The Honorable Dennis M. Cavanaugh’s remarkable legal career includes 21 years as a jurist on the Federal Court. In 2000, he was appointed United States District Judge for the U.S. District Court of New Jersey by President Bill Clinton where he served with distinction for the next 14 years until his retirement in 2014. Judge Cavanaugh had the opportunity to manage thousands of cases and conferences, assist in settlement and presided over trials of every type of civil and criminal matter that arose before the Federal Court. During his tenure on the bench, he authored numerous published and non-published opinions pertaining to patent litigation and other matters involving intellectual property,securities law, bankruptcy appeals, the law against discrimination, regulatory matters and environmental disputes.

Judge Cavanaugh’s distinguished career began as a law clerk where he served under Judge Frances Hayden of the New Jersey Superior Court before spending three years as an Assistant Deputy Public Defender in the New Jersey Public Advocate’s office from 1973 to 1977. Thereafter, he entered private practice until his appointment as a United States Magistrate Judge for the District of New Jersey in 1993 where he served until 2000. His entire legal career consisted of the management and eventual trial, if necessary, of civil and to a lesser extent, criminal matters.

His experience on the bench, combined with the time spent in private practice, has given him a broad range of knowledge in numerous areas of the law including personal injury, commercial litigation, environmental law, intellectual property, Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), and collective bargaining disputes. Known and respected for his legal acumen and ability to resolve conflict, Judge Cavanaugh is a staunch advocate of alternative dispute resolution (ADR). He is an experienced Mediator, a skilled Arbitrator, and was appointed Special Discovery Master where he successfully settled numerous class action cases, as well as other complex matters.

He has been an adjunct faculty member at Seton Hall School of Law for twenty years, teaching Advanced Civil Trial Practice, The Trial of a Civil Case and Negotiations. He also has volunteered his time as a guest lecturer and panelist on numerous occasions on various topics including federal practice, trial and settlement techniques, class actions, civility and ethics in the law and nationally on the proper utilization of Magistrate Judges within the District Courts.

Hon. Dennis M. Cavanaugh is available to arbitrate and mediate cases throughout the United States.