Issue of Dec. 26, 2006
Hill Wallack forms gaming law group
The West Windsor-based law firm Hill Wallack LLP has announced its merger with the law practice of Sandson & DeLucry LLC, in Atlantic City. Hill Wallack LLP will merge with the Sandson & DeLucry practice effective Jan. 1.
Hill Wallack is a 60-attorney law firm with significant casino, regulatory, real estate and litigation experience. The firm also announced the formation of a gaming law practice group to advise casinos, other gaming-related companies and those that do business with them.
Sandson & DeLucry senior partner Mark Sandson has been nominated and confirmed as a New Jersey Superior Court judge and will be sworn in Jan. 2. Sandson & DeLucry attorneys Richard DeLucry and Timothy Lowry will remain with the continuing firm at the same location. Rounding out the Atlantic City office, former Atlantic City Deputy Solicitor Joseph Dougherty joined the Hill Wallack LLP firm this month. All will become Hill Wallack LLP partners.
Announcing the move in a news release, Hill Wallack Managing Partner Robert W. Bacso stated, "This is a continuation of our strategy to expand our reach across the region and place lawyers and offices closer to the clients we serve.
In addition to opening new offices in Doylestown and Langhorne, Pa., earlier this year, we are now making a significant long-term commitment in Atlantic City to serve and grow our South Jersey clientele.
"We already represent many clients south of Interstate 195," Mr. Basco added. "We have also served as counsel to the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority for the past several years. We know this region well and know its potential."
Paul P. Josephson, Hill Wallack’s partner-in-charge of the regulatory and government affairs practice group will head the gaming law practice group and the Atlantic City office.
"Strategically, we’ve wanted to be here for years. We knew that to serve the region most effectively we need to be here, on the ground. Judge Sandson’s nomination created the perfect opportunity for us to acquire this platform and fully engage in this critical market," Mr. Josephson stated.
1st Choice Bank gets conditional OK
First Choice Bank, a Lawrence Township-based community bank in organization, announced that it has received its conditional approval from the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance.
Conditional approval gives the bank the go-ahead while spelling out the actions needed to receive its final charter. The remaining steps include joining the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and state approval of some key bank executives.
Bank officials anticipate opening in the middle to late part of the first quarter of 2007. First Choice will be located on Whitehead Road. It will be the first new community bank chartered in Mercer County since 1999.
"This is a major step and we’re excited that we’ll be open and serving the community soon," said Randy Hanks, president and chief executive officer of First Choice Bank in a released statement. "We have already received tremendous support from the community."
Additional information on First Choice Bank can be found online at www.firstchoice-bank.com.
Disch Real Estate moves in Hopewell
Disch Real Estate has moved to a new and permanent home at 45 East Broad St. in Hopewell Borough. The new office is located at the corner of East Broad Street and Princeton Avenue. The historic house was a residence for the past 100 years. The house was listed with Disch Real Estate last spring.
Prospective buyers were not interested in the property as a residence and it became evident to Disch staff that the building would be better suited for an office rather than a home, according to a release. Disch Real Estate serves both residential and commercial markets and also provides property management services.
PR consultancy launched in WW
Consumer marketing public relations agency veteran and West Windsor resident Ken Jacobs has launched Jacobs Communications Consulting in West Windsor to help public relations firms grow their businesses and improve staff performance.
Services will include growing business from existing clients, upgrading brainstorm session output, winning competitive pitches, enhancing account profitability, designing agency new business plans, and crafting agency marketing plans. Jacobs will also design complete agency training programs, lead interactive staff training workshops in specific skill areas, as well as coach individuals and teams.
More information is available at www.jacobscomm.com.

