Eleven Wilentz attorneys have been named to the “Lawyer of the Year” list in Woodbridge, New Jersey for earning the highest overall peer feedback in their respective fields of practice:
- Robert Beckelman – Land Use and Zoning Law
- Darren M. Gelber – Criminal Defense: General Practice
- Brett R. Harris – Corporate Law
- John A. Hoffman – Energy Law
- Lynne M. Kizis – Mass Tort Litigation/ Class Actions - Plaintiffs, Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
- Daniel J. Kluska – Construction Law
- Edward T. Kole – Appellate Practice
- Joseph J. Russell, Jr. – Family Law Arbitration
- Michael F. Schaff – Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Charles A. Solimine – Public Finance Law
- Donald E. Taylor – Litigation - Construction
Congratulations to the following lawyers named to the 2026 Best Lawyers in America list:
- John Anzalone – Personal Injury Litigation (Plaintiffs)
- Tracy Armstrong – Litigation (Labor and Employment)
- Anne S. Babineau – Land Use and Zoning Law, Real Estate Law
- Robert Beckelman – Land Use and Zoning Law, Real Estate Law
- Kevin M. Berry – Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions (Plaintiffs), Product Liability Litigation (Plaintiffs)
- Maureen S. Binetti – Employment Law (Individuals), Labor Law (Management), Litigation (Labor and Employment)
- Angelo J. Cifaldi – Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions (Plaintiffs)
- Stuart T. Cox, Jr. – Litigation (Trusts and Estates), Trusts and Estates
- Andrew J. DeMaio – Litigation (Trusts and Estates), Trusts and Estates
- Darren M. Gelber – Civil Rights Law, Criminal Defense: General Practice, Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- Stephanie D. Gironda – Employment Law (Individuals)
- David S. Gordon – Litigation (Real Estate), Real Estate Law
- Peter A. Greenbaum – Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Corporate Law, Health Care Law
- Brett R. Harris - Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Corporate Law, Information Technology Law, Litigation (Intellectual Property), Nonprofit / Charities Law, Technology Law
- Peter R. Herman – Banking and Finance Law, Financial Services Regulation Law
- John A. Hoffman – Administrative / Regulatory Law, Energy Law
- John E. Hogan – Appellate Practice, Criminal Defense: General Practice, DUI / DWI Defense
- Lawrence F. Jacobs – Energy Law, Environmental Law, Litigation (Environmental), Real Estate Law
- Donna M. Jennings – Land Use and Zoning Law
- Everett M. Johnson – Public Finance Law
- John T. Kelly – Public Finance Law
- Lynne M. Kizis – Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions (Plaintiffs), Personal Injury Litigation (Plaintiffs), Product Liability Litigation (Plaintiffs)
- Daniel J. Kluska – Construction Law, Litigation (Construction)
- Edward T. Kole – Appellate Practice, Commercial Litigation, Litigation (Construction)
- Todd E. Lehder – Land Use and Zoning Law, Real Estate Law
- Grace D. Mack – Health Care Law
- Vincent P. Maltese – Banking and Finance Law, Real Estate Law
- Brian J. Molloy – Appellate Practice, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Ethics and Professional Responsibility Law, Legal Malpractice Law (Defendants)
- Stephen J. Oppenheim - Litigation (Trusts and Estates), Trusts and Estates
- Randall J. Richards – Personal Injury litigation (Plaintiffs)
- Joseph J. Russell - Family Law, Family Law Arbitration, Family Law Mediation
- Michael F. Schaff – Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Corporate Compliance Law, Corporate Law, Health Care Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Alice M. Shanahan – Litigation (Environmental)
- Willard C. Shih – Commercial Litigation, Ethics and Professional Responsibility Law
- Charles A. Solimine – Public Finance Law
- David H. Stein – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation (Bankruptcy)
- Roy H. Tanzman – Real Estate Law
- Donald E. Taylor – Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, Litigation (Construction)
- Philip A. Tortoreti – Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions (Plaintiffs), Product Liability Litigation (Plaintiffs)
- James E. Trabilsy – Criminal Defense: General Practice, Criminal Defense: White-Collar, DUI / DWI Defense
- Steven J. Tripp – Land Use and Zoning Law, Litigation (Land Use and Zoning), Real Estate Law
- David M. Wildstein – Family Law, Family Law Arbitration, Family Law Mediation
In addition, seven lawyers have been named to the “Ones to Watch” list, recognizing those early in their career that demonstrate “outstanding professional excellence in private practice.”
- Joseph Carlo – Mass Tort Litigation/ Class Actions (Plaintiffs), Personal Injury Litigation (Plaintiffs), Products Liability Litigation (Plaintiffs)
- Meghan Chrisner-Keefe – Litigation (Labor and Employment)
- Amy M. Francis – Family Law, Family Law: Arbitration and Mediation
- Kseniya Lezhnev – Mass Tort Litigation/ Class Actions (Plaintiffs)
- Daniel C. Lipner – Mass Tort Litigation/ Class Actions (Plaintiffs), Personal Injury Litigation (Plaintiffs), Products Liability Litigation (Plaintiffs)
- Liesel Pajarillo – Public Finance Law
- Ryan D. Russell – Family Law
The selection of lawyers for inclusion in both The Best Lawyers in America and Ones to Watch is based on a comprehensive nomination process and peer-review survey in which lawyers cast their votes on the legal abilities of other lawyers in their practice area and geographical location. Access the selection methodology for Best Lawyers and the selection methodology for Ones to Watch.
The Best Lawyers in America is published by Best Lawyers. The aforementioned organization is a private peer review organization, not court specific public certification vehicle. No aspect of this advertisement has been submitted to or approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.
Best Lawyers in America 2026 Edition
