James Abate | Bridgewater Criminal Defense Lawyer

• Somerset Hills Business Professionals Association Member
  2016 - Present
• Atlantic County Municipal Court Attorney Association Member
  2014 - Present
• Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers of New Jersey Municipal Court Practice Committee
  2014 - Present
• Criminal / Municipal Practice Somerset County Bar Association Committee Member
  2013 - Present
• National College of DUI Defense General Member
  2013 - Present
• Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers of New Jersey Member
  2012 - Present
• New Jersey Bar Association Municipal Court Practice Section Board of Directors
  2008 - Present
• New Jersey Bar Association Member
  2008 - Present
• National Association of Subrogation Professionals | Member
• Green Brook Little League Board of Directors
  2011 - 2014

• Super Lawyer Super Lawyers
  2020
• Client's Choice AVVO
  2013-2015
• Best of New Jersey The Italian Voice
  2014
• Trial Advocacy Award Federal Bar Council
  1999
• Constitutional Law American Jurisprudence
  1999
• Legal Writting American Jurisprudence
  1999
• Civil Procedure American Jurisprudence
  1999
• Richardson Scholar Brooklyn Law School
  1999
• Moot Court | Cornelius T. Wickersham Award
• Scholarship | Ruth Markoff Award

I represented New York Giants Safety Kamrin Moore, who was accused of domestic violence. Following a trial before the family court the alleged victim was found not credible. Eventually all charges were dismissed and Mr. Moore resumed his Professional Football Career. https://nypost.com/2019/08/28/prosecutors-may-drop-charges-against-giants-kamrin-moore-lawyer/ Mr. Abate also represented a defendant with 5 DWI convictions. After having 3 prior offenses precluded, the client (a leukemia patient) avoided jail time.

Every case is treated as if it is the most important case in the world, because to the client it is. We have built a strong, caring and highly professional staff including myself, Senior Associate John Portanova, Paralegals Megan Brault and Alyson Frederick. Customer service and legal excellence is shared by all of these professionals. We recently added Deidre Medallis, who is our client liaison and is the first person a client will speak to in our firm.

Credibility. Mr. Abate is rated as top 5% in DWI, Criminal Law and Domestic Violence by Super Lawyer Magazine, he is a rated 10.0 by AVVO- the highest score possible. He is holds certificates in Standardized Field Sobriety Testing and Drug Recognition, he is a member of the National College of DWI Defense and Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, and is Junior Legislative Chair for the New Jersey Bar Association Municiapl Court Practice section. It is essential to have access to reviews which will demonstrate the experience of prior clients. The ability to say no is perhaps most important. Our firm is not looking to get a quick plea, we are looking to make a difference. If there is a way to get your charges dismissed we will find it. If the prosecutor is not offering a reasonable option we will decline it and take your case to trial.

In some cases it can be the deciding factor. The attorneys in our office are known as tough litigators, but our staff as a whole is well liked by courts and prosecutors and that produces results.

We prefer a face to strategy session. We will learn about you and your case and provide an assessment of what can be done and how we can make it happen.

We need to know about the case. Who, what, when, how and why along with prior history.

We provide a complete team approach. You are not dealing with a solo practitioner, you are dealing with a staff of paralegals, attorneys and experts.

It is deeply rewarding when the client realizes they are in good hands and can relax with the knowledge and confidence that they have excellent representation.

Traveling, Baseball, Running and family.

Yes, I coach little league baseball, football and serve as a mentor to youth in the community. We donate to several towns in Central New Jersey to help provide opportunities to young people.