At the Law Office of Charles Dawkins, Jr, we focus on Criminal Defense, Personal Injury, Immigration, and Federal & State Appeals and we are here to listen to you and help you navigate the legal system.

Scott Kessler specializes in Personal Injury matters, including Motor Vehicle Accidents, Slip and Fall Accidents, Truck Accidents, and Dog Bite cases. Mr. Kessler also specializes in Workers’ Compensation cases, and was for ten years recognized by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Certified Workers’ Compensation Law Attorney. Mr. Kessler has been named a total of thirteen times to the annual “Super Lawyers” list published in New Jersey Monthly Magazine, for his work in the areas of both Workers’ Compensation and Personal Injury law. Appearing in the New Jersey Supreme Court, Mr. Kessler successfully fought to establish new legal precedents and expand the rights of injured workers in the Supreme Court case of Sager vs. O. A. Peterson Construction Co., and has appeared in New Jersey’s Appellate Division on several additional matters. He was the Acting Municipal Prosecutor for Freehold Borough from 1990 – 1991, and has also served as a Monmouth County Public Defender Pool Attorney, and as a private Criminal Defense attorney. Mr. Kessler has been the Managing Shareholder of Team Law since 2012, and has been the Managing Attorney of the Team Law Workers’ Compensation Department since 1991. Mr. Kessler graduated from Rutgers University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1980, and received his Juris Doctor degree from New York Law School in 1988. He became licensed to practice law in the State of New Jersey and the United States District Court, District of New Jersey, in 1988. He has served as a Vice-President of The New Jersey Advisory Council on Safety and Health, a workers’ rights advocacy group, since 2008, and is a member of the New Jersey State Bar Association and the New Jersey Association of Justice.

Roy Konray is certified by the New Jersey Supreme Court as a Certified Civil Trial Attorney. He has extensive jury trial experience in the areas of medical malpractice, legal malpractice, catastrophic personal injury cases, and employment law. He has served as chair of the New Jersey State Bar Association’s Medical Malpractice committee. He is a shareholder in the firm and chairs its Complex Litigation Department. Martindale-Hubbell is America’s oldest lawyer rating organization. Based on peer reports from judges and lawyers, it awards Mr. Konray the highest ratings in both legal ability and ethical conduct (pre-eminent). NationalTrialLawyers.org places Mr. Konray on its “Top 100 Trial lawyers list. Based on surveys of New Jersey lawyers published in New Jersey Monthly magazine, Mr. Konray has been selected as a “Super Lawyer in every year the survey has been taken (2005 to 2015). He serves as a Master in the Richard J. Hughes American Inn of Court. Lawyers.com reports Mr. Konray has client ratings of 5 out of 5, as well as peer ratings of 5 out 5. Mr. Konray is the co-author of a book chapter on detecting fraud in medical records and has authored several articles concerning civil litigation. He is a frequent lecturer on various issues related to trial work. Some legal matters he has handled have received national and worldwide media coverage. Mr. Konray has appeared on the Today show, CNN’s Joy Behar Show, ABC Nightly News and other television shows as a result of legal cases he has handled.

A graduate of George Washington University Law School, Ashton Thomas is a skilled civil attorney with a proven track record. He has been practicing law for over thirty-three (33) years in New Jersey. He has been a municipal prosecutor for the City of Elizabeth for over twenty-five (25) years. Ashton Thomas is admitted to practice in the United States District Court of New Jersey, the U.S. Third Circuit Court, and the United States Supreme Court. Ashton Thomas is here to help you!

Christopher Jackson came to employment law through a background built on public service and advocacy. After graduating from Rutgers Law School, where he represented vulnerable populations in the Immigrant Justice Clinic, he clerked for the Honorable Kay Walcott-Henderson, developing a strong foundation in motion practice, legal analysis, and courtroom procedure. He then practiced at several litigation firms before joining Mark & Kleinfeldt, where his practice is now focused on representing employees in workplace disputes. Christopher's litigation background extends beyond employment law to include healthcare disputes and complex multi-issue matters, and he is admitted in New Jersey and the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. His breadth of experience gives him a practical advantage in cases that involve overlapping legal theories or procedural complexity. His commitment to the legal profession extends well beyond his caseload. Christopher has served as Chair of the New Jersey State Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, Chair of the Rutgers Camden Law Alumni Association Young Lawyers Division, and Chair of the Mercer County Young Lawyers Division. He currently serves on the NJSBA Board of Trustees, the Diversity Committee, and the New Jersey Supreme Court Committee on Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement. He was named the 2022 Mercer County Bar Association Young Lawyer of the Year and received the 2024 NJSBA Young Lawyers Division Service to the Bar Award.

