Tom is the founding partner of the firm. He is recognized as a pre-eminent lawyer with over 30 years experience in the practice of civil litigation. Many lawyers regularly refer challenging cases to him in recognition of his ability and skill.

Tom has an enviable record of outstanding successes in nursing home neglect cases as well as business litigation and contested probate matters. Although he concentrates in those areas, he also has extensive experience in handling malpractice cases, copyright and other intellectual property disputes, and admiralty work. He represents clients in jury trials as well as mediations and arbitrations. At all times, he aggressively pursues his clients’ goals, always mindful of the client’s interests and needs.   His consistent purpose is to help our clients obtain justice and appropriate compensation of their losses.

He is rated “AV” by Martindale-Hubbell, has been selected as a “Super Lawyer” by his peers, and is certified as a Civil Trial Attorney by the Supreme Court of New Jersey. He is a proud member of the American Association for Justice and its New Jersey affiliate, and is a long standing member of the AAJ’s Nursing Home Litigation Group.

Gartenberg Howard LLP is a law firm based in Bergen County, New Jersey and New York City that concentrates on nursing home abuse and neglect, malpractice, estate and probate law, and business litigation. Whether you are planning for the future, entangled in a dispute or have been the victim of medical or nursing home abuse or neglect, Gartenberg Howard LLP will provide the legal expertise needed to protect your interests.

Our approach to complex litigated matters, such as nursing home abuse and nursing home neglect, is comprehensive. We regularly handle cases that involve investigation, expert consultation, and family counseling to address mistreatment in an assisted living facility, nursing home, or rehabilitation facility. Our team represents families of loved ones who have suffered elder abuse or neglect, including bed sores, falls, medication errors, elopement, infection, dehydration malnutrition, physical or sexual assault, financial exploitation and wrongful death.  We are knowledgeable of the issues that such cases involve, and our professional staff has the experience and skill necessary to help you obtain justice for the harm suffered by your loved one. We will work hard to secure the maximum financial recovery to compensate your loved one and your family for nursing home abuse and neglect.

Our 30+ year trusts and estates practice focuses exclusively on estate planning, probate and estate administration.  We are committed to staying as current as possible on changes in the law, as well as the evolving practical concerns of our clients.  We carefully listen to you, and from those conversations we will tailor your plan to meet your unique needs.  We pay particular consideration to life’s unexpected events by utilizing Wills (simple and complex), Living Trusts, Powers of Attorney, Living Wills, Irrevocable Trusts, and Charitable Gifting Strategies. 

We are in the “peace of mind” business.  We customize our planning program to meet each client’s distinct needs. 

We will be there for you when a loved one has passed away and the Executor steps in to administer the estate.  We understand that an Executor is entrusted with the bundle of activities that will allow him or her to transfer the things the deceased cared about to the people he loved.  We are experts at helping our clients navigate this process.  We assist in all aspects of estate administration from tax advice, to assistance with administering complex assets (such as family businesses) and conflicting family agendas.  We build relationships of trust.

For times when harmony cannot prevail, we are experienced estate litigators.  We represent executors and families in will contests, probate disputes, accountings, and claims of undue influence or duress.  We are there to help our clients understand and anticipate the risk and consequences of these proceedings.

Our business litigation practice helps clients navigate through trials, appeals, motions, injunctions, arbitrations and mediations. Our expertise includes contract law, breach of fiduciary duty and shareholder disputes, as well as intellectual property issues such as trademark and copyright issues.  We recognize that the resolution of business disputes without the expense and time of litigation is frequently preferable for everyone involved, but when such a result is not possible or desired, a good business litigation attorney can be invaluable in helping you protect your rights and your company’s commercial interests.

Our firm is led by attorneys Tom Howard and Amie Gartenberg. Tom is certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a civil trial attorney and has a track record of success with notable jury verdicts, judgments, and settlements. Partner Amie Gartenberg focuses on estate law, taxation, and business planning.  Both Tom and Amie are recognized by the prestigious Martindale-Hubbell as pre-eminent attorneys