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Home2024LawROI Influencers: Power List 2024 — Law
Home2024LawROI Influencers: Power List 2024 — Law

ROI Influencers: Power List 2024 — Law

Let’s get down to business: The large number of municipalities in the state combined
with the large number of rules and regulations makes the need for good legal
representation more important than ever.

Make that, the need for a good legal team.

With that in mind — and with hundreds of firms around the state practicing in dozens of
areas — we went searching for the top person at all the top firms. And, wouldn’t you
know it, so many had more than one person worthy of being honored — so, we added
them, too.

(See our Super 60 for a few more.)

Methodology: The list aims to honor the lawyers in New Jersey that have the most influence on business issues and transactions — and/or running the business of a firm or leading a legal organization.

The list was selected by the editorial board of ROI-NJ based on opinions of business and government leaders, nominations and our editorial judgment.

ROI Influencers

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Christine Amalfe

Christine Amalfe Chair, Employment & Labor Law Group Gibbons The chair of the firm’s Employment & Labor Law Group and a member of the Executive Committee, she is a co-founder of the internationally recognized Gibbons Women’s Initiative.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — William Barrett

William Barrett CEO Mandelbaum Barrett Despite having more than 100 attorneys, the firm runs at 50% profitability, which is unheard of for a firm of this size.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Joe Baumann

Joe Baumann Chairman McManimon, Scotland & Baumann Go-to lawyer for complicated real estate projects involving numerous stakeholders, difficult sites, complex capital stacks and extensive public sector involvement.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Joseph Boccassini

Joseph Boccassini Managing partner McCarter & English He heads a firm that arguably has the best lawyers, the highest revenues and does the most significant pro bono work — that’s a triple crown.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — James Burns

James Burns Managing partner Genova Burns He is the co-founder and now managing partner of Genova Burns, leading the ongoing growth across numerous practice areas at one of the state’s most important firms.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Frank Cannone

Frank Cannone Chair, Corporate Group Gibbons Chair of the Corporate Group, his practice is focused on mergers & acquisitions, private equity, early-stage and emerging growth, and corporate and securities law.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Lou Cappelli Jr.

Lou Cappelli Jr. Managing partner Florio Perrucci Steinhardt Cappelli Tipton & Taylor LLC He is head of firm’s Cherry Hill office and the longtime director of Camden County board of commissioners since 2002.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Bill Castner

Bill Castner Government affairs practice Connell Foley He is well-known throughout the state in the highest level of politics and government. He is a fierce advocate for reforming guns laws, serving as key adviser on the issue with governor.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Kathleen Connelly

Kathleen Connelly Co-chair, Labor & Employment Practice Lindabury, McCormick, Estabrook & Cooper Co-chair of Labor & Employment Practice and founding member of firm’s Women’s Business Initiative program, which provides mentorship and professional development.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Timothy Corriston

Timothy Corriston Managing partner Connell Foley His strategic approach to managing the firm includes development of the next generation of lawyers, and a focus on the firm’s Women’s Initiative and Diversity Initiative.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Patricia Costello

Patricia Costello Managing partner Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi She is responsible for providing overall strategic direction and overseeing the day-to-day management of one of the state’s fastest-growing and most dynamic firms.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Nino Coviello

Nino Coviello Co-managing member Saiber Veteran of firm moves into top executive position.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Max Crane

Max Crane Managing partner Sills Cummis & Gross He joined Sills Cummis in 1984, rose through the ranks to the firm’s top leadership role in 2005, and has led firm to its most successful — and profitable — years.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Kelly Crawford

Kelly Crawford Co-chair Riker Danzig In addition to leadership role at firm, she heads its Products Liability and Mass Tort Practice Group, concentrating her practice in complex litigation involving mass torts, products liability defense and complex commercial matters.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Michael Critchley

Michael Critchley Business litigation practice Critchley, Kinum & Luria Almost universally regarded as the most effective trial attorney in the state, Critchley has successfully tried more than 100 cases in federal and state courts.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Keith Davis

Keith Davis Real estate practice Nehmad Davis & Goldstein One of the top lawyers in South Jersey, but his work is statewide – has represented major developers, Fortune 500 companies, nonprofit entities and small businesses.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Joe DeCotiis

