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Steven Adler
Mandelbaum Barrett PC

Not many attorneys can say their courtroom advocacy has resulted in a nationwide precedent-setting decision — but Mandelbaum Barrett PC Partner Adler has a few. An age-discrimination case he argued in Newark Federal District Court established the so-called Lusardi Two-Step approach to class certification in age discrimination collective actions, a standard that has stood for some 40 years. Another is a New Jersey Appellate Division decision setting the requirements relating to employers requiring English-only in the workplace. Today, as chair of the firm’s Labor and Employment Law Practice and co-chair of the Litigation department and the Healthcare Litigation group, Adler continues to set standards for legal advocacy, handling such complex matters as non-competes, trade secrets, medical group breakups and class actions. He also represents Lamborghini along with its sister companies Volkswagen, Audi and Bentley Motorcars.

Adler is also a frequent contributor to publications like the New Jersey Law Journal and is a sought-after voice in the legal community. A devoted mentor, Adler nurtures the next generation of attorneys through firm leadership and having previously served as an adjunct professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University. He is also a member of The Sidney Reitman Inn of Court, the first American Inn of Court devoted exclusively to Labor and Employment Law advocacy.

Jessica Alessi
Goldberg Law Group

Known as a “one in a million” colleague to her co-workers, Alessi fills an important role as client services manager at the NJ Elder Law Center at the Goldberg Law Group. She won “employee of the month” four months in a row this year, juggling her career and family life, ensuring that everything runs smoothly — at home and in the office.

Alessi’s responsibilities include handling new clients by gathering important personal information and walking prospects and new clients through the orientation process. A Certified Dementia Practitioner, she is also responsible for coordinating the Elder Law Department at Goldberg Law Group’s various departments and helping attorneys deliver their legal guidance to the client.

Paying close attention to even the smallest detail, Alessi ensures that every matter is handled efficiently and in the timeliest manner possible. She knows everything there is to know about elder-critical subjects like Medicaid, and clients lean on her during their trying times. But her charitable efforts do not cease there. Alessi also takes time out of her busy schedule to guide young professionals at Goldberg Law Group: she’s currently mentoring two 25-year-olds and one 24-year-old.

Christine Amalfe
Gibbons PC

As chair of the Employment & Labor Law Group at Gibbons PC, Amalfe is the go-to lawyer for many companies that do not want to air their legal laundry. During a 35-plus-year career, she has represented public entities, educational institutions and corporations in numerous industries, defending clients on a wide range of discrimination, harassment, whistleblower, retaliation and other hot-button matters.

These kinds of cases often get splashed across newspaper pages and airwaves, putting companies in the hot seat. But Amalfe – who oversees lawyers across four Gibbons offices – has the standout ability to quickly investigate the issues and work out amicable resolutions based on the facts developed during those investigations — avoiding negative publicity and protracted, expensive litigation. Despite a heavy caseload, she finds time to serve as president of the New Jersey State Bar Association, crossing the state to huddle with attorneys, judges and others to find out what keeps them up at night. She is also an invitation-only fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers, the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, and former chair of the U.S. District Court of New Jersey’s Magistrate Selection Committee. And she has been appointed to committees by the New Jersey Supreme Court. Amalfe is also the founder of the award-winning Gibbons Women’s Initiative which, since the 1990s, has developed work-life balance and other solutions to help new, rising and older attorneys cope with challenges and boost their careers.

Guillermo Artiles
McCarter & English LLP

As head of McCarter & English’s Government Affairs group, managing partner of its Trenton office and an Executive Committee member, Artiles has been instrumental in building the firm’s bipartisan Government Affairs practice. Under his watch, it has grown to one of the largest such law firm groups in New Jersey, representing some of the state’s most important players in such industries as health care, energy and cannabis.

Known as a top lawyer in the government affairs and complex business spaces, he helps clients achieve their governmental, media and business development objectives – advocating across multiple industries, including telecommunications, technology, health care, education, energy, advertising and fintech. Under his leadership, McCarter & English also maintains a robust lobbying operation — ranking second last year among lawyer-lobbying firms in the state.

Artiles also gives back to the community in a variety of roles, including serving on the boards of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey, and First Tee of Metropolitan New York. Under his leadership, the firm’s bipartisan Government Affairs practice continues to grow with both new clients and lawyers and public policy specialists — the group recently added the former general counsel of NJ Transit to its team.

William Barrett
Mandelbaum Barrett PC

Barrett, CEO of Mandelbaum Barrett PC, brings more than 25 years of experience representing a wide range of businesses – from formation to dissolution and every stage in between. He brings a unique focus on mergers and acquisitions and often serves as outside general corporate counsel to his clients, advising them on a variety of issues.

Throughout his career, Barrett has successfully managed the purchase or sale of hundreds of businesses, professional practices and facilities. Clients and colleagues laud his personal attention and the energy he brings to every deal – forging a reputation as a dealmaker who knows how to think outside the box to get things done.

