THE LAW FIRM OF GRIFFIN ALEXANDER, P.C. - Key Persons
Alison Hart Brafman is an Associate of the firm who concentrates her practice on New Jersey and Pennsylvania Landlord/Tenant, Collections, Real Estate, and Bankruptcy matters.
Ms. Brafman handles Residential and Commercial Real Estate transactions and reviews Contracts, Leases and Corporate Documents. She also assists in the Landlord/Tenant department, preparing complaints and other court documents. As a part of that department, Ms. Brafman also assists the firm in Bankruptcy matters. In Collections, she assists in preparing money judgment lawsuits, bankruptcy matters as well as foreclosures.
Before joining Griffin Alexander, P.C., Ms. Brafman worked as Underwriting Counsel for a National Title Underwriter on residential and commercial transactions. Prior to that, Ms. Brafman worked as a Title Officer for several Title Agencies including her own where she supervised 14 employees for 14 years. She attended zoning meetings to facilitate the conversion of her office building from residential to mixed use designation. Ms. Brafman has dedicated her career as Real Estate Attorney to handling hundreds of closings including working with the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency on the Homekeeper closings. She also has made appearances in Landlord/Tenant court, Family court and Municipal court, and she has also worked as a Title Closer and Settlement Agent. Ms. Brafman was Treasurer of the Westfield Rotary Club, a Paul Harris Fellow, and clerked in Bankruptcy Court and Orphan's Court which handles Estates and Trusts and Adoptions. Ms. Brafman also taught legal research and writing during law school.
Ms. Brafman is a graduate of Duquesne School of Law and Gettysburg College. Ms. Brafman is admitted to practice in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Alison J. Lenihan is an Associate of the firm who concentrates her practice on New York Landlord/Tenant Law.
Alison is a 1991 graduate of the Elizabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University and is admitted to practice law in New York and Connecticut.
Prior to joining the firm Alison practiced in firms specializing in Labor Law, Mortgage Foreclosure, and Insurance Defense. Alison has appeared as a litigator in New York Supreme Court as well as in various municipal courts. Alison focuses her time at the firm on addressing and responding to clients' needs and offering innovative solutions
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Member of the New Jersey Bar Association
Anthony Chen is an Associate Attorney whose area of practice includes New Jersey Landlord/Tenant Law and Condominium Association Law.
Prior to joining Griffin Alexander P.C. as an attorney, Mr. Chen worked as an accountant for individuals and businesses, with his focus being on taxes. He is a Certified Public Accountant in New Jersey.
Mr. Chen graduated from Rutgers University in 2015 (B.S) and Rutgers Law School in 2019 (J.D). Mr. Chen is a member of the New Jersey Bar Association and the New York Bar Association.
Mr. Chen is presently licensed to practice in the State of New Jersey and New York.
Job Titles:
- Senior Associate
- Junior Partner
- Member of the New Jersey State Bar
Anthony P. Farber is an Senior Associate of the firm who concentrates his practice on matters involving New Jersey and New York Landlord/Tenant Law.
Mr. Farber is a member of the New Jersey State Bar and New York State Bar and is a graduate of Western New England University School of Law, Springfield, MA (J.D. 2019). While in law school, Mr. Farber participated in the Small Business Clinic which provided legal assistance to entrepreneurs in the business startup stage.
Connor M. Lawrence is an Associate Attorney whose area of practice includes New Jersey Landlord/Tenant Law.
Mr. Lawrence graduated from Seton Hall University (B.A., cum laude, 2018) and New York Law School (J.D. 2022). While in law school, Mr. Lawrence served as a member of the law school's Center for Real Estate Studies (2021-2022). In addition, Mr. Lawrence served as a member of New York Law School's Conservation Law and Policy Clinic, a clinical course focused on the legal and policy issues related to The Nature Conservancy's (TNC) work in both the public and private arenas. In this clinic, Mr. Lawrence worked collaboratively with TNC officials on issues related to conservation easements and their use throughout the country.
Prior to joining Griffin Alexander, P.C., Mr. Lawrence worked as an extern for a transactional law firm and was involved in matters including real estate and land use as well as estate planning and administration.
Mr. Lawrence is presently licensed to practice law in New Jersey.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Chairman of the Landlord Tenant Committee
Daniel Karimi is an Associate Attorney whose areas of practice include Civil Litigation, Landlord-Tenant Law, Community Association Law, and Collections.