Joe DeCotiis Co-managing partner DeCotiis, FitzPatrick, Cole & Giblin In addition to his leadership role, DeCotiis plays an important role in the firm as chair of the Government and Regulatory Affairs Practice Group.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Michael DeCotiis

Michael DeCotiis Co-managing partner DeCotiis, FitzPatrick, Cole & Giblin He has a blend of public and private transactional experience, having served in various high-level capacities in state and local, and regional government entities.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Ed Deutsch

Ed Deutsch Managing partner McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & Carpenter He is the founder and managing partner of one of the state’s largest firms, which has more than 275 lawyers and offices in nine states.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Jennine DiSomma

Jennine DiSomma Co-managing member Saiber Veteran of firm moves into top executive position. DiSomma is first woman to fill this role in the firm’s more-than-70-year history.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — John Fanburg

John Fanburg Managing member Brach Eichler He is the managing partner of Brach Eichler, but also maintains the role of chair of the firm’s Health Care Practice. … Long recognized as a top expert in health and hospital law.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Vito A. Gagliardi Jr.

Vito A. Gagliardi Jr. Managing principal Porzio, Bromberg & Newman He not only is managing principal of the firm, Gagliardi serves as CEO of the firm’s subsidiaries, Porzio Life Sciences, Porzio Governmental Affairs and Porzio Compliance Services.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Angelo Genova

Angelo Genova Chairman Genova Burns He has stepped back from his role as managing partner, but the renowned trial lawyer remains a force in the industry at one of the state’s most respected firms.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Frank Giantomasi

Frank Giantomasi Real estate practice Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi One of the best-known lawyers in the state, he’s recognized as a leader in planning, zoning and development law, including tax abatement law for the city of Newark and urban areas.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Christopher Gibson

Christopher Gibson President Archer & Greiner Gibson has been called the best litigator in South Jersey, a consummate professional who has helped Archer grow into South Jersey’s only Top 250 national law firm.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Meryl Gonchar

Meryl Gonchar Co-chair, Land Use Practice Group Sills Cummis & Gross Gonchar is one of the leading land use attorneys in the state and is involved in many of the most transformational redevelopment projects. She received NAIOP-NJ’s Industry Service Award in 2023.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — David Grantz

David Grantz Managing partner Meyner and Landis Recently elevated to top spot in firm, he also serves as top commercial litigator and handles a myriad of complex cases involving individuals or entities involved in financial transactions related to corporate loans.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Marc Gross

Marc Gross Business litigation practice Fox Rothschild Has extensive trial and appellate experience and is highly regarded as a creative and tenacious litigator. His advocacy spans a wide range of business-related practice areas.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Deborah Hays

Deborah Hays Chair of board of directors Archer & Greiner With over 25 years of experience in corporate finance law, she is sought-after for her strategic planning abilities, knowledge, experience and ability to cut straight to the essence of a challenge.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Jason Holt

Jason Holt Environmental & real estate practices Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi Was a key player in helping to overturn one of most glaring miscarriages of justice in history: the unfair mutiny convictions of more than 100 Black soldiers (and executions of 19) in aftermath...

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Natalya Johnson

Natalya Johnson Senior counsel; Immediate past president Johnson & Johnson; Garden State Bar Association Her work at J&J is top shelf, but her efforts as a mentor, ally and thought leader through various organizations (Garden State Bar, N.J. Bar and others) speaks to her...

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Paul Josephson

Paul Josephson Government affairs & cannabis practices Duane Morris A constitutional and regulatory litigator, he advises CEOs, elected officials and agency heads on matters involving significant public interests or highly regulated by government agencies.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Avi Kelin

Avi Kelin Corporate political activity practice Genova Burns He not only is a leader in advising on lobbying requirements, campaign finance law, pay-to-play restrictions and government ethics rules, he is undisputed leader on autonomous vehicle rules and regulations.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Bob Klausner

Bob Klausner Co-chair, Real Estate Department Fox Rothschild One of the best-known and most-respected real estate lawyers in the state, he has served as lead attorney in connection with 11 “Deal of the Year” Awards from NAIOP New Jersey.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Scott Kobler

Scott Kobler Health care practice McCarter & English For more than 35 years, he has participated in New Jersey’s largest and most complex health care transactions. Simply put, there is no one in his class in the specialty.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Anthony La Rocco

Anthony La Rocco Managing partner K&L Gates He focuses his personal practice on a wide range of complex commercial and insurance coverage litigation, including unfair competition, contract disputes and health care and ERISA disputes.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Jeralyn Lawrence

Jeralyn Lawrence Managing partner Lawrence Law – Divorce and Family Lawyers She left a big firm (where she was partner) to start her own firm, dedicated to divorce and guiding clients through the issues related to family law. Immediate past president of the N.J....

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Lloyd Levenson

Lloyd Levenson CEO Cooper Levenson He’s long been at the forefront of the newest developments in gaming and iGaming law; that’s why Stockton established an institute for gaming/hospitality in his name.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Eric Levine

Eric Levine President Lindabury, McCormick, Estabrook and Cooper Firm president and an accomplished litigator, but he is perhaps best known as the co-chair of the firm’s Cybersecurity and Data Privacy practice.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — James Lewis

James Lewis Of counsel; president Cole Schotz; Garden State Bar Association An employment attorney, he leads the firm’s diversity, equity & inclusion initiatives while also serving as the head of one of the most impactful and influential groups of African American attorneys in country.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Larry Lustberg

Larry Lustberg Criminal litigation practice Gibbons One of the top criminal defense attorneys in the country, he currently is the lead attorney in one of the biggest securities fraud cases in U.S. history.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Diana Manning

Diana Manning Managing principal Bressler, Amery & Ross A top litigator for more than three decades, she also is helping to pave the way for women to advance in the legal profession. Manning became the firm’s first managing principal in 2021.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — W. Nevins McCann

W. Nevins McCann Real estate practice Connell Foley Recognized as one of the leading real estate attorneys in Jersey City and along the Gold Coast, McCann has been on the front lines of state’s legal and political landscape for many years.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Phil McGovern

Phil McGovern Real estate practice Connell Foley Former managing partner remains a savvy transactional attorney, concentrating primarily on commercial real estate and corporate transactions, and complex commercial financing.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Andrew Miltenberg

Andrew Miltenberg Title IX practice Nesenoff & Miltenberg N.J.-based attorney is nationally recognized as leader in Title IX issues at high school and collegiate level. Many cases are high-profile and influential in setting precedent.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Philip Norcross

Philip Norcross Managing shareholder Parker McCay A frequent lecturer on business, public finance and economic development matters and has played an outsized role in the growth of Camden in the past decade.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Brian O’Donnell

Brian O’Donnell Co-chairman Riker Danzig The co-chair of the firm’s Insurance and Reinsurance Group, he is a seasoned litigator whose reputation extends internationally, as he has clients in the U.S., the U.K. and Bermuda.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Camille Otero

Camille Otero Chair, Environmental group Gibbons Chair of the Environmental Group, her practice focuses primarily on litigation, as well as environmental due diligence in real estate and corporate transactions, remediation, counseling and regulatory compliance.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Rajiv Parikh

Rajiv Parikh Business litigation practice Genova Burns He is chair of numerous practice groups at Genova Burns, including Construction Law & Litigation and Election Law & Litigation and has tried a number of high-stakes cases.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Jacqueline Pena

Jacqueline Pena Product liability practice Bowman and Brooke She’s president of the Hispanic Bar Association, a group that actively is working to increase the number and impact of Hispanic attorneys while aiding other Hispanic community, business, civic, charitable and cultural organizations.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Donald Pepe

Donald Pepe Real estate practice Scarinci Hollenbeck One of the most influential commercial real estate attorneys in the state, he has played a significant role in the redevelopment of Jersey City, Hoboken and the Gold Coast.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Matt Platkin

Matt Platkin Attorney general State of New Jersey From issues involving gun ownership to parental notification to support for Israel (and security concerns associated with it), Platkin has been an active and aggressive attorney general.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Chris Porrino

Chris Porrino Partner Lowenstein Sandler He is the chair of the Litigation Department, but few titles on this list fail to convey his role and impact. He is a hire that immediately tilts the scales in the favor of whatever client he represents.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Patricia Prezioso

Patricia Prezioso Chair, Employment & Labor Practice Group Sills Cummis & Gross Patti Prezioso continues to be a key player assisting employers/businesses with reducing risk and addressing employee claims, especially in this ever-changing employment landscape.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Thomas Prol

Thomas Prol Environmental practice Sills Cummis & Gross Gov. Phil Murphy recently appointed Prol as chairman of the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Arlene Quiñones Perez

Arlene Quiñones Perez Labor and employment practice DeCotiis, FitzPatrick, Cole & Giblin A member of the Labor and Employment, Municipal, Education and Alternative Dispute Resolution practice groups, she also is director of diversity & inclusion.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Nicholas Racioppi Jr.

