New Jerseys Most Powerful Law Firms

The PolitickerNJ.com list of the states MOST POWERFUL LAW FIRMS identies the law rms in the state that carry the most political power the most sway over the business of government and politics. We looked for the rms with the combination of political inuence, marquee names, and access to policymakers at different levels of government. These lawyers understand how the inside political game is played and how to get results for their clients. The list will recognize and include smaller rms that play a dominate role in the workings of local government in different regions of the state.

Weiner Lesniak

If Lyndon Johnson was an attorney operating a law practice in Texas while he was Senate Majority Leader, the rm would have had the same kind of clout Weiner Lesniak has now in New Jersey. The rm belongs to State Senator Raymond Lesniak, a 31-year veteran of the Legislature and one of the states most powerful elected officials and party leaders. Weiner LeState Sen. Raymond sniaks political clout extends into county Lesniak (D-Union) is a partner at New Jerseys and municipal govMost Powerful Law Firm, ernments in North Weiner Lesniak and South Jersey.

DeCotiis, FitzPatrick, Cole & Wisler, LLP

Hill Wallack LLP

Its hard to deny their sheer inuence throughout every branch, level and agency of New Jersey politics. Al DeCotiis (Clinton fundraiser), Michael Cole (Gov. Kean Chief Counsel) and a ton of other lawyers in their rm speak to everyone in New Jersey, from statewide elected officials to a ton of Mayors and Councilmen, and they know how to raise money for their friends.

The Princeton-based rm Bob Bacso runs the law practice and Paul Josephson, Gov. McGreeveys Chief Counsel, runs the lobbying show keeps growing in size and inuence. This may be the rm to watch over the next few years.

Windels Marx Lane & Mittendorf, LLP

Parker McCay P.A.

The go-to rm in South Jersey is headed by Phil Norcross (the brother of South Jersey Democratic powerhouse George Norcross) and John Gillespie (the brother of White House political advisor and former GOP National Chairman Ed Gillespie).

This white shoe New York firm has become powerful in New Jersey thanks to Anthony Coscia, who serves as Chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and has become Windels rainmaker extraordinaire.

Riker Danzig Scherer Hyland & Perretti LLP

Gibbons P.C.

Scarinci & Hollenbeck, LLC

Riker Danzig is the old-reliable of politically active rms, combining a traditional law practice with a lobbying organization that on its own is one of the biggest State Street inuencers. They do well with Democrats and Republicans. Riker Danzigs governmental affairs department includes former Supreme Court Justices Stewart Pollock and Sidney Schreiber, former tenterm Congressman Bill Hughes, Mercer County Counsel Art Sypek, and legislative veteran John Kohler.

With key partners Joe Ferriero (the Bergen County Democratic Chairman) and Donald Scarinci (the legal powerhouse who helped draw the Democratic redistricting map), its the go-to rm for North Jersey politics. They have huge inuence in Bergen, Hudson, Essex and Passaic, and with their new Republican lawyers, in Monmouth and Sussex. And one of the S&H attorneys, Tom Cafferty, is the libel attorney for The Record.

Large, respected rm with an active government affairs practice; its where James Zazzali went after retiring as Chief Justice. Their marquis name is John J. Gibbons, a former judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, who brings the rm considerable gravitas.

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Blank Rome LLP

Their New Jersey guy is Republican National Committeeman David Norcross, who has huge contacts in the White House and throughout New Jersey.

Hugely inuential rm, in North Jersey and Atlantic City, headed by fundraiser Clive Cummis, and increasingly, by next generation power broker Ted Zangari. They have a presence in state politics and in Atlantic City.

Sills Cummis & Gross P.C.

New Jerseys Most Powerful Law Firms

11 Gilmore & Monahan 12

Ocean County GOP Chairman George Gilmore has political clout throughout the state, and in Ocean County he dominates.

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Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer

Wolf, Block, Schorr and Solis-Cohen LLP

Founded by legendary political boss David Wilentz in the 1930s, the rm is traditionally a political powerhouse; the go-to rm when McGreevey was Governor still important because of well-connected Middlesex lawyers, like John Hoffman.

Major player after acquiring several key New Jersey rms, including Brach Eichler; lawyers include GOP fundraiser Hersh Kozlov and the well-respected Frank DiGiacomo.

17 Nowell Amoroso Klein Bierman, P.A. 18 19

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A real political insiders rm run by Republican Henry Amoroso, former Democratic Congressman Herb Klein, and Obama fundraiser Victor Herlinsky.

