Jerard A. Gonzalez, Esq.

Jerard A. Gonzalez is a partner with Bastarrika, Soto, Gonzalez & Somohano LLP (BSGS) since April 2009. He is the partner responsible for the firm’s immigration practice before the Immigration and Federal Courts. 

Prior to joining BSGS, Mr. Gonzalez was an associate and subsequently a partner with Meyner & Landis LLP (2001-2009) where his practice concentrated on immigration and criminal law. Mr. Gonzalez is a former Prosecutor (2005-2006) and Deputy Public Defender (2002-2004) of the Borough of Ridgefield, N.J. He was also an Assistant District Counsel with the United States Department of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization Service, Newark, NJ (1997-2001). As an 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 Board of Immigration Appeals. He also served as Assistant Bergen County Prosecutor, where he handled juvenile and adult jury trials (1993-1997). In addition to his corporate immigration practice, Mr. Gonzalez immigration practice includes providing defense in removal proceedings before the Executive Office for Immigration Review, the Board of Immigration Appeals and Federal Court, as well as providing advice on the immigration consequences of criminal pleas. In addition to handling his own state and federal criminal cases, Mr. Gonzalez has successfully worked 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. He has successfully vacated convictions for foreign nationals who were not properly apprised of the immigration consequences of their guilty pleas.

Mr. Gonzalez served as the Chairman of the New Jersey Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association ("AILA") and previously served as its Vice Chairman (2005-2007). Mr. Gonzalez has lectured on the immigration consequences of criminal activities on behalf of the Federal Bar Association, the Institute for Continuing Legal Education ("ICLE") and the Bergen County Bar Association. Mr. Gonzalez is admitted to practice law before in the State of New Jersey, the Federal District Court of New Jersey, the U.S, Third Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court.  

Mr. Gonzalez was voted a 2006 Rising Star and a SuperLawyer in 2009 and 2011 in the area of Immigration Law by the Super Lawyers New Jersey Monthly Magazine.