Richard J. Badolato, who heads the State of New Jersey's Department of Banking and Insurance, is joining Walsh Pizzi O'Reilly Falanga LLP.
The firm said in a statement that Mr. Badolato will lead the firm's newly created insurance practice, which will provide insurance and health care regulatory and enforcement advice and handle insurance coverage disputes and counseling as well as related defense work.
Mr. Badolato also will collaborate with the firm's Financial Services & Risk Management practice, through which founding partner Stephen V. Falanga leads a team representing clients in the banking and financial services sector.
“After my tenure in public service as commissioner, I am ready to return to private practice,” Mr. Badolato said. “I cannot think of a more exciting next step than joining the dynamic firm that Walsh has become.”
Before being named commissioner, Mr. Badolato was a partner in Connell Foley in Roseland for over 30 years. Mr. Badolato's more than five-decade experience spans trial and appellate work at all levels of the state and federal courts. In addition to his many other appointments, Mr. Badolato is the former president of the New Jersey State Bar Association, the New Jersey State Bar Foundation, and the Essex County Bar Association.
Walsh Pizzi was formed in May 2016, when 18 attorneys came together to form a new majority woman-owned law firm. “I hired and worked with Liza Walsh following her clerkship in the federal courts. When I was asked to join her new firm, I was delighted at the prospect of working with Liza and her other colleagues for whom I have tremendous respect, but more importantly truly like. These are all bright and hardworking attorneys of the highest caliber,” Mr. Badolato remarked.
Liza M. Walsh, managing partner of Walsh Pizzi, said, “We are all honored to have Rich join us. Having known Rich for many years, we are confident that he will serve as a tremendous asset to our insurance and banking sector clients and to all of our lawyers and staff.”
Steven A. Meyerowitz
Steven A. Meyerowitz, a Harvard Law School graduate, is the founder and president of Meyerowitz Communications Inc., a law firm marketing communications consulting company. He may be contacted at [email protected].