Joseph P. LaSala

JOSEPH P. LASALA is a graduate of St. Peter's College and Seton Hall University School of Law. He was a law clerk to The Honorable Anthony T. Augelli, former Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. He is admitted to practice in New Jersey and New York, the United States District Courts for the District of New Jersey, the Northern, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, the District of Colorado, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals, the United States Supreme Court, and the United States Tax and Claims Courts. Mr. LaSala has extensive experience in complex litigation including product liability actions, multi-party toxic tort litigation, asbestos litigation, benzene litigation, corporate dissolutions, commercial litigation, environmental coverage matters, securities cases, patent cases, and defense of professional liability actions against attorneys, accountants, architects, and engineers.

He has served as a Liquidating Trustee for the United States District Court where over $250 million dollars has been recovered for defrauded shareholders. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. He was a Master of the Essex Inns of Court, Arthur T. Vanderbilt Chapter, from 1988 to 1992. He was a Master and Co-Coordinator of the Seton Hall Law Alumni Inn of Court from its inception.  

Mr. LaSala is a certified civil trial attorney of the State of New Jersey. He sat on the Seton Hall University Board of Regents and Board of Trustees. He currently sits on the Seton Hall Law School Board of Visitors and is the immediate past chairman. He is a Fellow of the American Bar Association, Past-President of the Essex County Bar Association, and previously served on the nominating committee of the New Jersey State Bar Association. He is Past-President of the Trial Attorneys of New Jersey and Past-President of the Legal Services Foundation of Essex County, as well as a trustee of the Association of the Federal Bar of the State of New Jersey.  Mr. LaSala is also a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers.

Mr. LaSala is a former Chairman and Treasurer of the Essex County Improvement Authority. In 1986 he was appointed by the New Jersey Supreme Court to the District Fee Arbitration Committee and served as Committee Chairman for several years. He is an arbitrator for the United States District Court, District of New Jersey. Seton Hall University School of Law presented him with its Distinguished Graduate award in 1991, and Seton Hall University named him Distinguished Graduate in 1996. Mr. LaSala has been given the Professional Lawyer of the Year Award by the New Jersey Commission on Professionalism in the Law on behalf of the Essex County Bar Association, the New Jersey State Bar Association and the Association of the Federal Bar of the State of New Jersey.

  • The New Jersey Commission on Professionalism in the Law presented Mr. LaSala with the prestigious Daniel J. O’Hern Award for his significant career achievements and service to the bar (2023).   A description of the standard or methodology on which the accolade is based can be found HERE (No aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court).
  • Recipient of the Professional Lawyer of the Year Award by the New Jersey Commission on Professionalism in the Law on behalf of the Essex County Bar Association, the New Jersey State Bar Association and the Association of the Federal Bar of the State of New Jersey.  A description of the standard or methodology on which the accolade is based can be found HERE (No aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court).
  • Recipient of the Justice William J. Brennan, Jr. Award from the Association of the Federal Bar of New Jersey (2019).  A description of the standard or methodology on which the accolade is based can be found HERE (No aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court).
  • Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Rated (2024) - Martindale-Hubbell's highest peer rating standard. This is given to attorneys who are ranked at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal expertise, communication skills, and ethical standards by their peers. A description of the standard or methodology on which the accolade is based can be found HERE (No aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court).
  • Recipient of the New Jersey State Bar Foundation's Medal of Honor (2017) - This award is given each year to those who have made exemplary contributions to improving the justice system and enhancing New Jersey's legal legacy. A description of the standard or methodology on which the accolade is based can be found HERE (No aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court).
  • Listed in Super Lawyers®, a Thomson Reuters business, in the areas of General Litigation, Class Action & Mass Torts, and Closely Held Business since its inception in New Jersey in 2005 through 2023 and was listed in their Top 10 Lawyers for 2009 and 2010 and was listed in their Top 100 Lawyers for every other year. A description of the standard or methodology on which the accolade is based can be found HERE (No aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court).
  • Recognized in Chambers USA (2021- 2024) in the area of Litigation: General Commercial. A description of the standard or methodology on which the accolade is based can be found HERE (No aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court).
  • Listed in Best Lawyers® (2011-2025), a Woodward/White, Inc. business and partners with U.S. News & World Report, in the areas of Commercial Litigation and Bet-the-Company Litigation. He was also recognized as the 2022 "Lawyer of the Year" for Bet-the-Company Litigation in the Newark area. A description of the standard or methodology on which the accolade is based can be found HERE (No aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court).
  • Named one of the Golden Lion Honorees at the Sons of Italy, New Jersey Foundation, Inc. 's Purple Aster Ball in April 2016. This foundation recognizes distinguished Italian Americans who are well recognized in their professions. 

