Jerard A. Gonzalez Esq.

Jerard A. Gonzalez is a partner with Bastarrika, Soto, Gonzalez & Somohano LLP (BSGS) since April 2009. He is the partner responsible for the firm’s immigration practice before the Immigration and Federal Courts. Prior to joining BSGS, Mr. Gonzalez was an associate and subsequently a partner with Meyner & Landis LLP (2001-2009) where his practice concentrated on immigration and criminal law. Mr. Gonzalez is a former Prosecutor (2005-2006) and Deputy Public Defender (2002-2004) of the Borough of Ridgefield, N.J. He was also an Assistant District Counsel with the United States Department of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization Service, Newark, NJ (1997-2001). As an Assistant District Counsel, Mr. Gonzalez handled asylum cases, criminal alien cases and complex cases of national security before the Executive Office for Immigration Review and the Board of Immigration Appeals. He also served as Assistant Bergen County Prosecutor, where he handled juvenile and adult jury trials (1993-1997). In addition to his corporate immigration practice, Mr. Gonzalez immigration practice includes providing defense in removal proceedings before the Executive Office for Immigration Review, the Board of Immigration Appeals and Federal Court, as well as providing advice on the immigration consequences of criminal pleas. In addition to handling his own state and federal criminal cases, Mr. Gonzalez has successfully worked with other defense counsel in negotiating pleas in criminal court that would permit the respective foreign national client to legally remain in the United States. He has successfully vacated convictions for foreign nationals who were not properly apprised of the immigration consequences of their guilty pleas. Mr. Gonzalez served as the Chairman of the New Jersey Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association ("AILA") and previously served as its Vice Chairman (2005-2007). Mr. Gonzalez has lectured on the immigration consequences of criminal activities on behalf of the Federal Bar Association, the Institute for Continuing Legal Education ("ICLE") and the Bergen County Bar Association. Mr. Gonzalez is admitted to practice law before in the State of New Jersey, the Federal District Court of New Jersey, the U.S, Third Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court. Mr. Gonzalez was voted a 2006 Rising Star and a SuperLawyer in 2009 and 2011 in the area of Immigration Law by the Super Lawyers New Jersey Monthly Magazine. Awards and Honors Super Lawyers® Selectees Jerard A. Gonzalez Esq. included in a Super Lawyers® list Honors Voted as a Rising Star, 2006 - 2014 Selected to Super Lawyers Rising Stars list in the area of Immigration Law by New Jersey Monthly Magazine, 2009 - 2014 Other Sources of Feedback About Jerard A. Gonzalez Esq. Included on the 2026New Jersey Super Lawyers list Past Lists 2025 New Jersey Super Lawyers list 2024 New Jersey Super Lawyers list 2023 New Jersey Super Lawyers list 2022 New Jersey Super Lawyers list 2021 New Jersey Super Lawyers list 2020 New Jersey Super Lawyers list 2019 New Jersey Super Lawyers list 2018 New Jersey Super Lawyers list 2017 New Jersey Super Lawyers list 2016 New Jersey Super Lawyers list 2015 New Jersey Super Lawyers list 2014 New Jersey Super Lawyers list 2013 New Jersey Super Lawyers list 2012 New Jersey Super Lawyers list 2011 New Jersey Super Lawyers list 2010 New Jersey Super Lawyers list 2009 New Jersey Super Lawyers list 2006 New Jersey Super Lawyers list

• Meyner & Landis LLP, Newark, NJ, 2001 - 2009
• United States Department of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization Service, Newark, NJ, Assistant District Counsel, 1997 - 2001
• Bergen County, Assistant Prosecutor, 1994 - 1997
• Superior Court of New Jersey, Criminal Part, Bergen County, Hon. Arthur Minuskin, Law Clerk, 1992 - 1993
• Superior Court of New Jersey, Criminal Part, Bergen County, Hon. Sybil Moses, Law Clerk, 1992 - 1993
• Superior Court of New Jersey, Criminal Part, Bergen County, Hon. Charles DiGisi, Law Clerk, 1992 - 1993
• Languages
• Spanish

• New Jersey, 1992
• U.S. District Court District of New Jersey, 1992
• U.S. Court of Appeals 3rd Circuit, 2005
• U.S. Supreme Court, 2008

• American Immigration Lawyers Association (“AILA”)
• New Jersey Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association ("AILA"), , 2007 - 2009 (Chair)
• New Jersey Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association ("AILA"), , 2005 - 2007 (Vice Chair)
• New Jersey Hispanic Bar Association
• National Hispanic Bar Association
• Bergen County Bar Association
• National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
• Hispanic Institute of Research and Development, Hackensack, New Jersey (Trustee)