In the health care industry, Barrett is recognized as a transactional lawyer in dental and medical practice transitions, practice sales and purchases, associate buy-ins, startups, and structuring of dental services organizations and management services organizations. In addition to being a regular news source and sought-after speaker at trade shows, conventions and more, Barrett 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”. Under his watch, Mandelbaum Barrett has also continued growing and expanding into 30 practice areas and more than 115 lawyers, becoming one of the top 10-largest firms in New Jersey.

Joseph Boccassini
McCarter & English LLP

As firmwide managing partner of McCarter & English LLP, and member of the Executive Committee and Compensation Committee, Boccassini has helmed the firm since 2016. He provides insightful and innovative leadership that continues to expand the capabilities of the 180-year-old firm – with 425-plus lawyers across practice areas – as it passed $290 million in revenue in its last fiscal year.

Boccassini encourages a diverse, collegial, and intellectually challenging work environment that attracts and retains top talent, spearheading the firm’s strategic growth, client value and legal project management initiatives. Boccassini has represented clients in a variety of civil matters, including alleged violations of securities laws and federal and state RICO laws, shareholder derivative claims and professional negligence actions. He has counseled clients about breach of contract and fiduciary duty claims, breaches of representations and warranties, insurance broker malpractice claims, disputes arising out of business transfers and asset purchase agreements, and the enforcement of non-compete agreements. Boccassini is also a driving force behind the firm’s thriving pro bono practice – which earned McCarter an ABA Pro Bono Publico Award – and continues to be actively engaged with such initiatives as the firm’s Culture & Inclusion Committee, and the professional development of law students, lawyers and professionals.

Gary Botwinick and Matheu Nunn
Einhorn Barbarito

After joining Einhorn Barbarito in 1998 to start a trusts & estate practice, Botwinick was named partner in 2001 and co-managing partner in 2019. He has been instrumental in the continued growth and success of the firm, with zealous advocates and thought leaders being produced at all levels and in several areas of the law — many of whom have been mentored by Botwinick. This year, he will welcome clients and staff to a modern office space at The Arbors @ Parsippany where the firm will expand its office footprint by nearly 50%. Regarded as a go-to trusts & estate and tax lawyer for complex cases, wealth transfer and succession planning, Botwinick represents owners of closely held businesses, high-earning executives, professionals and litigants in complex fiduciary litigation matters. He also counsels clients on “dynastic estate planning,” which involves creating long-term trusts that preserve wealth for multiple generations. In addition, Botwinick and co-managing partner Nunn collaborate on executive divorce matters, which present complex business, tax, employment and financial issues, along with issues of public disclosure, privacy, SEC and insider information.

Frank Cannone
Gibbons PC

When large, sophisticated organizations want to engage in large, complex transactions, they go to Cannone, a Gibbons PC partner who has built and continues to lead the firm’s Corporate group. Across industries, the 30-plus-year legal veteran and his team have closed more than 1,000 national and global transactions, totaling billions of dollars. The complex matters they have successfully undertaken include assisting iconic footwear brand Birkenstock in its $4 billion-plus sale to Catterton, a global consumer-focused private equity firm; representing quantum photonics innovation company QPhoton – founded by Stevens Institute of Technology Professor Yuping Huang – in its merger with NASDAQ-listed QuantumComputing Inc., a leading and full-spectrum quantum software and hardware company; and representing Montclair State University in its unprecedented acquisition of Bloomfield College.

Cannone and his group also helped New Jersey score an impressive win, representing the state and the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority in their winning bid to stage the FIFA World Cup 2026 at MetLife Stadium. Under his guidance, Gibbons is also active in the energy sector – representing organizations like the New York Power Authority and PSE&G – and in finance, representing governmental entities and active and passive investors in private equity, institutional and pension fund investors, hedge funds, holding companies and real estate investment groups.

Michael Caplan
Lowenstein Sandler LLP

With more than 25 years of operational experience, including roles at both global corporate legal departments and large law firms, Caplan brings a unique perspective as COO at Lowenstein Sandler LLP. He has worked with more than 30 general counsels on managing data analytics, technology project implementation, law firm relationship management and financial management, consistently seeking improved efficiency. With Caplan as chief operating officer, Lowenstein’s strategy is paying off: Revenues rose from $390 million in 2023 to some $450 million in 2024. The firm aims to hit the half-billion dollar mark this year and $1 billion by 2029. Caplan brings a differentiated approach to managing law firm operations, including attorneys, members of the professional staff and clients. He actively pitches business, offers operational insights, and provides expertise in areas such as marketing and business development, artificial intelligence, human resources, benefits, alternative fees and repricing. Recognized by Financial Times North America as one of the top five Legal Intrapreneurs in the industry, Caplan was also selected Legal Innovator of the Year by The Changing Lawyer Awards, and as North American Operations Executive of the Year by the Best in Biz Awards. With more than 400 attorneys – and forecasts of 700-plus – Lowenstein is a destination for talented professionals who are attracted by its culture of excellence and collaboration — and Caplan’s leadership has been instrumental in this success.

