10 Best Criminal Defense Lawyers in Union County, NJ

This guide compares 10 criminal defense attorneys and law firms that represent clients charged with disorderly persons offenses and indictable crimes in Union County, New Jersey, spanning municipalities from Elizabeth, Westfield, and Cranford to Union Township and Mountainside. Firms were evaluated on four factors: whether the lead attorney has prosecutorial, judicial-clerk, or public defender experience relevant to criminal cases; whether the attorney holds a New Jersey Supreme Court Certified Criminal Trial Attorney designation, a credential held by fewer than 1% of the state’s lawyers; how much of the firm’s overall practice is dedicated to criminal and DWI defense versus general practice; and whether the firm maintains a physical office inside Union County or documented, ongoing appearances in its municipal courts and the Union County Superior Court in Elizabeth.

Before hiring, it’s worth asking a few practical questions: does the attorney regularly appear in the specific municipal court, such as Elizabeth, Westfield, or Cranford Municipal Court, where your matter will actually be heard; does the attorney or firm have direct experience with the type of charge you’re facing, since DWI, drug offenses, domestic violence, and indictable felony cases are often built and defended differently; and if the attorney is a former prosecutor, did that experience come from the Union County Prosecutor’s Office specifically rather than a different county.

1. Law Offices of Jared B. Weiss

Firm Details

• Attorney: Jared B. Weiss
• Founded: 2006
• Headquarters: 1136 Route 22, Suite 202, Mountainside, NJ 07092
• Phone: (908) 798-4321
• Website: jw-law.com
• Practice Areas: Criminal Defense (DWI/DUI, Drug Offenses, Assault, Theft, Domestic Violence, Felonies, Gun Crimes, Traffic Tickets, Expungements)
• Firm Size: Solo/small firm; representing Union County clients since 2006
• Google Rating: 5.0 ★★★★★ (11 reviews) – View on Google

About the Firm

Jared B. Weiss founded his Mountainside firm in 2006, the same year he was admitted to the New Jersey Bar after earning his J.D. from Quinnipiac University School of Law. He is a New Jersey Certified Municipal Court Trial Attorney and has handled criminal defense, DWI, and traffic matters for nearly two decades across Union County’s municipal courts and the Union County Superior Court in Elizabeth. He also serves as a Trustee of the Union County Bar Association and sits on the District XII Ethics Committee, keeping him in regular contact with the judges and prosecutors who handle cases throughout the county.

Weiss structures the firm so clients work directly with him rather than being routed to paralegals or junior associates, which matters in a practice area where the details of a stop, a search, or a field sobriety test can decide a case. His office has handled matters ranging from first-offense DWI and drug possession to domestic violence and felony charges in towns including Westfield, Cranford, Plainfield, and Elizabeth.

2. Law Offices of Robert Tsigler, PLLC

Firm Details

• Attorney: Robert Tsigler, Esq.
• Founded: 2012
• Headquarters: 299 Broadway, Suite 1400, New York, NY 10007 (no New Jersey office listed)
• Phone: (718) 878-3781
• Website: tsiglerlaw.com
• Practice Areas: Criminal Defense, DWI, Assault, Domestic Violence, Drug Crimes, Gun Crimes, Sex Crimes, Violent Crimes, White Collar Crimes, Federal Criminal Defense
• Firm Size: 11 attorneys across four New York offices (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and Garden City)
• Google Rating: 4.7 ★★★★⯪ (495 reviews) – View on Google

About the Firm

The Law Offices of Robert Tsigler, PLLC is a New York-based law firm that also represents clients in New Jersey, including Union County. Its Union County practice covers criminal defense matters including DWI, assault, domestic violence, drug offenses, gun crimes, sex crimes, theft, white collar, and violent crimes, and the firm has also represented defendants in federal court.

Founder Robert Tsigler is admitted to practice in both New York and New Jersey and in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. During law school, he interned with the Kings County District Attorney’s Office, where he assisted with misdemeanor and felony prosecutions.

