Jerard A. Gonzalez
Partner
Hackensack, New Jersey
phone: (201)489-1351 fax: (201)489-1353
Jerard A. Gonzalez manages our Hackensack, New Jersey Office and is the partner
responsible for the firm's immigration practice. Mr. Gonzalez has served as the
Chair (2007-2009) and Vice Chair (2005-2007) of the New Jersey Chapter of the American
Immigration Lawyers Association ("AILA"). He was recently appointed to the AILA
National Liaison Committee to the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration &
Customs Enforcement. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Gonzalez was partner with Meyner
& Landis LLP, Newark & Hackensack, New Jersey where his practice concentrated exclusively
in the areas of immigration and criminal law (2001-2009). Mr. Gonzalez is a former
Assistant Bergen County Prosecutor (1993-1997) and a former Assistant District Counsel
with the United States Department of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization Service
in Newark, NJ (1998-2001). As Assistant District Counsel, Mr. Gonzalez handled asylum
cases, criminal alien cases and complex cases of national security before the Executive
Office for Immigration Review and the Federal District Court of New Jersey. Mr.
Gonzalez also served as the Assistant Public Defender and Prosecutor for the Borough
of Ridgefield, New Jersey.
In addition to his corporate immigration practice, Mr. Gonzalez' practice has a
special emphasis on providing a defense in removal proceedings before the Executive
Office for Immigration Review, the Board of Immigration Appeals and the Federal
Courts. In addition to handling criminal cases, Mr. Gonzalez has successfully consulted
with other defense counsel in negotiating pleas in criminal court that would permit
the respective foreign national client to legally remain in the United States. Mr.
Gonzalez has successfully vacated convictions of foreign nationals who were not
properly apprised of the immigration consequences of their guilty pleas. Mr. Gonzalez
has lectured on the immigration consequences of criminal activities on behalf of
the American Immigration Lawyers Association, Federal Bar Association, the New Jersey
Institute for Continuing Legal Education ("ICLE"), the New Jersey Hispanic Bar Association
and the Bergen County Bar Association.
Mr. Gonzalez was voted a 2006 Rising Star and a 2009 Superlawyer in the area of
Immigration Law by New Jersey Monthly Magazine.
Mr. Gonzalez is fluent in Spanish.
Areas of Practice:
- Immigration (Corporate and Litigation-related)
- Criminal Law (State and Federal)
Bar Admissions:
- New Jersey, 1992
- U.S. District Court District of New Jersey, 1992
- U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals, 2005
- U.S. Supreme Court, 2008
Education:
- Seton Hall University School of Law, Newark, New Jersey, 1992 J.D.
- Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ, 1988
Major: Criminal Justice
Professional Associations and Memberships:
- American Immigration Lawyers Association
- New Jersey Hispanic Bar Association
- Bergen County Bar Association
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Past Employment Positions:
- Meyner & Landis LLP, Newark, NJ 2001 - 2009
- United States Department of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization Service, Newark,
NJ, Assistant District Counsel, 1997 - 2001
- Bergen County, Assistant Prosecutor, 1994 - 1997
- Superior Court of New Jersey, Criminal Part, Bergen County, Hon. Arthur Minuskin,
Law Clerk, 1992 - 1993
- Superior Court of New Jersey, Criminal Part, Bergen County, Hon. Sybil Moses, Law
Clerk, 1992 - 1993
- Superior Court of New Jersey, Criminal Part, Bergen County, Hon. Charles DiGisi,
Law Clerk, 1992 - 1993