Roseland, New Jersey - April 26, 2016 - Leo J. Hurley Jr., a partner in Connell Foley’s Commercial Litigation and Real Estate & Land Use Groups, was selected by the New Jersey Law Journal to this year’s “New Leaders of the Bar.” The title is bestowed annually by the publication on the leading attorneys in the state under the age of 40 whose achievements distinguish them from their peers.
Mr. Hurley, who was elected to Connell Foley’s partnership in early 2016, handles a wide variety of civil and criminal litigation in the state and federal courts. He has successfully tried cases to verdict in New Jersey and New York courts, but is equally effective at achieving success for his clients outside of the courtroom, and in guiding clients to early settlement when possible and to favorable jury verdicts when necessary. He provides counsel on a range of complex commercial matters, as well as employment, products liability, estate and probate, trade secret, and corporate dissolution/oppressed minority shareholder litigation.
Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Hurley served as an Assistant Prosecutor in Hudson County, prosecuting hundreds of felony cases, including homicides, armed robberies and complex financial crimes. He served as lead trial counsel in 16 jury trials and several bench trials, many of which required him to present testimony from and cross-examine the testimony of expert witnesses in fields as varied as forensic DNA analysis, mechanical engineering and forensic psychology. He is a vocal advocate for the rights of the accused and parlays his courtroom experience and knowledge of the criminal justice system into desirable results for his clients.
Mr. Hurley’s commitment to, and capacity for, leadership is also well demonstrated through his involvement in local bar associations. Most notably, he is on track to serve as president of the Hudson County Bar Association (HCBA) in 2018. Mr. Hurley also serves as the HCBA’s First Vice President, and is the past President of the Association’s Young Lawyers Division, past Treasurer, a long-time trustee of the HCBA and a member of its committee on Judicial and Prosecutorial Appointments. He currently serves as a Trustee of the 200 Club of Hudson County, and is a past Vice Chairman of the Marist High School, Bayonne, Board of Directors.
Candidates for the “New Leaders of the Bar” award are evaluated on their leadership qualities, demonstrated litigation or transactional experience, and commitment to pro bono, charitable and community work. To see the full list of the 2016 “New Leaders of the Bar,” please visit the New Jersey Law Journal website.