02 Sep 2026
Hon. Michael A. Hammer (Ret.) Joins Lowenstein Sandler as Partner in Alternative Dispute Resolution Practice
"Lowenstein Sandler has hired Hon. Michael A. Hammer (ret.) as a partner in its Alternative Dispute Resolution practice. He will serve as a mediator/arbitrator and handle complex commercial, criminal and internal investigations."
Judge Hammer served for 15 years as a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the District of New Jersey, the position from which he joins Lowenstein Sandler. Prior to his appointment to the bench in 2011 (and reappointment in 2019), he spent 13 years as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey, where he served as Chief of the National Security Unit (2006–2011) and as Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division (2010–2011). He began his legal career with clerkships to the Hon. Stanley R. Chesler and the Hon. Garrett E. Brown (ret.) of the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey and thereafter entered private practice focusing on commercial litigation.
At Lowenstein Sandler, Judge Hammer will practice in the firm’s ADR group, serving as a neutral in arbitrations and mediations, acting as a special adjudicator in state court and as a special master in federal court. He will also work on complex commercial litigation, criminal matters, and internal investigations. His record of public service includes long-standing involvement with the Newark ReNew Court reentry program and support for community initiatives such as Danny’s Pantry, and he has contributed to legal education and professional organizations including the District of New Jersey’s Annual Judicial Conference, the Practising Law Institute, the Association of the Federal Bar of New Jersey, and the New Jersey State Bar Association.