Andrew J. Cevasco

The New Jersey Supreme Court has ruled that attorneys may purchase search engine keywords using the names of competing lawyers, so long as they include a clear disclaimer on any landing page. Common in digital marketing, the practice was found not inherently unethical under RPC 8.4(c), despite concerns raised by both the New Jersey State Bar Association and the Bergen County Bar Association. Archer partner Andrew Cevasco, who represented the Bergen County Bar Association, acknowledged the court’s attempt to balance innovation with transparency, stating: “I am gratified that the Supreme Court has reiterated that attorney advertising must be transparent and ethical and that the court now requires that an attorney who purchases the name of a competitor as a search term must include a disclaimer.” Still, Andrew expressed disappointment with the ruling’s limits, aligning with Justice Douglas Fasciale’s dissent, which characterized the practice as ethically questionable: “I respectfully wish that the court had adopted Justice Fasciale’s dissent... and holds attorneys to a higher standard of ethical conduct and professionalism.” While the majority found the keyword practice permissible with safeguards, Andrew and others remain concerned about the potential for misleading consumers, especially during sensitive moments when legal help is being sought....

Partner Andrew J. Cevasco will serve as moderator for the Bergen County Bar Association's Annual Professionalism Seminar, this year titled "The Challenges of Professionalism -- 2024 and Beyond." Topics will include: persistent problems with remote appearances, a review of AI and its ethical implications, and a discussion on professionalism and electronic communications focusing on courtesy, camaraderie, and mental health. Presented by the Committee on Professionalism in the Law, the panel will include members of the Professionalism in the Law Committee, as well as:...

Archer partner, Andrew J. Cevasco, has been selected by the Bergen County Bar Association (“BCBA”) as a recipient of a 2024 Professional Lawyer of the Year Award.  Professionalism Awards are presented in cooperation with the New Jersey State Bar Association, the New Jersey Commission on Professionalism in the Law, and the various county and affinity bar associations. The awards are presented annually to lawyers selected by bar associations across New Jersey who, by virtue of their exemplary conduct, competence, diligence and demeanor, set a positive example for others. The award will be presented to Andrew at the BCBA Professionalism Dinner on October 22 at Seasons in Washington Township, N.J. Andrew served as President of the Bergen County Bar Association for the 2019-2020 term. He has been a member of the BCBA since 1981, and a Trustee and Officer of the Association from 2005-2022. He has also served as member and Co-Chair of its Probate and Estate Planning Committee and its Professionalism Committee. He is currently a co-chair of the Bergen County Judicial and Prosecutorial Appointments Committee, which reviews applicants for appointment and reappointment to the Superior Court in Bergen County. Serving as an advocate on behalf of the members of the BCBA, on September 24, 2024 Andrew appeared before the New Jersey Supreme Court, advocating for the reversal of Advisory Committee on Professional Ethics Opinion 735.  ...