New Jersey Law Firm - About Our Attorneys in Newton, Hamburg, and Hopatcong

At The Law Offices of Gruber, Colabella, Liuzza, Kutyla, and Williams in New Jersey, you can rely upon the attorneys at our Newton, Hamburg, and Hopatcong offices to be outstanding individuals who act with integrity, dedication and professionalism. Moreover, the attorneys at our firm are active participants in the communities in which they live. They have not only earned the valued respect of their peers but their neighbors as well. We invite you to learn all about our New Jersey attorneysâ?™ education, careers, achievements and areas of legal expertise. All of our attorneys are highly skilled and experienced in their areas of practice and can help protect your rights and provide you with unparalleled legal representation.

  • Mark Gruber, Esq., J.D. LLM
  • Chris H. Colabella, Esq.
  • Carmen J. Liuzza, Jr., Esq.
  • Kevin T. Kutyla, Esq.
  • Natalie Thompson, Esq.
  • John D. Williams Esq.
  • Racquel Colabella, Esq.
  • Virginia Liotta, Esq.
  • Gretchen Fry Rafuse, Esq.
  • Catherine Ann Gacquin, Esq.
  • Contact Our Attorneys

    • Mark Gruber, Esq., J.D., L.L.M.

    Attorney Mark Gruber heads our family law department and is renowned as one of the lead divorce attorneys in the state of New Jersey.

    • Fellow American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
    • Certified by the New Jersey Supreme Court as a Matrimonial Law Attorney

    Educational Background

    • L.L.M., New York University 1984
    • Juris Doctorate, Vermont Law School 1976
    • Bachelor of Science, University of Maryland 1973
    • Delbarton High School 1968

    Career History

    • Law Clerk, Porzio Bromberg & Newman 1975-1976
    • Judicial Law Clerk, Hon. James McClellan, Rutland Vermont, 1976
    • Adjunct Professor, Upsala College 1982-1983
    • Adjunct Professor Centenary College 1982-1986
    • Gruber & Associates (now Gruber, Colabella, Liuzza, Kutyla, Ullmann and Williams P. A.) 1978-present

    Professional Accomplishments

    • Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers 1988-present
    • Divorce Arbitrator and Mediator
    • Former Master Warrel Mt. Inns of Court
    • Institute of Continuing Legal Education Lecturer: Domestic Violence, Domestic Torts, Family Law Skills and Methods Instructor
    • Author, The Basic Guide to New Jersey Divorce with Forms and Court Rules
    • Trustee, Jersey Battered Women's Service 1983-1985
    • Trustee, Sussex County Bar Association 1992-1995
    • Chair, Family Law Committee of Sussex County Bar Association, 1998
    • Host of cable television show Law Talk 1985-present
    • WOR-TV Panelist, Domestic Violence

    Civic Activities

    • Past President and Paul Harris Fellow, Lake Hopatcong Rotary
    • Vice President and Chief Negotiator, Hopatcong Board of Education 1981-1985
    • Past President, Lake Hopatcong Jewish Community Center
    • Assistant Webelo Den Leader
    • Hopatcong Environmental Commission 1976-1977

    Contact our firm today and schedule a consultation with Mark Gruber or one of our other family law attorneys in Newton and Hopatcong.

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    Chris H. Colabella, Esq.

    Attorney Chris Colabella heads many departments within our New Jersey firm and is one of the most diversely practiced attorneys at The Law Offices of Gruber, Colabella, Liuzza, Kutyla, Ullmann and Williams.

    Educational Background

    • Juris Doctorate, Delaware Law School, 1988
    • Bachelor of Arts, Rutgers University 1985
    • Hopatcong High School, 1981

    Career History

    • Partner, Gruber, Colabella, Liuzza, Kutyla, Ullmann and Williams P. a., 1993-present
    • Associate, Gruber and Associates, 1988-1993
    • Law Clerk 1987-1988
    • Real Estate Salesman, Miller-Brandon Realtors, 1982-1988

    Professional Accomplishments

    • Public Defender for Hopatcong Municipal Court
    • Sussex County Early Settlement Panelist
    • Centenary College Women's’ Center volunteer
    • Co-host of cable television show Law Talk
    • Hopatcong High School Moot Court Attorney Advisor
    • Instructor, Mt. Olive Adult School
    • Counselor, Project Self Sufficiency
    • Divorce Arbitrator and Mediator

    Civic Activities

    • Sussex County Bar Association
    • Member of Grace the Church on the Mount
    • Hopatcong Business Association
    • Volunteer Attorney for Friendship Pregnancy Center

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    Carmen J. Liuzza, Jr., Esq.