Prior to joining Griffin Alexander, Mr. Karimi was an Associate Attorney representing defendants charged with white-collar crimes and has litigated cases in various state courts and the Federal District Court for the District of New Jersey.
Mr. Karimi is a graduate of William Paterson University (B.A. 2015) and Delaware Law School of Widener University (J.D. 2020). During law school, Mr. Karimi served as a Judicial Extern for the Honorable Susan J. Steele, J.S.C. of the Bergen County Superior Court.
Mr. Karimi is the current Chair of the Landlord Tenant Committee and the Co-Chair of the Real Property Committee of the Bergen County Bar Association.
Mr. Karimi is a member of the New Jersey Bar Association.
Glenford "Shane" Warmington is a Senior Associate of the firm who focuses his practice on matters involving New Jersey and New York Landlord/Tenant Law, Community Association Law, and Litigation.
Prior to joining Griffin Alexander, P.C., Glenford worked as an associate for a general practice firm representing clients in family law and civil matters. He is a member of the bar in New York and New Jersey.
Mr. Warmington graduated from American University Washington College of Law (J.D. 2005). While in law school, Mr. Warmington represented clients seeking asylum as a Student Attorney with the Washington College of Law Asylum Clinic. He also mentored and counselled at-risk adolescents in juvenile detention.
Henry A. Rudorfer is Counsel of the firm who concentrates his practice on matters involving New York Landlord/Tenant Law.
Mr. Rudorfer is a graduate of Syracuse University (B.S. 1983); Hofstra University (MBA 1985); and Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law (J.D. 1988).
Mr. Rudorfer has taught Business Law at the County College of Morris County. He has practiced in New York as an Associate in a law firm and has experience as the General Counsel and Vice-President of a manufacturing company in New Jersey.
He is licensed to practice in New York and New Jersey.
Jennifer L. Alexander is the Managing Shareholder at Griffin Alexander, PC whose practice concentrates on matters involving New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania Landlord-Tenant Law, Community Association Law, and Collections Law. She also handles Commercial Real Estate Transactions, Land Use and Municipal Court matters. She begins most days appearing in Landlord-Tenant Court or appearing on behalf of community associations in litigation, providing legal advice and guidance through the day and ends most of her days representing communities in board meetings.
Under Ms. Alexander's leadership in the Landlord Tenant Department, the firm represents local, national corporate and individual landlords. Representation includes non-payment cases, "for-cause" cases (e.g. habitability claims, security deposits, lease violations), lease drafting and statutory compliance. Ms. Alexander regularly provides lease reviews and lease drafting for her clients to ensure they are in compliance with new laws and fit the needs of her individual clients. She is also well versed in rent control laws, affordable housing requirements and what is necessary for capital surcharge applications.
Ms. Alexander has successfully handled several housing discrimination suits on behalf of landlords filed by tenants and provides procedures and recommendations to help limit landlord exposure to Federal Fair Housing violations. She also appears in court related to contract disputes for both community associations and landlords and when her clients are cited for violations.
Similarly, Ms. Alexander represents community associations, providing guidance through the transition process from developer control to homeowner control and serves as general counsel for community association needs.
Ms. Alexander appears before Planning and Zoning Boards in support of community association applications, as well as in opposition to applications which are contrary to a client's interests. Recently, she successfully handled a planning board application to add more parking at one of her communities within a municipality known to oppose such requests. She handles community association loan applications when associations secure loans or lines of credit.
Ms. Alexander also assists communities in rule making and drafting amendments to promote community living. She has also assisted in contested association elections and helps to ensure that associations are in full compliance with the Radburn Act. Additionally, Ms. Alexander assists community associations in negotiating Municipal Services Agreements to ensure her clients receive the services they are entitled to or the reimbursement equivalent.
After filing an injunction, Ms. Alexander recently obtained a court order to stop the New Jersey Department of Transportation from blasting during a road construction project on Route 46 in Passaic County. The injunction successfully prevented likely damage to condominium association property that would have been incurred by the blasting - the homes referenced were built on a cliff with retaining walls constructed on fill.
Ms. Alexander negotiated an easement agreement with a municipality to ensure culvert repairs and restriction on easement rights to not impede on her client's property. Additionally, she assisted a homeowner in Morris County by negotiating with the municipality to adjust easements on their property. This ensured that a culvert was built to facilitate water run-off away from the property.