Archer & Greiner

A solid South Jersey rm with loads of local government contact; one partner is former Camden County Prosecutor/George Norcross friend Vincent Sarubbi.

Florio Perrucci Steinhardt & Fader

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Former Governor Jim Florios rm, includes Democratic powerhouse Michael Perrucci, Warren GOP Chairman Doug Steinhardt, and ex-McGreevey/Codey lawyer Paul Fader.

Walder, Hayden & Brogan P.A.

Politicians in trouble often turn to Joe Hayden and Justin Walder.

Trenk, DiPasquale, Webster, Della Fera & Sodono P.C.

Cory Bookers old rm, run by Richard Trenk, includes Booker/Jerramiah Healy friend Elnardo Webster.

Brown & Connery, LLP

New Jersey office is headed by Bill Tambussi, a politically active South Jersey lawyer, and George Norcross personal attorney.
Kozlov_NJPoliticker_Mar08:Layout 1 3/21/2008 11:29 AM

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Whether in the statehouse in Trenton or the Capitol in DC, politics and the rule of law play a role in our clients' lives and businesses. And so we play a role in that arena, utilizing the network of contacts and connections on both sides of the political aisle gained by our attorneys and government relations professionals from their years both as practicing professionals and from prior government service. We are able to provide legal representation and proactive advocacy on behalf of corporate, nonprofit, individual and government clients in transactions where politics, business, regulatory and legal environments intersect. For more information, please contact: Hersh Kozlov 1940 Route 70 East, Suite 200 P: 856.874.4201 | E: hkozlov@wolfblock.com

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New Jerseys Most Powerful Law Firms

20 Krovatin Klingeman LLC 21

Fox Rothschild LLP

Gerald Krovatin and Henry Klingeman, at the top of their game, represent allegedly corrupt public officials.

26 McCarter & English, LLP 27

Wolff and Samson

New Jerseys oldest law rm, their gravitas offers instant credibility when they deal with politics and government, even though the lack a big name political player.

With a presence in Atlantic City and Princeton, the rm is now on the top ten list of law rm lobbying revenues in the state. Nicholas Casiello chairs their gaming law practice.

22 Ansell Zaro Grimm & Aaron 23 Genova, Burns & Vernoia

The rm was politically powerful before David Samson left to become Attorney General, and has more clout now that hes back.

Jerry Zaro is a political insider who raises money for a number of Democratic candidates.

28 Stern & Kilcullen

Former Federal Judge/UMDNJ monitor Herbert Stern and former Morris County Freeholder John Inglesino have a direct line to the U.S. Attorney.

Named partner Angelo Genova is the top election law expert for New Jersey Democrats.

29 Schwartz Simon Edelstein Celso & Kessler, LLC 30 Lowenstein Sandler PC

24 Capehart & Scatchard, P.A 25 Saiber LLC

Burlington GOP boss Glenn Paulsens rm.

Their power comes from representing a multitude of local school boards; one partner is Stephen Edelstein, former Counsel to the Democratic State Committee.

The lawyers for the casino industry; rm includes David Satz, who was JFKs U.S. Attorney.

Political clout comes from size and quality of representation, but former Attorney General Zulima Farber is the only marquis name.

A powerful law firm empowers its attorneys to excel.

SCARINCI HOLLENBECK
Donald Scarinci, Victor E. Kinon, John M. Scagnelli, Joel R. Glucksman, Theodore A. Schwartz and Thomas J. Cafferty named New Jersey Super Lawyers in 2008. Sharon L. Weiner recognized by NJBiz as one of New Jerseys Best 50 Women in Business. Development New Jersey magazine called Scarinci Hollenbeck the Go-To Law Firm for New Jersey Redevelopment. The Best Lawyers in America named Thomas J. Cafferty to their distinguished group of attorneys who have been listed in Best Lawyers for more than ten years and the New Jersey Press Association recognized him for 35 years of dedication and commitment to New Jerseys newspaper industry. Joseph W. Oxley named Sheriff of the Year by the National Sheriff s Association. New Jersey Super Lawyers named Ramon E. Rivera to their Rising Stars list. Andrew L. Indeck, Thomas H. Prol and Ramon E. Rivera named to New Jersey Law Journals 40 Under 40 List. Lyndhurst Freehold New York www.scarincihollenbeck.com

New Jerseys Most Powerful Law Firms

Ed McManimon and Glenn Scotland have made this New Jerseys premier bond counsel rm.

31 McManimon & Scotland, L.L.C.

attorney; John Farmer is a former GOP Attorney General and Acting Governor.

