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Legal professionals face countless battles beyond their cases, from adopting ever-evolving technology to navigating a changing political climate and more. 

The 2026 NJBIZ Leaders in Law honorees, however, are up to the challenge. 

This program honors legal professionals – lawyers and general counsels – whose dedication to their occupation and to their communities is outstanding. 

Following an open nomination period, the honorees were chosen by a panel of independent judges with experience in the justice system.  

NJBIZ is again honoring three rising stars in the industry. Added in 2024, the category recognizes individuals with seven years or less of legal experience who show extreme potential to be an industry leader in the next few years. Additionally, we’re recognizing three firms that are benefiting their communities through their pro bono work. 

The 2026 Leaders in Law celebration will take place from 8-10:30 a.m. March 31 at The Marigold in Somerset. Tickets for the event are on sale now on the event page.  

For sponsorship opportunities, please contact AnnMarie Karczmit at 732-246-5717 of [email protected].

Congratulations to the 2026 NJBIZ Leaders in Law honorees! 

Listed alphabetically:

A. Jude Avelino, founding partner
Avelino Law LLP 

Cassia Beierle, executive vice president, general counsel
Kearny Bank 

David Blatteis, member, Management Committee
Norris McLaughlin PA 

Lawrence Bluestone, partner
Genova Burns LLC 

Matthew Bonanno, partner
Rebenack, Aronow & Mascolo LLP 

Gary Botwinick, co-managing partner, co-chair of trusts & estates and taxation practices
Einhorn, Barbarito, Frost, Botwinick, Nunn & Musmanno PC 

Andrew Bronsnick, partner
Mandelbaum Barrett PC 

Stuart Brown, shareholder
Stevens & Lee 

Rahat Chatha, chief legal and compliance officer
New Jersey Reentry Corp. 

Michael Chirico, general counsel
New Jersey Innovation Institute 

Jeffrey Cohen, shareholder
Flaster Greenberg PC 

DanaLynn Colao, member
Saiber LLC 

Carolyn Daly, partner, chair of the family law department
Cohen Seglias Pallas Greenhall & Furman PC 

Christopher Dasti, managing partner
Dasti & Staiger PC 

Mitchell Decter, general counsel, chief compliance officer
JAG Physical Therapy 

Anthony DellaPelle, managing partner, shareholder
McKirdy Riskin Olson & DellaPelle PC 

Joe DeMarco, partner
Scarinci Hollenbeck LLC 

Frederic Garsson, insurance practice co-chair, transactional department vice chair
Saul Ewing LLP 

Geoffrey Gibson, senior vice president of corporate affairs, chief legal and human resources officer
Bergen New Bridge Medical Center 

Deborah Hays, partner, chair of board of directors
Archer & Greiner PC 

Sheri Hecht Leonard, deputy general counsel
Suburban Propane LP 

James Hetzel, senior vice president, general counsel, Physician Services
Hackensack Meridian Health 

Maha Kabbash, partner, partner in charge of New Jersey office
Tucker Ellis LLP 

Rippi Karda, associate general counsel
Verizon 

Avi Kimmel, associate general counsel
Kushner 

Justin Klein, managing partner
Marks & Klein 

Barbara Koonz, managing partner, practice leader, Energy & Renewable Resources
Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith & Davis LLP 

William Krais, principal
Porzio, Bromberg & Newman PC 

Stuart Lederman, partner
Riker Danzig LLP 

Mark Levenson, chair, Real Estate Department
Sills Cummis & Gross PC 

David Lichtenberg, regional managing partner
Fisher Phillips LLP 

Jose Linares, partner and chair of alternative dispute resolution practice
McCarter & English LLP 

Edward McElroy, partner
Epstein Ostrove 

Philip McGovern, managing partner
Tanenbaum Keale LLP 

Christopher Minks, executive vice president and chief legal officer/general counsel
Russo Development 

Sheilah O’Halloran, executive vice president and general counsel
Atlantic Health 

Raj Parikh, partner
PEM Law LLP 

Grace Park, executive vice president and general counsel
PSEG 

Ross Pearlson, member, Litigation Group
Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC 

Arlene Perez, equity partner
DeCotiis, FitzPatrick, Cole & Giblin LLP 

Allen Popowitz, real estate chair
Brach Eichler 

Steven Richman, member
Clark Hill PLC 

Robyn Ross, founding partner
Ross & Calandrillo LLC 

Stephen Santola, executive vice president and general counsel
Woodmont Properties 

Matthew Schiller, partner
Murphy Schiller & Wilkes LLP 

Melanie Scroble, shareholder
Ansell Grimm & Aaron PC 

John Shahdanian II, director
Trenk Isabel Siddiqi & Shahdanian PC 

Natalia Shishkin, managing director
Provider Management Services LLC 

Amy Shotmeyer Porter, in-house counsel
Christian Health 

Sheea Sybblis, vice president, Human Pharma Business Law
Boehringer Ingelheim

Vanessa Thomas, vice president, associate general counsel
Johnson & Johnson 

Peter Torcicollo, co-managing partner
FBT Gibbons LLP 

Helen Tuttle, partner & labor and employment practice group leader
Faegre Drinker 

Alan Walter, founder
Alan N. Walter, Counsel 

Ronald Weich, dean and professor of law
Seton Hall University School of Law 

Iman Wells, partner
Nukk-Freeman & Cerra PC 

Michael Zogby, managing partner, New Jersey office & chair of trial & global disputes group
Barnes & Thornburg LLP 

Rising Stars: 

Sarah Briguglio, attorney
Law Offices of Sarah Briguglio 

Kaitlin Hackett, associate
Porzio Bromberg & Newman PC 

Jaclynn McDonnell, counsel
Genova Burns LLC

Pro Bono honorees: 

Chugh LLP

Connell Foley LLP

Lowenstein Center for the Public Interest