William Caruso
Archer & Greiner PC

Caruso is a formidable figure in the legal arena, particularly in the realm of cannabis law. As a partner at Archer & Greiner PC, one of New Jersey’s most prominent full-service law firms, Caruso heads the Cannabis Law division, leading the group as it offers comprehensive legal services to a wide of variety stakeholders in the legalized cannabis market, including retailers, cultivators and ancillary businesses. His expertise spans such areas as strategic planning, transactions, employment law, land use, zoning, municipal law and health care law.

But Caruso’s influence also extends beyond his legal practice. He is also a well-known lobbyist and advocate for the cannabis industry. He co-founded New Jersey United for Marijuana Reform, an organization that played a crucial role in the legalization movement. Additionally, he led NJ CAN 2020, an advocacy group that was instrumental in the 2020 ballot initiative for adult-use legalization. Caruso also serves as general counsel for the New Jersey CannaBusiness Association, a leading statewide trade association.

Caruso’s extensive background in government affairs further bolsters his influence. Caruso spent five years as the executive director of the New Jersey Assembly Majority Office in Trenton and 11 years as chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Robert Andrews. He also manages Archer Public Affairs, an affiliate of Archer & Greiner that provides comprehensive government and regulatory affairs advice to clients.

Timothy Corriston
Connell Foley LLP

Earlier this year, when Connell Foley LLP announced that Tim Corriston was named managing partner for a second consecutive two-year term, the firm noted that the reappointment came as it “made incredible strides,” achieving significant revenue growth during his first term at the helm.

Under Corriston’s tenure, Connell Foley continues to add attorneys “at all levels.” The firm provides experienced counsel to organizations ranging from startups to mature companies on transactional, capital raising, environmental, land use, regulatory, compliance, M&A, complex litigation and other matters. Corriston also steered Connell Foley to achieve Mansfield Rule 6.0 Certification status, a prestigious designation awarded to firms that have demonstrated a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Acting as outside general counsel, Corriston also advises companies on day-to-day legal matters that can affect their bottom lines, such as strategy, contracts and issues related to employment matters. He represents businesses across a broad range of industries, including such sectors as energy, fintech, health care, information technology, software products and telecommunications.

Corriston is also deeply involved in local business and other issues as a member of the board of trustees of the New Jersey Business & Industry Association and the board of directors of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, he serves on the board of directors of the Fordham Law School Alumni Association.

Anthony Coscia
Windels Marx/Gateway Development Commission

You can’t talk about progress in New Jersey without mentioning Coscia. Besides being a partner at the powerhouse firm Windels Marx, he is vice chairman of the Gateway Development Commission, playing a pivotal role in navigating complex legal landscapes and ensuring the success of the $16 billion Hudson Tunnel Project.

Beyond his work with Gateway, Coscia is the lead director of OceanFirst Financial Corp. and OceanFirst Bank. He also serves as a senior advisor to Duration Capital Partners LLC, an infrastructure investment firm with $4 billion of assets under management, and a director of the Neighborhood Property Group LLC, which acquires, revitalizes and reimagines underutilized urban spaces.

A former chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Coscia oversaw the restoration of the agency after 9/11 as a key player in the region through development of a long-term capital program; assuming a lead role in the redevelopment of the WTC site; spearheading multibillion dollar mass transit improvements, port expansion, modernization of aviation facilities; and leading the most significant corporate governance and financial management reforms adopted by the Port Authority in more than two decades. He currently serves as a director of Georgetown University, a trustee of the Regional Plan Association and the New Jersey Community Development Corp. Coscia is also a member of The Partnership for New York City and The Economic Club of New York.

Max Crane
Sills Cummis & Gross PC

As managing partner for two decades, Crane has played a big part in helping solidify Sills Cummis & Gross PC as one of the largest and most successful corporate law firms in New Jersey. His leadership has helped the firm’s New York office grow by more than 15% in the first six months of 2025 alone. Crane’s tenure has been marked by a commitment to the firm’s history of operating at the intersection of law, public policy-government and business. Sills Cummis’s balanced mix of 60% litigation and 40% transactional work includes real estate, corporate matters and tax issues, ensuring the firm’s continued success.

Demand for the firm’s corporate work remains strong: Sills Cummis represented Stavola Holding Corp. in its $1.2 billion sale to Arcosa in the fourth quarter of 2024. His leadership has earned Sills Cummis the title of “New Jersey Firm of the Year” by Benchmark Litigation for nine years running.

The firm is finalizing a long term lease at its current Newark headquarters location, with Crane spearheading a team to work with a leading architecture and design firm to redesign all three floors of the headquarters. The new space reflects a commitment to the Brick City and will continue to build on the firm’s strong tech-driven foundation, incorporating upgraded amenities and more collaborative spaces.