Ms. Alexander was also successful in having a tenant evicted for not paying rent and subsequently mediating a harassment charge initiated by the tenant against the landlord. She also oversees the Collections Department, which works on behalf of community association clients to collect payments of delinquent maintenance fees and charges.
Ms. Alexander regularly speaks on community association topics at Community Association Institute - New Jersey Chapter seminars, the annual NJ Cooperator Expo, the NJAA, the POA and for management companies. She also lectures and delivers seminars on Federal Fair Housing regulations and other issues of concern to landlords. She hosted an ICLE Webinar, entitled "Bankruptcy Basics for the Residential Real Estate Lawyer." Additionally, she is honored to regularly present at NJAA, CAM and CAI Seminars, including "Fair Housing and Beyond" and "The Board Leadership Development Workshop". Ms. Alexander also was invited to be a guest speaker at Rutgers Real Estate Center.
Ms. Alexander assists clients in real estate matters. She specializes in commercial real estate transactions, such as the sale and development of real estate properties, refinancing, and purchases and sales of investment properties. She recently secured significant long-term commercial leases for a landlord with properties in Jersey City, Hoboken and Morristown. Additionally, she negotiated a municipal service agreement for a condominium client increasing their ability to have more snow clearing and lighting, while arranging for the town to take over trash removal.
Additionally, Ms. Alexander successfully handles over 100 evictions per month (Griffin Alexander, PC handles over approximately 300 evictions per month in total). She was recently successful in having residents not in compliance with 55 and older requirements vacate a unit in a condominium complex.
Ms. Alexander is admitted to practice in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. She is also admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey and the Middle District of Pennsylvania. She received her law degree from The University of Toledo College of Law and her B.A. from Rutgers University, Douglas College.
Ms. Alexander is a member of the America Bar Association; the New Jersey Bar Association; the New York Bar Association; the Pennsylvania Bar Association; the Community Associations Institute - New Jersey Chapter; the National Apartment Association; the New Jersey Apartment Association; and the NJ Cooperator. She also currently holds a position on the Advisory Board for the Center for Real Estate at Rutgers University, where she mentors' students in the Mentor/Mentee program. Ms. Alexander also holds a position on the NJAA Legislative Committee.
Ms. Alexander is a Mediator through the New Jersey Community Associations Institute (CAI). She is a frequent contributor and speaker atAssociationHelp Now. Ms. Alexander recently was the keynote speaker in a seminar on "NJ is Legalizing Cannabis" to advise members in the Multifamily Industry on the ins and outs of the pending marijuana legalization bill. She has also been instrumental in helping clients navigate theseunchartered waters during the COVID-19 pandemic by among many things, assisting in establishing policies and procedures. Ms. Alexander has been honorably appointed as a LAC delegate to the NJ Legislative Action Committee in which Ms. Alexander is pleased to offer her industry experience and broad knowledge.
Jonathan Lugo is an attorney who clients know they can count on for responsiveness and efficiency as much as the reliability of his counsel.
Mr. Lugo concentrates his practice in Landlord Tenant law. He takes pride in understanding each client's needs and concerns to assist in problem solving and creating approaches for solutions to achieve satisfactory results.
He graduated Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center to earn his law degree.
Prior to joining Griffin Alexander, P.C., he was a law clerk in the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office and practiced in New Jersey as an associate in a law firm.
He is licensed to practice in New York and New Jersey.
Kevin Michael Rigoli is an Associate who focuses his practice on Residential and Commercial Landlord/Tenant Law, Collections and Community Association Law.
Mr. Rigoli graduated Ramapo College of New Jersey (B.A. 2012) and Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University (J.D. 2020) cum laude. While in law school, Mr. Rigoli served as an Associate Member (2018-2019) and Articles Group Editor (2019-2020) of the Pace Law Review. In addition, Mr. Rigoli served as President (2017-2019) and Vice-President (2019-2020) of the Christian Law Students Association
Prior to joining Griffin Alexander, P.C., Mr. Rigoli served as law clerk to the Honorable Frank J. DeAngelis in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Morris/Sussex Vicinage.
Mr. Rigoli has worked in the legal industry since 2010 at various positions and times, specifically as a legal assistant, paralegal, law clerk, and now attorney.
