E-mail: ehg@gourvitz.com
Elliot H. Gourvitz is an attorney who has practiced matrimonial and family law for 50 years and has been certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a specialist in family law (1991-2008). He has successfully argued many State and Federal Appellate cases and is the author of Domestic Torts in New Jersey, Domestic Violence Source Book, and numerous articles. He is a Lecturer and speaker on family law and has been quoted as an authority in many articles. Mr. Gourvitz also serves as an expert witness in international child abduction, the Hague Convention, and other cases throughout the Country.
Elliot Gourvitz is an attorney known for his aggressive representation of his clients in high profile cases involving substantial assets. He has championed victims of domestic abuse and the recovery of abducted children that he has litigated to the far points of the world.
Elliot H. Gourvitz has represented high profile clients in difficult situations including: Jimmy Dean the singer and sausage king, the Van Amstels of the Netherlands, Medicis of Italy, Arturo Gatti’s, the welterweight champion’s widow in Canada and the U.S., one of the “Housewives of New Jersey” in custody litigation, Fortune 500 executives, and many more.
He was one of the first innovators of the concept of divorce mediation, despite resistance of other lawyers and the New Jersey Bar Association. He believed that mediation was a positive way to reach a settlement especially in custody, and that mediation should be incorporated in traditional practice. In 1989 he was one of the only attorney’s who did divorce mediation but also fostering mediation in a private practice and courts.
In 1999 New Jersey Supreme Court began experimenting with mandatory mediation in divorce, and now more than 19 years later it is compulsory in the state of New Jersey.
His charitable works began early with him being Chairman of the Teen United Jewish Appeal of Essex County. He was named man of the year of the United Cerebral Palsey Foundation and served on and was President of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Foundation for 10 years whose goal is to elevate the burden of divorce and help victims of domestic violence and abuse.
He has served on various New Jersey Supreme Court Committees, New Jersey Bar Association committees, and was head of the Union County Early Settlement Panel for over 20 years.
He was the Chairman of the New Jersey Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and a delegate to the National Chapter. He was one of the founding members of the American College of Diplomats which limits its members to 100 throughout the world.
He has lectured at various colleges in the nation including William & Mary College in Virginia and Seton Hall University.
He has appeared on Oprah Winfrey, Geraldo Rivera, Gordon Ethan, Dr. Laura, UCN8 of the Comcast Network, Telemundo and various other news programs which sought his expert advice and input on such matters as domestic violence, wire tapping, the abduction of children, and international family law.
He has testified for other attorneys as an expert witness on prenuptial agreements, the Hague Convention, and Abduction of Children in many states including Arizona and Florida.
He has been in the forefront of instituting domestic torts in New Jersey and has written the only guide on this topic in the State. Elliot H. Gourvitz, along with his son, Ari Gourvitz, Esq. and his daughter-in-law, Melissa Gourvitz, Esq. wrote the seminal book, Domestic Violence Source Book, and have recently updated it.
Education
Rutgers the State University (B.A. 1966; J.D. 1969)
Pi Sigma Alpha Honor Society
Court Admissions:
States of New Jersey and New York
United States District Court, District of New Jersey; Southern District of New York; Eastern District of Wisconsin; District of Vermont
United States Tax Court; Court of Claims; Court of International Trade;
Temporary Emergency Court of Appeals of the United States
United States Court of Appeals of District of Columbia; Second , Third, Fourth, Seventh, Ninth, Tenth and Federal Circuits;
United States Supreme Court;
Certified as a Civil Trial Attorney by the Supreme Court of New Jersey, 1981; re-certified 1989 and 1996
Certified Matrimonial Attorney by the Supreme Court of New Jersey (1991-2008)
Bar Associations:
Member, Supreme Court of New Jersey Family Practice Division Committee, 1992-96
Former Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (1981-2008); recertified 1991, 1995, and 2000; President of New Jersey Chapter 1992-94; National Delegate 1994-2000.; President of New Jersey Chapter 1992-94; National Delegate 1994-2000
Certified Matrimonial Arbitrator by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
Certified Matrimonial Mediator by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
Former Fellow, International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (1989-2009)
Former Diplomate, American College of Family Trial Lawyers (1991-2008)
Chair New Jersey State Bar Association Certified Trial Attorneys Section of the New Jersey State Bar Association 1999-2001
Chairman, Union County Matrimonial Early Settlement panel, 1986-2002
Panelist in Early Settlement Program of Essex, Middlesex and Union Counties, 1982-2002
Member of the Executive Committee of the Family Law Section of the New Jersey State Bar Association, 1986-2004
New York State, Federal and American Bar Associations (Member, Mediation and Arbitration Committee)
New Jersey Trial Lawyers’ Association
The Association of Trial Lawyers of America (Member of the Board of Governors)
