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Dr. Charlotte Lacroix owns and manages Veterinary Business Advisors, Inc., a national consulting firm which advises veterinarians and attorneys on veterinary business and legal issues, with a focus on veterinary business transactions.  With over 20 years of experience in the veterinary industry, she assists veterinarians in all quadrants of the profession, including, small animal and large animal practices, as well as, single and multi-specialty practices.. Dr. Lacroix lectures extensively and provides continuing education seminars to the industry on veterinary business and legal topics nationwide and overseas, including, contracts, malpractice issues, medical records/informed consents, veterinary ethics, animal law and welfare, drugs and biololgics; human resources and public health.  Dr. Lacroix also volunteers her time and expertise to veterinary and other organizations, including AVMA, AAHA, AAEP, NJVMA, PVMA and is Past President of the was the 2014-2015 President of NAVC, Past President of the NAVC and currently Board of Directors & Chair of the Board on the Veterinary Innovation Council. Dr. Lacroix was recognized and awarded by Lawyer Monthly “2016 Women in Law”.

Bernd E. Hefele is the founder of the firm and has been practicing law for 23 years. Mr. Hefele received a Bachelor of Arts in Colby College in 1984 majoring in Economics/Business. He graduated from Seton Hall Law School in 1987 and thereafter completed a clerkship with the Honorable Herbert S. Alderman J.S.C. focusing on civil litigation. In 1994, Mr. Hefele received his MBA from Columbia Business School focusing on the legal aspects of corporate strategic planning. He is licensed in the State of New Jersey and practices before the New Jersey State Courts and Federal Courts. Mr. Hefele is also fluent in German representing various multi-national clients. His areas of practice include:

Michael D. Baer was born and raised in Bergen County, New Jersey.   He graduated from Clark University in Worcester, Mass with a Bachelor of Arts Degree.  He then returned to the NYC area and graduated from Pace University School of Law in White Plains with a Doctorate of Law. He currently maintains a law office in New York and Teaneck, New Jersey.. Michael is a seasoned general practitioner, with significant experience in insurance defense litigation, products liability, corporate law, labor law and risk management, on behalf of national clients in the insurance, manufacturing, food processing, and auto industry sectors.. For the past 2 decades, Michael has represented the interests of national clients, creating value in many ways. He serves as litigation counsel, defending law suits from the filing of a claim through trial, and leverages that expertise to develop risk management materials and training programs to counsel his clients on prevention and mitigation. In addition, Michael acts as supervisory counsel in the monitoring of litigation being handled by outside firms, which includes the review and revision of billing guidelines and procedures, conducting meetings with general counsel and outside counsel, attending trials and making settlement/reserve recommendations.. In addition to his law practice,  Michael keeps himself busy actively participating as the president elect  of the Fair Lawn Jewish Center and being on the board of Breaking the Chain Through Education and Areyvut.  He is also a volunteer at Pony Powers, a therapeutic riding academy in Mahwah, NJ.. He is a member of Fair Lawn Rotary, Fair Lawn Chamber of Commerce, Teaneck Chamber of Commerce.

Ms. Giampolo has worked inseveral facets of the legal field. She worked in a franchise boutique law firmand worked primarily with clients focused on expanding internationally. Shealso worked in government at the Office of General Counsel in Harrisburg mainlywith the Corporations Bureau and the Election Law Division. Lastly, she workedwith the United Nations, a non-governmental organization assisting theInternational Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in prosecuting the masterminds ofthe Rwandan Genocide of 1994.  Ms.Giampolo’s practice focuses mainly on corporate transactions, civil rights,employment discrimination, real estate, domestic and international adoptions,and estate planning and administration.. Education:  Ms. Giampolo received her Juris Doctorate degree from theTemple University, Beasley School of Law. While completing her Juris Doctorate,Ms. Giampolo earned a Certificate of Law in Chinese Law from TsinghuaUniversity in Beijing, China and took joint JD/MBA classes at TempleUniversity, Fox Business School. Prior to graduating, Ms. Giampolo was inductedas a Fellow of the Rubin Public Interest Society.  Ms. Giampolo received her Dual Bachelor of Arts in PoliticalScience and Psychology and Minored in Women’s Studies and InternationalRelations at La Salle University.. Activities:  In addition to the practice of law, Ms. Giampolo enjoyswriting. She co-authored a Continuing Legal Education textbook entitledResolving Real Estate Title Defects for the National Business Institute and shealso published a Note in the Temple Political and Civil Rights Law Review (16Temp. Pol. & Civ. Rts. L. Rev. 195 (2006)) and the International Lawyer (41Int’l Law. 643, 661 (2007)) on the laws in the United States aimed at fightinghuman trafficking.  She alsoperiodically publishes legal and political columns in various publications andmaintains two blogs; and is currently working on a book highlighting the architecture, design andskyline vistas from rooftop bars around the world.  Ms. Giampolo complements her practice by actively engagingin several associations and non-profit organizations. In addition to havingvolunteered with the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom,Women’s Law Project and Lawyers Without Borders, she is currently the Presidentof the Board of Directors of the Delaware Valley Legacy Fund ().DVLF is a philanthropic organization that engages in capacity building andleadership development for LGBT organizations in the area.. Ms. Giampolo is a dual citizenof the United States and Canada. She speaks fluent French and beginnerMandarin.

