ATTORNEYS

Jeffrey P.
Weinstein *
Cynthia Borsella
Lindemann
Evan
Weinstein
Donald
Schumacher
Angela
Kim
* Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and
  Fellow, International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers

Hon. Melvin S.
Whitken (ret'd)
Jonathan
Blonstein
Rachel
Zakarin
Lydia
LaTona

Our attorneys are active in the Family Law national and international community. Some of the organizations to which our attorneys belong are:
Jeffrey P. Weinstein
jweinstein@familylawnj.com

Jeffrey P. Weinstein has practiced matrimonial law for more than 30 years and is well-known as a trial attorney and a compassionate advisor to his clients. He has represented thousands of clients, argued innumerable cases before the Trial Courts and Appellate Courts of the State of New Jersey and is recognized as an expert in the field of family law. Jeff has been called upon by other matrimonial attorneys to serve both as an expert and mediator in their own cases and receives referrals on a regular basis from other attorneys, including those whom he has opposed in previous matters. His articles have appeared in Fair$Share, Journal of Divorce, New Jersey Family Lawyer, and National Business Institute, and his expertise has been cited in both national and local publications. He has conducted many seminars for the New Jersey Institute of Continuing Legal Education. Jeff is a Fellow of both the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, as well as a member of the Essex County Bar Association, the New Jersey State Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. Jeff has chaired the New Jersey State Bar Association Family Law Section, and he was one of two lawyers who assisted the Supreme Court committee of New Jersey in establishing the Family Part in the New Jersey Court system. In addition, Jeff has been appointed by the Superior Court of New Jersey, Family Part, as a Standing Master to assist in the resolution of complex matrimonial matters. He has also been a Master of the New Jersey Family Law Inns of Court, an association which enables young matrimonial practitioners to learn trial techniques from seasoned matrimonial lawyers.

Jeff has been selected for Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers. Jeff is also a Member of the Matrimonial Lawyers Alliance, an organization comprising the top matrimonial lawyers in New Jersey.

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Cynthia Borsella Lindemann
clindemann@familylawnj.com

Cynthia Borsella Lindemann has exclusively practiced family law for more than 15 years and is admitted to the New Jersey and Pennsylvania State bars, as well as the United States District Court for the State of New Jersey. Cynthia is an active member of several Family Law associations, including the Executive Committee of the Essex County Family Law Committee, and sits frequently as an Early Settlement Panelist. Cynthia is certified in Mediation and Conciliation Skills by the State of New Jersey. She is a past contributing editor of the Family Law Practical Skills Series, which is published by the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education, and has authored and contributed to numerous articles and papers concerning Family Law issues. Cynthia brings to her clients her wealth of experience in the field, the skills she gained from her mediation and conciliation training, her intimate knowledge of the workings of the Family Courts, as well as patience and compassion.

Cynthia studied law at the University of Notre Dame, London Centre for Legal Studies, London, England, and received a Juris Doctorate degree from Seton Hall University School of Law, Newark, New Jersey, in 1987. She obtained a B.A. in political science and journalism from Rider University, Lawrenceville, New Jersey, where she graduated cum laude in 1983. At Rider, Cynthia was elected to the National Political Science Honor Society and the International Honor Society of Social Science. Prior to studying law, she was a newspaper journalist.

Cynthia's interest in Family Law began in law school, where she was an active participant and a co-director of the Seton Hall Family Law Clinic for representation of underprivileged clients. She went on to serve the judiciary as law clerk to the Honorable Stephen J. Schaeffer, Presiding Judge, Superior Court of New Jersey, Hudson County, Family Part, in 1987 and 1988.

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Evan R. Weinstein
eweinstein@familylawnj.com

Evan R. Weinstein, has worked at Weinstein Lindemann & Weinstein since his graduation from law school in the Summer of 2000. Evan believes that an effective family law practitioner must be well-versed in many legal principles and possess the ability to share his or her knowledge with their client. Of paramount importance to Evan is that the client remain informed and understand all matters related to the client's legal representation. Accordingly, Evan maintains a close working relationship with each of his clients.

Evan received a B.A. from Syracuse University in 1997, where he majored in political science, and his J.D. from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, located in New York City, in 2000. Evan is a member of the bar in both New Jersey and New York.

Evan has co-authored several articles regarding Family Law that have appeared in various state and national publications.

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Donald Schumacher
dschumacher@familylawnj.com

Donald Schumacher joined Weinstein Lindemann & Weinstein in 2004. Prior to joining the firm, he served as a Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable James B. Convery, Lead Judge-Dissolution, Superior Court of New Jersey, Chancery Division-Family Part, in Essex County. Donald was admitted to the bar in 2001 after earning his Juris Doctorate from Seton Hall University School of Law, where he was awarded the International Programs Distinguished Service Award. He interned at the Seton Hall Center for Social Justice, Family Law Clinic, where he represented clients in matters of marriage dissolution, child custody and support, and spousal support. Donald received his Bachelor of Science from Trenton State College in 1993 in Law and Justice, after he received his Associate's Degree from Brookdale Community College in 1990.

