Associates

Meri Van Blarcom-Gupko was promoted to the position of Counsel at Wiley Malehorn Sirota & Raynes in 2008.  She has been an attorney with the firm since 1998. 

Meri has been published numerous times in the area of motorsports and is becoming an authority in the area.  Her most recent article “Should Nascar Be Allowed to Choose the Tracks at Which it Runs its Races?” 16.2 Seton Hall J. Sport L. 101 (2006), released in 2007, was cited by the Automobile Competition Committee for the United States (ACCUS) in its brief filed in Kentucky Speedway’s lawsuit against International Speedway Corporation.

Her other published articles include "Can Toyota's Entry in NASCAR be Dodged through litigation with Bill Davis Racing?" 14 Seton Hall J. Sport and Entertainment L. 101 (2004); "Who is an employee? Let us count the ways" 12 N.J.L. 871 (2003) 12 N.J.L. 871 (2003)(co-authored); “A Pit-Stop in the Courts Applying the Brakes to Keep Another From Crashing: A Comment of the Conflicts Between Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Championship Auto Racing Team,” 7 Seton Hall J. Sport L. 513 (1997).

In January 2008, Meri presented a seminar on legal issues for racing promoters from 13 states at the inaugural Promoter’s Summit in Atlantic City, New Jersey in January, 2008.  In addition, since 2005, she has been presenting an annual seminar on Legal Issues in Racing at Motorsports in Atlantic City (and its former location in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania). Click for the pdf or text version of an article on one of the seminars.

Meri’s practice areas serve the diverse needs of her clients and include general and public entity liability law, business law, commercial transactions, employment law, intellectual property, civil litigation, and land use. 

She received her Juris Doctorate from Seton Hall University School of Law in 1997, where she served as the Research Assistant to Professor Elizabeth Defeis for two years.  Meri was a member of the Seton Hall Journal of Sports Law.  She had an internship with the Sports Law Committee of the New York County Lawyers Association researching various areas including statutes regulating athlete agents and an externship with the Internal Revenue Service focusing on intellectual property and related issues.  Meri also participated in the Consumer Law Clinic where she advised and represented underprivileged clients on various consumer legal issues.

Meri received her undergraduate degree from Rutgers University, Newark College of Arts and Sciences in 1994 with Honors and was selected to Phi Sigma Alpha (political science honor society).  She also was the Chair of the College Republicans at Rutgers-Newark, 1992-1994. 

She was admitted to the bars of New Jersey in 1997, New York in 1998 and the Third Circuit Court of Appeals in 1999.  Prior to joining Wiley Malehorn Sirota & Raynes, she served as law clerk to the Honorable Stephen F. Smith, Jr., New Jersey Superior Court, Morris County, 1997-98. 

Meri is on the card ministry and serves as a substitute teacher for the 2 year old class in her current church.  At her former church she served as a leader and Sunday school teacher for the senior high youth group; and as a coordinator and teacher for the 2 and 3 year old program for over eight years. 

She and her husband reside in Northern New Jersey with their son.

Elizabeth D. Seitz grew up in Birmingham, Michigan. She graduated from Denison University in 2001 and earned her Juris Doctorate from University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 2006. 

During law school, Elizabeth was a judicial extern to the Honorable Maureen E. Lally-Green, Superior Court of Pennsylvania.  She also worked as a research assistant for Professor Ann Sinsheimer, Associate Professor of Legal Writing and as a law clerk for a mid-size general practice firm. 

Elizabeth was admitted to the bars of New Jersey, the United States District Court, District of New Jersey and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 2006.

Elizabeth is a member of the American Bar Association and the New Jersey State Bar Association.  She currently resides in Mercer County with her husband.

Monika M. Emara was born in Warsaw, Poland and grew up in Marlboro, New Jersey.  She graduated from Rutgers University in 2002 and obtained her Juris Doctorate from Albany Law School in 2007.

During law school, Monika was a judicial intern to the Honorable Joseph C. Teresi, Albany County Supreme Court.  She also interned at the Albany County District Attorney’s Office and at the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations.  In addition, Monika worked as a law clerk for a medical malpractice firm and was the Managing Editor for Symposium for the Environmental Outlook Journal at Albany Law School.

Prior to joining Wiley Malehorn Sirota & Raynes, Monika was associated with a midsize insurance defense firm in New York City.

Monika is admitted to the bars of New Jersey, the United States District Court, District of New Jersey, and New York.  She is a member of the American Bar Association, New Jersey Bar Association and New York Bar Association.

Jonathan P. Holtz grew up in Roseland, New Jersey.  He obtained his Juris Doctorate from Seton Hall University, School of Law in 2007.  Jonathan obtained his undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of Richmond in 2003.

During law school, Jonathan obtained diverse experience by working for a large defense firm and later a solo plaintiff side practitioner.  He was exposed to both New Jersey and New York law, on both the trial and appellate levels.

Prior to joining Wiley Malehorn Sirota & Raynes, Jonathan served as a clerk for the Honorable Alfonse J. Cifelli, J.S.C., Law Division, Essex County, New Jersey.  During his clerkship, Jonathan was certified in Mediation and Conciliation, and participated in the 2008 Law Day Program.

Jonathan is admitted to the bars of New Jersey, New York, and United States District Court, District of New Jersey.  He is a member of the American Bar Association, New Jersey Bar Association and New York Bar Association.

Brooke E. Ronayne grew up in Pearl River, New York.  She graduated from the University of Delaware in 2005, where she was a Dean’s List Scholar and a member of Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society.  Brooke earned her Juris Doctorate from Seton Hall University School of Law in 2008.

While in law school, Brooke was a member of the Seton Hall Legislative Journal.  She also served as a judicial intern to the Honorable Deanne M. Wilson, Superior Court of New Jersey, interned in the Labor Relations Department of New Jersey Transit and clerked with a mid-size law firm.

Brooke is admitted to the bars of New Jersey, the United States District Court, District of New Jersey, and is awaiting her swearing-in for the New York bar.

Kali Hira grew up in Princeton Junction, New Jersey.  She graduated with honors from Rutgers College, Rutgers University in 2004, where she was a member of the National Collegiate Honor Society.  Kali earned her Juris Doctorate from the University of Miami School of Law in 2007.

During law school, Kali clerked for the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office – Appellate Division.  She was also a law clerk for a mid-size law firm. 

Kali is admitted to the bars of New Jersey,  Illinois, and New York.