Retired Superior Court Judge Terry Paul Bottinelli is the Director of the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Family Law Practice Group at Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney at Law. In this role, Judge Bottinelli focuses on helping individuals and families resolve matrimonial and other disputes efficiently and cost-effectively through mediation, arbitration, and other alternative dispute resolution processes, avoiding the delays and expense often associated with traditional court litigation.
Judge Bottinelli brings more than four decades of legal and judicial experience to the position. He was first appointed to the bench as a Municipal Court Judge in 1993 and was elevated to the Superior Court of New Jersey in 2011. During his tenure in the Family Part, he presided over thousands of matrimonial matters involving complex issues, including child custody, parenting time, alimony, equitable distribution, and related family law disputes.
Prior to his judicial service, Judge Bottinelli was a partner at the prominent Hackensack law firm of Herten, Burstein, Sheridan, Cevasco, Bottinelli, Litt, Toskos & Harz, which later merged with Archer & Greiner. As a practicing attorney, he tried numerous civil jury cases in both state and federal courts and was certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Civil Trial Attorney.
Judge Bottinelli also played a significant role in several landmark pieces of litigation. He served on the Castano Plaintiffs' Legal Committee, which helped lead the nationwide litigation against major tobacco companies. Those efforts resulted in multi-billion-dollar settlements and contributed to significant public health reforms, including restrictions on tobacco advertising and sales to minors. He was also a member of the defense team in the Fen-Phen litigation and participated in several nationwide consumer class actions involving gun manufacturers, automobile manufacturers, and other industries.
A recognized leader in alternative dispute resolution, Judge Bottinelli has served as an approved mediator under New Jersey Court Rule 1:40, Chair of the Bergen County Arbitrator Selection Committee, and a member of the New Jersey Supreme Court's Alternative Dispute Resolution Advisory Committee. His service to the legal profession has also included leadership positions as Chair of the District IIB Ethics Committee, Chair of the District IIB Fee Arbitration Committee, and Standing Master in Ethics.
Throughout his career, Judge Bottinelli has been a sought-after lecturer and educator, presenting programs for organizations including the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Institute for Continuing Legal Education, New Jersey Judicial College, New Jersey State Bar Association, Rutgers Law School, and numerous Inns of Court and county bar associations. He currently serves as a Master of both the Barry Croland North Jersey Inns of Court and the Virginia Long Inns of Court, where he continues to educate attorneys on family law and professional practice. He is an Executive Committee member of the Justice Marie L. Garibaldi American Inn of Court for Alternative Dispute Resolution State of New Jersey.
His professional leadership extends beyond the courtroom. He is a former President of the Bergen County Bar Association and the New Jersey Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges and has held numerous leadership positions within the New Jersey State Bar Association and other legal organizations.
Judge Bottinelli's distinguished career has earned widespread recognition. He has been named a "Super Lawyer" for many years, received the prestigious AV Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, and has been recognized in multiple Who's Who publications. He has also received commendations from the New Jersey Senate, New Jersey General Assembly, and Bergen County Executive and has been acknowledged in the Congressional Record. Among his many honors is the Seton Hall Law School Rodino Society Award, recognizing his demonstration of "compassion, honor, and wisdom" as a jurist.
With his extensive experience as both an accomplished trial attorney and respected jurist, Judge Bottinelli is uniquely positioned to help parties achieve fair, practical, and timely resolutions to complex family law and civil disputes through alternative dispute resolution.
Bar Admissions
New Jersey
Florida
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
U.S. District Court District of New Jersey
U.S. Tax Court
Prior Pro Hac Vice Admissions: New York, California, New Mexico, Louisiana
Honors and Awards
Super Lawyers recognition — multiple years
Martindale-Hubbell AV Peer Review Rating
Commendation from the New Jersey Senate
Commendation from the New Jersey General Assembly
Commendation from the Bergen County Executive
Acknowledgment in the Congressional Record
Seton Hall Law School Rodino Society Award — recognizing “compassion, honor, and wisdom” as a jurist
Education
Western New England University School of Law
Rutgers Law School
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