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Frederick W. Alworth
Partner
Newark, NJ
Partner
Newark, NJ
With a unique niche in crisis management and risk avoidance, Fred has counseled clients in some of the most complex transactions in New Jersey, including the privatization of the Meadowlands and Monmouth Park Racetracks, risk issues surrounding the 2014 NFL Championship Game at MetLife Stadium, implementation of legalized sports betting, rebuilding of the Goethals and Bayonne Bridges, and a challenge to a $2.7 billion financing package for one of the largest public-private development projects on the East Coast. He has served as lead trial counsel in business litigations throughout New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin, Nevada, Virginia, and Florida and regularly appears before state and federal courts, as well as the American Arbitration Association. Having served as President of the Essex County Bar Association, Chair of the Equity Jurisprudence Committee of the New Jersey State Bar Association, and Vice Chair of New Jersey State Ethics Commission, he has earned the trust of the judiciary and often serves as court-appointed counsel. Fred also presents programs for the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education on business litigation and expedited litigation topics.
Fred was twice included, in 2022 and 2018, on the Best Lawyers® “Lawyers of the Year” list in his practice area for the Newark region. He is ranked by the Chambers USA Guide to America’s Leading Lawyers for Business in the Litigation: General Commercial category and leads the firm’s Chambers USA Band 1-ranked litigation practice, cited by the publication as a “regional powerhouse that acts on high-stake disputes involving an impressive range of issues.”
Fred has spent over 30 years handling business and commercial litigation, real estate, and financial restructuring and creditors’ rights matters and has an in-depth understanding of multiple practice areas and the interplay among them. Committed to the public interest and the community, he served as the firm’s pro bono coordinator for over five years. He is active in several philanthropic, charitable, and athletic organizations throughout New Jersey.
IMO NJ Sports and Exposition Authority Resolution 2020-07 (New Jersey Appellate Division affirmed – A-002868-19): The Appellate Division affirmed the NJSEA’s Hackensack Meadowlands District Master Plan Update 2020, denying and rejecting all aspects a major challenge to the plan. This victory was the result of a team effort among attorneys from the firm’s Commercial & Criminal Litigation and Real Property Groups.
ITT v. Pierre Development, A&P and Amboy Bank (Union County Chancery Division): This five-year long litigation matter arose from a mortgage foreclosure fraudulent conveyance action. The case marshaled the resources of various practice groups within the firm, including Real Estate, Commercial & Criminal Litigation, Environmental, Financial Restructuring & Creditors’ Rights, and Corporate, working together. Adversary filed an offer of judgment for $180,000. Gibbons obtained a $15 million judgment for ITT after trial, which the Appellate Division and Supreme Court of New Jersey later affirmed.
Police Foundation v. County of Essex (Essex County Law Division): Obtained a ruling of no cause after trial for County of Essex/Essex County Prosecutor for contractors’ violation of Local Public Contract Law.
Boston Market v. Myrus Hack (Bergen County Chancery Division, Affirmed by Appellate Division and New Jersey Supreme Court): Obtained judgment for specific performance for Boston Market after trial stemming from McDonald’s purchase from bankruptcy of certain assets and leasehold rights owned by Boston Market.
21st Capital v. Tiffany and Company (New Jersey Appellate Division affirmed – A-2602-06T2): Obtained summary judgment for Tiffany and Company after a two-and-a-half-year litigation involving fraudulent factoring scheme (approximately $1.7 million). The case involved three parallel bankruptcy proceedings of two vendors and a vendor’s principal.
Lane v. Schmied: (Bergen County Chancery Division, Affirmed by Appellate Division): Obtained a ruling of no cause after trial for the defendants in this rescission/fraud complaint involving the sale of real property.
McLane Foodservice, Inc. v. Ready Pac Produce, Inc.: Represented a national food service distributor in multiple forums in conjunction with a multi-state Escherichia Coli (e-coli) outbreak. Cases in U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey, District of Pennsylvania, and New Jersey State Court.
New Meadowlands Stadium Company, LLC, et al. v. New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority: Represented New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority in defense of a complaint filed by the New York Giants and the New York Jets in connection with the impact of proposed modifications to the American Dream project (formerly known as “Xanadu”).
