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New Jersey’s Most Powerful Law Firms
The PolitickerNJ.com list of the state’s MOST POWERFUL LAW FIRMS identifies the law firms in the state that carry the most political power – the most sway over the business of gov-ernment and politics. We looked for the firms with the com-bination of political influence, 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 firms that play a dominate role in the workings of local government in different regions of the state.
1 Weiner LesniakIf Lyndon Johnson was an attorney operat-ing a law practice in Texas while he was Sen-ate Majority Leader, the firm would have had the same kind of clout Weiner Lesniak has now in New Jersey. The firm belongs to State Senator Raymond Lesniak, a 31-year veteran of the Leg-islature and one of the state’s most powerful elected officials and party leaders. Weiner Le-sniak’s political clout extends into county and municipal gov-ernments in North and South Jersey.
2 Riker Danzig Scherer Hyland & Perretti LLPRiker Danzig is the old-reliable of politi-cally active firms, combining a traditional law practice with a lobbying organization that on its own is one of the biggest State Street influencers. They do well with Dem-ocrats and Republicans. Riker Danzig’s governmental affairs department includes former Supreme Court Justices Stewart Pollock and Sidney Schreiber, former ten-term Congressman Bill Hughes, Mercer County Counsel Art Sypek, and legislative veteran John Kohler.
3 DeCotiis, FitzPatrick, Cole & Wisler, LLPIt’s hard to deny their sheer influence 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 firm speak to everyone in New Jersey, from statewide elected officials to a ton of May-ors and Councilmen, and they know how to raise money for their friends.
4 Parker McCay P.A.The go-to firm 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).
5 Scarinci & Hollenbeck, LLC With key partners Joe Ferriero (the Bergen County Democratic Chairman) and Donald Scarinci (the legal powerhouse who helped draw the Democratic redistricting map), it’s the go-to firm for North Jersey politics. They have huge influence in Bergen, Hudson, Es-sex and Passaic, and with their new Repub-lican lawyers, in Monmouth and Sussex. And one of the S&H attorneys, Tom Cafferty, is the libel attorney for The Record.
6 Sills Cummis & Gross P.C.Hugely influential firm, in North Jersey and Atlantic City, headed by fundraiser Clive Cummis, and increasingly, by next genera-tion power broker Ted Zangari. They have a presence in state politics and in Atlantic City.
7 Hill Wallack LLPThe Princeton-based firm – Bob Bacso runs the law practice and Paul Josephson, Gov. McGreevey’s Chief Counsel, runs the lobbying show – keeps growing in size and influence. This may be the firm to watch over the next few years.
8 Windels Marx Lane & Mittendorf, LLPThis white shoe New York firm has be-come 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.
9 Gibbons P.C.Large, respected firm with an active gov-ernment affairs practice; it’s 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 firm considerable gravitas.
10Blank Rome LLPTheir New Jersey guy is Republican Na-tional Committeeman David Norcross, who has huge contacts in the White House and throughout New Jersey.
State Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D-Union) is a partner at New Jersey’s Most Powerful Law Firm, Weiner Lesniak
New Jersey’s Most Powerful Law Firms
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11Gilmore & Monahan Ocean County GOP Chairman George Gilmore has political clout throughout the state, and in Ocean County he dominates.
12 Wolf, Block, Schorr and Solis-Cohen LLPMajor player after acquiring several key New Jersey firms, including Brach Eichler; lawyers include GOP fundraiser Hersh Kozlov and the well-respected Frank DiGiacomo.
13 Archer & GreinerA solid South Jersey firm with loads of local government contact; one partner is former Camden County Prosecutor/George Norcross friend Vincent Sarubbi.
14 Walder, Hayden & Brogan P.A.Politicians in trouble often turn to Joe Hayden and Justin Walder.
15 Brown & Connery, LLP New Jersey office is headed by Bill Tambussi, a politically active South Jersey lawyer, and George Norcross’ personal attorney.
16 Wilentz, Goldman & SpitzerFounded by legendary political boss David Wilentz in the 1930’s, the firm is traditionally a political powerhouse; the go-to firm when McGreevey was Governor – still important because of well-connected Middlesex lawyers, like John Hoffman.
17 Nowell Amoroso Klein Bierman, P.A. A real political insiders firm run by Republican Henry Amoroso, former Dem-ocratic Congressman Herb Klein, and Obama fundraiser Victor Herlinsky.
18 Florio Perrucci Steinhardt & FaderFormer Governor Jim Florio’s firm, includes Democratic powerhouse Michael Perrucci, Warren GOP Chairman Doug Steinhardt, and ex-Mc-Greevey/Codey lawyer Paul Fader.
19 Trenk, DiPasquale, Webster, Della Fera & Sodono P.C.Cory Booker’s old firm, run by Richard Trenk, includes Booker/Jerra-miah Healy friend Elnardo Webster.
Krovatin Klingeman LLCGerald Krovatin and Henry Klingeman, at the top of their game, represent allegedly corrupt public officials.
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20Krovatin Klingeman LLCGerald Krovatin and Henry Klingeman, at the top of their game, repre-sent allegedly corrupt public officials.
21 Fox Rothschild LLPWith a presence in Atlantic City and Princeton, the firm is now on the top ten list of law firm lobbying revenues in the state. Nicholas Casiello chairs their gaming law practice.
22 Ansell Zaro Grimm & AaronJerry Zaro is a political insider who raises money for a number of Demo-cratic candidates.
23Genova, Burns & VernoiaNamed partner Angelo Genova is the top election law expert for New Jersey Democrats.
