William H. Grae joined Harwood Lloyd LLP in 2024 as Counsel with potential responsibility for litigation and trial work in New York and New Jersey. He received his B.A. in Anthropology Crom Cornell in 1991 and a J.D. from Pace Law School in 1994, graduating from both school with academic honors. He has more than thirty (30) years of experience as a creative and innovative litigator, trial attorney, and appellate advocate, whose work in the area of personal-injury defense with a particular emphasis on NY Labor Law/construction accidents, tractor trailer/common carrier claims, general-liability hospitality industry and Dram Shop claims, product liability claims, and litigation of related coverage disputes in NY and NJ. He has both prosecuted and defended professional liability claims involving the medical, dental, podiatric, veterinary, and engineering fields. With respect to construction-related litigation in NY, Grae has particular experience providing risk-management, emergency site-response coordination, and cost-effective legal counsel to defend large-loss claims asserted against construction project participants including owners, general contractors, and construction managers, along with litigation of related coverage disputes. In addition to the specialty, Grae has also extensive litigation and trial experience involving general-liability claims, catastrophic motor carrier and aviation events, mass torts (pharmaceutical, motor-vehicle product liability, lead, and asbestos exposure) in New York and New Jersey State and federal courts. Grae has served as local trial counsel for multiple nationwide defense programs and has experience trying cases before juries throughout the City and State of New York and several NJ counties as well as federal court. Outside the field of personal-injury, Grae also has substantial experience representing clients including financial services providers, real-estate developers, and other business entities confronted by commercial, regulatory claims, and employment-discrimination claims. This includes TILA and CFPB compliance work and defense of consumer credit, NY and NJ Consumer Fraud, usury and related liability claims in NY, NJ and federal courts. In NY, he has also assisted property developers and owners negotiate and litigation issues related to large-scale commercial development projects, land use, and access agreements. Grae has also represented clients and helped resolve based on alleged architectural barriers claims under ADA, wage-and-hour claims under FLSA and related NY State and City/local law, and employment-discrimination claims based on federal, NY, and local law. Grae’s appellate experience includes multiple appearances before each department of the New York State Appellate Division, the New York State Court of Appeals, the NJ Appellate Division, and the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. His active practice involving alternate dispute resolution not involves frequent mediations and arbitrations. Grae has also served as a volunteer arbitrator in the City of New York Small Claims Court (Kings and Bronx Counties). Grae’s prior pro bono work includes representing the survivors of the Golden Venture disaster and Haitian civil war in US Asylum proceedings as well as serving as a (volunteer) Special Assistant District Attorney with the Appeals Bureau of the Office of the Kings County District Attorney (Brooklyn, NY). In 2004, he was certified as a NJ Animal Cruelty Investigation and later was commissioned as a Human Enforcement Officer (volunteer) with the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Animal Cruelty Task Force/Bergen County Chapter of the NJ SPCA (Law Enforcement Division), volunteer work he continued from 2005 to 2010. Grae has lectured on construction-accident liability arising under New York’s Labor Law, medical malpractice risk management, and other litigation-related subjects.

Carmel J. Decker is a Partner with Harwood Lloyd, practicing in its Insurance Defense Litigation and Commercial Litigation Departments. Ms. Decker concentrates her practice in employment law, civil rights violations, construction law, corporate and contract law and insurance law. Ms. Decker’s employment law practice includes complex litigation in state and federal courts involving wrongful termination, sexual harassment/hostile work environment, discrimination, retaliation, breach of contract, corporate and business law, common-law claims, ERISA, CEPA, the New Jersey Law against Discrimination, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, hiring practices, restrictive covenants, employee handbooks and workplace torts. Ms. Decker represents companies, public entities and public employees in matters involving civil rights violations, negligence and police conduct. Ms. Decker also handles matters involving directors’ and officers’ liability, particularly employment and civil rights disputes. Ms. Decker lectures on employment matters including sexual harassment/hostile work environment discrimination, hiring practices and litigation of employment issues. Ms. Decker drafts employee handbooks, counsels clients on risk management and regulatory compliance and provides preventive counseling to employers on employment issues. Ms. Decker also appears in matters before the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Ms. Decker’s construction law practice includes complex multi-party litigation involving claims of construction defect, professional liability of architects and engineers and construction site accidents. As part of her construction defect practice, Ms. Decker handles matters involving claims of deficiencies in construction and design, latent construction defects, building code violations, breach of contract and insurance. Ms. Decker’s construction law practice encompasses matters arising on public, private, commercial and residential projects. Ms. Decker received her B.S., cum laude, in Business Administration from Montclair State College in 1978 and her J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law in 1981. Ms. Decker is admitted to practice before the courts of the State of New Jersey (1982), the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey (1982) and the courts of the State of New York (1989). Ms. Decker is a member of the Federal Bar Association, the Bergen County Bar Association and the Professional Liability Underwriting Society.

Robyn B. Lindsay is Counsel with Harwood Lloyd’s Wills, Trusts and Estates Department and its Commercial Department. She concentrates her practice in the areas of estate planning, estate administration and residential real estate. Ms. Lindsay has extensive experience in drafting estate planning documents including wills, trusts, powers of attorney and health care proxies. Ms. Lindsay is experienced in all phases of the probate process, including probating of wills, preparing and filing of death and inheritance tax returns, drafting and filing of disclaimers and implementing other post-mortem planning techniques. Ms. Lindsay also has considerable experience in the area of real estate purchases, sales and refinances including residential homes, condominiums and cooperatives. Ms. Lindsay received her B.A. in Economics and Music from Colgate University in 1984. She received her J.D. from New York Law School in 1991. Ms. Lindsay is admitted to practice before the courts of the State of New Jersey (1992), the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey (1992), and the courts of the State of New York (1992). Ms. Lindsay is a member of the Bergen County Bar Association.

Stephen Wellinghorst is Co-Managing Partner and practices in Harwood Lloyd’s Insurance Litigation Department, and Commercial Litigation Department. Mr. Wellinghorst received his B.A. in Political Science from Montclair State University in 1984. He received his J.D. from Ohio Northern University Claude W. Pettit School of Law in 1988, where he was an Associate Editor of the Ohio Northern University Law Review. Following law school, Mr. Wellinghorst joined the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office. In 1992, he joined the law firm of Braff Harris & Sukoneck, where he specialized in insurance defense litigation representing various insurance companies, self-insured companies and public entities. He became a partner with Braff Harris & Sukoneck in 2000. He joined Harwood Lloyd in 2011 as a partner and practices primarily in the area of insurance defense litigation, representing several insurance companies, self-insured corporations and municipalities. Mr. Wellinghorst specializes in premises liability, representing the largest mall in New Jersey as well as the largest franchised quick service food company in the world and the largest supermarket chain in the east coast. As a trial attorney, Mr. Wellinghorst has successfully litigated multi-million dollar lawsuits on behalf of his clients. He has more than 30 years experience litigating all aspects of civil litigation, including insurance defense, premises liability, commercial auto, self-insured and public entity defense, professional liability, public liability, product liability, construction defects, employment discrimination and commercial litigation matters. Mr. Wellinghorst is a former barrister in the Arthur T. Vanderbilt American Inn of Court, a member of the Defense Research Institute, and a member of the Council on Litigation Management. He has presented numerous seminars and lectured for trade associations and the insurance industry. He has been a frequent legal commentator on local and national news programs such as MSNBC, Court TV, Fox News, CNN and News 12 New Jersey. Mr. Wellinghorst was Municipal Judge for the Borough of West Paterson (2003-2008) and was a Councilman in the Village of Ridgewood from 2010 – 2013. He is the former Planning Board Attorney for Woodland Park (2009-2011) and is the current Planning Board Attorney for the Village of Ridgewood. He was the former Prosecutor for the Pascack Joint Municipal Court which includes the towns of Montvale, Park Ridge and Woodcliff Lake, in 2023. Mr. Wellinghorst is a member of the Bergen County District II Ethics Committee. Mr. Wellinghorst is admitted to practice before the courts of the State of New Jersey (1988), the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey (1989), the Courts of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (1989), and the United States Supreme Court (1996), The District of Columbia Courts (2013) and the State of New York Courts (2016). Mr. Wellinghorst is a member of the American Bar Association, the New Jersey State Bar Association, the Pennsylvania Bar Association, the District of Columbia Bar Association, New York State Bar Association and the Bergen Bar Association.

Honorable James J. DeLuca, J.S.C. (Ret.) brings 45 years of legal experience to the firm’s Alternate Dispute Resolution and Mediation Group. Judge DeLuca was appointed to the New Jersey Superior Court in 2015 and was initially assigned to the Law Division. In July 2018 Judge DeLuca was assigned to the Chancery Division. In the Chancery Division, Judge DeLuca oversaw probate cases, general equity cases involving business disputes, contract and real estate issues and foreclosure actions. While in the Chancery Division, Judge DeLuca was responsible for appointing receivers, special fiscal agents, guardians, executors, administrators and other fiduciaries. Judge DeLuca also presided over a contested guardianship action which was tried before a jury. Judge DeLuca actively case-managed all the actions assigned to him from inception of the action through settlement or trial. In the Law Division, Judge DeLuca presided over jury and bench trials concerning commercial disputes, personal injury claims, employment disputes (including LAD and CEPA claims) and malpractice claims. Additionally, Judge DeLuca was designated to oversee and try mass tort multicounty litigation matters involving claims for alleged injuries suffered by individuals who used pelvic mesh products designed, manufactured, marketed, and sold by defendant corporation. Before being appointed to the bench, Judge DeLuca was a member of Okin Hollander & DeLuca, LLP where he practiced for over 28 years. While in private practice, Judge DeLuca represented clients in commercial litigation, bankruptcy, arbitrations and mediations. He also handled commercial transactions involving real estate and business transactions. Judge DeLuca argued matters before federal and state courts in New Jersey and New York, including the New Jersey Supreme Court. Judge DeLuca previously served as general counsel to a finance company responsible for financing aircraft, boats (pleasure and commercial) and other consumer transactions. Judge DeLuca began his career as an associate at a boutique New York firm which handled securities litigation. Judge DeLuca graduated from Queens College (City University of New York) in 1974 and Notre Dame Law School in 1977. Judge DeLuca served as a member of his church’s parish council for more than 25 years and served as chairperson of the Church’s Finance Committed for 20 years. Judge DeLuca is a frequent lecturer on various matters involving Chancery and Probate matters. As Counsel at Harwood Lloyd, Judge DeLuca brings experience as a lawyer and judge to provide mediation and arbitration services. Judge DeLuca is also available to manage complex litigation, as appropriate, including acting as Special Discovery Master, Special Fiscal Agent and/or Receiver.

Kathleen M. Lee is a Partner with Harwood Lloyd’s Commercial Department, specializing in commercial litigation, environmental law and estate litigation. Ms. Lee also has experience with employment, contracts and real estate matters. Ms. Lee received her B.A. in Journalism and History from the University of Connecticut in 1993. She received her J.D. from Rutgers School of Law – Newark in 1997. While attending Rutgers Law School, she served as Business Editor of the Women’s Rights Law Reporter from 1996-1997. Since 2001, Ms. Lee has served as pro bono counsel for Goals For Life, Inc., a non-profit, charitable corporation that has raised over $350,000 for worthy women’s health initiatives. Ms. Lee assisted with the formation of Goals For Life, has been a trustee of the organization since 2002 and President since 2004. Ms. Lee is admitted to practice before the courts of the State of New Jersey (1997), the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey (1997), the courts of the District of Columbia (2013), and the courts of the State of New York (2013). Ms. Lee is a member of the Bergen County Bar Association.

John W. McDermott is a Co-Managing Partner of Harwood Lloyd, LLP. Mr. McDermott has engaged in all aspects of commercial transactions and litigation including but not limited to real estate, loans, mortgage foreclosures, fraud, land use and zoning. He is presently spearheading the development of the firm’s new Cannabis Law practice group. Mr. McDermott received his B.S. in Economics, magna cum laude, from St. Peter’s College in 2003. He received his J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law in 2008. While at Seton Hall, Mr. McDermott was a member of the Appellate Advocacy Moot Court Board and aided in drafting semester assignments which highlighted current discrepancies in federal appellate circuit court decisions. Additionally, Mr. McDermott authored, “Growth Attenuation in the Profoundly Developmentally Disabled: A therapeutic Option or a Socioeconomic Convenience” which was published in the Seton Hall Legislative Journal. Mr. McDermott clerked for the Hon. Mark M. Russello, Judge, Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, Bergen County. Prior to joining Harwood Lloyd, Mr. McDermott worked for a Fortune 100 Company in Manhattan. He is actively involved in the community and has participated in and arranged various pro bono projects. Mr. McDermott is admitted to practice before the courts of the State of New Jersey (2008), the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey (2008), and the courts of the State of New York (2009). Mr. McDermott was appointed by the New Jersey Supreme Court and is currently Vice Chair of the District IIB Ethics Committee. He was also previously appointed by the New Jersey Supreme Court to serve on the New Jersey Fee Arbitration Committee where he served as Vice Chairman of the Bergen County District Fee Arbitration Committee. Mr. McDermott has been named by New Jersey Super Lawyers® magazine as one of the top attorneys in New Jersey for 2018. The selections for this list are made by the research team at Super Lawyers, which is a service of the Thomson Reuters, Legal division based in Egan, MN. Each year, the research team at Super Lawyers undertakes a multi-phase selection process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, independent evaluation of candidates by the attorney-led research staff, a peer review of candidates by practice area, and a good-standing and disciplinary check. The decisions made by Super Lawyers have not been approved by the New Jersey Supreme Court. Mr. McDermott has been named by Best Lawyers in America as one of America’s Best Attorneys for Real Estate Law. Mr. McDermott is named in New Jersey Monthly Magazine as one of New Jersey’s best attorneys.

André obtained his Juris Doctor in 2008 from Fordham Law School., and joined the firm in 2025. His extensive litigation experience includes the representation of insurance companies and their insureds, municipalities, lending institutions, cooperative and condominium boards, property management companies, and private clients, among others. André is admitted to practice in New York at both the state and federal levels.

Curtis J. Turpan is a partner in Harwood Lloyd’s Insurance Litigation Department specializing in the field of No Fault Personal Injury Protection (PIP). He began working as a law clerk at Harwood Lloyd while still in law school. He became an associate with the Firm in 1986 and was made a partner in 1997. He currently serves as the firm’s Co-Managing Partner. Mr. Turpan is recognized as an expert in the field of PIP and automobile coverage litigation. He is one of only three defense attorneys serving on the 14 member Forthright Advisory Council for No-Fault Disputes in the State of New Jersey. In that capacity, he is involved in revising the rules and procedures of the PIP arbitration process as well as in the review and selection of the Dispute Resolution Professionals who preside over PIP arbitration hearings. Mr. Turpan is also a member of a select committee, created by the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance, the state agency that regulates PIP coverage and claims in New Jersey, designed to reform the current PIP arbitration process. Mr. Turpan received his B.S. with Special Attainments in Commerce from Washington and Lee University in 1982. He received his J.D. from Seton Hall Law School in 1985. Mr. Turpan was Law Clerk to Hon. James T. Murphy, Judge, Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, Bergen County, for the 1985-1986 Term. Many of the major automobile insurance carriers and PIP vendors in New Jersey, such as Allstate, New Jersey Manufacturers, GEICO, Mercury, Amica, American Commerce Insurance, Avis/Budget Group, Global Liberty Insurance, Concentra Inc. and Auto Injury Solutions, trust Mr. Turpan to not only successfully defend the claims made against them but to also provide expert counsel and advice on how to prevent claims from being made against them in the first place. In his role as a counsellor, he has participated in revising the provisions of automobile insurance policies, drafting the terms of PIP Decision Point Review Plans, assisting out of state insurance carriers enter the New Jersey automobile insurance market, and providing training and support to claims’ personnel. As a litigator, he has personally handled thousands of PIP and coverage disputes throughout the state, and oversees the firm’s associates who also handle these matters. Mr. Turpan also has extensive experience with insurance fraud and SIU related PIP claims and has both successfully defended carriers against such claims and brought actions against medical providers who improperly received PIP benefits. He has appeared before the Appellate Division on numerous occasions and represented the prevailing party in several significant reported cases including Seaview Orthopedics v. NHR, et.al., which upheld a PIP carrier’s right to utilize PPO agreements, and Montemayor v. Signorelli, which held that the tort threshold selected by the named insured applied to the insured’s resident children who do not own their own automobile even if the child was an emancipated adult. Mr. Turpan is admitted to practice before the courts of the State of New Jersey (1985) and the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey (1985). In addition to the Forthright and DOBI committees discussed above, he is a member of the New Jersey Defense Association, the Bergen County Bar Association, the North Jersey Claims Association, the Central Jersey Claims Association and the South Jersey Claims Association.

Alan G. Philibosian is a Partner in Harwood Lloyd’s Commercial Department, concentrating his practice in real estate lending, commercial leasing, acquisitions and dispositions of commercial and residential real estate, and land use and development. Mr. Philibosian has represented national and local community banks in connection with real estate loan transactions. Mr. Philibosian received his BA in History, with high honors from Rutgers College in 1975. He was also elected a member of Phi Beta Kappa in 1975. Mr. Philibosian received his JD from Boston College Law School in 1978 and LLM in Taxation from New York University in 1979. He served as a Commissioner for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey from January 1995 through January 2003. While at the Port Authority he was Chairman of the Audit Committee, Chairman of the Construction Committee, Vice-Chairman of the Finance Committee and as a Member of the World Trade Center Sub-Committee and Special Sub-Committee on Security. During his tenure at Port Authority he also served on the Operations Committee, Capital Programs and Port Planning and the Business Opportunity Committee and Goals and Objectives Sub-Committee. Mr. Philibosian previously served as a Board Member of Mack Cali Realty Corporation (CLI), a national real estate investment trust, listed on the New York Stock Exchange from 1997 – 2019 (now known as Veris Residential). He served as a member of the Executive Compensation and Option Committee (of which he previously served as Chairman) and as a member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. He also served as counsel to the Haworth Planning Board from 2002-2008. Mr. Philibosian previously served as a member of the Board of Directors and currently serves on the Budget Finance, and Endowment Committees of the Armenian Missionary Association of America in Paramus, New Jersey, and as a member of the Board of Elders of the Armenian Presbyterian Church in Paramus New Jersey.