    Attorney Carmen Liuzza, Jr., practices in many different areas of our New Jersey firm, collaborating with attorneys in the bankruptcy, family law, real estate, domestic violence, and criminal defense departments.

    Educational Background

    • Quinnipiac College School of Law, Hamden, Connecticut (formerly University of Bridgeport School of Law), Juris Doctorate Degree, May 1995
    • Rutgers University School of Law, Newark, New Jersey - Visiting Student, May through July, 1994
    • Seton Hall University, South Orange, New Jersey, Bachelor of Arts Degree, May 1992

    Career History

    • Gruber, Colabella, Liuzza, Kutyla, Ullmann and Williams P. a., September 4, 1996 - Present
    • Municipal Public Defender, Franklin Borough, February 1998 - Present
    • Adjunct Professor, Centenary College - August 1997
    • Law Clerk/Certified Mediator, The Honorable Ronald B. Graves, J.S.C. - September 1, 1995-September 1, 1996
    • Legal Intern, The Honorable Ellen B. Burns, US District Judge - October 1994-April 1995
    • Law Clerk, David Spector, Esq. - September 1989 - September 1995

    Professional Accomplishments

    • Co-host of cable television show Law Talk 1996-present
    • American Jurisprudence Award, Legal Writing
    • First Place for Excellence in Advocacy Writing - Wofsey, Rosen, Kweskin and Kuriansky Award
    • Excellence in Oral Advocacy Award
    • Quinnipiac College School of Law Academic Scholarship Award
    • Quinnipiac College School of Law; Dean's List, 1989-1992
    • International History Honor Society
    • First Honors - New Jersey Writing Competition, Phi Alpha Theta
    • Seton Hall University Student Leadership Award
    • Admitted New Jersey Bar Association
    • Admitted United States District Court, District of New Jersey
    • Sussex, Morris, Warren County Bar Associations
    • American Bar Association
    • American Trial Lawyers Association

    Civic Activities

    • Volunteer Attorney, Mt. Olive Adult School
    • Volunteer Attorney and Lecturer, Project Self Sufficiency
    • Volunteer Attorney, Centenary Legal Clinic
    • Pro Bono Attorney, Sussex Legal Services
    • Centenary College Legal Center volunteer

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    Kevin T. Kutyla, Esq.

    Attorney Kevin Kutyla heads our workers compensation department in New Jersey and works together with attorneys in our criminal defense, real estate and bankruptcy divisions.

    Educational Background

    • University of Dayton School of Law, Dayton, Ohio, J.D. - May 1992, Class Rank - Top 23 percent
    • Seton Hall University, South Orange, New Jersey, Bachelor of Arts Degree - May 1989, Major: Political Science, Minor: Economics

    Career History

    • Gruber, Colabella, Liuzza, Kutyla, Ullmann and Williams P. a., Hopatcong, New Jersey - Specializing in personal injury, workers compensation petitioners practice, social security appeals, business/commercial litigation and business planning. Responsible for handling numerous real estate closings
    • Associate, Soriano, Henkel, Biehl & Matthews, Roseland, New Jersey - Specialized in personal injury defense and commercial litigation, and handled jury trials and appeals
    • Judicial Clerk for Honorable Ronald B. Graves,J.S.C., New Jersey Superior Court, Sussex County, New Jersey - Researched and drafted court decisions reviewed by the Judge, managed a motion docket of 1,700 cases, Responded to inquiries from attorneys and litigants
    • Intern, CPC International, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, Researched pending legislation, Analyzed the effects of government regulation, Submitted a report upon completion of the internship to the VP, Corporate Affairs
    • Intern, Office of Senator Frank R. Lautenberg, Washington, D.C., covered congressional hearings, Summarized large reports into legislative briefs, Responded to constituent inquiries

    Civic Activities

    • New Jersey and New York Bars
    • New Jersey State Bar Association
    • Passaic County Bar Association
    • Sussex County Bar Association
    • Seton Hall University Alumni Board of Directors
    • Treasurer - Seton Hall University Young Alumni Association
    • Secretary - Seton Hall University Arts & Sciences Alumni Association
    • Jersey Cares

    Contact our attorneys in Hopatcong and Newton, New Jersey for a consultation today.

