When you need an attorney, whose recommendation do you trust? We asked parents like you about the lawyers who’ve made a difference in their family’s lives at the most stressful of times. The result is a list of professionals who’ve gone above and beyond to advocate for their clients. From family law to estate planning to special needs, the lawyers on this list have been nominated by parents like you for being the best of the best. Thanks for voting—your recommendations will help families get top-notch representation when they need it most.

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.
  • The professionals on this list were nominated by readers who were surveyed by New Jersey Family between November 2020 and November 2021.

Read our methodology.

Lawyers are listed alphabetically by category.

ANTI-BULLYING
Michael A. Malia • Fairfield

BANKRUPTCY
Rebecca S. Ashkenazi, Union
Karina Pia Lucid • Bridgewater
Andrew M. Wolfenson • Union

BUSINESS
Brad M. Kaplan • Berkeley Heights
Paul R. Marino • Parsippany
Andrew M. Wolfenson • Union

COMMERCIAL LITIGATION
Michael A. Malia • Fairfield

CONSTRUCTION LITIGATION
Joseph A. Petrillo • New Brunswick

CRIMINAL DEFENSE
Mark F. Casazza • Hazlet
Stanley R. Pietruska • Bayonne

ELDER LAW
Mary Joan S. Kennedy • Florham Park
Constantina Koulosousas • Whippany
Irina S. Shea • Ramsey

ESTATE PLANNING
Rebecca S. Ashkenazi • Union
Melissa M. Bracuti • Morristown
Kelly M. Brown • Mendham
Richard Butz • Toms River
Joseph Dolan • Morristown
Susan K. Dromsky-Reed • Roseland
Stuart M. Gladstone • Roseland
Alexander J. Graziano • Verona
Alex M. Hilsen • Cranbury, Red Bank
Brad M. Kaplan • Berkeley Heights
Mary Joan S. Kennedy • Florham Park
Constantina Koulosousas • Whippany
Ann-Marie Murzin • Clark
Gretchan R. Ohlig • Westfield
David J. Ritter • Roseland
Irina S. Shea • Ramsey
Andrew M. Wolfenson • Union