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Angela Kim
akim@familylawnj.com

Angela Kim joined Weinstein Lindemann & Weinstein in 2004 after serving as Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Joseph C. Cassini, III, Superior Court of New Jersey, in both the Criminal and Chancery Divisions, Family Parts, in Essex County. Angela earned her Juris Doctorate from Brooklyn Law School in 2003, where she was a member of the Moot Court Honor Society and the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. She was admitted to both the New Jersey and New York Bars in 2004. Angela received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with Departmental Honors from Barnard College of Columbia University in 2000.

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Hon. Melvin S. Whitken (ret'd)
mwhitken@familylawnj.com

The Honorable Melvin S. Whitken, who recently retired from the Family Court bench in Union County after 15 years of service, joined Weinstein Lindemann & Weinstein in May 2004. Judge Whitken is Of Counsel to the firm, and is available to serve as an arbitrator, mediator, and consultant in complex matrimonial matters. He is an advocate of alternative dispute resolution, and has played a significant role in promoting the availability and profile of arbitration and mediation to litigants in the New Jersey court system.

An Elizabeth native, Judge Whitken graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1955, received his B.A. in Political Science from Rutgers University in 1959 and his law degree from Seton Hall University Law School in 1962. Judge Whitken was admitted to the New Jersey Bar in 1962 and was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States in 1969. From 1963 to 1972 Judge Whitken practiced in Elizabeth and became a partner in the firm of Asch, Asch & Whitken, Esqs. During this period he also served as the first attorney for the Elizabeth Board of Adjustment from 1965 to 1966 and then became an Assistant City Attorney for the City of Elizabeth from 1966 to 1967. In 1967 Judge Whitken became one of the first Assistant Deputy Public Defenders in New Jersey serving in Union County. From 1973 to 1989, Judge Whitken practiced law with Gorrin, Ironson & Whitken, Esqs., specializing in civil litigation. During this time he was an arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association, a member of the Trial Attorneys of New Jersey and the New Jersey Defense Association.

In 1972, Judge Whitken was appointed the Municipal Court Judge in Fanwood, and he held that position until his appointment by Governor Thomas Kean to the Superior Court in 1989. During this time, he also served as the president of the Union County Municipal Judges Association. After serving in the Law Division of the Superior Court for two and one half years, Judge Whitken moved to the Family Division until his retirement from the bench in February 2004. He was the Presiding Judge of the Family Division for a three-year period.

While serving as a Superior Court Judge, Judge Whitken was a master of the Richard J. Hughes American Inn of Court, served on a number of Supreme Court committees, lectured frequently for the Institute of Continuing Legal Education and various bar groups, and was actively involved in the New Jersey and Union County Bar Associations. He continues to participate in many legal associations.

In 1996 Judge Whitken received the William J. McCloud award by the Union County Bar Association, in recognition of his substantial contributions to the family law community.

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Jonathan Blonstein

Jonathan Blonstein joined Weinstein Lindemann & Weinstein in September of 2010. He has devoted his practice exclusively to the areas of family law and matrimonial law. Mr. Blonstein handles a variety of family law issues, including divorce, alimony, child support, custody and equitable distribution.

Mr. Blonstein serves as a member of the American Bar Association, New Jersey State Bar Association, New Jersey State Bar Associations Young Lawyer's and as a member of the Essex and Union County Bar Associations. Mr. Blonstein is also a member of the Northern New Jersey Family Law Inns of Court.

Following his graduation from law school in 2009, Mr. Blonstein clerked for the Honorable David J. Issenman, Superior Court of New Jersey, Chancery Division, Family Part, Union County. During law school, Mr. Blonstein held a judicial internship with the Honorable Michael L. Ravin, Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, Criminal Part, Essex County.

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Rachel Zakarin

Rachel Zakarin joined Weinstein Lindemann & Weinstein in 1994 and has practiced exclusively in the area of Family Law, including divorce actions, custody matters and Appeals. Prior to joining the firm, she served as a Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable B. Theodore Bozonelis, J.S.C., Superior Court of New Jersey, Presiding Judge, Family Part. Rachel earned her Juris Doctorate from Seton Hall University School of Law where she was awarded the Outstanding Clinician Award from the Seton Hall Family Law Clinic, where she represented clients in matters of marriage dissolution, child custody and support, and spousal support. Rachel received her Bachelor of Arts from Tulane University in 1988 where she majored in History.

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Lydia S. LaTona

Lydia S. LaTona is an associate of the firm. Lydia has practiced exclusively in the area of Family Law, including divorce actions, custody matters and Appeals for more than eight years. She is admitted to the bars of New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Lydia earned her Juris Doctorate from Syracuse University School of Law in 1994 and her Bachelor of Science from Pennsylvania State University in 1990, where she majored in Finance.

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