Reported Decisions
Bart Commodities v. Hudson Coffee, Inc., et al, 2017 WL 3469331 (N.J. App. Div. August 14, 2017) (Represented defendants in a complex bankruptcy-related dispute with allegations of fraudulent conveyance securing a dismissal for defendants, that was affirmed by the Appellate Division)
N.J. Alliance for Fiscal Integrity, LLC v. N.J. Sports & Exposition Auth., 2016 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 2174 (App. Div. Oct. 3, 2016)
Chassen v. Fid. Nat’l Fin., Inc., 2016 U.S. App. LEXIS 16489
Gregory v. Home Retention Services, Inc., 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 71449 (D.N.J. June 2, 2015)
Harbortouch Payments, LLC v. Denali State Bank, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 64991 (D. N.J. May 19, 2015)
Beneficial Mutual Savings Bank v. Stewart Title Guaraty Company, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 111950 (E.D. Pa. August 12, 2014)
Ameream LLC v. New York Football Giants, Inc., 2013 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 2353 (Law Div. Sept. 30, 2013)
New Meadowlands Stadium Co. v. Triple Five Group, 2013 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 2130 (Ch. Div. Aug. 26, 2013)
Walsh Secs., Inc. v. Cristo Prop. Mgmt., 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 132221 (D.N.J. Sept. 14, 2012)
New Meadowlands Stadium Co., LLC v. Triple Five Group Ltd., 2012 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 1920 (Ch. Div. Aug. 9, 2012)
McLane Foodservice, Inc. v. Ready Pac Produce, Inc., 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 89087 (D.N.J. June 27, 2012)
Chassen v. Fid. Nat’l Fin., Inc., 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 8937 (D.N.J. Jan. 22, 2013)
Pena v. New Meadowlands Racetrack LLC, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 4257 (D.N.J. Jan. 10, 2012)
Financial Freedom Senior Funding Corp. v. Fischer, 2011 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 2362 (App. Div. Mar. 31, 2011); cert. den., 208 N.J. 337 (Sept. 7, 2011)
Preferred Real Estate Invs., LLC v. Lucent Techs., Inc., 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 51805 (D.N.J. June 18, 2009)
CIA, Gary Gresko, S.A. v. Stewart Title Guar. Co., 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 31680 (D.N.J. Apr. 15, 2009)
Monroe Ctr. II Urban Renewal Co., LLC v. Strategic Performance Fund-II, Inc., 2010 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 3134 (App.Div. Dec. 29, 2010)
Four Felds, Inc. v. Northern Grove House, LLC, 2008 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 201 (App.Div. Sept. 23, 2008)
Lane v. Schmied, 2008 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 1014 (App.Div. Feb. 11, 2008)
21st Capital Corp. v. Tiffany & Co., 2008 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 2281 (App.Div. Feb. 6, 2008)
Boston Mkt. Corp. v. Hack, 2007 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 2816 (App.Div. Aug. 20, 2007)
Stewart Title Guar. Co. v. Harris, 2006 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 1965 (App.Div. Oct. 18, 2006)
Commercial Realty Enters., L.L.C. v. Staples the Office Superstore East, Inc., 2006 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 517 (App.Div. Feb. 8, 2006)
Costanza Builders of N.J., Inc. v. Waterfront Homes, LLC, 2005 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 344 (App.Div. Oct. 28, 2005)
Unanue v. Unanue, 2004 Del. Ch. LEXIS 153 (Del. Ch. Nov. 3, 2004)
Seton Hall University School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude
University of Connecticut, B.A., cum laude
Law Clerk to the Honorable Harry A. Margolis, Presiding Judge of the Chancery Division, General Equity Part, Essex County
United States District Court for the District of New Jersey
United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
Supreme Court of the United States
Listed in the Chambers USA Guide to America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Litigation: General Commercial
Recognized by Best Lawyers®, 2026 Edition: Commercial Litigation; Litigation – Real Estate
Recognized by Best Lawyers®: “Lawyer of the Year,” Litigation – Real Estate in Newark, NJ (2018 and 2022)
Included on the New Jersey Super Lawyers lists, Business Litigation, 2025; Top 100 Attorneys, 2024
Included on the Martindale-Hubbell AV® Peer Review Rated list
Member of Governor Christopher J. Christie’s Transition Team, Department of Law & Public Safety, 2009-2010
New Jersey State Bar Association
Prior Chair and Vice Chair, Equity Jurisprudence Committee, 2011 – 2018
Member, Civil Trial Section
Essex County Bar Association
Prior President, Secretary, Treasurer
Trustee
Prior Chair, Equity Jurisprudence Section
New Jersey State Ethics Commission
Vice Chair
Institute of Continuing Legal Education
Lecturer, Chancery Practice, Injunction Practice, Restrictive Covenant, and Shareholder
Litigation, Debtor Creditor Practice
Regional Alliance of Business Contractors
Lecturer
William J. Brennan, Jr. Inn of Court Trial Program
National Institute for Trial Advocacy
American Bar Association (Civil Trial Bar)
Court Appointed Counsel in numerous cases by ten different judges of the Superior Court of New Jersey
Present Vice Chairman, New Jersey State Ethics Commission