Freda Wolfson, a former chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of New
Jersey who now serves as chair of Lowenstein Sandler’s ADR practice, was recently
awarded the Camden County Bar Foundation’s 27th annual Judge John F. Gerry Award
— an honor that resonates deeply for someone who once served under Gerry himself.
The prestigious honor is given to members of the New Jersey bar or judiciary whose
careers embody Gerry’s legacy of integrity, leadership and service during his 20 years
of service on the U.S. District Court of New Jersey. It is meant to recognize
extraordinary humanitarianism and enduring contributions to the fair and effective
administration of justice in New Jersey.
In accepting the award, Wolfson reflected on Gerry’s influence.
“I was fortunate to serve on the court during Judge Gerry’s tenure as Chief Judge and to
witness firsthand his qualities as both a leader and a humanitarian,” she said. “To be
recognized among the distinguished judges and lawyers who have received this award
before me is truly humbling.”
Judge Wolfson returned to private practice at Lowenstein Sandler following a
distinguished 36-year career on the federal bench.
Nominated to the District Court in 2002 and elevated to Chief Judge in 2019, she
previously served for over 16 years as a U.S. Magistrate Judge — one of the youngest
appointees in the nation and among the few women to serve in that role at the time.
During her tenure, Judge Wolfson authored thousands of opinions spanning securities
litigation, shareholder derivative actions, product liability, financial fraud, constitutional
challenges, and civil rights matters. She presided over numerous high-profile trials,
including Hatch-Waxman ANDA patent cases, complex securities and mutual fund
litigation, employment discrimination actions, and white-collar criminal prosecutions.
She was also appointed by the Multidistrict Litigation Panel to oversee various MDLs.
At Lowenstein, Judge Wolfson leads the firm’s ADR practice, where she applies her
unparalleled judicial experience to complex commercial disputes. She is regularly
appointed as a special master in both federal and state courts, including MDL, and
serves as a mediator in high-stakes civil and regulatory matters ranging from corporate
governance disputes to consumer and mass tort class actions. Her practice also
encompasses expert engagements, monitorships, internal investigations, and
conducting mock trials and oral arguments.
Gerry, who was appointed to the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey in
1974 by President Gerald Ford, served as chief judge from 1987-94.
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