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    Natalie Thompson, Esq.

    Natalie Thompson is one of the published family law attorneys from our New Jersey firm, along with Partner Mark Gruber. Read through their list of publications and browse through suggested legal resources on our resources and publications page.

    Educational Background

    • Seton Hall University School of Law, Newark, New Jersey, Juris Doctor, May 2000, Honors: Dean’s Scholarship
    • Douglas College Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, May 1997, Minor: Women’s Studies, Certificate in Criminology; Honors and Activities: Dean’s List; Resident Assistant; Women and Pre-Law Society

    Career History

    • Associate, Gruber, Colabella, Liuzza, Kuylta & Ullmann P. A., New Jersey, September 2001 – Present
    • Bar Admissions: New Jersey, December 2000; New York, January 2001
    • The Honorable Thomas N. Lyons, J.S.C.(Family Judge) Union County, New Jersey, Judicial Law Clerk, September 2000 – August 2001
    • Kuttner Law Offices, Millburn, New Jersey, Law Clerk, June 1992 – May 2000
    • Seton Hall University School of Law Center for Social Justice, Newark, New Jersey
    • Family Law Clinic Intern, August 1999 – December 1999

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    John D. Williams Esq.

    Attorney John D. Williams works together with the attorneys on our New Jersey criminal defense team. Contact our firm today to schedule a consultation with our criminal defense attorneys in Newton and Hopatcong.

    Educational Background

    • Juris Doctorate, Seton Hall University School of Law, 1994 (Class Rank: Top 20 percent) (Finalist, ATLA First-Year Moot Court and Second-Year Appellate Advocacy Competitions)
    • Bachelor of Arts in English Literature, Rutgers University, 1989 (Graduated Magna Cum Laude, Dean's List)

    Career History

    • Abramo & Williams, Esqs., Non-Equity Partner, 2001-2003
    • Trapasso, Dolan & Hollander, Esqs., Associate, 1995-2000
    • Honorable David Landau, J.A.D., Appellate Law Clerk, 1994-1995
    • Hannoch Weisman, Summer Associate, 1993
    • Office of The Public Defender, Intern, Fall 1992
    • Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control, Intern, Summer 1992

    Professional Accomplishments

    • Admitted to practice: State of New Jersey, Federal District Court, and United States Supreme Court
    • Member: American Bar Association, New Jersey State Bar Association, and Sussex County Bar Association

    Civic Activities

    • Member and trail-maintenance volunteer: New York/New Jersey Trail Conference

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    Racquel Colabella, Esq.

    Attorney Racquel Colabella is a vital member of our legal team, collaborating with attorneys in many areas of our New Jersey firm.

    Educational Background

    • Juris Doctorate, Widener University School of Law, 2005-Summa Cum Laude
    • Dean’s Honors List, Full Tuition Scholarship, Certificate of Achievement in Legal Methods I and II & Property II, Legal Writing & Research Assistant, Academic Support Fellow, Italy Summer Abroad Institute, Justinian Society, Phi Delta Phi Fraternity
    • Bachelor of Science, Law and Justice, The College of New Jersey, 2002-Cum Laude
    • Dean's List, Bloustein Scholarship, TCNJ Merit Scholarship, Alpha Sigma Alpha Sorority, President-Alpha Phi Sigma Criminal Justice Honor Society

    Career History

    • Gruber, Colabella, Liuzza, Kutyla, Ullmann and Williams, Associate
    • September 2005-Present; Law Clerk-2003-2004; Part-Time Legal Secretary-1995-2000
    • Chambers of Justice Virginia Long, The Supreme Court of New Jersey, Intern
    • September 2004-May 2005
    • Widener University School of Law, Faculty Research Assistant
    • September 2003-May 2004
    • Delaware Volunteer Legal Services, Civil Clinic, Legal Intern
    • August 2003-December 2003
    • Szaferman, Lakind, Blumstein, Blader & Lehmann, P. C., Legal Secretary
    • Attorney Racquel Colabella is a vital member of our legal team, collaborating with attorneys in many areas of our New Jersey firm.

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    Virginia Liotta, Esq.

    Virginia Liotta is an integral member of our team of attorneys in New Jersey and provides specialized legal expertise in many divisions of our firm.

    Educational Background

    • Pace University School of Law, White Plains, NY Juris Doctor, cum laude, May 2003, Honors: Merit Scholarship recipient, Ranking Scholar, Dean's List
    • Rutgers University College of Arts and Sciences, Newark, New Jersey, Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, June 1992; Honors and Activities: Dean’s List; Teaching Assistant

    Career History

    • Associate, Gruber, Colabella, Liuzza, Kuylta & Ullmann P. A., New Jersey, January 2006 Present
    • Bar Admissions: New Jersey 2003
    • Cornelian Community of Counselors, Inc., Pompton Plains, New Jersey, volunteer legal service provider to economically disadvantaged families;
    • NewBridge Services, Inc., Pompton Plains, New Jersey, Sep 1992–May 2000; Project Manager for long-term, acute-bed facility for chronically mentally ill clients, supervised and implemented compliance with Division of Mental Health and Human Services and JCAHO; chaired Pharmaceutical Committee and members of several other agency-wide committees; House Manager; Residence Counselor
    • Ramapa Ridge Psychiatric Hospital, Wyckoff, NJ; Apr 1991â?“Sep 1992; Psychiatric Technician, participating in the treatment of chronic psychiatric clients, particularly geriatrics, and assisted in the reassessment of psycho-social functioning.

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    Gretchen Fry Rafuse, Esq.

    Attorney Gretchen Rafuse is a vital member of our legal team,
    collaborating with attorneys in many areas of our New Jersey firm.

    Educational Background

    • Widener University School of Law (2006), Juris Doctor; Intensive Trial Advocacy Program (ITAP); Criminal Law Society
    • Gettysburg College; Gettysburg, PA (2003); BA in History (minors in Political Science and Spanish)
    • Eastern Regional High School; Voorhees, NJ (1999) National Honor Society

      Career History

      • NJ Superior Court- Criminal Division; Atlantic City, NJ (2006-7); Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable James E. Isman, J.S.C.; extensive legal writing and researchl practical knowledge and analysis of New Jersey creiminal law/procedure; prepared legal memoranda for judge's consideration (including but not limited to: suppressions, PCR, expungements, municipal court appeals, attorney disqualification, dismiss indictments, evidence admissibility, etc.); cival court mediator: landlord/tenant contract dusputes, etc.; knowledge of the judicial process, courtroom procedure, and motion practice; Judical law clerk to the Hon. Robert Neustadter, J.S.C. (retired on recall, part time); prepared analylsis and review for municipal court appeals, primarily D.U.I.
      • NJ Division of Criminal Justice, Trenton, NJ (2005); Law intern, Organized Crime and Rackteering Bureau; experience in legal research and writing, writing indictments, prosecution memos, compiling legislative histories; particular emphasis on Document Fraud; gained direct and practical knowledge of the processes of conducting criminal prosecutions; Law intern, Special Prosecutions Bureau; aided investigators and prosecutors in uncovering evidence; compiled discovery.

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        Catherine Anne Gacquin, Esq.

        Education

        • Juris Doctorate,   Seton Hall Law School, 1996
        • Bachelor of Arts, English Literature & History, Honors Degree; National University of Ireland at Galway, 1987
        • Higher Diploma in Education, Honors; National University of Ireland at Galway, 1988

        Career History

        • Dolan & Dolan, P.A., Associate, 2001-2004, Partner, 2004-2007
        • Fitzgibbons & Goovaerts, Associate, 1996-2000
        • Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office, Office of Victim-Witness Advocacy, 1993-1994
        • Pope John XXIII High School, Teacher, 1989-1992

         

        Professional Accomplishments

        • Admitted to Practice in State of New Jersey & State of New York
        • Certification in Mediation
        • Sussex County Early Settlement Panelist
        • Member of American Bar Association, New Jersey State Bar Association and Sussex County Bar Association

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        Contact Our Attorneys in Newton and Hopatcong, New Jersey

        At our New Jersey firm, all of our attorneys offer free initial consultations to prospective clients. If you have legal concerns that require the assistance of a lawyer, contact The Law Offices of Gruber Colabella, Liuzza, Kutyla & Ullmann today to schedule a consultation with one of our attorneys in Newton or Hopatcong to discuss your concerns.