Fredric L. Shenkman

Fredric “Ric” Shenkman has been a trusted advisor to businesses and individuals since joining Cooper Levenson in 1988, bringing extensive experience in both transactional matters and commercial litigation.

His transactional practice includes drafting agreements for asset sales, cross-purchase and redemption agreements, asset-based financing, post-employment restrictive covenants, business separation agreements, PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) agreements, and corporate work-outs.

On the litigation side, Ric has represented clients in both state and federal courts in matters including real estate disputes, partnership and corporate dissolutions, construction defect claims, minority shareholder freeze-outs, condominium and corporate governance issues, public finance, state and federal taxation, FOIA and OPRA matters, title and environmental disputes, ad valorem taxation, and D&O and E&O defense, including legal malpractice and defense of attorneys in ethics proceedings, as well as foreclosures.

Ric served on the New Jersey District I Ethics Committee as a member, chair, and secretary.

Case Highlights
•Gottlob v. Lopez, 501 A.2d 176, 205 N.J. Super. 417 (App. Div. 1985) certification denied 517 A.2d 384, 104 N.J. 373 (1986)
•Atlantic City Convention Center Authority v. South Jersey Publishing, 647 A.2d 1261, 135 N.J. 53 (1994)
•Porta v. Klagholz, 19 F. Supp.2d 290 (D.N.J. 1998); and Delaware River and Bay Authority v. York Hunter, 781 A.2d 1126, 344 N.J. Super. 361 (Ch. 2001)
•Trs. of the Alpine Methodist Episcopal Church v. New Jersey United Methodist Church, 2016 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 1387, aff’d, 2017 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 3127 (App. Div. 2017), app. dis., 234 N.J. 195 (2018).

Awards and Recognitions

Ric has received the Robert N. McAllister Award for Excellence in the Profession of Law.

Articles
•“The Causes of Disciplinary Mistakes and How to Avoid Them,” Atlantic County Bar Association
•“Legal Ethics of Email,” National Business Institute
•“Mediation and Pro Se Litigants,” Burlington County Bar Association
•“Ethical Conundrums as to Discovery and Metadata,” Middlesex County Bar Association
•“Ethical considerations for Today’s Environmental Lawyers: The Procedural Aspects of Ethics,” N.J. Institute for Continuing Legal Education: Environmental Forum
•“Advocacy with Civility and Ethics,” Atlantic County Bar Association: panelist at the Hon. Allen J. Littlefield Professionalism Day
•“2016 Annual Review of New Jersey Environmental Law-Ethics,” N.J. Institute for Continuing Legal Education
•“Ethical Lapses and How to Avoid Them, ” Middlesex County Bar Association
•“Legal Ethics: Top Mistakes that Lead to Malpractice”, Atlantic City, NJ
•“Ethical Considerations in Contested Divorce Matters,” Middlesex County Bar Association
•“Gun Laws in New Jersey,” National Business Institute
•“Top 8 LLC Mistakes to Avoid in Everyday Business Practice,” National Business Institute
•“LLC Ethical Traps to Avoid,” National Business Institute
•“A Primer on Directors and Officers Insurance for Private Entities,” CL Blog
•“Attorney Ethics - A Primer.” CL Article
•“Factors to determine whether to bring suit in Federal Court,” CL Blog
•“Tax Evaluation Methodology,” CL Alert
•“Tax Appeals Make Sense,” CL Alert