Leo J. Hurley Jr.

Partner

Connell Foley LLP

Leo Hurley Jr. is a seasoned litigator with a proven record of success in obtaining favorable jury verdicts, as well as guiding matters to resolution and early settlement, and is routinely called upon to represent corporations and individuals in high-stakes, high-profile and “bet the company” litigation. An aggressive advocate in the courtroom, Leo litigates a wide variety of civil and criminal cases in state and federal courts in New Jersey, New York and across the country. His practice includes the litigation of a wide variety of complex commercial matters and white collar criminal defense and investigations, as well as employment, cannabis, securities, class actions, trade secret, and corporate dissolution/oppressed minority shareholder litigation. He serves as Co-chair of the firm’s Commercial Litigation and White Collar Criminal Defense Groups.

Leo has unmatched courtroom and trial experience. Building upon his prior experience as an Assistant Hudson County Prosecutor, Leo regularly defends and advises corporations, government officials and private citizens in connection with governmental investigations and prosecutions, whether emanating from state and federal regulators or prosecutors. He has effectively, efficiently and successfully assisted clients in navigating matters involving allegations of money laundering, immigration fraud, political corruption, tax fraud, bankruptcy fraud, and other sensitive and complex issues.

In addition, Leo counsels clients on the full range of legal and regulatory issues that are arising as a result of the burgeoning cannabis industry. From advising on corporate matters, financing, and regulatory questions to providing employment counsel, Leo assists cannabis companies in all aspects of their cannabis businesses. His practice extends to the counseling of non-cannabis companies that are equally affected by cannabis legalization and its impact on a business’s operations, employees and opportunities.

Leo also has extensive experience advising commercial lenders, mortgage servicing companies, private equity firms and other financial institutions that look to him for assistance in complex asset recovery proceedings, loan workout and forbearance agreements, and loan sales and purchases. He has successfully litigated contested commercial foreclosure matters and obtained significant recoveries for creditors from personal guarantors of all manner of loans.

With a deep knowledge of various industries, Leo also serves as outside general counsel for public and privately owned small to medium-sized companies in sectors such as financial services, real estate, health care, energy, cannabis and public relations.

Leo punctuates his practice with the courtroom experience he gained as an assistant prosecutor. In that role, Leo prosecuted hundreds of felony cases, including homicides, armed robberies and complex financial crimes. He served as lead trial counsel on 16 jury trials and more than 20 bench trials, many of which required him to present testimony from and cross-examine expert witnesses in diverse fields such as forensic DNA analysis, mechanical engineering and forensic psychology.

While attending Georgetown University, Leo worked on the staff of then-Congressman Robert Menendez.