About Michael Osterman, Esq.

After graduating in 1985 from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, where he served as an editor of the University of Pennsylvania Law Review, Michael began practicing as an associate in the real estate department of Shanley & Fisher, P.C. (now Faegre Drinker) in Morristown, New Jersey.  He became a partner at Shanley & Fisher in 1994.  In 1996, he joined the Somerset County firm of Herold and Haines, P.A. (now Herold Law, P.A.), where he practiced for 19 years.  After practicing with two other large firms in Somerset County from 2014 to 2019, Michael founded Osterman Law LLC.

Throughout his career, Michael has specialized in real estate and land use matters of every size and variety, including those involving acquisitions, sales, financing, leases, easements, licenses, and preservation matters.  He has also handled transactions involving the joint sale of commercial real estate and business assets, as well as the purchase, sale, and development of unique estate properties.  Michael counsels clients on the effect of, and compliance with, various federal, state and local land use and environmental statutes and regulations, including, among others, federal and state wetlands laws, the New Jersey Municipal Land Use Law, the Residential Site Improvement Standards, the Industrial Site Recovery Act, and the New Jersey Right to Farm Act.  He regularly represents clients before planning board, boards of adjustment, and other municipal, county and state bodies across the State of New Jersey in connection with development applications for various commercial and residential projects and other land use matters.

Michael has undertaken pro bono land use matters for the Somerset Hills YMCA and the Somerset County YMCA.  He has served on the Board of Directors of both the Somerset Hills YMCA and the Somerset County YMCA; has served as a member and co-chair of the Somerset Hills YMCA’s Community Advisory Board; and has served as President of the Somerset Hills YMCA Board of Managers, and currently serves as a member of that Board.  In 2014, Michael received the Somerset Hills YMCA’s Volunteer Leadership Award.  In 2002, he received the New Jersey State Alliance Outstanding YMCA Volunteer Award.  

Michael is also a member of the Board of Governors of Somerset Lake & Game Club in Far Hills, New Jersey, and has actively served on that Board for the past 20 years.