Metuchen, NJ

Peter Ventrice

Attorney Peter Ventrice is a partner at the firm, practicing since 1991. His practice focuses on family law, divorce, child custody, and related matters. He is also an experienced mediator and has an extensive appellate practice. Mr. Ventrice has earned a Preeminent 'AV' Peer Rating from Martindale-Hubbell and has been selected as a New Jersey 'Super Lawyer' in family law from 2015-2025 and in 2012.

Christopher J. Eibeler

Mr. Eibeler is a tenacious advocate of the rights of New Jersey employees. As a plaintiff-side employment lawyer, Mr. Eibeler represents individuals in all aspects of employment law. From the initial consultation through the conclusion of the case, Mr. Eibeler will meticulously prepare the case and the client to best maximize the ultimate desired recovery. Mr. Eibeler’s clients include individuals who have employment legal related issues with their employer and employees who have been unlawfully terminated from their employment. Mr. Eibeler has litigated over one thousand wrongful termination cases including sexual harassment, disability discrimination, FMLA, whistleblower retaliation, age discrimination, race discrimination, hostile work environment and wage and hour. Mr. Eibeler also represents individuals and small businesses in restrictive covenant litigation, including non-competes, unfair competition, non-solicitation and breach of loyalty cases. In addition to his employment law practice, Mr. Eibeler litigates business disputes cases, including complex commercial litigation, shareholder disputes and independent sales representative commission matters. Prior to and while attending law school, Mr. Eibeler was a sale representative for several national hardware companies which has provided him a unique understanding of the rights of sales professionals to receive their earned sales commissions. Mr. Eibeler also has experience as general counsel for a lawn and garden company who contracted with independent sales representatives throughout the world. Mr. Eibeler regularly appears before the Appeal Tribunal, Board of Review and Appellate Division representing persons in obtaining unemployment compensation claims after losing their job through no fault of their own. Mr. Eibeler has obtained favorable decisions for persons who were wrongfully denied their claims for unemployment benefits at all stages in the unemployment process. Mr. Eibeler has also assisted clients in holding former employers accountable for defaming former employees and tortiously interfering with their claim for unemployment benefits. In addition to his litigation practice, Mr. Eibeler also provides clients with advice and counsel in employment contracts, severance agreements, restrictive covenants, non-compete clauses and employment negotiations. Mr. Eibeler also provides small businesses with advice and counsel concerning their own employment law related policies, including drug testing policies, anti-discrimination policies and drafting employment employee handbook. Mr. Eibeler speaks on issues concerning workplace harassment investigations and provides training to employees concerning anti-discrimination and anti-harassment.

Robert W. Smith

Robert W. Smith represents clients in all aspects of employment law and litigation. Mr. Smith has successfully litigated cases on behalf of employees involving claims of sexual harassment, disability discrimination, FMLA, New Jersey Family Leave Act, race discrimination, sexual orientation discrimination, hostile work environment and whistle blower laws. Mr. Smith also represents corporate clients in areas of human resource administration and personnel issues. Corporate representation includes, disciplines, leave of absence, disability issues, harassment, creation/monitoring of HR policies/procedures, employee training, workplace investigations, drafting/negotiating severance agreements, employee contracts, non-compete and restrictive covenants. Prosecuting and/or defending litigation involving restrictive covenants and trade secrets, commercial litigation, real estate litigation, and construction litigation.

Mary H. Smith

Mary H. Smith represents clients in all aspects of employment, labor and education law. Employment law experience includes all aspects of employment litigation, including claims of sexual harassment, hostile work environment, disability discrimination, sexual orientation discrimination, race discrimination, retaliation claims and wrongful discharge as well as violations of CEPA (whistleblower claims), New Jersey Wage Payment Law, New Jersey Equal Pay Act, Family and Medical Leave Act and New Jersey Family Leave Act, in both state and federal courts. Additional employment law experience includes drafting, and providing advice and counsel with regard to, severance agreements, employment contracts, non-compete agreements, restrictive covenants, employment handbooks and policies and procedures, providing sexual harassment and diversity training and conducting workplace investigations. Labor law experience includes extensive labor negotiations and representing clients in arbitrations, unfair practice cases and scope of negotiation proceedings. Education law experience includes providing representation with regard to a wide variety of school law matters and labor and employment law matters, including general advice and counsel and representing clients in administrative proceedings and tenure dismissal hearings. Prior to joining Smith Eibeler, LLC, Ms. Smith worked for a large New Jersey law firm for many years and subsequently was in-house General Counsel for a large public school district.

Alex W. Smith

Alex Smith is a graduate of Lehigh University, in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in English and History. Thereafter, Alex attended Seton Hall School of Law in Newark, New Jersey. With that decision, Alex became the fourth member of his family to attend Seton Hall Law, including his father and Smith Eibeler founding partner Bob Smith. During his time at Seton Hall, Alex was the Treasurer of the Employment Law Forum, a Senior Editor of the Seton Hall Law Review, and a member of the Center for Social Justice, Immigrants’ Rights/International Human Rights Clinic. During his time with the Center for Social Justice, Alex appeared in the U.S. Immigration Court in Newark in connection with a successful application for political asylum on behalf of a client of the Center for Social Justice. Alex also gained valuable work experience during his law school career, holding internships with: the Honorable Paul A. Kapalko, J.S.C., in the Monmouth County vicinage of the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division; the United States Postal Service, Law Department in New York City; and the Internal Revenue Service Office of Chief Counsel in Newark, where he had the opportunity to make an appearance in the U.S. Tax Court in New York City. Alex knew that he was interested in employment law before he began law school, having learned about the field from his father. As a result, Alex focused his studies and scholastic activities in this field, as seen through his role in the Employment Law Forum. This is also what drew Alex to his internship with the U.S.P.S. Law Department, which focused almost exclusively on labor and employment litigation. Alex also wrote his Law Review note on an employment law topic, the interplay between statutory whistleblower protections and a compliance or watchdog employee’s job responsibilities. In recognition of his focus and passion for employment law, as well as his scholastic achievements in his labor and employment law courses, Alex was awarded the “Excellence in Labor Employment Law Award” for his graduating class. In addition, Alex was awarded the Order of the Coif and graduated magna cum laude. Following graduation, Alex clerked for the Honorable Christine M. Nugent, J.S.C., in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Tax Court in Newark. Since joining Smith Eibeler, Alex has focused on a wide range of employment litigation matters, including restrictive covenants, independent sales representative commission cases, whistleblower, wage theft, and discrimination and retaliation.

Pamela Lynn Brause

Attorney Pamela Lynn Brause is a partner at the firm, practicing since 1982. She is admitted to the New Jersey State Bar, the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court. Ms. Brause has extensive litigation experience, having tried over 100 cases, including capital murder trials. She focuses on criminal defense, family law, civil litigation, and workers' compensation.

Lisa A. Hernandez

Lisa A. Hernandez is Counsel at Smith Eibeler, LLC. Lisa practices plaintiff-side employment law, representing individuals in all aspects of employment law and litigation, including claims of unlawful termination and discrimination, sexual harassment and whistle-blower retaliation. Lisa also leads the firm’s education law practice, helping families and students with disabilities navigate special education disputes, school-based accommodations, and transition planning to prepare students for employment and independent living.