Leonard S. dePalma, Esq. - ldepalma@advocate.org

Len founded the firm in 1988. Some of his professional and community activities have included: Legal Counsel to the Little Ferry Rent Leveling Board; Legal Counsel to the North Jersey and Central Jersey Chapters of NARI (National Association of the Remodeling Industry); Member of the Board of Trustees of CompCare (non-profit behavioral health care provider); Member of Central Jersey Chapter of NARI; named 2004 National Volunteer of the Year by the Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity; Court of Honor Chairman, Bergen County National Eagle Scout Association; Member of the Little Ferry Board of Adjustment; and Member of the Paralegal Program Advisory Board, Berkeley College of Business.

Len earned a B.S. degree in English Literature from Seton Hall University. While an undergrad, he founded Seton Hall's Chapter of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, which he also has served as Chapter Advisor since 2001. An alumnus of Seton Hall Law School, Len was editor of Res Ipsa Loquitur, the law school newspaper. During Law School, he founded the Seton Hall Real Estate Forum and won first place honors in the Appellate Tax Moot Court Competition for best written brief and best oral argument.

Len is licensed in the Courts of New Jersey, the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey and the U.S. Supreme Court. He has been a member of the New Jersey Bar Association, Bergen County Bar Association and the Association of Trial Lawyers of America.

Published Articles:

• "An Introduction to the Prevailing Wage Act" The Bergen Barrister - Publication of the Bergen County Bar Association, Winter 2002 Issue
• "New Jersey's Minority and Female Contractor Set-Aside Program" Remodeling News Magazine, April 2002 Issue
• "Construction Claim Deadlines - What You Don't Know Will Hurt You" The Bergen Barrister - Publication of the Bergen County Bar Association, Winter 2001 Issue
• "Real Estate Broker Commission Earned Even in Absence of Closing of Title" Remodeling News Magazine, April 2001 Issue
• "The Design/Build Dilemma" Remodeling News Magazine, March 2001 Issue
• "Avoiding Wrongful Discharge Claims" Remodeling News Magazine, November 2000 Issue
• "Deadlines That Can Kill Claims" Remodeling News Magazine, April 2000 Issue
• "Benefits and Drawbacks to Arbitration" Remodeling News Magazine, December 1997 Issue

Lectures and Seminars:

• "New Jersey's Home Improvement Practices Act and the Consumer Fraud Act" November 8, 2005 at Cortina Ristorante, Paterson, NJ sponsored by the North Jersey Chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry
• "Improving Construction Contracts" April 20, 2005 at Flemington, NJ sponsored by the Central Jersey Chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry
• "Residential Construction Liens and the New Jersey Construction Lien Law" April 12, 2005 at Cortina Ristorante, Paterson, NJ sponsored by the North Jersey Chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry
• "Residential Construction Liens and the New Jersey Construction Lien Law" April 21, 2004 at Flemington, NJ sponsored by the Central Jersey Chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry
• "Reducing Bad Debt and Accounts Receivables" March 12, 2003 at Romannisimo Restaurant, East Rutherford, NJ sponsored by the North Jersey Chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry
• "Improving Construction Contracts" November 20, 2002 at Flemington, NJ sponsored by the Central Jersey Chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry
• "Residential Homebuilders and Subcontractor Relationships" November 19, 2002 at Newburgh, NY sponsored by the Mid-Hudson Valley Nari of New York Chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry
• "New Jersey's Minority and Female Contractor Set-Aside Program" May 8, 2002 at Cortina Ristorante, Paterson, NJ sponsored by the North Jersey Chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry
• "An Introduction to the Courts and Judicial System - Some Seldom Considered Aspects" January 26, 2002 at the Ridgefield Park Junior-Senior High School, Ridgefield Park, New Jersey - presented to the Gifted and Talented Section Students Participating in Preparations for Mock Trials
• "The Employment Relationship - Hiring and Termination of Employees" March 22, 2001 at Hightstown, NJ sponsored by the N.J. Alliance of NARI - North, Central and South Jersey Chapters of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry
• "Improving Construction Contracts" March 8, 2000 at Excelsior Supply Company, Butler N.J.
• "Improving Construction Contracts" November 23, 1996 at Construction Expo sposored by the North Jersey Chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry, Hackensack, N.J.
• "An Introduction to New Jersey's Construction Lien Law" November 23, 1996 at Construction Expo sposored by the North Jersey Chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry, Hackensack, N.J.

Diane Calcaterra, Paralegal - diane@advocate.org

Diane joined the firm in December 2001. She holds an A.S. degree in paralegal studies from Berkeley College of Business and a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Fairleigh Dickinson University. She is presently pursuing a master's degree in criminal justice at Monmouth University.

Debra Andriani, Paralegal

Debbie joined the firm in August 2005 with prior legal experience in private civil practice. She assists clients with matters involving civil litigation, commercial arbitration and real estate transactions.

Karen A. dePalma, Administrative Coordinator - kdepalma@advocate.org

Karen graduated from Berkeley College of Business, Ridgewood Campus in 1977. She has attended to administrative matters since 1989.