FAMILY LAW
Rita M. Aquilio • Red Bank, Watchung
Kristyl M. Berckes • Red Bank, Watchung
Jamie N. Berger • Morristown
Jenny Berse • Westfield
Samuel J. Berse • Westfield
Gary Blaustein • Basking Ridge
Daniel A. Burton • Red Bank, Watchung
Joseph P. Cadicina • Morristown
Melissa Cipriano • West Caldwell
John E. Clancy • Hackensack, Whippany
Aaron Cohen • Morristown, Woodcliff Lake, Valhalla, NY
Ashley Tate Cooper • Hackensack
Jerry S. D’Aniello • Bridgewater, Hackensack, Morristown, Roseland
Carolyn N. Daly • Morristown
Scott D. Danaher • Bridgewater, Hackensack, Morristown, Roseland
Erin D. DeGeorge • Clinton, Morristown
Nicholas DeMetro • Montclair
Rosanne S. DeTorres • Clinton, Morristown
Richard S. Diamond • Millburn
Patricia A. Dulinski • Westfield
Sarah M. Eaton • Somerville
Ashley E. Edwards • Red Bank, Watchung
Robert A. Epstein • Hackensack, Livingston
Sandra C. Fava • Morristown
Anne M. Fox • Montvale
Joseph Fritzen • Denville
Laura Guinta Gencarelli • Bridgewater, Hackensack, Morristown, Roseland
JoAnne Juliano Giger • Roseland
Karen Grayson-Rodgers • West Caldwell
Carolyn B. Hand • Clinton, Morristown
Allison E. Holzman • West Caldwell
Sarah J. Jacobs • Morristown
Ruth Kim • Hackensack, Springfield
Lawrence H. Kleiner • Closter
Nicole A. Kobis • Westfield
Maria J. La Sala • Wayne
Daniel J. Lane • Morris Plains
Jeralyn L. Lawrence • Red Bank, Watchung
Heidi Ann Lepp • Somerville
Caroline M. Lesce • West Caldwell
Ronald G. Lieberman • Haddonfield
Sandra Lomenzo • Montvale
Stephanie Lomurro • Hoboken, Summit
Joseph V. Maceri • Bridgewater, Hackensack, Morristown, Roseland
Laurie J. Madziar • Short Hills
Ashley Vallillo Manzi • Hackensack, Livingston
Mark T. Mayrides • Somerville
Brad M. Micklin • Nutley
Amy L. Miller • Morristown
Victoria D. Miranda • Short Hills
Frank J. Morano • Montclair
Marie L. Napoliello • Hackensack
Laurie L. Newmark • Hackensack, Whippany
Sean O’Connor • Short Hills
Darren O’Toole • Manasquan
Michael R. Pallarino • Morristown
Steven M. Resnick • Hackensack, Livingston
A. Eugene Richards, III • Short Hills
Adelaide Riggi • Bridgewater, Hackensack, Morristown, Roseland
Angelo Sarno • Bridgewater, Hackensack, Morristown, Roseland
Allen J. Scazafabo, Jr. • Morristown
Sheryl J. Seiden • Cranford
Amy Shimalla • Red Bank, Watchung
Sean A. Smith • Roseland
Edward S. Snyder • Bridgewater, Hackensack, Morristown, Roseland
Elliot Solop • Red Bank
Carl J. Soranno • Roseland
Jessica S. Swenson • Hackensack, Whippany
Amanda S. Trigg • Saddle Brook
Emily Urrico • Red Bank, Watchung
Amy Wechsler • Red Bank, Watchung
Bari Z. Weinberger • Bedminster, Cranford, Freehold, Hackensack, Mount Laurel, Parsippany
Elena K. Weitz • Short Hills
Allison C. Williams • Short Hills
Andrew M. Wolfenson • Union
Jennifer L. Young • Cranford
Melissa B. Zemsky • Hackensack, Springfield

GENERAL PRACTICE
Celeste D. Miller • Belmar

PERSONAL INJURY
Edward P. Capozzi • Roseland
Angela Cervelli Bennett • Teaneck
Jeremy L. Hylton • Roseland
Nicholas J. Leonardis • Edison
Michael A. Malia • Fairfield
Joseph M. Marabondo • Edison

REAL ESTATE
Jennifer L. Alexander • Randolph
Michael Aquino • Paterson
Rebecca S. Ashkenazi • Union
Justin R. Calta • Florham Park
Benjamin B. Cooper • Ramsey
Brad M. Kaplan • Berkeley Heights
Gretchan R. Ohlig • Westfield
Chae Son • Leonia
Joy R. Spriggs • Plainfield
Noelle van Baaren • Elizabeth
Andrew M. Wolfenson • Union

SPECIAL NEEDS/SPECIAL EDUCATION
Lori E. Arons • Hackensack
Lenore Boyarin • Cranbury, Red Bank
Mariann Crincoli • Cranbury, Red Bank
Karen F. Edler • Morristown, Woodcliff Lake, Valhalla, NY
Jacqueline E. Esposito • Morristown, Woodcliff Lake, Valhalla, NY
Norma Francullo • Upper Montclair
Hillary D. Freeman • Princeton
Lori Gaines • Shrewsbury
Staci J. Greenwald • Cranbury, Red Bank
Greer Gurland • Westfield
Alex M. Hilsen • Cranbury, Red Bank
Sandra L. Lascari • Madison, Morristown
Beth C. Manes • Westfield
Andrew I. Meltzer • Cranbury, Red Bank
Mary Frances Palisano • Newark
Denise Rekem • Clark
Melanie Ritter • Westfield
Julie Warshaw • Warren
Jessica Weinberg • Westfield
Jayne M. Wesler • Cranbury, Red Bank

TAX
Gary R. Botwinick • Denville
Brad M. Kaplan • Berkeley Heights
Matthew S. Rheingold • Denville
David J. Ritter • Roseland