We’re committed to providing you with top-notch legal support. We approach every client with a focus on integrity, advocacy, and understanding. We fight for you! Our legal team has a well-deserved reputation of excellence in providing smart, sensible, and cost-effective legal and business solutions for our clients.

I always knew that I wanted to start my own practice after I graduated from law school. My goal was to help people with their personal issues. Being a personal advocate to me was always taking the strongest position for your client and never giving up the fight, even when you think you might lose. The motto of "Never give up" was something that carried over throughout my career as an attorney. In 2002 I began my legal career in litigation at a plaintiff's personal injury firm. I learned the value of communicating with clients who were severely injured and were looking for compensation. Their biggest complaints were that the attorneys in the office never got back to them on what was happening with their case. So I made it my goal to always return every phone call. I never left the office for the day until every single phone call had been returned. As a young associate, I knew client communication was the number one goal to a satisfied customer. Shortly thereafter in early 2003, I felt it was time to move on, and I launched my career into criminal law at the Kings County District Attorney's Office. I was quickly thrown into the courtroom and cut my teeth on over 300 misdemeanor cases, many of which I tried to successful verdicts. I was then placed into the grand jury were I successfully indicated over 500 criminals resulting in sustainable felony charges. In 2006, I was promoted to a felony assistant. I returned to the courtroom in the Supreme Court of New York fighting for the citizens of Brooklyn. While trying numerous felony cases I quickly learned how to size up my cases early on, gather evidence that would hold up in front of a jury, and prepare my witnesses so that their stories were fluid, credible, and accurate. I won as many cases as I lost, but I learned to never be afraid to take any case to verdict, especially the tough ones, because you never know what can help. I never enjoyed being pushed around in the courtroom and I learned how to push back respectfully and diligently with the most up to date legal precedent and as much evidence as possible to prove my point. I never stopped until I found the truth and combed every piece of paper, report, or photo to find the answers I was seeking. I always went the extra mile to find as many witnesses as possible and as much evidence as I could to win. In 2007 I began to feel that I needed to make a change in my career. I returned to civil litigation. I spent a number of years in private practice where I defended insurance companies on complex litigation matters. I am extremely glad that I made the switch because it gave me the opportunity to learn the behind the scene decisions of insurance adjusters and lengths they will go in order to deny your claim. Additionally, I learned how litigate complex matters breaking down the issues to handle them effectively. I never thought of myself as a "defense guy" and I knew my skills were better equipped for a plaintiff's practice. The decisions the insurance companies made in denying claims against parties that were truly injured I believed were performed in error. In 2010 I made the decision to open my own law firm. I knew that I wanted to devote myself to taking on smaller clients that needed personal attention and were looking for guidance. I was fortunate enough to be selective in the types of cases that I took on in my practice. I did not want to treat my clients like they were just a name and number whose file was sitting on a shelf. I made it my business to know my clients personally, give them as much individual attention so that they feel that they are my only client. In my current practice I bring intuitive trial skills along with my communication skills. I still make it my number one priority to personally return every phone message I receive. Additionally, I guide my clients through every step of the litigation. I like to make them feel they are part of the process. I know my clients appreciate my diligence and hard work. Lastly, I've learned to take on the difficult cases, and I know that there are times when you have to force your adversary into the courtroom. I am not afraid to lose, and it's that confidence which has made me successful.

I am an experienced attorney in New Jersey with substantial experience in municipal court handling traffic matters and criminal cases. I work hand in hand with my clients to ensure all of your questions are answered and progress throughout your case is seamless. I have dedicated my practice to ensure each client receives the attention and dedication they deserve to navigate through the legal system. I will be with you every step of the way to make sure your rights are diligently represented. We’re in this together!

Introducing Christopher Fritz: A Resolute Advocate for Divorce and Family Law in New Jersey. In the realm of divorce and family law, one name stands out as a beacon of unwavering dedication and legal prowess: Christopher Fritz. With a distinguished career spanning over two decades, Christopher has consistently demonstrated his deep commitment to guiding individuals and families through the complexities of these sensitive legal matters. As a trusted attorney in New Jersey, his expertise, compassion, and strategic approach have earned him a formidable reputation among clients and colleagues alike.

