Steven D. Altman is a partner and founding member of the firm. After graduating from Suffolk Law School in Boston in 1969, he enlisted in the New Jersey National Guard, where he spent six years. Once he completed basic training, Mr. Altman started his legal career in the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office as a member of the Criminal Justice Division.
Fortunately, Mr. Altman found an opportunity to fulfill his goal of becoming a criminal trial attorney when he was offered a position in the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office. He remained there for five years, when he left to enter private practice. During that five-year period, he tried a wide variety of cases, ranging from murder and rape, to narcotics, wiretap cases, and thefts. For two of those years he was Supervisor of the Narcotics and Organized Crime Task Force. In 1978, decided to form a partnership with his former colleague from the Prosecutor’s Office, Joseph Benedict.
Mr. Altman’s entire legal career has exclusively been devoted to criminal law. More particularly, he has been involved in countless trials for capital murder, narcotics, political corruption, and financial crimes. He is one of the few lawyers who had tried wiretap cases, as well as a significant number of cases pertaining to different forms of sexual abuse, and numerous trials alleging vehicular homicide.
Mr. Altman is certified by the New Jersey Supreme Court as a Criminal Trial Attorney. He has been named in New Jersey Super Lawyers magazine every year since 2005; and in “Best Lawyers in America” every year since 1995. In 2012, Best Lawyers named him "Lawyer of the Year" in the area of Criminal Defense - White Collar. New York Magazine annually rates him as one of the top criminal lawyers in the metropolitan New York City area, and “American Trial Lawyers” considers him one fo the top 100 trial lawyers in the area of criminal law. Martindale Hubbell, one of the oldest rating services, continuously awards him an “AV” rating, their highest.
Named as a "Super Lawyer" in The Field of Criminal Defense, New Jersey Monthly Magazine (2005-2009); Listed in "Best Lawyers in America" (1995-2009); Deputy Attorney General, New Jersey (1969-1970); Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office (Assistant Prosecutor, Chief Special Enforcement Section) (1970-1975); Borough Attorney, Borough of Spotswood (1976-1990), Borough of Jamesburg (1986-1991); Member, Assignment Judge's Criminal Law Committee (1986—); Middlesex County Ethics Committee (Member, 1987-1990, and Chairman, 1989-1990); Member, Supreme Court Committee on Criminal Practice (1985-1987). Certified Criminal Trial Attorney, Supreme Court of New Jersey, Board on Trial Attorney Certification.
Distinguished: An excellent rating for a lawyer with some experience. This rating indicates the attorney is widely
respected by their peers for high professional achievement and ethical standards.
Notable: This rating indicates that the lawyer has been recognized by a large number of their peers for strong ethical standards.
