2023 Law Power 50: A – H

Listen to this article

Guillermo Artiles

Artiles, a former associate counsel to Gov. Phil Murphy, is a partner and chair of the Government Affairs Practice for McCarter & English, where he advocates for clients across a wide range of sectors such as telecommunications, technology, health care, education, energy, advertising and more. He also leads the firm’s Cannabis Group. In these roles, Artiles helps clients achieve their governmental, media and business development objectives, utilizing his expertise in governmental affairs and complex business litigation. On top of his professional responsibilities and achievements, Artiles is active in the community, serving and having served as trustee of the Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey, deputy regional president of the Hispanic National Bar Association, board member of the New Jersey Legal & Education Empowerment Project, Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Com-merce, Cuban American Alliance for Leadership & Education, Waterfront Project, Cuba Study Group, and Full Court Peace.

William Barrett

Barrett specializes in the health care space in dental and medical transitions, practice sales and purchases, startups, the structuring of dental services organizations and more. The CEO of Mandelbaum Barrett represents a wide range of businesses with a specialty in mergers and acquisitions. And Barrett shares that expertise widely. He is the author of “Pain-Free Dental Deals: An Entrepreneurial Dentist’s Guide to Buying, Selling and Merging Practices” and “The DSO Decision: Winning Answers from Every Angle.” He has also written articles addressing the legal and business needs of licensed professionals and facilities, and he speaks on a variety of topics to professional tradeshows, associations, students and residents at dental and medical schools. In addition, his media activities include appearances on the well-regarded Dentaltown show, discussion practice transitions and on Becker’s Healthcare Review DSO Podcast. He also serves as co-chair of the firm’s National Dental Law Center and has been hailed as a “true gift to the profession” and “a lawyer with the vision to see around corners.” In his practice, Barrett is known for the personal attention he gives clients, often serving the role as outside general counsel, especially for entrepreneurial dentists, and advising clients on issues concerning contracts, employment law compliance, and developing policies.

Bill Caruso

A partner at Archer & Greiner, Caruso leads the firm’s cannabis law group, which represents clients across the emerging industry, including retailers, processors, growers and ancillary businesses on a range of marijuana-related business issues, like strategic planning and transactions, employment law, land use, zoning and municipal law, and health care law. With his background in government affairs – including five years as executive director of the New Jersey Assembly Majority Office in Trenton and 11 years as chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Robert Andrews – Caruso is also managing director of Archer & Greiner’s affiliate, Archer Public Affairs, which provides full-service government and regulatory affairs advice to clients. An avid lobbyist and advocate for the cannabis industry, Caruso is co-founder of New Jersey United for Marijuana Reform, a group that laid the ground-work for the legalization movement; leader of NJ CAN 2020, an advocacy group that spearheaded the 2020 ballot initiative for adult-use legalization; and general counsel for the New Jersey CannaBusiness Association, a leading statewide trade association.

Patricia Costello

After serving as a Superior Court judge for more than a quarter century, Costello joined CSG Law in 2015 and became the firm’s first female managing member in October 2022. Her tenure on the bench included 10 years as Essex County’s assignment judge supervising trial and municipal courts. In her current role, Costello oversees the operations of 325 employees and offices in two states, which together bring in more than $100 million in revenue. Other firms can look at CSG’s roster and take notes if they want to enhance their own gender diversity: 31% of CSG’s members are women, above the 25% national average. What’s more, 58% of the firm’s practice group leaders are women, as are 50% of the firm’s C-Suite management team. All of which undoubtedly contributed to CSG being named as one of New Jersey’s Best Places to Work for 2023. Earlier this year, CSG completed its relocation from West Orange to Roseland, following a $30 million renovation project at the space on Eisenhower Parkway.

Max Crane

Having been with the firm since 1984, Crane continues to successfully lead Sills Cummis & Gross PC as managing partner—a role he’s held for more than a decade. His work finds him counseling both private and public companies on corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, securities and crisis management. According to Sills, Crane has been involved in equity and debt financings and energy projects aggregating in excess of $1 billion. Speaking to New Jersey Law Journal for a feature on the state’s top firms, Crane commented on the persistent volume of Sills’ litigation and bankruptcy practices in addition to the stability of its transactional work. “We row in the same direction as a firm and we allow individuals to produce in the way they feel they can produce at the highest level,” he said. And that mindset seems to be paying off. According to the publication, Sills posted 6.1% year-over-year growth in revenue in 2022. Crane is New Jersey State liaison for the Business Law Section of the American Bar Association, Corporate Laws Committee and a member of the New Jersey State Bar Association, Financial Transactions Section. In the community, he is a member of the board of trustees for Students 2 Science Inc.

