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Joseph R. Haftek, Jr. joined Schenck Price in 2014 and represents developers, construction managers, contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, construction professionals, design professionals and businesses in both state and federal courts. In addition to being Co-Chair of the Firm's Construction Law Practice Group, where he heads the Bid Protest Team, he is a member of the School Law Practice Group. He was selected to the 2016-2022 New Jersey Super Lawyers® * list and to the 2014 New Jersey Rising Stars® * list, featured in New Jersey Monthly magazine, in the field of Construction Litigation. He was also included on the list of Morris/Essex Health & Life Magazine’s “Top Lawyers” in Construction in 2017 through 2021. Joe's knowledge and experience have been consistently recognized with opportunities as a lecturer to both lawyers and construction industry professionals on topics ranging from construction contracts to public bidding and bid protests.
Joe has focused on developing his construction law practice since completing a judicial clerkship in 2005. He prides himself on the firm and Construction Law Group’s ability to assist clients from the earliest phases of project development and approval through closeout and post-project issues. He has experience in handling all aspects of the construction process and litigation including: negotiating, drafting and reviewing contracts; public and school bidding, bid protest and contract issues; prosecution and defense of construction lien claims; defect, contract and negligence litigation; collection services; and providing general legal advice and guidance for all phases of construction. He is counsel to a number of construction companies, in particular several of the New York Metro Area's largest construction management firms that perform work across numerous areas, including general construction, energy, healthcare, military facilities and schools.
Joe is also a very active participant in the NJSBA Construction Law Section, which is comprised of many of the state’s foremost construction law attorneys. The Construction Law Section monitors the laws governing construction and public contracts and recommends modifications to and/or comments on such laws when appropriate, and provides educational seminars, materials and publications to attorneys and other members of the construction industry. He held the position of Co-Secretary and Co-Vice Chairman of the Section, and served as the Co-Chairman of the Section from May 2019 through May 2021.
As the son and brother of contractors, Joe has grown up in and around the construction industry and understands the specific needs of today's construction practitioner. Prior to attending law school, he worked as a laborer, operator and supervisor, learning first-hand about day-to-day construction operations. This personal experience compliments his legal experience and allows him to develop valuable, long-term relationships with his clients.
Joe also has significant experience in general commercial litigation matters, and is the Pro Bono attorney for the Wyckoff Volunteer Ambulance Corps.
- December 14, 2022Joseph R. Haftek, Jr. to Speak at NJICLE'S Hot Topics in Construction Law Webinar
- Jun 28, 2022Haftek to Speak at 2022 Construction Law Forum
- Feb 10, 2022Haftek Presents at Construction Contract Workshop
- Feb 9, 2022Haftek Speaks on "Public Bidding and the Electronic Construction Procurement Act"
- Feb 23. 2021Construction Law for Public Projects (New Jersey)
- Aug 1, 20192019 Construction Law Forum
- Jun 30, 20192019 Construction Law Forum
- Jun 6, 20192019 Construction Law Forum
- Jan 17, 2019Metropolitan Builders & Contractors Association of New Jersey
- Jun 14, 2018Construction Law in 2018
- Feb 23, 2018Construction Law: The Bid, The Claim and the Potential Impact of Electronic Bidding
- Apr 28, 2016Leveraging NJ Construction Lien Laws To Ensure You Get Paid
- Jun 4, 2015Construction Law 2015 Seminar
- Aug 28, 2014Construction Contract Workshop
- January 25, 2023New Jersey Governor Signs Law Expediting Construction Permitting Process
- Jul 23, 2021Bergen County Improvement Authority Cannot Use the Local Redevelopment and Housing Law as a "Cloak" for the Local Public Contracts Law
- May 14, 2020NJ Executive Order 142 Permits Non-Essential Construction to Resume on May 18, 2020 with Specific Requirements
- Apr 9, 2020NJ Executive Order 122 Stops Non-Essential Construction with Exceptions and Imposes Other Requirements
- Apr 28, 2015Changes to the Affidavit of Merit Statute: How a Recent Appellate Division Decision Creates New Requirements for Claims Against Design Professionals
- Jun 20, 2014Arbitrating Construction Disputes
- Aug 4, 2022FDU Mini Law School
- Jun 22, 2022Haftek Named to ConnectOne Bank Ambassador Board
- Mar 17, 20222022 Edition of New Jersey Super Lawyers Includes 34 Schenck Price Attorneys
- Jun 8, 2021Morris County Top Lawyers 2021
- March 23, 20212021 Edition of New Jersey Super Lawyers Includes 32 Schenck Price Attorneys
- Jul 6, 2020"Morris County Top Lawyers 2020"
- Mar 13, 20202020 Edition of New Jersey Super Lawyers
- May 23, 2019Haftek Co-Chairs Construction Law Section
- Jan 2, 2018Three New Partners Named
- Nov 17, 2016SPSK Attorney Appointed to St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center Foundation Board
- Dec 15, 2017Anatomy of a Bid Protest
- Oct 15, 2014Local Public Contracts Law, Am I a qualified bidder?