The firm’s website lists 11 attorneys, and all of its listed offices are in New York, so Union County clients should confirm which attorney will handle their case and where meetings will take place. That larger roster can help with scheduling and coverage, though the firm does not have the same local office presence as the Union County-based practices in this guide.

3. Bramnick, Grabas, Arnold & Mangan, LLC

Firm Details

• Attorney: Gary Grabas; Jon M. Bramnick (Founding Partner)
• Founded: 1984
• Headquarters: 1827 East Second Street, Scotch Plains, NJ 07076
• Phone: (908) 356-4279
• Website: jonbramnick.com
• Practice Areas: Criminal Defense, DWI/DUI, Municipal Court, Traffic Violations, Personal Injury, Workers’ Compensation, Immigration, Business Litigation
• Firm Size: Multi-practice firm with 22 attorneys and offices in Scotch Plains, Newark, Clifton, and Cherry Hill
• Google Rating: 4.2 ★★★★ (65 reviews)

About the Firm

Attorney Gary Grabas began his career as a law clerk to the Hon. Robert P. Figarotta in the Middlesex County Superior Court, then served as an Assistant Prosecutor in the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office from 1992 to 1996 and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office from 1996 to 1997, giving him both a judicial and a prosecutorial view of how criminal cases are built. He lists criminal defense and municipal court among his practice areas and works from the firm’s Scotch Plains office, which sits inside Union County.

Because the firm’s practice spans criminal defense, personal injury, workers’ compensation, business litigation, and immigration, a criminal case here is handled within a larger, multi-department firm rather than a criminal-only boutique. That can mean more institutional resources and attorneys to cover scheduling conflicts, but less of the single-attorney continuity a smaller practice offers.

4. Lubiner, Schmidt & Palumbo, LLC

Firm Details

• Attorney: Todd Palumbo
• Founded: 1984
• Headquarters: 123 N. Union Ave, Suite 305, Cranford, NJ 07016
• Phone: (908) 709-0500
• Website: lslawyers.com
• Practice Areas: Criminal Defense, Traffic Violations, Immigration
• Firm Size: Small firm; current attorneys include John E. Jenkins and Todd Palumbo
• Google Rating: 4.5 ★★★★⯪ (61 reviews)

About the Firm

Todd Palumbo, a second-generation New Jersey criminal defense attorney with a family trial practice going back more than three decades, handles much of the firm’s Union County caseload from its Cranford office. A graduate of the University of Texas School of Law, Palumbo has built a statewide municipal court and criminal defense practice that regularly brings him into the Union County Superior Court in Elizabeth as well as the county’s municipal courts.

The firm’s Union County work covers everything from disorderly persons offenses and shoplifting to indictable felony matters, and it pairs criminal defense with an active immigration practice, useful for clients whose criminal case could carry immigration consequences. The firm’s two namesake founders, Alan Lubiner and David Schmidt, are now listed as retired, so current clients work with the firm’s newer generation of attorneys rather than its original founders.

5. William Proetta Criminal Law (Proetta, Oliver & Rosen)

Firm Details

• Attorney: William A. Proetta; Brett M. Rosen (Partner)
• Founded: 2010
• Headquarters: 242 10th St #103, Jersey City, NJ 07302 (Union County offices at 20 Commerce Drive, Suite 135, Cranford, NJ and 100 Jefferson Ave, Suite 301, Elizabeth, NJ)
• Phone: (201) 942-5503
• Website: newjerseycriminallawfirm.com
• Practice Areas: Criminal Defense, DWI/DUI, Drug Crimes, Theft & Fraud, Weapons Offenses, Domestic Violence, Expungement, Juvenile Defense
• Firm Size: Criminal-defense-focused firm with offices in Jersey City, Edison, Cranford, Elizabeth, and Point Pleasant
• Google Rating: 5.0 ★★★★★ (195 reviews)

About the Firm

Founding partner William A. Proetta has handled well over a thousand criminal and municipal court cases in New Jersey, from DWI to murder, and is recognized as a DUI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing Instructor by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the International Association of Chiefs of Police, a credential that gives him instructor-level knowledge for challenging how field sobriety tests were administered in a DWI stop.

The firm operates as Proetta, Oliver & Rosen, and partner Brett M. Rosen, who works from the firm’s Elizabeth office, holds a New Jersey Supreme Court Certified Criminal Trial Attorney designation, a distinction held by fewer than 1% of the state’s attorneys. Rosen recently secured a directed verdict of acquittal in a Union County domestic violence case. Because the practice runs offices across several counties, its Cranford and Elizabeth locations are part of a larger multi-county operation rather than a single dedicated storefront.

6. Law Office of Vincent J. Sanzone, Jr.

Firm Details

• Attorney: Vincent J. Sanzone, Jr., Esq.
• Founded: 1990
• Headquarters: 277 N. Broad Street, 2nd Floor, Elizabeth, NJ 07207
• Phone: (908) 354-7006
• Website: criminaldefensenj.com
• Practice Areas: Criminal Defense (state, federal, and municipal), Civil Rights
• Firm Size: Solo practice; more than 30 years of experience
• Google Rating: 4.7 ★★★★⯪ (74 reviews)

About the Firm

Vincent J. Sanzone, Jr. has practiced criminal defense out of Elizabeth for more than three decades, admitted to the New Jersey bar in 1990, along with the U.S. District Court for New Jersey, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. He has argued and won a case before the New Jersey Supreme Court and, per his firm’s case history, was undefeated across his last ten criminal jury trials, securing ten consecutive not-guilty verdicts.

As a solo practitioner, Sanzone handles cases directly rather than assigning them to associates, giving clients a single point of contact throughout a matter, though it also means less bench depth to cover scheduling conflicts than a multi-attorney office offers. His recent case history includes a Union County Superior Court motion to suppress that led to the dismissal of a weapons possession charge in early 2026.

7. Stahl Gasiorowski Criminal Defense Lawyers P.C.

Firm Details

• Attorney: Robert G. Stahl; Laura K. Gasiorowski (Partners)
• Founded: 1997
• Headquarters: 200 Sheffield St #212, Mountainside, NJ 07092 (second office at 52 Duane St, New York, NY)
• Phone: (908) 301-9001
• Website: stahlesq.com
• Practice Areas: White Collar Crime, Federal Criminal Defense, Healthcare Fraud, Drug Trafficking, Weapons Offenses, Domestic Violence, DWI, Sex Crimes
• Firm Size: Criminal defense boutique led by two named partners, with offices in Mountainside and New York City
• Google Rating: 4.1 ★★★★ (14 reviews)

About the Firm

Partner Robert G. Stahl began his career in law enforcement and later served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey, giving him an insider’s understanding of how federal and state criminal cases are investigated and charged. He is a member of the American College of Trial Lawyers and brings 35 years of experience. Partner Laura K. Gasiorowski has defended complex white collar and high-profile criminal matters for more than 30 years in New York and New Jersey, and serves as Vice President of the Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers of New Jersey and as a Criminal Justice Act panel member.

The firm, based in Mountainside with a second office in New York City, leans toward complex state and federal white collar, healthcare fraud, and multi-defendant cases, while also handling domestic violence, DWI, and other state charges. That focus suits a client facing a serious indictable charge or a federal investigation more than someone contesting a single disorderly persons ticket.

