Dear Client:

In this time of Thanksgiving, I would like to add a note a gratitude for the work that you have entrusted to our firm. I know that I speak for all of the attorneys and staff in thanking you for choosing us to serve you. Many of you have also referred colleagues and friends to us who have now become clients, and I consider this the highest form of praise.

I began an evaluative process this year of seeking out advice from clients like you through a written survey. The survey process will be ongoing throughout 2001; if you would like to be included as a participant, feel free to call me. While there were no startling results thus far, the responses did reinforce the need for us to communicate more broadly about the variety of issues we handle for clients and the client functions we hold that are open to all of you.

During this past year, we achieved a number of positive results in litigation for clients. Noteworthy among them was a million dollar recovery for a client whose business was damaged by the business' landlord who had started a competing business in the same commercial location. This type of "business tort", unlawful interference with a future economic advantage and with contractual relations, is a difficult case to prove. Partner Thomas P. Monahan litigated this matter to its successful conclusion and jury verdict. Tom is certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Certified Civil Trial Attorney, and handles all types of commercial litigation.

Our associates also have significant trial experience. Scott K. McClain recently won a $500,000 judgment and counsel fees in a shareholder dispute among family members based on the misappropriation of corporate assets.

Tom Monahan, Scott McClain, and partner Kenneth K. Lehn are members of our Oppressed Shareholder Practice Group. This group regularly holds Executive Briefings on topics such as accountant liability when dealing with minority shareholders engaged in fraud, freeze outs and other conflicts, as well as recent developments in the law regarding the valuation of minority interests. If you would like to be included in our next briefing, please call Tom Monahan.

Our Trust and Estate Group and our Employment Practice Group hold quarterly briefings on a wide variety of topics, both in our office and at client locations. Please let me know if you would like to be invited to our next series. In the near future you will also be notified of a series of briefings to be presented by our Intellectual Property/Media and Entertainment Group.

Finally, we are pleased to announce that the firm was appointed General Counsel to the Bergen County Improvement Authority this past August. The BCIA is responsible for developing and overseeing various County facilities, including the Bergen Regional Medical Center, and serves as the financing agency for other County-sponsored properties involved, for example, in housing and brown fields rehabilitation. Sincerely yours,