Edward Deutsch

Last year at Gibbons, Torcicollo took over the managing director position from Dunican, who shifted to the role of executive chair, handling the firm’s more outward-facing pro-grams while also serving as its chief public spokesperson. Dunican has been instrumental in growing Gibbons into the powerhouse firm it is today through the establishment of a corporate management model and the implementation of innovations that are supported by state-of-the-art facilities and technology as well as streamlined expenses. In his cur-rent role, he is developing and implementing platforms to advance new business generation, practice development, firm expansion, client relations, marketing, branding and public relations, while handling special strategic and operational projects. Before his appointment as managing director, Torcicollo served as the chair of the firm’s Professional Development Committee and as the firm’s director of recruiting, associate retention and lateral hiring for more than 15 years. He oversees a broad-based commercial litigation practice with extensive experience handling construction-related disputes. His practice includes the representation of corporations, commercial real estate developers and governmental agencies.

Patrick Dunican and Peter Torcicollo

Last year at Gibbons, Torcicollo took over the managing director position from Dunican, who shifted to the role of executive chair, handling the firm’s more outward-facing pro-grams while also serving as its chief public spokesperson. Dunican has been instrumental in growing Gibbons into the powerhouse firm it is today through the establishment of a corporate management model and the implementation of innovations that are supported by state-of-the-art facilities and technology as well as streamlined expenses. In his cur-rent role, he is developing and implementing platforms to advance new business generation, practice development, firm expansion, client relations, marketing, branding and public relations, while handling special strategic and operational projects. Before his appointment as managing director, Torcicollo served as the chair of the firm’s Professional Development Committee and as the firm’s director of recruiting, associate retention and lateral hiring for more than 15 years. He oversees a broad-based commercial litigation practice with extensive experience handling construction-related disputes. His practice includes the representation of corporations, commercial real estate developers and gov-ernmental agencies.

Kathleen Barnett Einhorn

Einhorn – an expert in trade secret litigation – is experienced in all aspects of litigation. She oversees a team of lawyers and paraprofessionals who manage cases from start to finish and is recognized as one of the top attorneys in New Jersey. Einhorn, a partner with Newark’s Genova Burns, is chair of the Complex Commercial Litigation and Intellectual Property practice groups and co-chair of the firm’s Fashion Law practice. In fact, she is the first woman at her firm to chair a department. Einhorn and her team concentrate on general commercial litigation and counseling with an emphasis on a wide range of issues from fraud and misrepresentation to insurance and employment defense to First Amendment and Constitutional rights claims. In 2021, she was renominated to serve in the role of at-large trustee of the New Jersey State Bar Association board of trustees, a role she has held since 2019.

John Fanburg

Brach Eichler LLC managing member John Fanburg serves as chair of the Roseland firm’s Health Care Law practice and co-chair of its Cannabis Industry group in addition to being part of the executive committee. In his own words, Fanburg “help[s] health care providers position themselves to deal with the constantly evolving medical marketplace, particularly health care reform.” And in New Jersey, that means he’s keeping busy. With more than 35 years of experience, Fanburg is known for providing strategic advice and transactional legal guidance in corporate M&A and regulatory matters with clients ranging from major health care systems and hospitals to single and multi-specialty medical groups, ambulatory care centers laboratories and others. He is a member of several associations, including the New Jersey State Bar and American Health Lawyers, along with the New Jersey Muslim Jewish Advisory Council, as well as a Healthcare advisory board member at Caldwell University. His work is also recognized by his peers: Fanbug has been included in The Best Lawyers in America list by Best Lawyers since 2003 and named to the New Jersey Super Lawyers list by Super Lawyers from 2005-2023.

Jeremy Farrell

Farrell is senior director of government and community affairs at LeFrak, a role that includes responsibility for Jersey City’s Newport development – and is a passionate advocate for the bustling area. In the spring, Newport added Lighthouse Point to its waterfront offerings. The 12,000-square-foot public space features a 50-foot lighthouse in addition to the Waterfront Walkway, a lawn for picnics and other outdoor activities. The area also marks the last piece of public access that Newport developers LeFrak and Simon were responsible for on the Walkway. It follows the addition of the eight-story sculpture “Water’s Soul” from two years ago. “The opening of this space is yet another example of Newport’s commitment to the people of Jersey City. This is a place for people to gather, enjoy and take in the views that are inextricably linked to this neighborhood,” Farrell said at the time. “As with Water’s Soul these open spaces serve to affirm that community is at the heart of everything Newport does.” The former block of abandoned rail yards, docks and industrial spaces is now one of the most successful planned mixed-use communities in the world, with homes for more than 12,000 people and 5 million square feet of Class A office space, along with the waterfront areas. After a stint in private law practice, Farrell was appointed as corporation counsel for Jersey City and later became executive director of the city’s Municipal Utilities Authority before joining LeFrak.

Elizabeth Forminard

In 2022 Forminard was named general counsel and executive vice president at Johnson & Johnson, one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies. She serves as legal ad-visor to the board of directors and company executives and is responsible for shaping legal strategy worldwide. Forminard also oversees the company’s Environmental, Social and Governance strategy, Office of the Corporate Secretary, and Privacy organization. Since joining Johnson & Johnson in 2006, Forminard has served as general counsel across each of the pharmaceutical, consumer health and MedTech sectors, as well as worldwide vice president leading the corporate governance function. At the time of her appointment, Johnson & Johnson Chief Executive Officer Joaquin Duato praised her “strong business acumen and understanding of patient and customer needs,” saying those qualities are ones he will lean on “during this pivotal time at our company.” He added, “I’m confident her distinguished experience and leadership will help us find new pathways to bring innovative healthcare solutions to those in need all over the world.”

