Brian J. Neary

Known as “the lawyer with the bowtie,” Brian is regarded as one of New Jersey’s leading criminal defense attorneys. He dedicates his practice to rigorously defending individuals facing criminal charges. Regardless of the nature or severity of the offense, he provides diligent, ethical, and resolute representation. He serves clients across all jurisdictions and charges, from white-collar offenses to serious violent crimes.

His philosophy is clear: for those accused of breaking the law, every case merits full attention and zealous advocacy.

His extensive trial experience includes jury proceedings in both Federal and New Jersey Superior Courts. He has tried cases in Municipal Courts across the state, with a significant concentration of cases in Bergen and Hudson counties.

As an accomplished appellate lawyer, Brian has argued over fifteen cases before the New Jersey Supreme Court and the Appellate Division, as well as appeals in Federal courts, including the Second and Third Circuits. He has over 120 reported decisions addressing a range of criminal law issues and has earned recognition for his amicus advocacy on behalf of the New Jersey State Bar Association. Brian holds certifications from both the National Board of Trial Advocacy and the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Criminal Trial Attorney. Additionally, he is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers—an honor held by only 108 practitioners in New Jersey.

A dedicated mentor and educator, Brian regularly instructs judges, attorneys, and law students in criminal law and trial advocacy through bar association continuing legal education programs. He also teaches trial techniques at Rutgers Law School and the University of Notre Dame Law School, his alma mater, and is an award-winning faculty member at the New Jersey Institute of Continuing Legal Education.

Before starting his private criminal defense practice, Brian held several significant legal positions. He was Assistant Prosecutor for Hudson County and Bergen County. He also served as the Legal Advisor to the Bergen County Narcotics Task Force and as the Chief Prosecutor for Sex Crimes and Child Abuse in Bergen County. Additionally, he was Associate Counsel for the New York State Executive Advisory Commission on the Administration of Justice.

Professional and Community Affiliations

• Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers, 2008 – Present
• Fellow, American Board of Criminal Lawyers, 1996 – Present
• Fellow, American Bar Foundation, 2005 – Present
• Member, New Jersey State Bar Association, 2019 – Present
  • Trustee (Hudson County Representative). 2020 – Present
  • Member, Commission on Racial Equality in the Law (Corel), 2020 – Present
  • Member, Task Force on Resumption of Jury Trials, 2020 – Present
• Member, Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers of New Jersey, 1984 –   Present
  • President, 1997 – 1998
• Life Member, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 1983 – Present
• Life Member, New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 1990 – Present
• Member, Bergen County Bar Association, 1987 – Present
• Member, Hudson County Bar Association, 2005 – Present
  • President, 2012-2013
  • Chairman, Criminal Practice Committee; Co-Chairman, Continuing Education Committee, 2016
• Hudson Inn of Court, Jersey City, N.J., Master, 1994-1995; 2003-2009
• Hudson County Representative, New Jersey State Bar Judicial and Prosecutorial Appointments Committee, 2014 – 2020
• Founding Member, National College for DUI Defense, 1995 – Present
• Member, New Jersey Sentencing and Disposition Commission (state bar designee) 2018 – Present
• Member, Ethics Committee, New Jersey Supreme Court, Bergen County, 1990-1994; Chairman, 1993-1994
• Criminal Practice Committee, New Jersey Supreme Court, 1988 – 1992, 2005 – 2006
• Hudson Catholic High School, Jersey City, NJ; Chair, Board of Consultors (2009-2024)

• Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Criminal Trial Attorney, 1982 – Present
• Certified Criminal Trial Advocate, National Board of Trial Advocacy, 1983 – Present
• Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America®, 1991 – Present (White Collar Criminal Defense, Non-White Collar Criminal Defense, Driving While Intoxicated Defense)
• Listed in New Jersey Super Lawyers®, 2005 – 2024, published by Thomson Reuters
  • Selected to the New Jersey Super Lawyers Top 10 list, 2005, 2018 – 2024
  • Selected to the New Jersey Super Lawyers Top 100 list, 2005 – 2015; 2017 – 2024
  • Featured on the cover of the 2020 New Jersey Super Lawyers Magazine and in the article “The Ties That Bind”
• Holds a Martindale Hubbell® Peer Review AV Preeminent® Rating
  • Listed in Martindale Hubbell’s Bar Registration of Preeminent Lawyers in the Criminal Trial Practice section from 1994 – 2021
• New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education – Distinguished Service Award, 2014
• Hudson Catholic, 2009 Hall of Fame Inductee

Please see Honor and Award Methodology. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.