprofit Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce (WMC) Legal Center, the NJLC is expected to work on behalf of the business community and the public in the areas of free enterprise, regulatory certainty, unlawful taxation, constitutional rights, separation of powers and government transparency.

In addition to Siekerka and Frank, the NJLC board includes a mix of veteran litigators and experts in legislative and litigation policy work, including the following:

• David Kott, Board Chairman, Partner at McCarter & English 

• Ray Cantor, NJBIA Deputy Chief Government Affairs Officer 

• Timothy Corriston, Managing Partner, Connell Foley 

• Jeffrey Jacobson, Partner, Faegre Drinker 

• Nathan Morris, Senior Litigation Counsel, Johnson & Johnson  

• Marcus Rayner, Senior Managing Director of Public Policy, PwC  

Jacobson, who has argued numerous cases to the New Jersey Supreme Court in private practice and formerly as a senior official in the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, said he is “honored to help assemble some of the state’s best appellate advocates” to draft briefs and appear as friends of New Jersey’s courts.

Kott, a certified civil trial lawyer who has argued over 50 jury trials to verdict and numerous matters before the NJ Supreme Court stated, "What a privilege it is to stand alongside such talented practitioners and business advocates as we set out to work together to advance a fair and balanced legal environment for New Jersey's job creators."

“NJCJI and NJBIA are no strangers to the courthouse and have long been active in the judicial branch of government, joining as amicus curiae, or friend of the court, in litigation before state and federal courts, and even the U.S. Supreme Court, to ensure job creators’ perspectives are heard,” Frank said.

“In the past, we have been fortunate to have pro bono services provided by some of New Jersey’s most prominent law firms, when the need arose. Now is the time to be more on offense and be at the ready to fund more complicated legal cases where pro bono resources may not be available, especially given the myriad of policies and regulations that overextend the law and business fairness," Siekerka added.