Bathgate, Wegener & Wolf, P.C.
William J. Wolf has practiced law with the firm of Bathgate, Wegener & Wolf, P.C. since 1977 and has been a partner with the firm since 1982.
Bill approaches the representation of clients from the unique perspective of a litigator, business consultant, project developer, appellate attorney and mediator. Bill has been rated AV Preeminent®* for more than 25 years, a Super Lawyer* for many years, a fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America and an invitee to the Best Attorneys of America.
Bill practices primarily in the areas of complex business litigation, employment litigation, real estate disputes, environmental and property damage insurance coverage litigation, estate litigation, environmental remediation, general equity litigation and prerogative writ litigation as well as providing representation in relation to complex business transactions, real estate development and redevelopment. Bill has also served as general counsel and special counsel for numerous businesses and governmental entities. Bill served as counsel for the five public entities that installed the E-ZPass electronic toll collection system and fiber optic system. As a mediator Bill has mediated hundreds of matters.
Mr. Wolf is celebrating his 25th anniversary of being designated by Martindale-Hubbell® as an AV Preeminent® attorney. For 25 years Mr. Wolf’s peers in the legal community have recognized him as possessing the highest standards in both his ethical behavior and the quality of his legal work. The AV Preeminent® rating that Mr. Wolf has received for 25 years constitutes the highest possible professional rating given by Martindale-Hubbell®. According to Martindale-Hubbell® “The AV Preeminent® rating is the pinnacle of excellence earned through a strenuous Peer Review Rating™ process that is managed and monitored by the world’s most trusted legal resource – Martindale-Hubbell®.” Based on a survey of his peers and his AV Preeminent® rating Mr. Wolf has been named one of New Jersey’s Top Rated Lawyers.
Mr. Wolf has successfully represented both plaintiffs and defendants before state and federal trial and appellate courts in New Jersey and New York. Mr. Wolf has also appeared in Bankruptcy Court and in the United States Court for International Trade. He has handled multi-million dollar litigation matters for both corporate and individual clients, has obtained favorable verdicts in numerous jury and non-jury trials, and has successfully negotiated and obtained hundreds of settlements. In addition to regularly appearing in state and federal courts, Mr. Wolf has represented many clients in arbitration and mediation. Mr. Wolf has provided legal representation in numerous matters before the Office of Administrative Law and before state, regional and local boards and agencies.
Mr. Wolf has completed the training required by the Administrative Office of the Courts in order to be designated as a mediator on the civil, general equity and probate dockets of the Superior Court. Mr. Wolf is a member of the Supreme Court Committee on Complementary Dispute Resolution. Since 2001, hundreds of cases have been assigned to Mr. Wolf for mediation, arbitration or management as a discovery master. Of those cases it is estimated that approximately 70% have settled. Mr. Wolf is open to accepting engagements by private parties to serve as a mediator, arbitrator or case manager.
As a discovery master Mr. Wolf has managed several very complex cases including litigation dealing with fraud, partnership dissolution and allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse including a case involving more than twenty plaintiffs who alleged that they had been sexually assaulted by a member of the clergy.
Mr. Wolf had been designated as a Super Lawyer in general litigation and he is a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America (LCA), The Trial Lawyer Honorary Society which is limited to less than one-half of one percent of American lawyers. Mr. Wolf is a member of the Complex Commercial Law Institute of the LCA. Mr. Wolf is also a member of the Diversity Law Institute and a member of The Trial Law Institute. Mr. Wolf has been certified, by the American Institute of Appellate Practice, as an appellate specialist.
Mr. Wolf received his bachelor’s degree, with honors, from the College of the Holy Cross. At Holy Cross, Mr. Wolf was inducted into Alpha Sigma Nu which is the honor society for Jesuit colleges and universities. Mr. Wolf received a masters degree from the University of Chicago. Mr. Wolf is an honors graduate of the Syracuse University College of Law. At Syracuse, Mr. Wolf was inducted into the Order of the Coif and the Justinian Law Society. While at Syracuse, Mr. Wolf was employed as a graduate assistant in the Maxwell School.