Douglas S. Schwartz, formerly of the Union County Prosecutor's Office, joined the firm in 1992 and became a partner in 1999, when the name of the firm was changed to Sisselman & Schwartz, LLP. Douglas Schwartz is a practicing lawyer in the state of New Jersey specializing in Accident & Injury. Mr. Schwartz received his J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law in 1991.

David M. Estes concentrates his practice in class action, product liability, and personal injury litigation. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Estes served as a law clerk to the Honorable Victor Ashrafi of the New Jersey Appellate Division. He also served as a summer clerk to the Honorable Jerome Simandle of the U.S. District Court of New Jersey, and judicial intern to the Honorable Theodore McKee of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Mr. Estes is admitted to practice law in New Jersey.

SOHAIL SHAHPAR, ESQ. (2006, Hofstra University School of Law). Since 1999 Mr. Shahpar has worked as a Major League Baseball Players Association Certified Agent representing clients in contract negotiations, endorsement deals, and arbitration. Mr. Shahpar joined the Firm in 2008 and specializes his practice to employment matters such as contracts and severance agreements. Mr. Shahpar is licensed to practice in New Jersey and New York.

Matthew R. Mendelsohn is a trial lawyer specializing in complex civil and class action litigation. Mr. Mendelsohn is admitted to practice in both state and federal courts in New Jersey and New York. He is also admitted to practice before the Third and Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Joseph Donatiello was born and raised in Northern New Jersey and received his J.D. in 2009 from Rutgers School of Law in Newark. Following law school, he served as the judicial law clerk for the Honorable Joseph V. Isabella, J.S.C., in the Criminal Division of the Hudson County Superior Court. ​ At the completion of his term as a judicial law clerk, Mr. Donatiello began a career in public service by working as an Assistant District Attorney with the Bronx County District Attorney's Office. During his time at the Bronx District Attorney's Office, Mr. Donatiello was assigned to the Criminal Court Bureau, where he gained invaluable experience with a variety of cases including Driving While Intoxicated, Assault, Harassment, Menacing, Driving While Suspended, Theft of Services, and Possession of Weapons and Drugs. He was responsible for prosecuting these cases from commencement through trial. ​ After leaving the Bronx District Attorney’s Office, Mr. Donatiello returned to New Jersey and, in February 2014, he opened up his own firm in Nutley, New Jersey. Since then, Mr. Donatiello has frequently appeared in court representing defendants charged with criminal and traffic offenses in New Jersey Superior Court and Municipal Court, New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission Suspension Hearings, as well as in New York Supreme and Criminal Court. ​ The clients he represents have been charged with a variety of offenses including Possession of Controlled Dangerous Substances, Driving While Intoxicated, Leaving the Scene of an Accident, Assault, Shoplifting, Criminal Mischief, Theft by Deception, Speeding, Driving While Suspended, and many other motor vehicle offenses. ​ Mr. Donatiello is currently admitted to practice in New Jersey, New York and the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. ​ In February 2022, Mr. Donatiello was appointed the Public Defender for the Township of Nutley.

Andrew F. Garruto began his legal career as a judicial intern for the Honorable Stanley R. Chesler, U.S. Magistrate, (now U.S. District Court Judge), in Newark, New Jersey. He then worked as a Judicial Law Clerk for the Honorable June Strelecki, Judge of the NJ Superior Court and then for the Honorable Arthur J. Blake, Judge of the NJ Superior Court. In 1992, Andrew Garruto became a trial lawyer in an active litigation firm before practicing law on his own. His newly built office is located in his hometown of Nutley, New Jersey, and he also has an office in downtown Manhattan. Mr. Garruto concentrates his practice on personal injury claims, involving any incident where one’s negligence causes injury to another, as well as Workers’ Compensation claims. Mr. Garruto is admitted to practice law by the New Jersey Supreme Court, the United States Federal District Court, and the United States Supreme Court. He is a member of the New Jersey Association for Justice, the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, is certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Civil Trial Attorney, is certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy as a Board Certified Trial Attorney, is a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, and was named in New Jersey Monthly Magazine’s “Top 100 Lawyers in New Jersey.”