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Thomas H. ProlMember

Newark, NJ
(973) 643-5059

Thomas H. Prol, a Member of Sills Cummis & Gross, concentrates his practice on environmental, land use, commercial property tax appeals, and related litigation and administrative law matters. He is admitted to practice law in New Jersey and New York and before numerous federal courts.

Mr. Prol is a Past President of the New Jersey State Bar Association (2016-2017) and was the first openly gay leader in the Association’s history. He is a member of the American Bar Association House of Delegates, and is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, an honor bestowed on less than one percent of the attorneys in each jurisdiction.

Throughout his legal career, Mr. Prol has been a vocal advocate on issues of equality and access to justice. He worked to advance marriage equality and LGBT rights in New Jersey, and was an advocate for, and successfully argued the defense of both the New Jersey Criminal Justice Reform Act and the New Jersey Anti-Bullying Act. Mr. Prol is also a founding member and serves in the executive leadership of Garden State Equality, the leading New Jersey LGBT civil rights organization. He previously served as vice chair of the National Lesbian and Gay Law Association (now known as the National LGBT Bar Association) and on the board of the LGBT Bar Association of Greater New York.   Read More...

Mr. Prol has appeared and has authored/co-authored numerous briefs over the past decade before the New Jersey Supreme and Superior Courts, New Jersey Council on Local Mandates and the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals.  He is a frequent lecturer for the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education (“NJICLE”).

Mr. Prol is an adjunct professor at Seton Hall University School of Law, and previously taught legal writing and appellate advocacy at New York Law School.  He also served as Associate General Counsel and Agency Chief Contracting Officer for New York City’s Department of Consumer Affairs.

Prior to practicing law, Mr. Prol was an environmental scientist and enforcement officer for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and served two years as a volunteer in the U.S. Peace Corps in Nepal.

Mr. Prol has also held externships with the U.S. Attorney’s Office (EDNY), the New York City Commission on Human Rights, CNN and The Carter Presidential Center.   Read Less

Thomas H. Prol, a Member of Sills Cummis & Gross, concentrates his practice on environmental, land use, commercial property tax appeals, and related litigation and administrative law matters. He is admitted to practice law in New Jersey and New York and before numerous federal courts.

Mr. Prol is a Past President of the New Jersey State Bar Association (2016-2017) and was the first openly gay leader in the Association’s history. He is a member of the American Bar Association House of Delegates, and is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, an honor bestowed on less than one percent of the attorneys in each jurisdiction.

Throughout his legal career, Mr. Prol has been a vocal advocate on issues of equality and access to justice. He worked to advance marriage equality and LGBT rights in New Jersey, and was an advocate for, and successfully argued the defense of both the New Jersey Criminal Justice Reform Act and the New Jersey Anti-Bullying Act. Mr. Prol is also a founding member and serves in the executive leadership of Garden State Equality, the leading New Jersey LGBT civil rights organization. He previously served as vice chair of the National Lesbian and Gay Law Association (now known as the National LGBT Bar Association) and on the board of the LGBT Bar Association of Greater New York.

Mr. Prol has appeared and has authored/co-authored numerous briefs over the past decade before the New Jersey Supreme and Superior Courts, New Jersey Council on Local Mandates and the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals.  He is a frequent lecturer for the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education (“NJICLE”).

Mr. Prol is an adjunct professor at Seton Hall University School of Law, and previously taught legal writing and appellate advocacy at New York Law School.  He also served as Associate General Counsel and Agency Chief Contracting Officer for New York City’s Department of Consumer Affairs.

Prior to practicing law, Mr. Prol was an environmental scientist and enforcement officer for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and served two years as a volunteer in the U.S. Peace Corps in Nepal.

Mr. Prol has also held externships with the U.S. Attorney’s Office (EDNY), the New York City Commission on Human Rights, CNN and The Carter Presidential Center.

Practices

  • Environmental
  • Real Estate

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Court Admissions

  • U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York

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Rankings and Recognition

  • Selected for inclusion in:
  • The Best Lawyers in America®* 2021-2022, Environmental Law
  • New Jersey Super Lawyers®* 2012, 2014-2019, 2021-2022, Environmental; Land Use/Zoning; Business Litigation
  • New Jersey Super Lawyers®* "Rising Stars" 2011, Environmental; Government Contracts; General Litigation
  • NJBIZ®* "Leaders in Law" 2021
  • ROI-NJ* "New Jersey’s Most Influential DEI Leaders" 2021
  • New Jersey Law Journal®* "Attorney of the Year" Finalist 2017
  • New Jersey Law Journal®* "Diverse Attorneys of the Year" 2015
  • New Jersey Law Journal®* "40 Under 40" 2006
  • Included in the InsiderNJ "Insider OUT 100: LGBT Power List" in 2018-2021.
  • Received Mel Narol Award from the New Jersey State Bar Association in 2018 for leadership and advocacy by spearheading inclusion and making strides for women and minority lawyers.
  • Received Professional Lawyer of the Year Award, as selected by the New Jersey Commission of Professionalism in the Law and the Sussex County Bar Association, in 2018.
  • Received Amicus Curiae Award from the New Jersey State Bar Association in 2010, 2012 and 2014-2017.
  • Received Young Lawyer of the Year Award from the New Jersey State Bar Association in 2004.

* See Award Methodology. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.

Affiliations

  • Fellow, American Bar Foundation

  • Member, American Bar Association

    –    Member, House of Delegates
    –    Member, Coalition on Racial and Ethnic Justice Board
    –    Member, Environmental Law Section

  • Member, New Jersey State Bar Association

    –    President (2016-2017)
    –    President-elect (2015-2016)
    –    First Vice President (2014 -2015)
    –    Second Vice President (2013-2014)
    –    Treasurer (2013)
    –    Trustee (2007-2012)
    –    Chair, Pandemic Task Force (2020)
    –    Member, Finance and Operations Committees (2007-present)
    –    Member, Amicus Committee (2008-present)
    –    Co-Chair, Legislative Committee (2020-present)
    –    Member, Legislative Committee (2007-2013)
    –    Member, Membership and Public Relations Committee (2009-2013)

  • Life Fellow, National Conference of Bar Presidents

  • Former Trustee, New Jersey State Bar Foundation

  • Member, New Jersey Supreme Court Board on Mandatory CLE

  • Member, New Jersey Supreme Court Ad Hoc Committee on Law Firm Trade Names

  • Attorney Mentor,  New Jersey Law and Education Empowerment Project (NJ LEEP)

  • Member, NAIOP NJ

Education

  • J.D., New York Law School
  • M.P.H., Emory University
  • B.A., Emory University

Bar Admissions

  • New Jersey
  • New York
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