8. Law Office of Charles Dawkins Jr., LLC

Firm Details

• Attorney: Charles Dawkins Jr.
• Founded: 2003
• Headquarters: 1139 E. Jersey Street, Suite 317, Elizabeth, NJ 07201
• Phone: (908) 962-9929
• Website: charlesdawkinsjrlaw.net
• Practice Areas: Criminal Defense (state and federal), Juvenile Defense, Personal Injury, Immigration
• Firm Size: Solo practice; more than 20 years of experience
• Google Rating: 5.0 ★★★★★ (4 reviews)

About the Firm

Charles Dawkins Jr. has practiced criminal defense for more than two decades from an office within walking distance of the Union County Superior Court and Elizabeth Municipal Court, handling matters from disorderly persons offenses and municipal ordinance violations up through first- and second-degree felony charges under Title 2C of the New Jersey Criminal Code.

His practice covers nearly every municipality in Union County individually, with dedicated case pages for towns including Clark, Cranford, Garwood, Linden, and Springfield, reflecting a practice built around detailed knowledge of each town’s municipal court rather than a single county-wide approach. Because the firm also handles personal injury and immigration matters, it operates as a general practice with a criminal defense concentration rather than a criminal-only shop.

9. The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall

Firm Details

• Attorney: Jonathan F. Marshall
• Founded: 1999
• Headquarters: 2204 Morris Ave, Suite 310, Union, NJ 07083 (additional Union County offices in Elizabeth and Linden)
• Phone: (908) 272-1700
• Website: unioncountynjcriminallawyer.com
• Practice Areas: Criminal Defense (exclusively), DWI/DUI, Domestic Violence, Drug Charges, Weapon Violations, Sex Crimes, Theft, Fraud, Juvenile Offenses, Municipal Court
• Firm Size: 11-attorney firm with 12 New Jersey office locations; over 200 years of combined experience firmwide
• Google Rating: 5.0 ★★★★★ (75 reviews)

About the Firm

Jonathan F. Marshall, a 1992 graduate of Seton Hall University School of Law, served as a municipal prosecutor in Hazlet from 1995 to 1998 and in Matawan from 1997 to 2000 before limiting his practice entirely to criminal, DWI, and traffic defense. His firm’s Union County team includes former Union County prosecutors and certified criminal trial attorneys, working from offices in Union, Elizabeth, and Linden that keep the practice close to the Union County Superior Court and the county’s municipal courts.

Because the firm handles only criminal and DWI matters, a Union County case here goes to attorneys who appear in Superior Court and municipal court on a near-daily basis. As one of the larger criminal defense practices in the state, it also offers more attorneys to cover scheduling conflicts than a solo office can, though clients should ask which attorney will personally handle their case.

10. Law Offices of Stefan J. Erwin, LLC

Firm Details

• Attorney: Stefan J. Erwin, Esq.
• Founded: 2023
• Headquarters: 1435 Morris Ave, Suite 2M, Union, NJ 07083
• Phone: (908) 845-3303
• Website: erwinesq.com
• Practice Areas: Criminal Defense (indictable and municipal), DWI, Expungement, Firearms Appeals, Megan’s Law, Motor Vehicle Offenses, Personal Injury, Business Litigation
• Firm Size: Small firm; Stefan J. Erwin with Of Counsel Sabrina G. Ruggiero
• Google Rating: 5.0 ★★★★★ (62 reviews)

About the Firm

Stefan J. Erwin clerked for the Hon. James Hely in the Superior Court of New Jersey before joining the Office of the Public Defender, where he served as a managing attorney in the Special Hearings Unit and later defended serious felony cases, including aggravated assault, robbery, weapons, and drug distribution charges, in the Monmouth County Trial Unit. He currently serves as a municipal prosecutor for Union Township, handling DUIs, motor vehicle violations, and criminal matters, and was named a Super Lawyers Rising Star in 2025 and 2026.

That mix of judicial, public defender, and prosecutor experience gives Erwin a view of criminal cases from every side of the courtroom. He has led the firm from its Morris Avenue office in Union since 2023, and the practice also handles civil and commercial litigation, so criminal defense is one of several core practice areas here rather than the firm’s sole focus.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between a disorderly persons offense and an indictable crime in Union County?

