CSG Law adds former federal judge Vazquez

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Former federal judge John Michael Vazquez is joining Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC as a member in its renowned Litigation and White Collar Defense & Investigations groups.

In a Sept. 11 press release, the Roseland-based firm announced the arrival of Vazquez, who officially stepped down last week after seven years on the bench.

Nominated by President Barack Obama, Vazquez is a former federal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, from 2001 through 2008, who was confirmed in January 2016 as a United States district judge for the District of New Jersey.

Prior to becoming a federal judge, Vazquez was a partner at North Jersey law firm Critchley, Kinum & Vazquez, where he represented former Ridgefield Mayor Anthony Suarez on corruption charges in 2010. Along with winning an acquittal for his client in the case, Vazquez broke a government streak of more than 200 public corruption convictions, according to CSG.

Additionally, Vazquez was co-counsel in a federal civil trial shortly before joining the bench in which he helped secure a jury verdict of more than $100 million for his client.

In a statement, Vazquez said, “I am very excited to be returning to an active practice. By taking this next step, I have the rare and fortunate opportunity to couple my federal judicial experience with my passion for litigating both complex civil and criminal matters at all stages. Similarly, as a former federal judge, I can help parties through alternative dispute procedures to reach a more efficient and fair resolution.”

Frank Giantomasi, a partner at CSG Law, said Vazquez’s “know-how and experience will prove invaluable as our Litigation Group continues to expand to meet the needs of our valued clients.”

He added, “If you’re looking for someone who understands the big picture and the bottom line, look no further than Judge Vazquez.”

In addition to Vazquez, Kathryn Pearson, who served as his career law clerk while Vasquez was on the bench, will also join the firm’s Litigation and White Collar Defense & Investigations Groups as counsel to the firm, CSG Law announced.

The Litigation Group consists of 60-plus trial-tested former federal prosecutors and seasoned commercial litigators working to help produce favorable outcomes for clients without the need for costly or protracted litigation through counseling, strategic planning and pre-litigation negotiation.

The team regularly litigates in federal and state trial-level and appellate courts, before administrative agencies and in alternative dispute resolution forums, such as mediation and arbitration.

With a group made up of members who have held significant positions of authority on federal, state and county levels, CSG Law’s White Collar Defense & Investigations practice guides corporations through government investigations, as well as related criminal, civil and administration litigation and enforcement proceedings.

Another recent hire

In July, as part of a move to expand its patent group to meet the growing needs of clients in the area of patent prosecution and intellectual property litigation, CSG Law added Joseph Saphia as a new co-chair for the practice. Click here to meet Saphia.