Calcagni & Kanefsky Launches in Newark as the New Jersey office of Harris, O'Brien, St. Laurent & Chaudhry LLP

NEWARK, N.J., April 17, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Former Federal prosecutors Tom Calcagni, most recently the First Assistant Attorney General for New Jersey, and Eric Kanefsky, most recently the Director of the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, have joined forces with premier New York criminal and civil trial boutique Harris, O'Brien, St. Laurent & Chaudhry LLP.   

Calcagni & Kanefsky, with offices at One Newark Center, represents corporate, governmental and individual clients in criminal and civil litigation, internal and governmental investigations, and regulatory actions.  The partnership with Harris O'Brien creates one of the most dynamic litigation and investigatory practices in New Jersey.

As the First Assistant Attorney General from 2012 to 2014, Mr. Calcagni was New Jersey's second highest-ranking State prosecutor.  In that role, he oversaw the State Police, Division of Criminal Justice, and Division of Consumer Affairs.  Prior to that, he served for two years as the Director of New Jersey's Division of Consumer Affairs, and for nine years as a Federal prosecutor at the U.S. Attorney's Office in Newark.

Mr. Kanefsky led the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs since 2012.  Previously, he served in the U.S. Attorney's Office where, like Calcagni, he was assigned to the elite Special Prosecutions Division and successfully prosecuted high-profile white collar matters including public corruption and complex commercial fraud.  Mr. Kanefsky also practiced privately with one of the nation's leading plaintiff's securities litigation firms where he helped recover hundreds of millions of dollars for investors.

While serving in the Attorney General's Office, both Calcagni and Kanefsky were widely credited for their results-focused approach in the handling of hundreds of consumer fraud, cyber fraud, and securities-related matters, including numerous professional misconduct cases.  Their combined depth of experience as tough, no-nonsense trial lawyers, complement Harris O'Brien's growing reputation as one of the foremost trial boutiques in the region.

"With our collective trial and investigative experience as former Federal prosecutors and State law enforcement officials, and the wealth of combined know-how from pursuing numerous criminal and regulatory investigations, Eric and I are uniquely positioned to counsel, advise and aggressively defend corporate, governmental, and individual clients," said Calcagni.  "From internal investigations and corporate compliance, to criminal defense – our integration with Harris O'Brien provides the firepower to undertake even the most complicated matters."

"Tom and I are opening this office to offer a different type of legal service in New Jersey," said Eric Kanefsky.  "Unlike bigger and more traditional litigation firms, we are willing to share the risk with our clients by taking on engagements under non-traditional fee arrangements, will represent both defendants and plaintiffs, and can take engagements largely without fear of conflicts.  Most importantly, as former Federal prosecutors and senior officers with the Attorney General, we have the chops to take any case to trial." 

The integrated talent and leveraged capabilities of the Newark and New York offices immediately place Calcagni & Kanefsky as a leader in white collar and government enforcement defense and all forms of complex civil litigation.  Attorneys at the firm also have significant experience in commercial disputes, investor litigation and arbitration, and employment litigation and counseling.

"Tom and Eric have distinguished themselves as two of New Jersey's top litigators during their years in public service," said Jonathan Harris, Managing Partner of Harris, O'Brien, St. Laurent & Chaudhry LLP.  "Their addition to our firm uniquely positions us to offer world class trial, counseling and investigatory services to individual and institutional clients who need representation in New Jersey." 

Harris, O'Brien, St. Laurent & Chaudhry LLP was founded in 2009, is a civil and criminal litigation firm, and has won over $100 million in verdicts in 5 years in addition to numerous successful defense representations.  The New York offices are located in the Trinity Building in downtown Manhattan.

In New Jersey, the law firm will be known as Calcagni & Kanefsky, the New Jersey Office of Harris, O'Brien, St. Laurent & Chaudhry LLP.

SOURCE Harris, O'Brien, St. Laurent & Chaudhry LLP