In New Jersey, a disorderly persons offense, the rough equivalent of a misdemeanor in other states, is heard in the local municipal court, such as Elizabeth, Westfield, or Cranford Municipal Court, and carries a maximum penalty of six months in county jail. An indictable crime, New Jersey’s version of a felony and ranked first through fourth degree, goes through the Union County Superior Court at 2 Broad Street in Elizabeth, and typically starts with a grand jury reviewing the state’s evidence before formal charges are filed.

Do I need a lawyer who specifically practices in Union County, or is any New Jersey criminal defense attorney fine?

Any attorney licensed in New Jersey can appear in Union County’s courts, but the county’s municipal courts and Superior Court have their own prosecutors, judges, and local procedures. An attorney who regularly appears before the specific municipal court handling a case, or who has direct experience with the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, typically has a clearer sense of how a particular charge tends to be resolved locally, whether through a downgrade, a diversionary program, or trial.

Can a criminal defense lawyer help with a DWI in Union County?

Yes. Many Union County criminal defense practices, including most of the firms in this guide, specifically handle DWI/DUI and municipal court matters. The applicable court and procedures depend on the charge and circumstances.

Can a criminal charge in Union County be expunged from my record?

Many New Jersey criminal and disorderly persons convictions can eventually be expunged, though the waiting period depends on the offense. Most disorderly persons offenses become eligible after five years and most indictable crimes after six, with an “early pathway” of three or four years available if a judge finds compelling circumstances. Separately, New Jersey’s Clean Slate law allows a person to petition to clear their entire record once ten years have passed since their most recent conviction or release from incarceration, whichever is later. An attorney who handles expungements can confirm the waiting period that applies to a specific charge and file the petition with the Union County Superior Court.

What happens if I’m arrested for DWI in Union County?

A DWI arrest in Union County is prosecuted in the municipal court for the town where the stop occurred, such as Westfield, Plainfield, or Elizabeth Municipal Court, and New Jersey treats DWI as a traffic offense rather than a criminal one, so there is no jury trial. The case typically turns on the legality of the stop and how field sobriety tests or the Alcotest 9510 breath test (which replaced the older Alcotest 7110) were administered, which is why some attorneys in this guide, such as William Proetta, hold specific DWI detection or field sobriety testing credentials.

How much does a criminal defense attorney cost in Union County, NJ?

Many of the firms in this guide offer a free or no-obligation initial consultation. Fees for disorderly persons or municipal court matters are commonly charged as a flat fee, while indictable Superior Court cases headed toward trial are more often billed hourly or with a larger flat retainer, given the additional discovery, motions, and court appearances involved.

Should I hire a solo attorney or a larger firm for a Union County criminal case?

A solo practitioner, such as several of the attorneys in this guide, generally means the person at the consultation is the same person who appears with you in court, which can matter for continuity. A larger firm can offer more attorneys to cover scheduling conflicts and a wider range of in-house experience, such as former prosecutors from specific units. The right fit often comes down to the charge itself: a straightforward municipal court matter may not need the resources of a larger firm, while a serious indictable charge can benefit from a firm with several attorneys and support staff.

Disclaimer: This guide is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice, a formal attorney referral, or the formation of an attorney-client relationship. Firms are not listed in ranked order, and the list is not sponsored or endorsed; inclusion here does not imply an affiliation with or recommendation by the publisher. Law firm details, including attorney credentials, office locations, contact information, Google ratings, and practice areas, are subject to change and should be independently verified with the respective firm or the New Jersey Courts attorney directory before making a hiring decision. Past case outcomes, such as reduced charges, dismissals, or acquittals in Union County Superior Court or New Jersey municipal courts, do not guarantee, warrant, or predict similar results in any future case.

Furthermore, criminal cases in New Jersey are subject to strict court deadlines, including short windows to appeal a municipal court conviction or a Superior Court judgment. Reading this guide does not fulfill or toll any legal deadlines. Please consult directly with a qualified attorney regarding your specific criminal matter.