Certilman Balin Adler & Hyman, LLP, Long Island's second largest full-service law firm merged with Goetz & Mady-Grove, LLP, effective April 1. For twenty years, Goetz & Mady-Grove, located in Jericho, Long Island, focused primarily on the representation of financial institutions and business entities in the finance, general corporate and real estate areas. Ernest Goetz Jr., Theresa Mady-Grove and Kenneth Hoffmann will join the commercial lending practice group at Certilman Balin.

"Our decision to grow our commercial lending practice is a direct result of today's economic climate," said Bernard Hyman, "and our newest lawyers bring extensive financial experience which will enhance our commercial lending practice and also complement our corporate and real estate groups. They will provide an array of sophisticated legal services our clients have come to expect," he added.

Joining Certilman Balin as a partner, Ernest Goetz Jr. will continue to practice in the areas of commercial lending, corporate law and real estate for a variety of industry sectors including not-for-profit and healthcare. Goetz has over twenty years of experience in all areas of finance. He earned his undergraduate degree from Columbia College in 1971 and his juris doctor from Boston University School of Law in 1974.

Theresa Mady-Grove will serve as counsel to Certilman Balin. She concentrates her practice in the commercial and real estate lending areas in the representation of financial institutions, as well as the representation of corporations and not-for-profit entities. She graduated from Cornell University in 1979, and earned her juris doctor in 1982 from Boston University School of Law.

Kenneth Hoffmann, a partner, will continue to represent financial institutions and businesses in the areas of commercial lending, corporate and real estate. He has significant experience documenting credit facilities to middle market borrowers in the contractor, health care, not-for-profit and restaurant industries. He served as an officer in the United States Army Reserve and earned his bachelor of arts, magna cum laude, from New York University in 1990 and his Juris Doctor from the Albany Law School of Union University in 1993. Tags: