Bernard J. D’Avella, Jr. ('Bud') is an experienced attorney and mediator who has advised or led family businesses for his entire professional life. From age 12, Mr. D’Avella worked in his father’s pharmacy, which he went on to help manage in his late teen years. He relied heavily on that family business experience to become one of the most respected thought leaders in the area of family business and estate planning law, where he has focused his advisory practice for over 45 years. 

• Member of the Federal and New Jersey State Bars (both since 1973)

• Qualified Rule 1:40 Mediator - State of New Jersey Roster of Court-Approved Mediators

From 1973 to 1998, Mr. D’Avella represented family businesses and was the managing partner for 11 years at Hannoch Weisman, the second largest law firm in New Jersey. From 1998 - 2011, Mr. D’Avella combined his lifetime of legal and family business experience as President and Chief Operating Officer of Prudent Publishing Company, a mid-eight figure family-owned business based near his home in northern New Jersey. Bud is an author and conference speaker on topics pertaining to family business, and is a sought-after consultant and advisor to family businesses. Email Bud to set up a time to speak to see if he can help: bud@davellafamilybusiness.com.

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CLIENT TESTIMONIALS

Selected articles and speaking engagements include:

• Speaker, "Family Business Dynamics" at the 2017 Business Law Symposium, New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education,
  with H. Glenn Tucker, Esq. and in cooperation with the New Jersey State Bar Association Business Law and Taxation Law Sections, April 2017.

• Feature Interview, Regent Atlantic Business Owners Newsletter - Q1 2017,
  "Bernard D’Avella Shares Insights into the Success of Running a Family Business," by Brent Beene, CFP, MS.

• Speaker, "Successfully Dealing with Issues that Affect Family Firms,"
  Lincoln Financial Network Advisors' Fall Focus, Business Intelligence Institute, Denver, Colorado, September 2016.

• Feature Panelist, Goldman Sachs: Estate Planning Council of Northern New Jersey, March 2014.

• Guest Lecturer, Strategic Management, Rutgers Business School, June 2011.

• Speaker, "Family Business Success Strategies," Limo Digest Show, November 2010.

• Speaker, "Dealing with Human Resources Issues that Affect Family Firms," Fairleigh Dickinson Family Business Forum, November 2010.

• "In Family Business, Love's Got Nothing To Do with It?" by Michele Alperin, U.S. 1 Newspaper, November 2010. Click here to download the article (pdf).

• “Why Compensation for Family Members Should be at Market Value,” Fairleigh Dickinson University Family Ink, Summer 1996. Click here to download the article (pdf).

• Contributor, “Inside the Family-Held Business,” Milton H. Stern, Law & Business Publishers, New York. 1986.