Mr. Rigoli is presently licensed to practice law in New Jersey, and New York.
Logan R. D. Stagnitto, Esq. is a Junior Partner of the firm who focuses his practice on matters involving Landlord-Tenant Law, Community Association Law, Discrimination, and Litigation in New Jersey and New York.
Prior to joining Griffin Alexander, P.C., Mr. Stagnitto clerked for the Honorable Francis R. Hodgson, Jr., P.J.Ch.P., in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Ocean County Vicinage, Chancery Division, General Equity Part. He focused primarily on foreclosures, real property matters, and complex contract cases. Before that, Mr. Stagnitto worked as a summer associate for a general practice firm representing clients in civil matters. He is a member of the New Jersey and New York Bars.
In addition to attending court for landlord-tenant matters, Mr. Stagnitto conducts lease reviews, performs in-depth legal research, and handles more intricate and nuanced cases. Among other significant victories, Mr. Stagnitto was able to fast-track a business dispute into court via an order to show cause, eventually winning hundreds of thousands of dollars for his client via a motion for summary judgment. He routinely manages matters involving complaints filed through the Division on Civil Rights. While certain evictions were suspended during the height of the pandemic, Mr. Stagnitto assisted the firm in switching the focus of many cases from eviction to ejectment. Mr. Stagnitto regularly meets with clients and advises them on the facets of local rent control ordinances. He likewise utilizes his skills in legal research to digest and dissect new laws as they pass-e.g., the Fair Chance in Housing Act; the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization Act; and others-applying that knowledge to guide his clients in establishing new procedures and navigating new legal landscapes. In the same vein, Mr. Stagnitto assists in creating and presenting seminars to educate community managers in compliance and new legal developments.
Mr. Stagnitto graduated cum laude from Seton Hall University School of Law (J.D. 2018). While in law school, Mr. Stagnitto served as a member of the Seton Hall Legislative Journal. Through Seton Hall's Social Justice Center, Mr. Stagnitto represented clients in foreclosure and condominium association cases for which he earned an award for Outstanding Contribution to the Civil Litigation Clinic. During his time in law school, Mr. Stagnitto also worked as a legal intern for both the New Jersey Department of Transportation and New Jersey Transit.
Prior to law school, Mr. Stagnitto graduated from Vassar College and worked for four years in logistics.
Job Titles:
- Counsel
- Member of the American Bar Association and the Construction Law Division of the New Jersey State Bar Association
Matthew Meyers is Counsel of the firm. His major areas of practice are Community Association Law and Construction Defect Litigation. Mr. Meyers represents community associations in assisting them through the transition process from developer to homeowner control. Mr. Meyers has thirty years of experience in construction defect litigation. He specializes in representing homeowner associations in transition negotiations and litigation. Over the course of Mr. Meyers' career in representing condominium associations, he has been instrumental in receiving verdicts and settlements on behalf of his clients. He has accumulated over $100,000,000.00 in total verdicts and settlements on behalf of his clients. These include the following representative matters:
Mr. Meyers is a member of the American Bar Association and the Construction Law Division of the New Jersey State Bar Association. He is also a member of the Community Associations Institute- New Jersey Chapter. Mr. Meyers also frequently is a lecturer for New Jersey Institute of Continuing Legal Education as well as the Community Association Institute where he speaks on the topic of construction defect litigation and representing homeowner associations.
Job Titles:
- of Counsel
- Counsel to the Firm
- Member of the Community Associations Institute New Jersey Chapter
Stephanie Wiegand is of Counsel to the Firm. Stephanie concentrates a majority of her practice on matters involving General Civil Litigation, Community Association Law, Landlord/Tenant Law, and Collections. Ms. Wiegand started at the firm as an Associate in 2014 and regularly appears in court throughout New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. She regularly attends proceedings in New Jersey Law Division, Special Civil, Landlord/Tenant, and Municipal courts, New York Supreme Court, Civil Court, and housing courts, and Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas and Magisterial District Courts.
Ms. Wiegand has represented the firm's clients in various complex litigation involving breach of contract, fraud, and breach of warranty of habitability. More recently, Ms. Wiegand successfully defended a lawsuit for a client and obtained a $70,000 money judgment in the client's favor for the plaintiff's breach of contract and frivolous litigation. She also successfully defended and resolved a lawsuit involving alleged habitability, damage, and personal injury claims. She continues to vigorously defend lawsuits on behalf of her clients and prosecute claims for clients, while balancing and considering their financial and business needs.
