Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla has earned a new gig at a high-powered Morristown law firm as of counsel at a salary “well south of $100,000,” according to a spokesman for the mayor.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“Lavery, Selvaggi, Abromitis & Cohen, P.C. is pleased to welcome Ravi S. Bhalla as Of Counsel to the Firm. In this capacity, Ravi will provide strategic advice and counsel to the Firm, enabling it to draw on his broad range of legal expertise as a seasoned litigator and trial attorney,” the firm wrote on their website yesterday.
“Among Ravi’s areas of expertise are employment, commercial, civil rights, criminal defense, and governmental affairs. While not practicing law, Ravi will serve as a valuable resource to clients and attorneys at the Firm.”
Prior to being sworn in as mayor last month, Bhalla left his job at another reputable law firm, Florio Perucci Steinhardt and Fader.
Leaving that job came as no surprise, given that the former councilman-at-large previously said he would be “working full-time for the people of Hoboken, severing my employment with the firm,” according to a post on his campaign website.
Now, less than two months later, Bhalla will again be working in the private sector. A spokesman for the mayor said his salary will be much less than $100,000 and that his main role will be advising young lawyers.
“Since it is an affiliation with the firm and Ravi will not be practicing any case law, the salary is well south of $100,000–in the range of what clerical staff is paid,” Rob Horowitz said in an email.
‘”He will focus on mentoring the firm’s young lawyers and providing over-all advice,” he added, declining to comment further.
As mayor, Bhalla earns a salary of $116,950.08, the highest annual wage out of all 12 Hudson County mayors, according to public records.