When you’re looking for an attorney, whose recommendation do you trust? We asked parents about the lawyers who’ve made a difference in their family’s lives during trying times. The result is an invaluable list of professionals who go above and beyond. We received dozens of nominations from parents all over the state. Passionate, hardworking, caring and dedicated are just a handful of words our readers used to describe the lawyers on this list.

From special needs to family law, the lawyers on this coveted list have advocated for families in need of expert advice during incredibly stressful times. This list wouldn’t exist without readers like you who took the time to nominate stellar attorneys. Thanks for sharing your experiences—your recommendations will help families get the very best counsel.

THE DETAILS

•  The list doesn’t imply endorsement by New Jersey Family; it’s a parent-to-parent referral list only.

•  A name in boldface indicates the attorney has purchased an advertising profile on the page number that follows.

• The professionals on this list were nominated by readers who were surveyed by New Jersey Family between April 2017 and November 2017.

Here are the 131 most exceptional attorneys in NJ, picked by YOU

ANTI-BULLYING

Michael A. Malia • Fairfield

BANKRUPTCY

Karina Pia Lucid • Liberty Corner
Melinda D. Middlebrooks • Springfield

BANKRUPTCY: CONSUMER

Ralph A. Ferro, Jr. • Little Falls
Scott J. Goldstein • Denville
Joseph J. Rogers • Turnersville

BUSINESS

James A. Paone, II • Freehold
Robert W. Ratish • Montclair
John N. Vanarthos • Bridgewater

CIVIL LITIGATION: DEFENSE

Nima Ashtyani • Glen Rock
Joseph DiRienzo • Westfield
Philip G. Pizzuto • Basking Ridge

CIVIL LITIGATION: PLAINTIFF

Nima Ashtyani • Glen Rock
Joseph DiRienzo • Westfield

COMMERCIAL LITIGATION

Michael A. Malia • Fairfield
James K. Webber • Whippany

CRIMINAL DEFENSE

Joseph C. Angelo • Nutley
Stanley R. Pietruska • Bayonne
Bonnie D. Putterman • Mays Landing
Jordan B. Rickards • Milltown
Dean I. Schneider • Red Bank
Frederick P. Sisto • Brick

EDUCATION

Anthony P. Sciarrillo • Westfield
Christine Ann Soto • Saddle Brook, West New York

EMPLOYMENT 

James K. Webber • Whippany

ESTATE PLANNING

John R. Blasi • Westfield
Alec R. Borenstein • Springfield
Jeffrey Campisi • Roseland
Richard J. DiLascio • Lyndhurst
John M. Elias • Basking Ridge
Stuart M. Gladstone • Roseland
Alex M. Hilsen • Cranbury, Red Bank
Harry K. Ko • Summit
Frank G. Seitz • Beachwood
Christine M. Sellitti • Basking Ridge
Leonard J. Witman • Florham Park
Jane F. Wolk • Millburn
Diana Yu • Parsippany

FAMILY LAW

Arlene F. Albino • Sparta
Santo V. Artusa, Jr. • Jersey City
Melissa R. Barrella • Short Hills
Marco Benucci • Somerville
Santo J. Bonanno • Wayne
Joseph P. Cadicina • Morristown
Lizanne J. Ceconi • Summit
Pamela M. Cerruti • Montclair
Rosalyn C. Charles • West Orange
Melissa Cipriano • West Caldwell
Ashley Tate Cooper • Hackensack
Amy Sara Cores • Freehold
Jerry S. D’Aniello • Bridgewater
Toni Belford Damiano • Little Falls
Nicholas De Metro • Montclair
Erin D. DeGeorge • Flemington, Morristown
Rosanne S. DeTorres • Flemington, Morristown
Joseph DiRienzo • Westfield
Patricia A. Dulinski • Westfield
Robert E. Dunn • Morristown
Robert A. Epstein • Morristown
John E. Finnerty • Fair Lawn
Brian C. Freeman • Jersey City
Tanya L. Freeman • Jersey City, Parsippany
Joseph J. Fritzen • Denville
Christopher Leon Garibian • Parsippany
JoAnne Juliano Giger • Roseland
Krista Haley • Bloomfield
Kisha M. Hebbon • Somerset
Kristen S. Henninger • Manahawkin
Armando R. Horta • Englewood Cliffs
Nancy Murray Horta • Hackensack
Elizabeth A. Joyce • Mendham
Heather C. Keith • Westfield
Jeffrey Alan Kerstetter • Haddon Heights
Brian P. Latimer • Oakhurst
Jeralyn L. Lawrence • Bridgewater
Alison C. Leslie • Morristown
Alona Magidova • Roseland​
Victoria D. Miranda • Short Hills
Laura A. Nunnink • Glen Rock
D. Ryan Nussey • Haddonfield
Amanda Ribustello • Fair Lawn
Victor A. Rotolo • Lebanon
Renée A. Rubino • Springfield
Lori A. Samilson • Blackwood
Brian M. Schwartz • Summit
Sheryl J. Seiden • Cranford
Salvatore Simeone • Parsippany
Jane B. Simpson • Florham Park
Eric S. Solotoff • Morristown
Jessica S. Swenson • West Caldwell
Amanda S. Trigg • Hackensack
Jason C. Tuchman • Maywood
Joanna J. Tyrpa • Princeton
Bari Zell Weinberger • Parsippany
Alison B. Weinroth • Cherry Hill
Allison C. Williams • Short Hills

GENERAL PRACTICE

Robert J. Mancinelli • Montvale
Felix Lopez Montalvo • Newark
Matheu D. Nunn • Denville

IMMIGRATION

Anabela Dacruz-Melo • Elizabeth
Zhiyu Hu • Edison

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Harris A. Wolin • Morristown

MUNICIPAL

Stacey L. Schlosser • Mt. Holly

PERSONAL INJURY

Pamela Anevski • Stirling
Walter L. Faust • Leonia
Lane M. Ferdinand • Springfield
Richard Galex • Freehold
Michael A. Malia • Fairfield
Alan J. Markman • Bloomfield
Jay Silvio Mascolo • New Brunswick
Athan M. Mergus • Ridgefield
Joseph J. Peters • Edison
Philip G. Pizzuto • Basking Ridge
Thomas F. Reynolds • Northfield
Anthony J. Riposta • North Arlington

REAL ESTATE

Jennifer L. Alexander • Randolph
Rafael J. Betancourt • Cranford
Joseph P. Brennan, Jr. • West Orange
Francis A. Ciambrone • Paramus
Benjamin B. Cooper • Ramsey
Kenneth R. Cutler • Princeton
Ryan A. Dornish • Phillipsburg
Harry K. Ko • Summit
Adam Lefkowitz • East Brunswick
Barbara S. Murray • Florham Park
Mohamed H. Shiliwala • Piscataway
Craig D. Spector • River Edge
Joy R. Spriggs • Plainfield
Francis A. Uzzi • Montvale

SPECIAL EDUCATION/SPECIAL NEEDS

Paul N. Barger • Iselin
Lenore Boyarin • Cranbury, Red Bank
Beth A. Callahan • Roseland
Staci J. Greenwald • Cranbury, Red Bank
Greer Gurland • Westfield
Alex M. Hilsen • Cranbury, Red Bank
Sandra L. Lascari • Madison
Beth C. Manes • Springfield
Christine Ann Soto • Saddle Brook, West New York
Julie Warshaw • Warren
Jessica Weinberg • Springfield
Jayne M. Wesler • Cranbury, Red Bank