Ms. Wiegand has also successfully handled to completion a number of nonpayment of rent, notices cases, and Marini hearings for issues involving habitability claims for her clients. She also provide thorough lease drafting and lease reviews. In addition, Ms. Wiegand has represented the firm's Community Association clients in mediation and Alternative Dispute Resolutions.
She also has experience negotiating transition issues involving construction defects for the firm's Community Association clients. Further, her day-to-day practice involves assisting clients with immediate needs, trouble-shooting for managers, resolving tenancy issues or Association membership concerns, and negotiating contracts, releases, and settlement agreements for her clients.
Ms. Wiegand is a member of the Community Associations Institute New Jersey Chapter (CAI-NJ) and was a committee person for three years, including chairperson in 2017. She is also a Certified Mediator through CAI-NJ. Additionally, Ms. Wiegand has presented at numerous seminars, including the New Jersey Apartment Association (NJAA) Fair Housing & Beyond, the National Apartment Association (NAA) Certified Apartment Manager (CAM) Fair Housing & Legal Responsibility, and Landlord-Tenant Law: Lease Agreements, Defaults, and Collections. She has also presented several other seminar on various topics to clients, managers, and other including fair housing, landlord/tenant law, collections, and rent receivership.
She has been selected to the New Jersey Super Lawyers - Rising Stars for 2018, 2019, and 2020. Ms. Wiegand received her Juris Doctor from New York Law School, where she graduated cum laude and served on the Law Review as a member and a Managing Editor. Prior to law school, she received a BA degree from the University of Delaware, where she also graduated cum laude.
Suzanne Reilly is Counsel of the firm who concentrates her practice on New York Landlord/Tenant Law.
Before joining Griffin Alexander, P.C., Ms. Reilly worked as an Agency Attorney III for the New York City Human Resources Administration, where she represented the Agency in the United States Federal Courts, the New York State Supreme Courts, Civil Courts and Family Courts. In addition she provided legal advice and support to the Agency's Family Independence Agency, the Medical Assistance Program as well as the Domestic Violence Emergency Intervention Services.
Prior to that, Ms. Reilly worked as a Litigation Associate for a Law Firm in New York City.
Ms. Reilly has served as an Alumni Interviewer for Villanova University and currently is part of the Grant Committee for the Madison Education Foundation in Madison, NJ.
Ms. Reilly is a graduate of Fordham University School of Law and Villanova University (cum laude). Ms. Reilly is admitted to practice in New York as well as the Southern District of New York.
T. Matthew Wolfe II (he/him) is an Associate who focuses his practice on Landlord/Tenant Law, Community Association Law, and Estate Planning.
Mr. Wolfe graduated from American Military University (B.A. 2012), Concordia University School of Law (J.D. 2016), and Boston University School of Law (LL.M. 2017). While in law school, he was an editor (2015-2016) of the Concordia Law Review. Additionally, he was the President of the Student Bar Association.
Prior to joining Griffin Alexander, P.C., he practiced in Idaho and more recently in New Jersey as an associate in a law firm. While in Idaho, he was the Chair of the Idaho Military Legal Alliance.
Mr. Wolfe is a veteran of the New Jersey Army National Guard.
Mr. Wolfe is presently licensed to practice law in New Jersey and Idaho.
William Rodriguez is Counsel at the firm who serves clients in the firm's Litigation department, Community Associations department, and Landlord/Tenant department. William oversees and manages several aspects of the firm including the Litigation department, the Collections department as well as serving as a mentor to the firm's younger associates.
A 2002 graduate of Seton Hall University School of Law, William has almost 20 years of experience in litigation throughout New Jersey including family and matrimonial matters, civil matters, municipal court, criminal matters, probate matters and landlord tenant cases as well as drafting appeals and arguing before the New Jersey Appellate Division.
Prior to becoming a litigator, William was a corporate accountant where he engaged in both transactional work and forensic investigations. William is focused on using his experience to assist clients in identifying, developing, and implementing solutions to their legal challenges. Whether in settlement discussions, in trial, or collaborating with staff to develop effective solutions for our clients, William is focused on providing strong advocacy.