Allen P. Fineberg is a shareholder and past chair of the firm's Business and Corporate Department. He divides his practice between transactional business, real estate law and employee benefits matters. In the area of business and real estate law, he has extensive transactional experience including purchase and sale of businesses, financing, secured transactions, real estate acquisition and leasing, formation of business entities and structuring of buy-sell and other arrangements among shareholders and other principals. His employee benefits practice includes both DOL and IRS benefit plan audits, participation in IRS and DOL self-correction programs, the design and implementation of all types of tax-qualified retirement plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, as well as cafeteria plans and other fringe and welfare benefit programs, compliance with Department of Labor (ERISA) and Internal Revenue Service regulatory requirements affecting employee benefit plans, and addressing benefit plan issues in bankruptcy.. Combining his in-depth knowledge of business and financing transactions and employee benefits, Mr. Fineberg has experience in the design structure, implementation and operation of Employee Stock Ownership Plans (“ESOPs”) for closely-held businesses both to facilitate transfers of ownership on a tax-favored basis and to provide employee incentives. He has handled transactions involving the use of ESOPs for both internal ownership transfers and third-party sales of business.. Mr. Fineberg has lectured on real estate and employee benefits for the Builders League of South Jersey, the Rutgers–Camden and Burlington County College incubators, the New Jersey Institute of Continuing Legal Education, New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants and American Society of Pension Actuaries. He is also the author of the chapter on “Employee Benefits Considerations” in Buying & Selling a Business in Pennsylvania (7th Edition, PBI Press).

I’m the founder and principal attorney of Givner Law, a Philadelphia based law firm focused on businesses, startups, creatives, and entrepreneurs. Our clients are passionate about an idea, product, or service, and deserve the highest caliber legal services. By rejecting the traditional rigid law firm model, we have created a structure that allows us to provide a more personal experience than a big law firm with lower rates and predictable pricing. Visit to learn more, or contact me directly at

Mariel J. Giletto is a shareholder in Flaster Greenberg’s Business & Corporate Department and chair of its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. Acting as outside counsel and trusted advisor for her clients for more than 15 years, Ms. Giletto works alongside business owners and their C-level managers to develop efficient processes to protect, prevent, and solve the challenges many businesses encounter. Mariel has counseled a range of business from small, local businesses to large, publicly traded companies and start-up businesses.. Mariel represents and advises companies through all aspects of the business life cycle, beginning with business formation, growth and investment strategy including financing and real estate transactions, corporate governance and compliance, to the wind-down and dissolution processes. She has a track record of successful outcomes for her business clients who operate in an array of industries from manufacturing, life sciences and banking to academia and gaming.. Mariel’s innate understanding of the day-to-day realities and pressures her business clients face stems from her upbringing in a multi-generational family of entrepreneurs. As a result, she understands that the success of an organization depends on its ability to plan for the future. She combines this life experience with her legal skillset to creatively construct practical solutions to complex legal challenges tailored to suit the client’s goals. She offers insights into transactions, develops effective approaches to negotiations, formulates the most productive strategies and uses all resources at her disposal to protect and defend the interests of her clients. Mariel consults with clients to plan ahead of potential problems to avoid the hassle of “cleaning up” after it is too late. Additionally, Mariel is counsel to a growing number of women-owned businesses, and is increasingly representing female business owners taking control of the family business after a traditional patriarchal ownership transitions to the younger generation.. Mariel has received her certification through the Blockchain Council as a Certified Blockchain and Law Professional.

I graduated from Yale Law School after receiving a summa cum laude electrical engineering degree from the University of Michigan.  With my extensive background in technology, finance, and business law, I am well-positioned to analyze clients' industries, business interests and legal needs, and to help them develop a road map for their success.. Trustworthy business advisors keeping your business on TRACK:

Excellece.  Integrity.  Results.  Call now to experience the difference. .. As a former Hudsn County Prosecutor, cases I fought garnered national news media, including stories featured on Fox, CNN, and ABC news. Now, in private practice, I can fight for you.  Call now. .. Required Legal Disclaimers. Please note that none of the Questions and Answers posted on this website are intended to be legal advice nor do they create an attorney-client relationship.  There is absolutely no substitute for talking to a lawyer in person who knows about your case.  These questions and answers are not intended to be a substitute for legal advice from an attorney. All attorney profiles on Avvo are considered Attorney Advertising.