MORRIS, DOWNING, SHERRED - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Associate
• Member of the Bars of New Jersey

Brian C. Lundquist is an associate in the firm's litigation department and focuses his practice on all general civil litigation matters. Mr. Lundquist graduated from Franklin & Marshall College with a Bachelor of the Arts in Government and Public Policy in 2003. He graduated from the Rutgers University School of Law-Camden in 2009. While in law school, Mr. Lundquist served two terms as a legal intern with the Rutgers Law School Children's Justice Clinic representing indigent Camden youth in an array of juvenile delinquency proceedings. Mr. Lundquist also served as extern to the Hon. Joel Schneider, U.S.M.J., U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, and as research assistant to Professor John C. Lore, III. Prior to attending law school, Mr. Lundquist worked for nearly three years as a paralegal in complex securities litigation at the law firm of Williams & Connolly LLP in Washington, D.C. Immediately before joining Morris, Downing & Sherred, LLP, Mr. Lundquist served as law clerk to the Hon. Edward V. Gannon, J.S.C., Superior Court of New Jersey, Civil Part, Morris-Sussex Vicinage for the 2009-2010 term. Mr. Lundquist is a member of the bars of New Jersey and New York, as well as the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.

Job Titles:

• of Counsel

Christopher D. Quinn focuses on all aspects of land use and zoning matters. Mr. Quinn regularly appears before planning boards and zoning boards of adjustment of municipalities throughout northern New Jersey. Clients are represented in a wide variety of matters including site plans, subdivisions, variances and re-zoning. He also represents planning and zoning boards. Additionally, Mr. Quinn represents clients in residential real estate purchases and sales; commercial real estate purchases and sales with stock and asset acquisitions. He has extensive experience in contract drafting and negotiations, providing legal consultation and document review to individuals and business entities of all sizes, in complex business transactions relating to business formation, including incorporations, limited liability formations and partnerships. He has a broad background in banking and corporate law and represents several lending institutions. Well versed in Estate Administration, Mr. Quinn prepares all documents necessary to probate a will and attend to all procedural requirements of administering an estate. He counsels fiduciaries and prepares and files tax returns for the estate (Federal Estate Tax Returns and State Inheritance and Estate Tax Returns). Mr. Quinn also represents clients in need of Estate Planning, including drafting Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorney, and Medical Directives (Living Wills) as well as Guardianship for elderly and incapacitated individuals.

Job Titles:

• Partner at Morris

David Johnson has been a partner at Morris, Downing & Sherred since 1980, and enjoys extensive experience in litigation, estate planning and administration, and real estate matters. Martindale-Hubbell recognizes Mr. Johnson as an AV® rated attorney, the highest such rating available to any individual lawyer. The Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings system is based on the confidential opinions of members of the Bar and the Judiciary. Estate Planning and Administration Mr. Johnson specializes in estate planning including the most current and sophisticated estate planning techniques, with an emphasis on family wealth transfers, helping clients avoid probate, protecting their assets, minimizing death taxes, and providing for the security of their loved ones with a well-crafted estate plan. He has extensive experience in the administration of estates of all sizes, and has successfully litigated many estate matters, including will contests, holographic will claims, defense of claims against the estate, and succession disputes. Litigation Mr. Johnson formed the litigation practice area at the firm over thirty years ago, and has successfully represented clients in a variety of complex civil litigation matters, including:

Job Titles:

• Law Clerk

Job Titles:

• Attorney at Law, Attorney Sole Practitioner, 1987 - 2007

Job Titles:

• of Counsel

Job Titles:

• Ret., of Counsel

Richard Valenti joined the firm in 1984. He currently serves as its managing partner. He has extensive experience in complex commercial and business transactions, real estate transactions, land use approvals, and loan transactions. Mr. Valenti's practice also covers municipal government law and estate planning and administration. Mr. Valenti has represented a wide variety of companies in lease negotiations, asset sale transactions, real estate purchases and sales and financing negotiations. He has obtained subdivision, site plan, and variance approvals for numerous clients. He has obtained approvals for a wide variety of commercial sites: large scale housing projects, gas stations, and commercial office buildings. He has represented numerous clients in their efforts to preserve farmland and open space through farmland preservation easements and sales to the Green Acres program. He has represented municipal governing bodies, boards of health and land use boards in several municipalities.

Michelle M. Beatty joined the firm in 2007. She focuses her practice on family law matters and is also experienced in estate planning and administration, transactional and environmental law and general civil litigation. She graduated from The College of New Jersey, magna cum laude, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology in 2000. She attended law school at Washington & Lee University School of Law and graduated, magna cum laude, in 2007. While in law school, Ms. Beatty worked as a student attorney in the Community Legal Practice Clinic assisting members of the local community with a variety of legal issues including estate planning and child custody matters. Ms. Beatty served as a judicial intern for the Hon. Anita Filson in the 25th Judicial District of Virginia. She was also a Shepherd Alliance Intern with the House of Ruth Legal Clinic providing legal services to victims of domestic violence in Baltimore, Maryland. Ms. Beatty also remained active in the community during law school and logged many hours serving as a domestic violence crisis hotline volunteer with Project Horizon, a local organization serving individuals in Rockbridge County, Va. Prior to attending law school, Ms. Beatty worked for four years as a caseworker for the Texas Department of Child Protective Services providing reunification and adoption placement services for children in the foster care system. Ms. Beatty is a member of the New Jersey bar as well as the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Sussex County Community, Passed Away at Home on Monday, December 5, 2016 at the Age of 85

A lifelong resident of Sussex County, Tom Bain was born in Franklin on August 13, 1931. He graduated from Blair Academy and Princeton University, where he ran the high hurdles on the varsity track team and ate at the Cap and Gown Club. After serving in the U.S. Army, he enrolled in Harvard Law School, graduating in 1958. He was admitted to the New Jersey Bar and began his legal career with Morris, Downing & Sherred the same year, becoming a partner in 1962. He spent his entire career with Morris, Downing & Sherred, serving as managing partner for many years. He retired from the partnership in 1999 but continued Of Counsel into his 80s. In addition to his work at the law firm, Tom served for over 30 years as judge of the municipal courts of Franklin, Hamburg and Hardyston, and as judge of the municipal court of Frankford and Lafayette. He was municipal attorney for the Borough of Branchville, Montague Township and Sandyston Township. He served for many years as a trustee of the Branchville Cemetery Association. Tom volunteered his time and talents to many Sussex County organizations. He served as president of the Branchville Business Men's Club, the Branchville Rotary Club, the Sussex County Bar Association, and the Newton Country Club. He was a trustee of Newton Memorial Hospital for 35 years and served as chairman of the board. History, especially local history, was one of Tom's lifelong passions. Tom was a member of the Mayflower Society, the Sons of the American Revolution, the Canal Society of New Jersey, the Branchville Historical Society, and the Minisink Historical Society. Thomas James Bain, an active member of the Sussex County community, passed away at home on Monday, December 5, 2016 at the age of 85.