Damian Santomauro

Mr. Damian V. Santomauro is an experienced litigator who concentrates in construction matters and defense of consumer class actions. As Team Leader of the firm’s Construction Law & Litigation practice, he has a wide range of experience representing clients in the construction industry. Mr. Santomauro is able to advise designers, contractors, and owners on issues that arise during projects, from procurement to completion, and to vigorously represent clients when disputes occur.

In addition, he defends clients in class actions involving diverse state and federal consumer protection statutes, such as the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act (CFA); Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA); New Jersey Truth-in-Consumer Contract, Warranty and Notice Act (TCCWNA); New Jersey Gift Card Act (GCA); and New Jersey’s Retail Installment Sales Act (RISA).

He has a vast bank of knowledge with which to advise clients confronted with potentially crippling exposure. Whether providing advice to a client on a troubled construction project in an effort to avoid litigation, or defending a business confronted with significant class action claims, Mr. Santomauro works to address clients’ specific needs and to effectively and efficiently resolve the dispute.

Mr. Santomauro has also represented clients in numerous complex commercial disputes, including shareholder oppression, commercial and real estate contract disputes, restrictive covenants, and non-compete/non-solicitation agreements.

He most recently served as Senior Counsel to the Governor of New Jersey. In that capacity, Mr. Santomauro advised the Governor on various legal, legislative, and regulatory issues in the areas of construction law, consumer affairs, local government, affordable housing, election law, and legalized gaming, and represented the Governor in meetings with legislators, government affairs professionals, and interested parties on these issues.

He also interacted with, and provided assistance to, State departments, divisions, and Commissioners, on a number of important legal and policy matters impacting the State, and worked with the Office of the Attorney General in connection with significant State litigation.

Mr. Santomauro has authored numerous articles addressing issues important to clients in the construction industry, as well as businesses and practitioners confronting class action claims. He has also spoken on these topics in a variety of settings, including speaking engagements with the American Bar Association, New Jersey State Bar Association, and New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education.

EDUCATION:

• University of Richmond School of Law(J.D., magna cum laude)
  • Notes and Comments Editor, University of Richmond Law Review
• Duke University (B.S.)

PROFESSIONAL ADMISSIONS:

• State of New Jersey
• State of New York
• United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
• Supreme Court of the United States

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES:

• New Jersey State Bar Association
  • Construction Law Section
• American Bar Association
  • Construction Industry Section
  • Litigation Section
• Defense Research Institute (DRI)
  • Commercial Litigation Committee

JUDICIAL CLERKSHIP(S):

• Law clerk to The Honorable Donald W. Lemons, Supreme Court of Virginia, 2000-2001