Vito Gagliardi Jr.

As managing principal of Morristown’s Porzio, Bromberg & Newman, Vito Gagliardi Jr. serves as president and CEO of the firm’s subsidiaries, Porzio Governmental Affairs and Porzio Compliance Services. He also co-chairs the firm’s Litigation Practice Group and the Education and Employment Team. Gagliardi litigates and counsels clients in every facet of labor and employment law and represents schools in numerous matters. He has also helped oversee an effort to increase the number of women represented at the associate, principal and C-levels. During his tenure as managing principal, the firm has opened four offices in strategic locations. In addition to that work with the firm, he serves as the chairman of the New Jersey Law Revision Commission, which helps the Legislature identify areas of the law that require clarification and simplification. In February, Gagliardi was inducted as a fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers.

Angelo Genova

The founder of Genova Burns last year turned over the managing partner duties to co-founder James Burns and took on the role of chairman. At the time, the firm’s leaders said splitting the managing partner and chairman positions reflected a commitment to diversity and inclusion. In addition, the moves set the stage for a transition to the next genera-tion of management. Despite the shift, Genova remains one of the most prominent lawyers in the state. He has long been a fixture in New Jersey’s urban centers. Ten years be-fore Amazon.com Inc. considered opening its second headquarters in the state’s biggest city, Genova moved his firm there from Livingston. He continues to be a champion of Newark’s redevelopment efforts. Politically, Genova’s high-profile cases include fighting off a suit against the state Democratic Party in 2002 by Republicans over a last-minute ballot change prompted by then-U.S. Sen. Robert Torricelli’s decision to drop out of the race amid ethics problems. He is a former commissioner of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey; a former chairman of the New Jersey Urban Development Corp.; and counseled Gov. Jim Florio’s transition team in 1989.

Frank Giantomasi

Giantomasi is a member of CSG Law’s Real Estate, Development & Land Use Group and its executive committee. The firm opened a new, state-of-the-art, 120,000-square-foot headquarters in Roseland in 2023, for which Giantomasi served as head of the lease committee—charging him with one of the questions on most employers’ minds these days: How to create an office for the next generation of workers? To come up with the answer, he led a group of practitioners across various stages of their career, representing multi-ple practices and c-suite administrators. With more than 185 attorneys, the firm is among the largest in New Jersey and its revenues exceeded $100 million in 2022. Practicing for more than 40 years, Giantomasi has experience in all aspects of real estate acquisitions, sales, development, complex commercial transactions and chancery litigation, and has successfully argued before the New Jersey Appellate Division and the New Jersey Supreme Court. He is a recognized leader in planning, zoning and development law, including tax abatement law for the City of Newark and urban areas and has served as chief development counsel for some of the region’s major real estate projects, such as the planning and development of Prudential’s Newark Headquarters. Recently, he helped represent Netflix in its successful bid to convert the former Fort Monmouth Army base into a state-of-the-art production facility.

Jessica Gonzalez

A well-known Jersey City-based cannabis law and trademark attorney, adjunct professor at Rowan University and Hudson Community College, and a policy advocate, Gonzalez (and her consulting firm, Veridis Quo) was tapped earlier this year by the New Jersey Business Action Center to help develop and launch a new no-cost workforce development program to help potential entrepreneurs from disadvantaged backgrounds learn more about the cannabis business. Focused on the push for an equitable legalized market and helping marginalized groups enter the highly competitive industry, Gonzalez has emerged as one of New Jersey’s biggest champions for cannabis. As an attorney, she has successfully guided clients through the complex application process, as well as held leadership roles in national organizations, including the International Cannabis Bar Association, Minorities for Medical Marijuana and the Minority Cannabis Business Association’s policy committee. In her advocacy work, Gonzalez has presented at the municipal and state level on social justice and social equity, IP protection, cannabis legislation, state and federal banking and state cannabis licensing.

Charles Gormally

With more than 40 years of experience practicing law, the certified civil trial attorney focuses on representing clients with complex business matters, confidential corporate compliance investigations, challenges caused by government regulation, contract disputes and tort actions. In addition to being senior trial counsel at Roseland-based Brach Eichler, Gormally is founding chair of the litigation practice group, as well as a member of the employment services practice group. Gormally was also instrumental in forming, as well as co-chairing, the firm’s cannabis practice and provides strategic, regulatory and legal guidance to entrepreneurs, investors and vendors in the highly regulated, emerging canna-business industry. Gormally has experience as an elected official, as well, serving as mayor of Mountain Lakes for two years, as a council member for eight years and on the planning board for six years.