Todd M. Galante, a Principle/Partner at Piro Zinna Cifelli Paris & Genitempo LLC, heads the firm's Bankruptcy, Creditors' Rights Department and is part of the firm’s Employment and Commercial Litigation team. Mr. Galante’s experience includes, but is not limited to, complex business litigation, business restructuring/loan workouts, bankruptcy (reorganization/insolvency), bankruptcy litigation, non-dischargeability litigation, fraud/embezzlement matters, real estate litigation, commercial and residential foreclosure, lender liability defense, franchise litigation, business entity/member dispute/breakup litigation, consumer fraud and general equity litigation. He also represents several auto dealerships, banks and credit unions, and has served as "Special Counsel" to Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ and certain insurance companies.
Mr. Galante is a seasoned certified arbitrator and mediator serving in both private and court appointed matters from state and federal courts. Mr. Galante has been recognized as among America's Most Honored Professionals - Top 1%, selected as among the Best Lawyers in America (2009 thru 2020), Top Lawyers (for the years 2008 thru 2020), and NJ Super Lawyers (for the years 2009 - 2015 and 2018 - 2020). He also enjoys an "AV" Peer Review Rating (highest rating) as published in Martindale Hubbell.
Mr. Galante serves as an Adjunct Professor at Rutgers University (NCAS 2012 to present) and also taught bankruptcy law as an Adjunct Professor at Seton Hall University School of Law (SHL). Todd has been a frequent lecturer for National Business Institute (NBI), NJICLE and other legal organizations. He has published many articles and other materials on various legal topics. He has also served as an expert on bankruptcy and other legal issues.
Todd and his wife have established various endowed scholarships for talented students at the high school, college and graduate degree levels. He has served on various bank, business and political advisory boards, and served as Chairman of The Salvation Army Morristown Corps Advisory Board (2015 – 2018), Board Member of CIANJ (2017 to present) and Co-Chair of CIANJ's Financial & Business Strategies Forum (2015 to present). Mr. Galante has also served on the New Jersey Supreme Court Committees on Character and Fitness, Attorney Ethics and Fee Arbitration.
He served as Law Clerk to the late Vincent J. Commisa, then Chief Judge of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey (1986-1987), and was also elected to public office as a Councilman-At-Large of the City of Orange Township, NJ in 1988 where he also served as Council President from 1991-1992. Todd also served on the City of Orange Board of School Estimate and Planning Board.
Honors and Awards
• AV Peer Review Rating in Martindale Hubbell
• America's Most Honored Professionals - Top 1%
• Best Lawyers in America
• New Jersey Super Lawyers
• Top Lawyers
• Member of Million Dollar Advocates Forum
• Recipient of The Rutgers University – Newark, College of Arts and Sciences, Distinguished Alumni Service Award
• Recipient of SHLS Peter W. Rodino, Jr. Society Humanitarian Achievement Award
Past Employment Positions
• LeClairRyan, Newark, New Jersey, Shareholder, 2007 to 2017
• Seiden Wayne, Newark, New Jersey. Merger with LeClairRyan, Member of Firm/Partner, 1995 to 2007
• McCarter & English, Newark, New Jersey, Senior Associate, 1990 to 1994
• Clapp & Eisenberg, Newark, New Jersey, Associate, 1987 to 1989
• Hon. Vincent J. Commisa, Chief Bankruptcy Judge (USDNJ), Law Clerk, 1986 to 1987
• Hon. John W. Bissell, Judge, U.S. District Court for the District of NJ (Intern, Spring 1986)
Fraternities/Sororities
• Pi Sigma Alpha
• Phi Alpha Delta
Professional Associations and Memberships
• The American Bar Association
• The New Jersey State Bar Association
• The American Trial Lawyers Association (Commercial & Bankruptcy Law Committees)
• The American Bankruptcy Institute
• Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey, Member Board of Directors, Co-Chair of the Financial & Business Strategies Forum
• Seton Hall University School of Law, Board of Visitors
• Rutgers University – Newark College of Arts & Sciences Dean’s Cabinet