JOSEPH P. LASALA is a graduate of St. Peter's College and Seton Hall University School of Law. He was a law clerk to The Honorable Anthony T. Augelli, former Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. He is admitted to practice in New Jersey and New York, the United States District Courts for the District of New Jersey, the Northern, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, the District of Colorado, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals, the United States Supreme Court, and the United States Tax and Claims Courts. Mr. LaSala has extensive experience in complex litigation including product liability actions, multi-party toxic tort litigation, asbestos litigation, benzene litigation, corporate dissolutions, commercial litigation, environmental coverage matters, securities cases, patent cases, and defense of professional liability actions against attorneys, accountants, architects, and engineers.

He has served as a Liquidating Trustee for the United States District Court where over $250 million dollars has been recovered for defrauded shareholders. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. He was a Master of the Essex Inns of Court, Arthur T. Vanderbilt Chapter, from 1988 to 1992. He was a Master and Co-Coordinator of the Seton Hall Law Alumni Inn of Court from its inception.  

Mr. LaSala is a certified civil trial attorney of the State of New Jersey. He sat on the Seton Hall University Board of Regents and Board of Trustees. He currently sits on the Seton Hall Law School Board of Visitors and is the immediate past chairman. He is a Fellow of the American Bar Association, Past-President of the Essex County Bar Association, and previously served on the nominating committee of the New Jersey State Bar Association. He is Past-President of the Trial Attorneys of New Jersey and Past-President of the Legal Services Foundation of Essex County, as well as a trustee of the Association of the Federal Bar of the State of New Jersey.  Mr. LaSala is also a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers.

Mr. LaSala is a former Chairman and Treasurer of the Essex County Improvement Authority. In 1986 he was appointed by the New Jersey Supreme Court to the District Fee Arbitration Committee and served as Committee Chairman for several years. He is an arbitrator for the United States District Court, District of New Jersey. Seton Hall University School of Law presented him with its Distinguished Graduate award in 1991, and Seton Hall University named him Distinguished Graduate in 1996. Mr. LaSala has been given the Professional Lawyer of the Year Award by the New Jersey Commission on Professionalism in the Law on behalf of the Essex County Bar Association, the New Jersey State Bar Association and the Association of the Federal Bar of the State of New Jersey.

  • The New Jersey Commission on Professionalism in the Law presented Mr. LaSala with the prestigious Daniel J. O’Hern Award for his significant career achievements and service to the bar (2023).   A description of the standard or methodology on which the accolade is based can be found HERE (No aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court).
  • Recipient of the Professional Lawyer of the Year Award by the New Jersey Commission on Professionalism in the Law on behalf of the Essex County Bar Association, the New Jersey State Bar Association and the Association of the Federal Bar of the State of New Jersey.  A description of the standard or methodology on which the accolade is based can be found HERE (No aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court).
  • Recipient of the Justice William J. Brennan, Jr. Award from the Association of the Federal Bar of New Jersey (2019).  A description of the standard or methodology on which the accolade is based can be found HERE (No aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court).
  • Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Rated (2024) - Martindale-Hubbell's highest peer rating standard. This is given to attorneys who are ranked at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal expertise, communication skills, and ethical standards by their peers. A description of the standard or methodology on which the accolade is based can be found HERE (No aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court).
  • Recipient of the New Jersey State Bar Foundation's Medal of Honor (2017) - This award is given each year to those who have made exemplary contributions to improving the justice system and enhancing New Jersey's legal legacy. A description of the standard or methodology on which the accolade is based can be found HERE (No aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court).
  • Listed in Super Lawyers®, a Thomson Reuters business, in the areas of General Litigation, Class Action & Mass Torts, and Closely Held Business since its inception in New Jersey in 2005 through 2023 and was listed in their Top 10 Lawyers for 2009 and 2010 and was listed in their Top 100 Lawyers for every other year. A description of the standard or methodology on which the accolade is based can be found HERE (No aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court).
  • Recognized in Chambers USA (2021- 2024) in the area of Litigation: General Commercial. A description of the standard or methodology on which the accolade is based can be found HERE (No aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court).
  • Listed in Best Lawyers® (2011-2025), a Woodward/White, Inc. business and partners with U.S. News & World Report, in the areas of Commercial Litigation and Bet-the-Company Litigation. He was also recognized as the 2022 "Lawyer of the Year" for Bet-the-Company Litigation in the Newark area. A description of the standard or methodology on which the accolade is based can be found HERE (No aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court).
  • Named one of the Golden Lion Honorees at the Sons of Italy, New Jersey Foundation, Inc. 's Purple Aster Ball in April 2016. This foundation recognizes distinguished Italian Americans who are well recognized in their professions. 

Education

Saint Peter's College (B.S. 1969)
Seton Hall Law School (J.D. 1972)

Admissions

State of New Jersey
State of New York
U.S. Court of Appeals, 3rd Circuit
U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey
U.S. District Court, EDNY
U.S. District Court, SDNY
Supreme Court of the United States
U.S. Tax and Claims Court
U.S. Court of Appeals, 2nd Circuit
U.S. District Court, NDNY
U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit

Memberships

Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America
Fellow, International Academy of Trial Lawyers
Fellow, American Bar Foundation
Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers