About Keefe Law Firm's
Alternative Dispute Resolution Team

At Keefe Law Firm, our ADR team is led by three distinguished retired judges who bring a wealth of legal knowledge, judicial insight, and professional integrity to each matter they handle. Their backgrounds span all areas of New Jersey’s court system, and their stellar reputations have been earned through decades of service from both sides of the bench.

Judge John E. Keefe, Sr. serves as Of Counsel to Keefe Law Firm, following a judicial career that spanned nearly 25 years. He retired as a Presiding Judge of the Appellate Division of the New Jersey Superior Court, having served in that role for thirteen years. Prior to his appellate appointment, he was the Presiding Judge of the General Equity Part and was designated to oversee a statewide asbestos litigation pilot program, during which he appointed the first full-time Special Master in the state and established uniform discovery procedures. Before joining the bench, Judge Keefe was a respected civil trial attorney with a practice focused on personal injury, products liability, and insurance matters. In addition to his legal practice, he has been a frequent lecturer at continuing legal education programs and co-authored the leading treatise New Jersey Products Liability & Toxic Tort Law. Judge Keefe is recognized statewide as one of New Jersey’s most experienced and effective mediators.

Judge Dennis R. O’Brien also serves as Of Counsel, bringing with him a career that includes over 500 jury trials and twelve years on the bench. Appointed to the Superior Court in Monmouth County in 2007, he served in the Civil, Family, and Criminal Divisions, earning top ratings from the New Jersey Law Journal for his ability to manage and resolve challenging cases. Known for his fair and practical approach, he developed a reputation for settling high conflict matters, from personal injury and professional malpractice to employment, business, and family law disputes. Prior to his judicial appointment, he was twice certified by the New Jersey Supreme Court as a Certified Civil Trial Attorney and spent 14 years in private practice focusing on insurance and personal injury litigation. He began his legal career as an Assistant Prosecutor in Union County and has lectured frequently on trial advocacy throughout the state. Judge O’Brien brings to ADR a strong sense of how juries think, how cases unfold at trial, and how resolution can often be found through careful listening and candid dialogue.

Judge Marlene Lynch Ford joined Keefe Law Firm after retiring in 2023, concluding a 24-year judicial career that included serving as the Assignment Judge for Ocean County. Over the course of her service, she presided in both the Civil and Family Divisions, holding leadership positions in both. She was appointed Ocean County Prosecutor by Governor Jon Corzine and later reappointed by Governor Chris Christie. She chaired several important statewide committees during her judicial tenure, including the Model Civil Jury Charge Committee, the Committee on Outside Activities of Judicial Employees, and the Statewide Domestic Violence Working Group. Prior to her time on the bench, Judge Ford was elected to two terms in the New Jersey General Assembly, where she sponsored more than 75 bills into law. She also co-sponsored key civil rights legislation banning discrimination based on sexual orientation. Her unique blend of judicial, legislative, and legal experience makes her a valuable resource for those seeking thoughtful and effective dispute resolution.

Together, Judges Keefe, O’Brien, and Ford form the foundation of Keefe Law Firm’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Department. Their deep understanding of the law, decades of courtroom and judicial experience, and commitment to fairness make them trusted neutrals in even the most difficult and sensitive matters. Attorneys, clients, and courts alike turn to them for mediation, arbitration, and special master appointments with confidence in their skill, objectivity, and professionalism.

To learn more about the firm’s ADR services or to schedule a consultation, contact the Alternative Dispute Resolution Department at Keefe Law Firm by calling (732) 224-9400 ext. 208, or emailing our ADR assistant Alicia at arodriguez@keefe-lawfirm.com.