ABOUT US
Meet the Attorneys Behind Coronato Law
Joseph D. Coronato, Sr.
Joe Sr. has been practicing law in New Jersey since 1975. He began his career as a Deputy Attorney General in the Gangs and Organized Crime Division. While a Deputy Attorney General, Joe prosecuted numerous high-profile defendants and investigations throughout the state. Upon completing his tenure as a Deputy Attorney General, Joe took a position as an Executive Assistant Atlantic County Prosecutor. There he prosecuted major crimes and was a trial team leader. In 1984, Joe left the Atlantic County Prosecutors Office and started his own general law firm with Gene Mulvaney at 12 Madison Avenue in downtown Toms River. Gene and Joe practiced law together for over 25 years adding Terry Brady, to form the firm Mulvaney, Coronato, & Brady. Over those 25 years, Joe became a prominent figure in the Ocean, Monmouth and Atlantic County legal environment.
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In 2013 Joe Sr., was nominated by Governor Chris Christie and confirmed by the Senate as Ocean County Prosecutor. As the Prosecutor, he managed the 225 employees at the County Prosecutors office, including 52 attorneys. As the chief law enforcement officer for Ocean County, Joe played an integral part in the daily law enforcement activities of each municipal police department in Ocean County. During his term as Prosecutor he spearheaded the opioid epidemic in Ocean County and took great pride in developing New Jersey’s first Veterans Court, diverting veterans who were criminal charged into a special court program. During his term as the Ocean County Prosecutor he was twice awarded the “Prosecutor of the Year” award. He also received N.J. Top Gun Meritorious Award, N.J.TV Drug Addition Crisis Hero Award, CBS/RWJ Barnabas Health Award, N.J. Association of Mental Health and Addiction Leadership Award and Peace Island Institute Law Enforcement Appreciation Award to name a few.
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Joe Sr.’s appointment as prosecutor expired at the end of 2018. Joe has since returned to private practice where he has been successful as a litigator as a result of diligent preparation of the case and unparalleled courtroom demeanor. Joe has been able to apply his practical attitude, legal principals and strategies to achieve successful outcomes through litigation or negotiated settlements. Joe has represented clients in Federal and State courts. During his impressive legal career Joe’s practice has focused on criminal and civil litigation, governmental board and administration representation, educational board representation, commercial litigation, land use and zoning issues, wills and estate planning/litigation. Joe has represented clients through State and Federal Administrative agencies and has also appeared before the New Jersey Appellate Division and in the New Jersey Supreme Court.
Joseph D. Coronato, Jr.
Joe Jr. began practicing law in New Jersey upon passing the bar in 2012. Joe started his career as a law clerk to the Honorable Madelin F. Einbinder in Ocean County Superior Court. He worked closely with Judge Einbinder covering a variety of family law matters including Domestic Violence, Non-Dissolution cases, and Children in Court matters.
Upon completing his time as a law clerk, Joe became an associate with the civil firm of Brady & Kunz in Toms River, NJ. At Brady & Kunz, Joe litigated an extremely broad array of cases including prosecution of misdemeanor offenses for Manchester Township, Bayhead, Mantoloking, and Point Pleasant. Also, while with Brady & Kunz, Joe handled General Civil matters, Personal Injury, Commercial Litigation, Residential and Commercial Real Estate transactions, Land Use matters, and General Government Board law. Joe litigated matters from Municipal Court through the New Jersey Appellate Division.
Following his time with Brady & Kunz, in 2016 Joe took an opportunity to work as a Florida Assistant Attorney General in the Criminal Appeals Division. As an Assistant Florida Attorney General, Joe litigated numerous appeals as both appellant and appellee in the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal through the Florida Supreme Court. His most recent case in the Florida Supreme Court is State v. Dortch. Joe’s experience continued in the Federal system handling Writs of Habeas Corpus in the Southern District of Florida and even appeals of Habeas Corpus in the Eleventh U.S. Circuit Court of Appeal. Joe left the Florida Attorney General’s office in September of 2019.
Joe Jr.’s is a well-rounded litigator who adds experience at nearly every level of New Jersey, Florida, and the Federal Court Systems. Joe prides himself as an effective communicator and strives for excellence in the court room.