Former NJ Inspector General joins WithumSmith+Brown, CPAs
WithumSmith+Brown is pleased to announce the addition of Mary Jane Cooper, Esq., as a Principal of the firm. Based in the Princeton, NJ office, Ms. Cooper is joining on as a member of the firm’s Litigation, Valuation and Insolvency Services group, having over 30 years of experience in the legal field specializing in business integrity services, including independent fact finding, monitoring and compliance services in matters of fraud, discrimination, sexual misconduct, mismanagement and violations of laws and regulations.
“Mary Jane adds another dimension to our client services with her independent internal investigations background,” says WS+B’s CEO and managing partner, Bill Hagaman. “With her depth of experience in this area, we can offer our clients who are concerned that they may have a problem, the ability to know with certainty whether they do, how serious it is, and the ability to take control and manage the crisis before it gets out of hand.”
Before joining WS+B, Ms. Cooper served as New Jersey’s first and only Statewide Inspector General under three governors from 2005 to 2010. In that cabinet level position, she personally directed all investigations and other projects, and cooperated with commissioners and legislators to bring about improvements in State government. Working efficiently and effectively in this role, she found well over $500 billion in wasted State funds, returning $7 to the State Treasury for every $1 her office spent.
Past experience also includes working with other State agencies such as the State Commission of Investigations, the State Commission on Ethics and Departments’ Auditors, where she established solid relationships with Federal and State prosecutors who relied on her reports and investigative files as starting points for their criminal investigations.
A graduate of The College of New Jersey, Ms. Cooper received her Juris Doctorate from Rutgers University School of Law, Camden. She is admitted to practice law in New Jersey as well as the District Court of New Jersey and the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. Ms. Cooper is an active member of the Association of Inspectors General, the New Jersey State Bar Association, the Mercer County Bar Association and the Mercer County Inn of Court. She is also a charter member of the New York New Jersey Area Chapter Association of Inspectors General serving on the Board of Directors and as Third Vice President.
In 2007, Ms. Cooper was named to the PoliticsNJ.com Top 100 Power List identifying New Jersey’s most politically influential people.
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