32 Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP 33 Critchley & Kinum 34

DiFrancesco, Bateman, Coley, Yospin, 36 Kunzman, Davis & Lehrer, P.C.

Law rm of former Governor Donald DiFrancesco and State Senator Kip Bateman

Huge national rm that used to be New Jersey giant Shanley & Fisher; former Chief Justice Deborah Poritz is there. The rm has no marquis political players and relies on the competence of the representation it provides.

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Bathgate, Wegener & Wolf, P.C.

Mike Critchley isnt just a famous criminal defense attorney, hes also a Democratic fundraiser.

Larry Bathgate is a national Finance Co-Chairman for John McCains campaign.

38 Stark & Stark

Carella, Byrne, Bain, Gilllan, Cecchi, Stewart & Olstein

Headed by Albert Stark, enormously powerful in Mercer County

Former Governor Brendan Byrnes rm, includes longtime partner (and onetime Chief of Staff) Charlie Carella and ex-Assemblyman Peter Stewart.

39 Sterns & Weinroth

Run by some real veterans of 1960s New Jersey politics, Joel Sterns and Richard Weinroth, their lobbying operation makes them players.

Arseneault, Whipple, Farmer, Fassett & 35 Azzarello, LLP

Jack Arsenault is a Democratic insider and a top criminal defense

40 Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith & Davis LLP

Big, respected rm; they also have criminal defense attorney Raymond Brown.

G OV E R N M E N TA L A F FA I R S

Some affairs are too good to keep quiet.

Riker Danzig has earned a national reputation for its expertise in governmental affairs, a significant amount of which involves representation of clients in the legislative and administrative processes. We regularly develop strategies to advance our clients interests. To learn more about how we can help your company navigate through the New Jersey Legislature and administrative agencies, call us today at 609.396.2121.

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New Jerseys Most Powerful Law Firms

Hoagland Longo Moran Dunst & 41 Doukas LLP

46 47

Pringle Quinn Anzano P.C.

Large Middlesex County law rm; partners include James Kinneally, who has served as a municipal attorney in several towns.

Two political insiders: Belmar Mayor Kenny Pringle and Hopewell Mayor Paul Anzano.

42 Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP

Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla, P.C.

The New York rm has New Jersey inuence only because of the presence of Ted Wells, the criminal defense lawyers politicians like Bob Torricelli and Eliot Spitzer call when they have a problem.

Very inuential among Central New Jersey political leaders; one partner is Michael Gross, the Counsel to the New Jersey Builders Association.

43 Cooper Levenson April Niedelman & Wagenheim, P.A. 44 Nehmad Perillo & Davis, P.C. 45 Picillo Caruso

48 49 50

Earp Cohn P.C.

Its the rm of Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman John Adler.

Led by Lloyd Levenson, a former prosecutor-turned-gaming law expert, the rm has a strong presence in Atlantic City.

Porzio, Bromberg & Newman P.C.

Well connected N.J. rm with broad local government contacts ; Counsel includes a former Supreme Court Justice and former Assembly Speaker; one partner is land use expert Doug Henshaw.

Keith Davis is the Atlantic County GOP Chairman; Sal Perillo, a Democrat, is the Mayor of Ocean City.

Waters, McPherson, McNeill, P.C

Who? A small Essex rm, but State Sen. Kevin OToole is a partner.

Theyve been longtime players in Jersey City politics; rm includes former State Sen./Democratic State Chairman James Dugan and insider Ken McPherson.

David K. Ansell Richard B. Ansell Jerold L. Zaro Peter S. Falvo, Jr. James G. Aaron Peter B. Grimm Mitchell J. Ansell Brian E. Ansell Allison Ansell Ryan Michael V. Benedetto Douglas J. Katich Harold Goldman David B. Zolotorofe Kevin T. Corcoran Donna L. Maul Rick Brodsky Lawrence H. Shapiro Robert A. Honecker, Jr. Edward J. Ahearn Jennifer S. Krimko George G.Whitmore Frederick C. Raffetto

Kristine M. Bergman Jason S. Klein Melanie J. Scroble Barry M. Capp Lynne Petillo Douglas A. Davie Greg S. Gargulinski Phyllis Barker William E. Throne, IV Andrew J. Provence Hussam Chater Bridget K. Dorney
Counsel: Gordon N. Litwin Robert I. Ansell Lisa D. Goldwasser In Memoriam: Leon Anschelewitz (1929-1986) Max M. Barr (1929-1993) Milton M. Abramoff (1935-2004) Steven J. Brodman (2004-2006)

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