Nicholas Racioppi Jr. Chair, Real Estate Group Riker Danzig Racioppi has extensive experience in complex real estate workouts, foreclosures — and in the formation and structuring of real estate partnerships and joint ventures.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Scott Salmon

Scott Salmon Co-chair, Government Representation Group Jardim Meisner Salmon Sprague & Susser He provides counseling and litigation services to many governmental entities — and candidates. He currently is serving as attorney for Steve Fulop’s run for governor.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Donald Scarinci

Donald Scarinci Managing partner Scarinci Hollenbeck A prominent figure in New Jersey for over 35 years, with influence on public and municipal law and for his contributions to legal education, specifically in the area of constitutional law.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Robert Scrivo

Robert Scrivo Co-chair, White Collar & Criminal Defense Practice Group Mandelbaum Salsburg Scrivo, a former state and federal prosecutor, has handled virtually every type of criminal and civil case, including commercial litigation, regulatory issues and civil rights.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Tom Scrivo

Tom Scrivo Managing partner O’Toole Scrivo An accomplished trial lawyer and trusted adviser to business/government leaders, he has extensive experience in a diverse range of areas, including complex commercial and business litigation.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Michael Sirota

Michael Sirota Co-managing shareholder Cole Schotz Many consider Sirota to be the preeminent bankruptcy lawyer in the state. He has helped lead the department through the representation of more than 300 bankruptcy matters since 2019.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Nancy Erika Smith

Nancy Erika Smith Employment, civil rights practices Smith Mullin She is the co-founder of the firm she started with Neil Mullin in 1986 — a firm now nationally known and respected as a top labor and employment litigation firm.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Michael Stein

Michael Stein Chair & managing partner Pashman Stein Stein, who has extensive trial experience, specializes in general commercial litigation, primarily on complex and sophisticated corporate, business and probate disputes.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Dan Stolz

Dan Stolz Chair, Bankruptcy, Reorganization & Creditors’ Rights Practice Genova Burns He is leading a team at Genova Burns that has quickly become the go-to practice group for bankruptcy cases.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Anna Maria Tejada

Anna Maria Tejada Labor & employment practice Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr She’s an expert in labor and employment litigation nationwide and workplace training — and a key figure in mentoring Latina women in law.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Dennis Toft

Dennis Toft Environmental practice Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi One of the state’s leading Brownfields redevelopment practitioners, he played a key role in the adoption of the New Jersey Brownfields and Contaminated Site Remediation Act.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Peter Torcicollo

Peter Torcicollo Managing director Gibbons Runs the firm, but he remains a top lawyer. Has extensive institutional knowledge with a particular expertise in construction litigation.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Lee Vartan

Lee Vartan Litigation, cannabis practices Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi Always on the short list for top legal jobs in the state — and for good reason. He previously served, with praise, as a federal prosecutor in Newark, counsel to the governor and in the...

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Peter Verniero

Peter Verniero Chair, Corporate Investigations & Integrity and Appellate practices Sills Cummis & Gross Had had a string of important appellate wins, including representing Johnson & Johnson, successfully arguing before the N.J. Appellate Division for the reversal of a $223 million jury verdict —...

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Abby Webb

Abby Webb Family law practice Hill Wallack Concentrates her practice on family law issues, including divorce, custody, support and domestic violence cases. Also serves as immediate past president of Hispanic Bar Association of N.J.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Gary Wingens

Gary Wingens Managing partner Lowenstein Sandler He is passionate about public interest and pro bono work. His vision inspired the creation of the Lowenstein Center for the Public Interest to strategically channel the firm’s activities in these areas.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Jonathan Wolfe

Jonathan Wolfe Co-managing partner Skoloff & Wolfe Chair of the firm’s Matrimonial and Litigation departments, his practice centers on business litigation and matrimonial disputes, many of which involve high net worth clients.

ROI Influencers Power List 2024: Law — Ted Zangari

Ted Zangari Real estate practice Sills Cummis & Gross In addition to being well-known throughout state as a go-to lawyer for complex real estate projects, he is also an executive committee member of the N.J. Chamber of Commerce.

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