Michael Critchley
Kinum & Luria LLC

When powerhouse businessman and political boss George Norcross was charged by Attorney General Matthew Platkin in a sweeping criminal racketeering case, one of his first calls went to another powerhouse: Critchley, a founding partner at Critchley, Kinum & Luria LLC. A 40-plus-year veteran who has been on both sides of the courtroom aisle – before becoming a trial attorney, Critchley served as assistant prosecutor in Essex County – he is regarded as one of the most effective trial attorneys in the state, advising numerous high-profile individual and corporate clients under investigation and enabling them – including Norcross – to avoid indictment or other proceedings.

His recognitions include being named to the NJBIZ Power 100 list; InsiderNJ’s 2025 policy makers list; and the Top 100 Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers in America. Among other honors, Critchley has received the Trial Attorneys of New Jersey’s Trial Bar Award, and the Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers of New Jersey’s Lawrence A. Whipple Award. And he still finds time to serve on the board of visitors at Seton Hall University School of Law, the board of directors at St. Michael’s Medical Center and more. Critchley is currently boning up on SPACs (Special Purpose Acquisition Companies) to prepare for his next big criminal case, US v Matthai, where he’s defending a client facing federal insider trading charges. “I love practicing white-collar defense,” he tells us. “It’s like reading a John Grisham novel, but you’re living it.”

Paul da Costa
Sarno da Costa D’Aniello Maceri Webb LLC

A partner at Sarno da Costa D’Aniello Maceri Webb LLC, and head of the firm’s Medical Malpractice and Personal Injury departments, da Costa is a certified civil trial attorney. He is regularly retained in high-profile, high-stakes cases on behalf of catastrophically injured individuals and by families who have lost their loved ones.

Renowned for his expertise in medical malpractice and wrongful death cases, he is widely recognized as one of the most respected and feared trial attorneys in the state. In 2025, he was selected as the “Attorney of the Year” in New Jersey by Best Lawyers in both medical malpractice and personal injury on behalf of plaintiffs. From 2020-2022, da Costa represented numerous families whose loved ones fell victim to COVID-19 inside the Veterans Memorial Homes at Menlo Park and Paramus, ultimately obtaining settlements totaling $44 million for his clients. In 2023, he secured a precedential victory in the New Jersey Appellate Division that found his client had a right to obtain metadata and to inspect the electronic medical records of her deceased husband from the defendant hospital. And his efforts – on behalf of a family of a disabled student who choked to death on a N.J. school bus – resulted in a $5 million settlement. “Clients come to me in the most tragic and desperate points in their lives, and it is my goal to ensure that we obtain full justice for them and simultaneously try to limit similar harms happening to other individuals in the future,” he said.

Christopher Dasti
Dasti & Staiger PC

The founder and managing partner at Dasti & Staiger PC, Dasti is committed to maintaining a personal touch even as his firm continues to grow. A lifelong resident of Ocean County, Dasti established his firm in 2018, grounded in the core principles of client-first service and value-added representation. Since its inception, the firm has demonstrated robust growth, and a young, diverse team that now comprises two partners (Dasti and Lauren Staiger), five associates and five staff members.

Reflecting Dasti’s commitment to public service, about 70% of the firm’s statewide public entity clients include county government, municipalities, land use boards, municipal utility authorities and boards of education. The firm also offers a comprehensive array of legal services, including real estate transactions, personal injury, estate planning and litigation, general litigation, business representation, formation and litigation, municipal court practice and land use development. Dasti’s dedication to his community extends beyond professional obligations. He and his team actively engage in community service, serving on boards of nonprofit organizations and special interest groups, including the Ocean County College Foundation Board of Trustees, the Ocean County Board of Health (where Dasti was a commissioner from 2016–2020) and the Lacey Township Economic Development Commission.

Edward Deutsch and Michael Marone
McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & Carpenter LLP

Deutsch (founder and managing partner) and Marone (managing partner-elect) lead McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & Carpenter LLP.

Under their leadership, McElroy Deutsch continues to grow and further cement its status as one of the Garden State’s powerhouse firms — boasting nearly 200 attorneys and professional staff members who work from 12 offices in nine states.

The firm represents clients in areas ranging from insurance to construction to pharmaceutical and medical devices to commercial lenders to industrial and commercial real estate, public and private colleges, and more.

Boasting a roster that includes several state superior court judges, a former federal district court judge and more, the firm is recognized constantly for its integrity and dedication to the highest level of professionalism. “Our collective focus has always been and remains on providing legal services of superior quality and exceptional value in a manner that enables our firm to ‘Place Clients First,’” McElroy Deutsch states.

Kathleen Barnett Einhorn
PEM Law LLP

Einhorn serves as the managing partner of PEM Law LLP, a boutique firm launched last year by a partners from Genova Burns LLC.

“We are committed to providing exceptional legal services tailored to focus on the future for our clients,” Einhorn said last March when the firm was established. “Our founding partners have a collective wealth of experience, and our goal is to continue delivering innovative solutions and strategic guidance to our clients across a wide range of practice areas.”

Einhorn has vast experience and expertise in all aspects of litigation – at the state and federal court level – as well as having handled arbitrations, mediations and other alternative dispute proceedings. She and her team of lawyers and paraprofessionals concentrate on general commercial litigation and counseling.

And PEM Law, still in its infancy, continues to grow under her leadership – recently inking a deal to occupy more than 12,000 square feet of office space in West Orange.

John Fanburg
Brach Eichler LLC

With more than 40 years of legal experience, John Fanburg is a leading authority on health care law in New Jersey. As managing member and health care law chair at Brach Eichler LLC, Fanburg advises hospitals, physician groups and private equity firms on complex M&A, regulatory compliance and strategic ventures. He’s also co-chair of the firm’s Cannabis Industry practice, helping clients navigate New Jersey’s evolving medicinal cannabis landscape.

Fanburg’s legal acumen has earned him top-tier recognition in Chambers USA (Band 1 for Health Law since 2009) and inclusion in Best Lawyers in America, as well as this Power List.

His civic engagement is equally notable — he was recently appointed to the executive board of the Zoological Society of New Jersey, which supports Essex County’s Turtle Back Zoo. “The Turtle Back Zoo is a treasure not only to our community but to me personally, and I am deeply honored to serve as a board member,” said Fanburg. “John brings a wealth of legal and business experience, and we look forward to working with him to ensure Turtle Back remains a vibrant educational and recreational destination,” said Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr.

Paul Fishman
Arnold & Porter

Fishman heads Arnold & Porter’s Crisis Management and Strategic Response team, and is a member of the firm’s White Collar Defense, Commercial Litigation, Securities Enforcement and Appellate practices.

He possesses a wealth of experience – including, notably, his stint as the U.S. attorney for the District of New Jersey (2009–2017), serving as the Garden State’s chief federal law enforcement officer.

In his role at Arnold & Porter, Fishman focuses on counseling executives and boards of directors on complex and sensitive issues. He also handles internal and government investigations, white collar criminal defense, commercial litigation, corporate compliance and governance, and appellate advocacy. No stranger to complex and high-profile cases – such as the infamous Bridgegate investigation/cases he oversaw – Fishman finds himself in yet another one in the government space. He is serving as counsel for U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver, D-10th District, who was charged with assaulting federal officials stemming from a recent dust-up during a check-up on an ICE facility in Newark.

“The decision to charge Congresswoman McIver is spectacularly inappropriate. She went to Delaney Hall to do her job. As a member of Congress, she has the right and responsibility to see how ICE is treating detainees,” said Fishman. “This prosecution is an attempt to shift the blame for ICE’s behavior to Congresswoman McIver. In the courtroom, facts – not headlines – will matter.”

Vito Gagliardi Jr.
Porzio, Bromberg & Newman PC

Gagliardi, Jr. serves in a number of key roles at Porzio, Bromberg & Newman PC: as managing principal of the firm, as well as president and CEO of Porzio Compliance Services and Porzio Governmental Affairs. A Certified Civil Trial Attorney and fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, he also co-chairs the firm’s Litigation Practice Group and its Education and Employment Team.

His impressive career has been marked by the ability to resolve complex disputes through trial and negotiation – advising clients ranging from educational institutions to businesses of all sizes, delivering strategic, results-driven counsel. Gagliardi has argued precedent-setting cases before the New Jersey Supreme Court.

Under his leadership, the firm continues to grow. In April, Porzio announced the opening of its newest office in Clinton. “We are excited to establish a presence in Hunterdon County,” said Gagliardi. “This expansion underscores our firm’s dedication to meeting the needs of families and individuals where they live and work.

“This move also marks an exciting chapter for Porzio as we grow to serve more communities across New Jersey.”

Angelo Genova
Genova Burns LLC

Genova is the co-founder and chairman of one of the state’s top law firms – Newark-based Genova Burns LLC.

He boasts extensive experience and expertise in a number of areas, such as complex and business litigation, appellate advocacy, labor and employment law, government contracts, procurement, campaign finance, and political and election law.

Genova regularly appears in courts at the state, regional and federal levels – and for decades, has provided precedent-setting legal representation that has reached all levels of the legal landscape. He is prominent in political and public policy circles — serving as general counsel to the state Democratic Party for 25 years and is a former commissioner of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Genova is also a big believer in the past, present and future of the city where his law firm is headquartered – chairing the Newark Summit the last two years. “To preserve our sense of history of who we are as a state, and New Jersey’s industrial tradition, it’s commerce tradition, it’s business tradition, it’s ethnic tradition, diversity tradition – they all trace back to Newark,” Genova told NJBIZ Editor Jeff Kanige during a 2024 episode of “NJBIZ Conversations.” “All roads lead to Newark in so much that’s about New Jersey.”