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- Selected to the 2016 through 2022 New Jersey Super Lawyers®* list, featured in New Jersey Monthly magazine, in the field of Construction Litigation
- Selected to the 2014 New Jersey Super Lawyers Rising Stars®* list, featured in New Jersey Monthly magazine, in the field of Construction Litigation
- Included on the list of Morris/Essex Health & Life magazine’s 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 “Top Lawyers” in Construction*
*No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey. Click here to read Awards & Honors Methodology.Joseph R. Haftek, Jr.Rated by Super Lawyers
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- Co-author, "Not Every Breach of Contract Claim is a Violation of the Consumer Fraud Act," The New Jersey Law Journal, July 21, 2022
- Presenter, "Construction Contract Workshop," HalfMoon Education Live Webinars, February 10, 2022
- Speaker, "Public Bidding and Electronic Construction Procurement Act," New Jersey State Bar Association Construction Law Section, February 9, 2022
- Co-author, "Bergen County Improvement Authority Cannot Use the Local Redevelopment and Housing Law as a "Cloak" for the Local Public Contracts Law," July 23, 2021
- Presenter, "Bidding on Public Projects," at Construction Law for Public Projects (New Jersey) webinar, HalfMoon Education Inc., February 23, 2021
- Co-moderator and speaker, 2020 NJICLE Construction Law Forum, June 4, 2020
- Author, "NJ Executive Order 122 Stops Non-Essential Construction with Exceptions and Imposes Other Requirements," April 9, 2020
- Speaker, "Construction Law and Ethics" Seminar, Halfmoon Education, August 1, 2019
- Moderator, “2019 Construction Law Forum: Handling the Construction Defect Case,” Speaker, “Construction Contract Workshop,” Halfmoon Education, August 28, 2014NJSBA, June 6, 2019
- Speaker, “Addressing Construction Collection Issues,” Metropolitan Builders & Contractors Association of New Jersey, January 17, 2019
- Speaker, “Construction Law in 2018: Legal Insight into Parties, Contract Terms, and Insurance Issues,” NJSBA, June 14, 2018
- Speaker, "Bidding Laws in New Jersey," NJSBA Seminar, Construction Law: The Bid, The Claim and the Potential Impact of Electronic Bidding, February 23, 2018
- Author, "Anatomy of a Bid Protest," New Jersey Lawyer, December 2017
- Speaker, “Contract Law Primer for Engineers,” Halfmoon Education, November 28, 2017
- Author, "Local Public Contracts Law, Am I a Qualified Bidder?," MeadowlandsUSA, October 2014
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- Member, Ambassador Board, ConnectOne Bank
- Member, Metropolitan Builders & Contractors Association of New Jersey
- Co-Chair of the New Jersey State Bar Association Construction Law Section, 2019-2021
- Member, Bergen County 200 Club
- Inaugural member, Wyckoff's Historic Preservation Commission
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- Represents an owner in long-term negotiations related to construction of a modern energy facility
- Represented a general contractor on a lien foreclosure matter with a $1,600,000.00 defect counterclaim asserted by the commercial owner. Prevailed at arbitration and obtained a six figure award for the firm's client
- Represented a general contractor on a multi-million dollar public project regarding withheld retainage and alleged defects. Handled the matter through litigation and subsequent arbitration, and prevailed with the client awarded six figures in compensation
- Argued before the New Jersey Appellate Division on a high profile bid protest matter in Passaic County that was covered by the local media
- Successfully tried several cases to a jury verdict