Janel Alania’s practice spans HDRB&B’s Litigation Department and Matrimonial and Family Law Department. Whether protecting the business interests of a client in the throes of a commercial dispute or safeguarding the financial and emotional interests of a client in the midst of a divorce, Janel brings a creative, compassionate approach to advocacy and conflict resolution through litigation, mediation and arbitration proceedings.
With almost 9 years of experience as a judicial law clerk in both the Commercial Division of the New York State Supreme Court and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Janel has developed a sophisticated understanding of advocacy in the commercial context and honed her analytic skills through exposure to a wide variety of civil and criminal matters. At HDRB&B, Janel brings this experience to bear in her representation of individual and commercial clients involved in hotly contested partnership, shareholder, and other business disputes. Understanding the profound impact protracted litigation can have on the lives of all parties involved, Janel also represents clients in mediation and arbitration proceedings and, in every instance, helps her clients identify their end game so together they can approach the dispute resolution process with clarity and confidence.
Most recently, Janel has expanded her practice to HDRB&B’s Matrimonial and Family Law Department where her clients benefit from her compassionate representation and advocacy on behalf of individuals experiencing one of the most challenging events in their lives. Janel works closely with her clients to ensure they understand their rights and obligations throughout the process, in addition to their options with regard to the process itself. A firm believer in alternative methods of dispute resolution (ADR), Janel recently completed an introductory training in Collaborative Divorce, a practice that enables divorcing spouses, working collaboratively with their attorneys and neutral mental health and financial professionals, to craft a unique resolution to their financial and custodial issues, all without court intervention. As Janel continues her training, she offers her clients not only her perspective as a litigator but also the emotionally intelligent and supportive approach of the Collaborative practice.
Prior to joining HDRB&B, Janel formed and managed her own law firm, working closely and collaboratively with individual and small business clients on matters relating to the formation and operations of New Jersey businesses. Additionally, Janel’s firm provided litigation consulting services to other small law firms.
In 2007, Janel completed the New York Commercial Division Mediation Training, followed by the Advanced Commercial Division Mediation Training in 2008. Prior to attending law school, Janel worked in public relations for a variety of entities, including a publicly traded online retailer, Jewish non-profit organizations, and an international youth hostel.