Frank Giantomasi
CSG Law

One of the state’s leading real estate attorneys, Giantomasi is a member and co-chair of the Executive Committee of Roseland-based CSG Law.

Giantomasi brings more than four decades of experience to the table across all aspects of real estate acquisitions, sales, development, complex commercial transactions and Chancery litigation – having successfully argued before intermediate appellate courts and New Jersey Supreme Court.

He has served as chief development counsel on a number of high-profile real estate projects – including the planning and development of Prudential Financial Inc.’s HQ, Panasonic North America’s base and Lionsgate Newark Studios in Newark, as well as Netflix Studios at Fort Monmouth.

He is widely recognized as a regional leader in planning, zoning and development law including tax abatement law – and has been one of the driving forces behind CSG Law’s continued growth. In addition to being a regular on lists such as these across the business and legal ecosystem, Giantomasi also continues to serve as chairman of the board of trustees for Newark Beth Israel Hospital.

Jessica Gonzalez
Rudick Law Group/Veridis Quo

Gonzalez is an associate at Rudick Law Group and the founder of Veridis Quo.

An award-winning cannabis attorney, adjunct professor, advocate, consulate and international speaker, Gonzalez has dedicated her career to uplifting communities impacted by cannabis prohibition through advocacy and education.

Her successful legalization advocacy and policy expertise set new precedents in cannabis law – while her deep knowledge of intellectual property law empowers clients to protect their innovations and thrive in this dynamic market. Over the past several years, she has assisted clients in navigating the legal cannabis industry in areas such as trademark, commercial transactions and state cannabis licensing.

In 2023, Veridis Quo was selected by the New Jersey Business Action Center to serve as the inaugural consultant to develop and establish the New Jersey Cannabis Training Academy. Launched this past fall, it has already seen remarkable growth.

Gonzalez also serves as an executive board member of Supernova Women, a national nonprofit that supports small business owners of color in the cannabis economy – yet another example of the important work she is doing in this space.

CJ Griffin
Pashman Stein Walder Hayden PC

Griffin is a partner at Pashman Stein Walder Hayden PC where she has served as director of the firm’s Justice Gary S. Stein Public Interest Center since its 2019 inception. Her work centers on issues of transparency and public records – advising clients on First Amendment matters involving free speech and media law. And Griffin’s efforts have led to significantly expanded access to law enforcement records such as dash cameras, body-worn cameras, use of force reports and police misconduct records. Under her leadership, the Stein Public Interest Center has been at the forefront of public interest litigation and appellate advocacy that advances social, racial and economic justice – as well as safeguards civil liberties and constitutional rights; protects democracy; and promotes open, transparent and accountable government. She recently argued before the state Supreme Court in a police transparency suit on behalf of States Newsroom Inc., the nonprofit publisher of the New Jersey Monitor. “Transparency is very important to the public, trusting the police,” Griffin told justices during the oral argument. “And the public often feels that police are given special treatment, that they cover up for each other, that the internal affairs unit doesn’t hold their fellow officers accountable. … And I’ve personally seen that every time we come to this court and obtain a landmark decision that gives us transparency – then we see agencies finding a new way to evade that transparency. So those things are all present in this case.”

Deborah Hays
Archer & Greiner PC

In her role as partner at Archer & Greiner PC, Hays brings more than three decades of expertise and experience to the fold. Since 2013, she has served as chair of the firm’s Business Counseling group and since 2019, has served as chair of Archer’s board of directors. In her practice, Hays represents a range of businesses, including established companies and financial institutions – from small, local businesses to large, public and privately-held corporations; as well as startup and early-stage companies.

Her practice focuses on complex business transactions – and she routinely represents clients in merger acquisition transactions such as asset purchases, stock purchases, joint ventures, and strategic alliances. She has particular expertise with M&A transactions in the areas of home health care, automobile dealership, vehicle fleet management, and consumer products.

Hays provides her business clients with general representation in areas such as entity formation, risk management/mitigation, corporate governance, corporate reorganization, dissolution, and more.

She is actively involved with a number of professional and business organizations including as immediate past chair of the Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey Board of Directors and as the current chair of the board of trustees of The Wetlands Institute.

Elie Honig
CNN/Lowenstein Sandler LLP/Rutgers Institute for Secure Communities

Honig is a busy man. You can see him regularly on CNN where he serves as the news network’s senior legal analyst, offering his analysis and commentary on government and legal issues, including everything from President Donald Trump’s trial to key Supreme Court rulings to the recent Sean “Diddy” Combs trial. A former state and federal prosecutor, Honig is special counsel for Lowenstein Sandler LLP where he provides strategic advice to individuals and businesses in government-facing investigations as well as counsel on internal investigations.