Howard Lesnik is certified as a trial attorney by the New Jersey Supreme Court. The New Jersey Supreme Court has certified Howard Lesnik as a board certified trial attorney. Only 2% of the 75,000 registered NJ lawyers meet the stringent standards of experience, education, and knowledge, to be recognized and achieve board certification by the Supreme Court of New Jersey. Have questions? Need answers about an injury that occurred in New Jersey as a result of someone else’s negligence, or need to consult a criminal defense attorney in Mountainside NJ? Call Howard Lesnik at 908.264.7701 or email Mr. Lesnik at howard@lesniklaw.com. Mr. Lesnik is a Certified Trial Lawyer in New Jersey who brings his experience and knowledge of the laws of New Jersey to protect you and your family. Allow yourself time to heal from your injuries while your attorney handles the insurance company, and other legal matters concerning any exposure to criminal charges.

Mr. Feeley has litigation experience in the Superior Court of New Jersey, the Office of Administrative Law, the Court of Workers’ Compensation and the Appellate Division. He has also argued before the New Jersey, State Supreme Court in Russo v. Police and Fire Pension System A-20-10. A case that he won a unanimous decision. Mr. Feeley formerly served as a police officer in the City of Orange, until 1984, when he left the Orange Police Department to become a firefighter also in the City of Orange. He remained in the fire department until 2008, when he retired as a Deputy Chief. During his career with the Fire Department Mr. Feeley served as the President of FMBA, Local 10 and Local 210, for a combined total of seventeen years. As Union President Mr. Feeley successfully negotiated numerous contracts and handle multiple disciplinary issues and grievances. This experience has provided him with the unique ability to understand the issues of public employees and the established practices of public employers. Mr. Feeley was also a certified instructor in the Essex County Police Academy, where he taught self defense for approximately ten years.

Mr. LaRocca was born and raised in a working class family. He became a Union County Corrections Officer shortly after graduating high school and remained a Corrections Officer working his way through college. After graduating Kean University, Mr. La Rocca received a Law Degree from the Quinnipiac School of Law, (Formerly Bridgeport Law School). After graduating Law School he began his legal career working for one of New Jersey’s largest personal injury law firms located in Newark, NJ. Shortly thereafter, Mr. La Rocca became a partner in the Law Firm of Fano and La Rocca located in East Orange, NJ. Thereafter, Tony LaRocca became the Senior Partner in the Law Firm of LaRocca, Feeley & Associates, located in Winfield Park, NJ. Throughout his over 30 year legal career, Mr. La Rocca has been handling Workers’ Compensation Claims on behalf of injured employees. He has established himself as one of the most recognized attorneys in New Jersey handling Workers’ Compensation Claims. Coming from a working class background, Mr. La Rocca has established a reputation for fighting to protect the rights of injured workers. He understands the concerns of his clients and is committed to protecting their interests. The other legal area of focus in which Mr. La Rocca has established an outstanding reputation is representing Cooperative Housing Corporations. He has represented Cooperative Housing Corporations for over 30 years. During that time he has become a member in the National Association of Housing Cooperatives and the NJ Federation of Housing Cooperatives. In addition to his extensive legal experience in handling Workers Compensation claims and representing Cooperative Housing Corporations, Mr. LaRocca is an adjunct professor at Kean University teaching in the Criminal Justice Department . Mr. LaRocca has also authored and conducted numerous seminars to Corrections Officers and Police Officers on proper report writing. Having had the opportunity of working in law enforcement and representing numerous law enforcement officers and all public employees, Mr. LaRocca has obtained a unique perspective which allows him to vigorously and effectively represent his clients. Mr. LaRocca also works with the United States Naval Academy Admissions Office as a Blue and Gold Officer assisting potential candidates in their endeavor to accepted into the US Naval Academy.

Christopher McEvilley was born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y. Chris attended State University of New York at Old Westbury, where he graduated with a double major in American History and Media Communications. Chris then attended City University of New York School of Law concentrating his studies on Wills, Trusts and Estates. While in Law School Chris served as the President of the Sports and Entertainment Law Students Association and Vice-President of the Black Law Students Association. Chris also participated in Mock trial competitions and Moot Court competitions. While in law school, as part of his Employment Law class, Chris wrote a 30 page thesis on the Collective Bargaining Agreement in the National Basketball Association (NBA), focusing on the Kevin Garnett contract which at the time was the biggest contract in the NBA. This is what peeked Chris’ interest in Employment Law. Chris also has a passion for Personal Injury. He started his legal career at 15 working for a Personal Injury law firm as a file clerk. Chris lives in Bergen county, New Jersey where he is an active member of his church and community. Chris often goes back to his neighborhood in Brooklyn where he grew up and mentors young children. Chris is an avid sports fan. In his free time he spends time with his daughter, family and friends. He also likes to play baseball and basketball.