Becker Merges With New Jersey Community Association, Construction Litigation Law Firm

March 1, 2018

By: Arnold J. Calabrese, Karl T. Meth, J. David Ramsey, Kenneth S. Direktor


Arnold Calabrese and Karl T. Meth

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., & MORRISTOWN, NJ – MARCH 05, 2018 Becker, a multi-practice commercial law firm with attorneys, lobbyists and other professionals at offices throughout the East Coast, today announced its merger with the Law Offices of Arnold J. Calabrese, a New Jersey-based community association and construction litigation law firm. The merger adds two attorneys –  Arnold J. Calabrese and Karl T. Meth  – to Becker’s Morristown, NJ, office.

Calabrese and Meth, with combined industry experience of more than 60 years, will enhance the firm’s robust capabilities in community association law and construction litigation, key areas of practice for which Becker is widely known. Calabrese joins the firm as a shareholder, as the vice-chair of the firm’s community association practice group in New Jersey, and as a member of its construction litigation team. Meth, who joins the firm’s community association practice group in New Jersey, will concentrate his practice in general community association representation and debt collection.

“The continued growth that Becker has been enjoying in community association law and construction litigation, and the symbiotic nature of the two areas of practice, makes this an ideal time to bring on distinguished attorneys of Arnold and Karl’s stature,” said David Ramsey, head of Becker’s community association practice group in Morristown. “Their addition to Becker further elevates our already significant stature as a leader in community association representation and construction litigation throughout the metropolitan area.”

Added Calabrese, “We are excited to join Becker and leverage its powerful platform to elevate our practices and capabilities to the next level. I have known David Ramsey and Matthew Meyers for many years and believe that our entry creates a formidable team to represent clients throughout New Jersey and New York.”

Arnold Calabrese

Calabrese has concentrated his practice on community association law, construction defects and transition litigation, as well as general representation services, since 1986.

In 2017, Calabrese successfully completed a multi-party transition litigation case, obtaining for his client a settlement exceeding $18.5 million. His success in transition related construction cases was recognized during the statewide fire retardant treated plywood litigation, when he was appointed the Chairman of the Plaintiff Association’s Steering Committee and was instrumental in achieving a successful model settlement for all plaintiff associations in New Jersey. He routinely lectures on transition, toxic mold, rules and regulations and contracts.

Calabrese received a law degree from the Quinnipiac University School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Karl Meth

Meth has experience counseling community associations throughout New Jersey with a concentration in debt collection, contract drafting, enforcement of association governing documents, dispute resolution, and amendment drafting.

Meth also has experience in appellate and bankruptcy matters, developing creative techniques to recover monies due  clients. He also has experience obtaining rent receiverships for associations with vacant homes within their communities.

Meth received a law degree from Seton Hall Law School and a bachelor’s degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

“We are proud to add attorneys of Arnold and Karl’s caliber to our firm as part of our commitment to meet a growing demand for our high-quality counsel,” said Kenneth Direktor, chair of the firm’s community association practice group.