He also serves as executive director of the Rutgers Institute for Secure Communities. In this role, Honig has overseen an effort offering his students the opportunity to participate in Gov. Phil Murphy’s Clemency Initiative – by sifting through sometimes-decade-old convictions and building summations of each applicant’s petition for clemency, which are then sent to the governor for consideration.

“These students are learning their way around a real criminal file and picking up the terminology – what a rap sheet looks like. What a police report looks like. What a prosecutor’s filing looking like,” said Honig, a Rutgers alum. “A lot of them may end up being lawyers, and this is the first time they’ve had the chance to have their hands on a project with substantial real-world impacts.”

In September, he is releasing a new book, “When You Come at the King: Inside DOJ’s Pursuit of the President, from Nixon to Trump.”

Maha Kabbash
Tucker Ellis LLP

Kabbash is described as a soup-to-nuts litigator and a fiercely proud Jersey Girl. In 2024, she was tapped by Tucker Ellis LLP (along with Diana Katz Gerstel) as a partner to bolster its Health and Life Sciences practice, as well as open a new office in a new market – Morristown – after a long stint at Riker Danzig, where she was a partner.

“We decided to join Tucker Ellis for both the professional opportunities offered by this nationwide firm and the cultural fit, which is so important to us,” said Kabbash in a February 2024 press release.

Her practice focuses on the defense of pharmaceutical and medical device companies in product liability litigation. Kabbash boasts more than 25 years of experience, which she infuses into every stage of defending a product liability lawsuit — from drafting pleadings to written and electronic discovery all the way through trial and appeal.

She is also a committed champion of diversity, equity, and inclusion in both the legal space and the community at large – devoting years of volunteer service to local and national civil rights and cultural organizations. Currently, Kabbash serves on the Parish Council and Charity Committee of her church.

Matt Karmel
Offit Kurman

A seasoned environmental attorney, Karmel is a principal at Offit Kurman – which he joined in 2022, soon thereafter establishing the firm’s Environmental and Sustainability Law group. Under his leadership, the group has evolved into a national practice, integrating traditional environmental expertise with emerging sustainability challenges.

Karmel has dedicated his legal career and extensive personal time to advancing environmental law and sustainability initiatives. In his practice, he represents a wide range of clients – from Fortune 100 companies to individual homeowners – providing strategic guidance at the intersection of multiple legal disciplines by translating complex legal concepts into actionable business solutions.

He has also maintained a focus on giving back and expanding access to climate-related pro bono work – creating and hosting the annual Climate Pro Bono Bootcamp. The two-day virtual training program has attracted hundreds of attorneys worldwide. In February, Karmel received the Creative Collaborator Award by Green Pro Bono, celebrating his dedication to advancing GPB’s mission of expanding access to pro bono legal services for climate-focused organizations. “Working with Green Pro Bono has reinforced my belief in the power of legal support to drive meaningful climate action – and I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute,” Karmel said.

John Kim
Cognizant

Kim serves as chief legal officer, chief administrative officer and corporate secretary of Cognizant. He has been with the company since 2019 – and in 2024, he was given the above title change to better reflect his responsibilities. Those include leading Cognizant’s legal, company secretary, compliance, corporate security, regulatory, ESG, global real estate, procurement, contract lifecycle risk management and strategic negotiation functions.

Just last month, Cognizant released its 2024 Sustainability and Corporate Citizenship Report, which detailed the Teaneck-headquartered company’s progress across the pillars of people and communities, and corporate governance. This comes amid the AI era – with Cognizant committing to serving as leader in developing and deploying AI responsibly. Efforts have included the launch of an Advanced AI Lab. The company also awarded $15 million in grants and gifts to more than 130 organizations worldwide to improve economic mobility and community resilience.

And last year, more than 47,000 Cognizant associates volunteered over 220,000 hours through the company’s global volunteering program. “Cognizant’s focus on sustainability and corporate citizenship reinforces our efforts to accelerate growth, amplify talent, and scale innovation, which together fuels our ability to continue serving clients with excellence, while improving the communities where our associates live and work,” said Kim.

Robert Klausner
Fox Rothschild LLP

Klausner is the co-chair of the Real Estate department at Fox Rothschild LLP – bringing more than three decades of legal and business experience in the real estate industry to this key role. During his career, he has represented clients in variety of different transactions, including office, industrial and retail.

Those transactions have led to the leasing of more than 100 million square feet of space, the purchase and sale of more than $40 billion worth of properties, and the borrowing and lending for more than $25 billion worth of properties. Klausner has also been the lead attorney in connection with 12 NAIOP “Deal of the Year” Awards.

He is described as possessing in-depth insights and hands-on knowledge into leasing, acquisitions and dispositions; joint venture structuring; financing; and build-to-suit development. These accomplishments and his sterling reputation in this space has led to a number of awards and recognition on lists such as this – including being honored by Chambers USA as one of New Jersey’s leading real estate attorneys for 14 consecutive years.

Scott Kobler
McCarter & English LLP

Kobler is the long-time partner at Newark-based McCarter & English LLP, where he has built a nationally regarded practice in health care, higher education and affordable housing. Boasting more than four decades of experience, Kobler joined the firm in 1982 and its partnership in 1989. His practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions and capital financing.

He has also been a tireless advocate for nonprofit leadership – providing longstanding counsel to organizations focused on public broadcasting, responsible journalism, education, the performing arts and accessible health care for underserved communities. Those efforts have included more than three decades of serving on the boards operating New Jersey’s public television system – first on the New Jersey Public Broadcasting Authority, where he served as chair under five governors. Currently, Kobler is the chair of Public Media New Jersey, an affiliate of WNET/Channel 13, and the state’s public media network.

Just last month, Kobler was named as the 2025 recipient of the Loretta Weinberg Award for Journalism Impact, which honors non-journalists who have made significant, lasting contributions to journalism in the state. “His unwavering commitment to public service and journalistic integrity exemplifies the highest ideals of our profession,” said McCarter Chair Joseph Lubertazzi. “Scott’s work demonstrates the powerful role legal insight can play in supporting truth, transparency, and civic engagement.”

Barbara Koonz
Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith & Davis LLP

Koonz is the managing partner of Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith & Davis LLP, where she focuses on representing clients in environmental and energy matters. Based primarily in the firm’s Iselin office, she is a member of the Environmental practice and leads the firm’s Energy & Renewable Resources practice.

As a lawyer and geologist, Koonz has counseled domestic and overseas businesses on a range of sophisticated legal issues for over 30 years. She advises private and public entities on matters related to environmental permitting and regulatory compliance, renewable and clean energy projects, generation facilities and infrastructure, waterfront and coastal projects, and the licensing and operation of A-901 licensed solid waste facilities. She has extensive experience in negotiating regulatory issues and resolving related enforcement actions with public agencies. Koonz is a fellow in the American College of Environmental Lawyers and is a member of the American, Energy, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Florida bar associations, as well as NAIOP New Jersey, the New Jersey Women Lawyers Association and the New Jersey Builders Association. She is recognized in Chambers USA, Best Lawyers and New Jersey Super Lawyers in her areas of practice. An advocate for public safety, Koonz is the former chair and serves on the Middlesex County ASAP board for the rehabilitation and re-entry of drug dependent inmates. She was appointed by the state Supreme Court to the New Jersey Lawyers Assistance Program Board of Trustees.

Charles Lizza
Saul Ewing

Lizza leads Saul Ewing’s patent litigation team, which is routinely recognized as one of the top firms nationally for Abbreviated New Drug Application cases on behalf of brand pharmaceutical companies. He has been named one of “America’s Leading Lawyers in Intellectual Property Law” by Chambers USA since 2011 and has been ranked in its highest Band since 2018.

The U.S. Supreme Court recently heard one of his cases, Helsinn Healthcare S.A. v. Teva Pharmaceuticals USA Inc., et al.  The Court accepts very few cases, and Helsinn was the only patent case heard in its fall term. Earlier in the case, Lizza secured a major trial victory for Helsinn in the U.S. District Court in New Jersey – a national hotbed for ANDA litigation. The trial court case also received national media attention in Law360 and Bloomberg BNA.

Lizza currently leads the firm team in representing BioNTech against Moderna to protect BioNTech’s COMIRNATY COVID-19 vaccine. BioNTech pioneered the mRNA technology behind COMIRNATY, which was critical in turning the tide of the COVID pandemic. This case is important not only because it involves the COVID-19 vaccine, but it will also likely impact patents using mRNA technology for other future vaccines.

Lawrence Lustberg
Gibbons PC

Lustberg is co-chair of white collar & investigations at Gibbons PC and is a recognized authority in constitutional and criminal law, responsible for hundreds of seminal federal and state court decisions and engaged in significant cases under investigation or in the courts.

Chambers USA has listed him among the “leading individuals in the area of White Collar Crime & Government Investigations.” Lustberg is also director of the firm’s award-winning John J. Gibbons Fellowship in Public Interest & Constitutional Law, which litigates a broad range of historic, cutting-edge civil rights and civil liberties cases. Under his leadership, the group has become known nationwide as a voice for the poor and underrepresented groups. In addition, he has worked extensively for and with the New Jersey State Bar Association, particularly in the area of racial justice.

Lustberg is a fellow of both the American College of Trial Lawyers and International Academy of Trial Lawyers. He is a recipient of numerous awards and is consistently recognized as one of the top lawyers in New Jersey, including several times as the No. 1 lawyer. Lustberg has also led legal associations and chaired and/or served on many government commissions, court committees, and boards of philanthropic and nonprofit organizations.

Editor’s note: This list was updated July 21, 2025, to update the Edward Deutsch and Michael Marone entry, specifically, describing their firm’s roster. It was also updated to correct the number of attorneys at Lowenstein Sandler LLP to more than 400.

Continue to 2025 Law Power List: M – Z