24 Capehart & Scatchard, P.ABurlington GOP boss Glenn Paulsen’s firm.
25 Saiber LLCThe lawyers for the casino industry; firm includes David Satz, who was JFK’s U.S. Attorney.
26McCarter & English, LLPNew Jersey’s oldest law firm, their gravitas offers instant credibility when they deal with politics and government, even though the lack a big name political player.
27 Wolff and SamsonThe firm was politically powerful before David Samson left to become Attorney General, and has more clout now that he’s back.
28 Stern & KilcullenFormer Federal Judge/UMDNJ monitor Herbert Stern and former Mor-ris County Freeholder John Inglesino have a direct line to the U.S. At-torney.
29 Schwartz Simon Edelstein Celso & Kessler, LLCTheir power comes from representing a multitude of local school boards; one partner is Stephen Edelstein, former Counsel to the Demo-cratic State Committee.
30 Lowenstein Sandler PCPolitical clout comes from size and quality of representation, but former Attorney General Zulima Farber is the only marquis name.
New Jersey’s Most Powerful Law Firms
A powerful law firm empowers its attorneys to excel.
S C A R I N C I H O L L E N B E C K
Donald Scarinci, Victor E. Kinon, John M. Scagnelli, Joel R. Glucksman, Theodore A. Schwartz and Thomas J. Cafferty namedNew Jersey Super Lawyers in 2008.
Sharon L. Weiner recognized by NJBiz as one of New Jersey’s 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 BestLawyers for more than ten years and the New Jersey Press Association recognized him for 35 years of dedication and commitmentto New Jersey’s 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 Journal’s 40 Under 40 List.
Lyndhurst Freehold New York www.scarincihollenbeck.com
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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31 McManimon & Scotland, L.L.C. Ed McManimon and Glenn Scotland have made this New Jersey’s pre-mier bond counsel firm.
32 Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP Huge national firm that used to be New Jersey giant Shanley & Fisher; for-mer Chief Justice Deborah Poritz is there. The firm has no marquis political players and relies on the competence of the representation it provides.
33Critchley & Kinum Mike Critchley isn’t just a famous criminal defense attorney, he’s also a Democratic fundraiser.
34Carella, Byrne, Bain, Gilfillan, Cecchi, Stewart & OlsteinFormer Governor Brendan Byrne’s firm, includes longtime partner (and onetime Chief of Staff) Charlie Carella and ex-Assemblyman Peter Stewart.
35Arseneault, Whipple, Farmer, Fassett & Azzarello, LLPJack Arsenault is a Democratic insider and a top criminal defense
attorney; John Farmer is a former GOP Attorney General and Acting Governor.
36DiFrancesco, Bateman, Coley, Yospin, Kunzman, Davis & Lehrer, P.C. Law firm of former Governor Donald DiFrancesco and State Senator Kip Bateman
37Bathgate, Wegener & Wolf, P.C. Larry Bathgate is a national Finance Co-Chairman for John McCain’s campaign.
38Stark & StarkHeaded by Albert Stark, enormously powerful in Mercer County
39Sterns & Weinroth Run by some real veterans of 1960’s New Jersey politics, Joel Sterns and Richard Weinroth, their lobbying operation makes them players.
40 Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith & Davis LLPBig, respected firm; they also have criminal defense attorney Raymond Brown.
New Jersey’s Most Powerful Law Firms
New Jersey’s Most Powerful Law Firms
41 Hoagland Longo Moran Dunst & Doukas LLP Large Middlesex County law firm; partners include James Kinneally, who has served as a municipal attorney in several towns.
42 Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP The New York firm has New Jersey influence only because of the pres-ence of Ted Wells, the criminal defense lawyers politicians like Bob Tor-ricelli and Eliot Spitzer call when they have a problem.
43Cooper Levenson April Niedelman & Wagenheim, P.A.Led by Lloyd Levenson, a former prosecutor-turned-gaming law expert, the firm has a strong presence in Atlantic City.
44Nehmad Perillo & Davis, P.C.Keith Davis is the Atlantic County GOP Chairman; Sal Perillo, a Demo-crat, is the Mayor of Ocean City.
45 Picillo CarusoWho? A small Essex firm, but State Sen. Kevin O’Toole is a partner.
46Pringle Quinn Anzano P.C.Two political insiders: Belmar Mayor Kenny Pringle and Hopewell Mayor Paul Anzano.
47Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla, P.C.Very influential among Central New Jersey political leaders; one partner is Michael Gross, the Counsel to the New Jersey Builders Association.
48Earp Cohn P.C.It’s the firm of Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman John Adler.
49Porzio, Bromberg & Newman P.C.Well connected N.J. firm with broad local government contacts ; Coun-sel includes a former Supreme Court Justice and former Assembly Speaker; one partner is land use expert Doug Henshaw.
50Waters, McPherson, McNeill, P.CThey’ve been longtime players in Jersey City politics; firm includes for-mer State Sen./Democratic State Chairman James Dugan and insider Ken McPherson.
David K. AnsellRichard B. Ansell
Jerold L. ZaroPeter S. Falvo, Jr.James G. AaronPeter B. Grimm
Mitchell J. AnsellBrian E. Ansell
Allison Ansell RyanMichael V. Benedetto
Douglas J. KatichHarold Goldman
David B. ZolotorofeKevin T. Corcoran
Donna L. MaulRick Brodsky
Lawrence H. ShapiroRobert A. Honecker, Jr.
Edward J. AhearnJennifer S. Krimko
George G.WhitmoreFrederick C. Raffetto
Kristine M. BergmanJason S. Klein
Melanie J. ScrobleBarry M. CappLynne Petillo
Douglas A. DavieGreg S. Gargulinski
Phyllis BarkerWilliam E. Throne, IV
Andrew J. ProvenceHussam Chater
Bridget K. Dorney
Counsel:Gordon N. Litwin
Robert I. AnsellLisa 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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