Marc S. Gaffrey

Marc S. Gaffrey is an AV-rated attorney by Martindale Hubbell and is the Partner in charge of the Environmental & Toxic Tort Litigation Department. He is also a member of the firm's Executive Management Committee. For over three decades, Marc has handled thousands of toxic tort and mass tort cases involving lead, asbestos, silica, talc, benzene, "sick building syndrome," latex allergy, PCB, diazinon, welding fumes, orthodichlorobenzene, trichloroethylene, and numerous other chemicals and pesticides. He also oversees the trial teams of several of his clients in New Jersey and New York as well as throughout the country. 

Adding to his depth of practice, Marc leverages his educational background in biochemistry to resolve toxic tort, mass tort, and environmental law disputes with a scientific perspective and understanding. He is also one of few attorneys in the nation who is an active member of the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), an organization dedicated to anticipating health and safety concerns and keeping its members current in the field of industrial hygiene.

In addition, Marc has litigated numerous environmental matters involving fuel oil discharge, hazardous waste, Superfund site construction and remediation, and landfill clean-up. Of particular note, he assisted in the litigation of the landmark case of Ayers v. Township of Jackson and tried NJDEP v. Dimant, one of the most cited environmental cases in New Jersey.  

Marc serves as National Coordinating Counsel to multiple companies encompassing an array of business disciplines. In this capacity, he coordinates the defense of all asbestos-related matters throughout the country, including hiring local counsel and managing the files as well as retaining experts and maintaining relationships with them. He also has authored numerous articles in the toxic tort field. In addition, Marc routinely gives in-house seminars to clients and trade associations discussing the most recent trends and trial techniques in asbestos and toxic tort litigation.

Beyond presenting to his clients, Marc has been a frequent lecturer at both national and regional conferences including: Defense Research Institute (DRI), Perrin Conferences, New Jersey Defense Association, HB Litigation Conferences, Harris Martin, Worley, and NJ Institute of Continuing Legal Education (NJICLE).  He has appeared as a lecturer at Middlesex County Bar Association’s Primer on Environmental Insurance, sat on the Defense Panel for New Jersey’s Asbestos Litigation Conference, and served as a moderator for the Middlesex County Bar Association’s NJ Spill Compensation and Control Act Seminar, among numerous other speaking engagements and events.

Marc has been asked to speak at Perrin Asbestos Litigation Conference for the past 7 years and is set to serve as a moderator for the presentation on Mesothelioma, covering recent developments in literature, the latest diagnostic techniques, genetic testing and causation, as well as new treatments and the impact on life expectancy. 

Marc not only exhibits his extensive knowledge in the legal world, he is also a dedicated teacher in the local community. Marc serves as an Adjunct Professor in the Political Science Department at Rutgers University and uses this opportunity to share his extensive knowledge with future Environmental Law professionals.

 

Environmental and Toxic Tort

• Ayers v. Township of Jackson
• Rhodes v. Universal Supply

Asbestos

• PAPP v. Boeing

Toxic Torts

• NJDEP v. Dimant

Litigation & Compliance/Enforcement

• Whelan v. Johnson Controls

Publications

•  "Residential Environmental Contamination From Underground Storage Tanks: What Every Lawyer Should Know"', The Middlesex Advocate (Middlesex County Bar Association Monthly Newsletter), December 2012, Vol. 27, No. 3, Page 3
• "Stretching the Measure of Forseeability: The Rastelli and Berkowitz Controversey", The Voice of the Defense Bar - Toxic Torts (DRI); October 22, 2012, Vol. 15, Iss. 2, Page 2
• "Residential Environmental Contamination From Underground Storage Tanks: What Every Lawyer Should Know"', New Jersey Defense Association; Spring 2012
• "Impact of the NJDEP's New Guidelines For No. 2 Fuel Oil and Diesel Oil Releases", New Jersey Law Journal - Environmental Law; February 23, 2009

Affiliations

• Representative, Peripheral Defendants by the New Jersey Superior Court to the select Asbestos Steering Committee which oversees the management, administration and resolution of asbestos matters throughout the State.
• Middlesex County Bar Association, President (2024-2025)
• Middlesex County Bar Association, Board of Trustees (2016-Present)
• Middlesex County Bar Association, Environmental Law Committee, Co-Chair
• Ad Hoc Committee to review the ABA’s proposed Resolution on the Adoption of Guidelines for the Use of a Special Master, Middlesex County Bar Association
• American Industrial Hygiene Association
• New Jersey Defense Association, Environmental Section, Vice-Chair
• Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM)
• Monroe Township Planning Board, Chairman

Awards

• New Jersey Super Lawyers (2005-2007 and 2009-Present)
• The Best Lawyers in America (2012-Present); "Lawyer of the Year" in Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs (2017)
• Martindale-Hubbell, Rated AV Preeminent
• New Jersey State Certified in Land Use and Planning

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