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Avi D. Kelin, Esq., an Associate with Genova Burns LLC, one of the top law firms serving New Jersey and the greater northeast, was nominated to the New Jersey Advanced Autonomous Vehicle Task Force by New Jersey Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin as part of the Assembly’s legislative session in mid-December. Kelin’s nomination was recently approved, and he is already working actively with fellow task force members. “We congratulate Avi on his nomination to the State’s Advanced Autonomous Vehicle Task Force and are confident he will represent the firm and New Jersey well,” said Angelo Genova, Co-Founder, Managing Partner, and Chairman of Genova Burns LLC. “Avi is truly an expert in this emerging technology sector and is the perfect legal mind to provide counsel to the Task Force as we move closer to the reality of autonomous cars on the streets and highways of the Garden State. The Firm is pleased to add another of its ranks to the list of Genova Burns attorneys serving in advisory capacities to our state government.” Kelin is an Associate in the Firm's Newark, NJ office, and, for some time, has concentrated on the legal issues surrounding the emerging technology of autonomous vehicles. He has lectured and written widely on this topic, with articles appearing in NJ Business Magazine, the Commercial Observer, as well as a host of related digital articles on regional and national media websites. He won the 2014 Howard J. Rudge Scholarship Prize for his paper, Last Chance Power Drive: Why and How the United States Should Prepare for Autonomous Cars. “I am honored by the nomination to the Task Force, and I look forward to the opportunity to bring my expertise to this esteemed group of business leaders and government advisors,” said Kelin. “Autonomous cars are not an issue of ‘if,’ it is more an issue of ‘when.’ The State needs to keep ahead of the curve on the subject, so we can embrace this emerging technology as it becomes more and more mainstream.” Beyond this growing sector, Kelin mainly focuses on the interaction between government and business. He advises on the interaction between government and the business community, advising businesses, trade associations and individuals on lobbying requirements, campaign finance law, pay-to-play restrictions, government ethics rules, and the government procurement process. Kelin assists clients in establishing and operating New Jersey and Federal Political Action Committees (PACs) and Super PACs, from the initial registration process to ongoing operating matters. He also advises 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) tax-exempt organizations on corporate governance and their political activity. Kelin also advises political candidates on campaign finance compliance and government officials on ethics requirements as well as on related government investigations and enforcement actions. He has advised numerous candidates, PACs, and political parties on navigating Federal Election Commission (FEC) and New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) investigations and complaints. He counsels clients on a wide array of commercial leasing and transactional agreements and disputes, provides counsel to business entities and non-profit organizations on their corporate law and business transaction needs, including bylaws, service and operating agreements, and policy documents. Kelin has deep expertise in all aspects of alcohol-beverage licensing under the jurisdiction of the New Jersey Alcoholic Beverage Control Board (ABC), from the initial application through ongoing compliance, investigations and enforcement actions. Kelin serves as a member of Genova Burns’ Corporate Law & Business Transactions, Commercial Real Estate & Redevelopment, Construction Law & Litigation, Corporate Political Activity Law, Criminal Defense, and Investigations & Compliance Practice Groups.