Lynn Fontaine Newsome, Past President of the New Jersey State Bar Association, has long been recognized as a leader in the legal community. A well respected attorney she has practiced exclusively in the area of Family Law since her admission to the Bar in 1981. A Certified Matrimonial Attorney and a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation. Ms. Newsome handles all aspects of family law including divorce, custody, palimony, Prenuptial Agreements, civil unions, appeals and domestic violence. She is an experienced litigator who has tried all types of family law matters. She also is a certified mediator and has mediated and arbitrated many matters in addition to accepting appointments as a discovery master and as a guardian.
In addition to being the Past President of the New Jersey State Bar Association, Ms. Newsome is a former Chair of the Family Law Section of the New Jersey State Bar Association and a Past President of the Morris County Bar Association. In addition she is a long standing member of the New Jersey Supreme Court Family Law Committee. She is a member of the American Bar Association having served in the House of Delegates and sits on the Executive Council of the General Practice, Solo and Small Law Firm Division and is a member of the Family Law and Litigation Section.
Ms. Newsome has been honored and recognized by her peers with some of the highest awards bestowed in the legal profession. She was the recipient of the Saul Tischler Family Law Section Award in 2006 for her lifetime contributions to the advancement of Family Law in the State of New Jersey. In 2009 she was awarded the Samuel Saiber Professional Award by the Essex County Bar Association.
Ms. Newsome is honored to sit on the Editorial Board of the New Jersey Law Journal. She is a frequent and well recognized lecturer and panelist in the area of family law and professional responsibility. She regularly lectures for the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education. Her practice includes trial and appellate work as well as mediation. She is a former member of District X Ethics Committee and the New Jersey State Bar Association Ethics Diversionary Committee.
Areas Of Practice
- Family Law
Certified Legal Specialties
- Certified Matrimonial Attorney, NJ Supreme Court – Board on Attorney Certification
- Certified Mediator
Bar Admissions
- New Jersey, 1981
- Federal District Court of New Jersey, 1981
- Supreme Court of the United States of America, 2006
Education
- Seton Hall University School of Law, Newark, New Jersey
- J.D. – 1981
- Seton Hall University, Newark, New Jersey
- B.A. – 1977
Honors and Awards
- Distinguished Service Award for Excellence in Continuing Legal Education
- Essex County Bar Association, Samuel Saiber Professionalism Award
- Volunteer Lawyers for Justice Pro Bono Award
- Women’s Political Caucus, Mary Philbrook Award
- New Jersey State Bar Association Tischler Award
- New Jersey State Bar Association Distinguished Legislative Services Award
- New Jersey State Bar Association Distinguished Legislative Services Award
- Marylawn of the Oranges Alumni Achievement Award
- AV rated by Martindale Hubbell
- Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register for Preeminent Women Lawyers
Professional Associations and Memberships
- New Jersey State Bar Association – Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Advisory Committee, Member, 2011 to Present
- Board of Directors, Volunteer Lawyers for Social Justice, Member, 2008 to Present
- Board of Trustees, NJ State Bar Foundation, Member, 2005 to Present
- American Bar Foundation, Fellow, 2007 to Present
- Editorial Board, New Jersey Law Journal, Member, 2008 to Present
- American Bar Association, Family Law Section, Section of Litigation, Executive Counsel, General Practice, Solo and Small Firm Division, Legal Opportunity Scholarship Fund Selection Committee, Member, 1982 to Present
- American Bar Association, House of Delegates, Delegate, 2006 to Present
- American Bar Association, Advisory Committee to the Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs, Member, 2012 to Present
- National Conference of Bar Presidents, Executive Counsel and Communications Committee, 2006 to Present
- New Jersey State Bar Association, President (2007-2008), Member, 1982 to Present
- New Jersey Supreme Court Family Practice Committee, Member, 1997 to Present
- Mercer County Bar Association, Member, 1992 to Present
- Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Member, 1982 to Present
- Ethics Diversionary Program, New Jersey State Bar Association, Panelist, 2001 to 2007
- Family Law Inns of Court, Master, 1994 to 2002
- Executive Committee, Family Law Section, New Jersey State Bar Association, Chair, 2000 to 2001
- Rules Subcommittee, Supreme Court Family Practice Committee, Chair, 1999 to 2001
- Morris County Bar Association, President (1999-2000), Member, 1982 to Present
- Morris County Bar Foundation, President (1997-1998), Member, 1995 to Present
- Morris County Family Law Committee, Chair, 1990 to 1993
- Worrall F. Mountain Inns of Court, Barrister/Master, 1989 to 1994
- District X Ethics Committee, Member, 1990 to 1993
- Seton Hall University, School of Law, Steering Committee, Capital Campaign, 2008
- Seton Hall University, School of Law, Board of Regents, 2008
- New Jersey State Bar Association/Foundation, Steering Committee, Capital Campaign, Co-Chair, 2008
- Completed Mediation Training for Admission to Roster of Mediators for Economic Aspects of Family Law Cases
- National Conference on Pro Se Litigation, State Team Member, 1999
- ABA Lobby Day, Washington, D.C., Participant, 2003 to 2012
- Marylawn of the Oranges Alumni Association, Member
Past Employment Positions
- Donahue, Hagan, Klein, Newsome, O’Donnell & Weisberg P.C., Partner, 1998 to 2012
- Courter, Kobert, Laufer & Cohen, P.C., Partner, 1991 to 1998
- Boyar, Higgins & Hayden, Associate and Partner, 1984 to 1991
- Sweeneym Boznoleis, Staehle & Woodward, Associate, 1982 to 1984
- Honorable George P. Helfrich, Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Secretary, 1981 to 1982