Mr. Siddiqi advises a broad range of corporate and individual clients in today’s business world.  As a litigator, Mr. Siddiqi represents clients in complex commercial disputes involving breaches of contract, consumer and healthcare fraud, e-fraud, real estate, employment, restrictive covenants, business torts, corporate governance issues, whistle-blowing, breaches of fiduciary duty, eminent domain, public bidding, public contracts, and the acquisition or sale of a business.  He also handles state and federal appeals and has extensive appellate brief-writing experience as a member of the firm’s appellate practice team.

On corporate and business matters, Mr. Siddiqi helps clients seeking advice on corporate governance and compliance issues and on general business matters, including best practices, dispute resolution, and international transactions.  Mr. Siddiqi is also adept at negotiating and drafting a broad range of contracts, including employment and partnership agreements, memoranda of understanding, angel investor and other capital infusion agreements, business and partnership transactions, e-commerce agreements, leases of real estate and equipment, charitable and tax-deductible donations, and other business documents.  He also serves as counsel to non-profit religious and school organizations. 

As a member of the firm’s criminal defense and government investigations practice group, Mr. Siddiqi represents clients facing government investigations, FBI inquiries, accusations of white-collar criminal activity, corporate compliance inquiries and investigations, forfeiture actions, and sentencing. 
Mr. Siddiqi also represents attorneys during ethics inquiries and proceedings, and counsels law school graduates seeking admission to the bar during “fitness” inquiries.  Mr. Siddiqi has also drafted advisory letters pertaining to the Rules of Professional Conduct. 

Mr. Siddiqi serves on the Editorial Board of New Jersey Lawyer, the Magazine.  He is a member of the New Jersey State Bar Association (NJSBA) and its Federal Practice and Procedure Section, and is also a member of the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) and its Commercial and Federal Litigation Section and Corporate Counsel Section.  He is also a member of the American Bar Association (ABA), and serves as a member of the ABA’s Advisory Panel and previously served as the vice chair of the Litigation Section of the ABA Young Lawyers Division in 2007-2008.  He is also a member of the Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers-New Jersey and the Asian Pacific Lawyers Association of New Jersey. 

Mr. Siddiqi actively supports diversity initiatives involving the legal profession.  For example, he is a member of NJSBA’s Minorities in the Profession section and NYSBA’s Committee on Diversity and Inclusion, chairing its 2012 Diversity Trailblazer Award Criteria Review Subcommittee while serving as a member of several other subcommittees.  Mr. Siddiqi served on the New Jersey Supreme Court Committee on Minority Concerns during the 2009-2011 and remains a liaison. 

Mr. Siddiqi has received several commendations and awards during his career, including peer recognition in New Jersey Super Lawyers Rising Stars 2009 thru 2012*, receipt of the 11th Annual Ronald H. Brown Award, which was presented by the South Asian Law Students Association at St. John’s University School of Law in April 2009, and an award and plaque from the Muslim Bar Association of New York in June 2011.  Mr. Siddiqi was selected to be a member of the Fellowship Class of 2012 for Leadership New Jersey, which includes prominent members of New Jersey’s non-profit and for-profit businesses, law firm partners, public officials, and judges among its alumni. 

Mr. Siddiqi has also served as an officer and board member of several specialty bar associations in New Jersey and New York.  For example, Mr. Siddiqi is the President and co-founder of the New Jersey Muslim Lawyers Association (NJMLA).  He is also a co-founder of the Muslim Bar Association of New York (MuBANY) and served as Vice President for three years and as a board member for two years.  Through NJMLA and MuBANY, Mr. Siddiqi has assisted civil rights and community organizations in addressing issues affecting Muslim Americans.  He also serves on the Advisory Board for the National Muslim Law Students Association (NMLSA) and provides guidance as a Trusted Advisor for Muslim Advocates and on the Revitalization Committee for the National Association of Muslim Lawyers.  (Mr. Siddiqi’s proposal to emulate the NJSBA’s bylaw and organizational structure are in the process of being adopted by the Revitalization Committee.)  Mr. Siddiqi also served as a Vice President for the South Asian Bar Association of New Jersey from 2006-2008. 

Mr. Siddiqi earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Rutgers College, Rutgers University in May 1998 and his Juris Doctor degree from St. John’s University School of Law in May 2001, through its Accelerated Program.  While in law school, Mr. Siddiqi served as an associate articles editor and staff member of the New York International Law Review and as an executive board member of the Asian American Law Students Association.  He also received the First Prize in the 2000 Nathan Burkan Memorial Writing Competition, the Dean’s Academic Achievement Scholarship Award (2000-2001), and the Second Prize in the 2001 Los Angeles County Bar Association’s National Writing Competition. 

Upon graduating from law school, Mr. Siddiqi served as a law clerk in federal court for the Honorable Madeline Cox Arleo, U.S.M.J., from September 2001 to September 2002.  He joined Walder, Hayden shortly thereafter in October 2002 as an associate and was promoted to Of Counsel in January 2011. 

Client Matters

State and Federal Court Appeals
Business Counseling
Corporate Governance & Transactions
Employment Law
Estate Planning & Administration
Family & Matrimonial Law
Fraud Prevention & Recovery
Government Investigations & Criminal Defense
Healthcare Fraud
Litigation
Non-Profit and Religious Organizations
Professional Licensing & Ethics
Real Estate
Taxation

Notable Matters Include:

  • representing a major real estate developer and serving as chief brief-writer in several lawsuits and appeals involving the Meadowlands Xanadu project

  • counseling corporate executives and corporations during civil and criminal investigations conducted by federal and state authorities

  • representing a nationally recognized retired football player accused of domestic violence on appeal and obtaining dismissal of charges

  • negotiating severance packages, separation agreements, and buy-outs for businesses, senior executives and shareholders

  • representing a cable television network accused of defamation on appeal and obtaining dismissal of complaint

  • negotiating and settling multi-million dollar contract disputes for nuisance value 

  • serving as general counsel for school board and parent-teacher organizations

State Bar and Federal Court Admissions

State of New Jersey
State of New York
District of New Jersey
Eastern District of New York 
Southern District of New York

Leadership Positions

  • Editorial Board Member (May 2011-Present), New Jersey Lawyer Magazine

  • President (2009-Present), New Jersey Muslim Lawyers Association

  • Vice President (2008-2009), New Jersey Muslim Lawyers Association

  • Member (2009-Present), New York State Bar Association Committee on Diversity and Inclusion

  • Vice President (2006-2008), South Asian Bar Association of New Jersey

  • Member (July 2008-Present), American Bar Association Advisory Panel

  • Vice President (2007-2010), Muslim Bar Association of New York

  • Board Member (2006-2007 and 2010-2011), Muslim Bar Association of New York

Commendations and Honors

  • 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012 – Peer recognition as a selected member of New Jersey Super Lawyers Rising Stars

  • April 3, 2009 – Recipient, 11th Annual Ronald H. Brown Award from St. John’s University School of Law (SALSA), for “his contributions to the legal profession and service to the community”

  • June 2, 2011 – Plaque and Recognition from the Muslim Bar Association of New York “in appreciation of his dedication to improving the bar, his tireless service to the Muslim community, and his five years of board leadership”

Judicial Clerkship

Honorable Madeline Cox Arleo, U.S.M.J., September 2001 to September 2002
Federal Court for the District of New Jersey

Press Mentions

E-MAIL: aksiddiqi@whbesqs.com

*For selection methodology see SuperLawyers.com.  No aspect of this communication has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.


Footer