Byline: Lyssanoel Frater
Brett Rosen has been practicing law for nearly a decade and is passionate about his role as a criminal defense attorney. His hard work and expertise have landed him on the Thomson Reuters Super Lawyers Rising Stars list for six years in a row.
Over the course of his career, Rosen has handled high-profile cases, including defending a Grammy Award–winning artist in two separate drug cases, securing an amendment to a non-criminal offense in one, and successfully placing the artist in a diversionary program in the other.
Last year, Rosen left the law firm where he had worked for to start his own law firm and partnered up with three other lawyers. He opened an office in Elizabeth, New Jersey, in Union County, where he serves as a criminal defense lawyer.
Two Career-Defining Cases
Brett Rosen has faced challenges throughout his career, but none have had a greater impact than two recent cases.
In 2024, in Union County, Rosen defended his client against serious accusations of burglary and trespassing. His client had allegedly committed these crimes against his ex-girlfriend, a police officer. Rosen studied every detail and chipped away at the prosecution’s case. He was so certain that he had won his argument that he asked for a direct verdict, in which the judge decides the outcome instead of the jury. When this occurs, it is equivalent to the judge declaring that the jury would never convict based on the prosecution’s case and the evidence presented. The judge granted the motion, and the trial was brought to a swift end.
Another definitive case in his career was when Rosen defended a client in 2023 in Essex County against allegations of sexual assault by a minor and faced up to 40 years in prison if convicted. Rosen had to argue in both the trial court and the court of public opinion. He deftly defended his client, using his legal insight to sway the jury and the public. His commitment to providing his client’s constitutional right to a defense included weaving a story that made the jury relate to his client. After eight hours of deliberation, the jury delivered a not-guilty verdict.
Rising to the Challenge
Rosen has had plenty of challenges outside the court throughout his career. Though he enjoys the passion and drama of the courtroom, he didn’t immediately have a chance to argue cases in front of a judge and jury when he graduated from law school.
“It was challenging getting a job out of law school. My first full-time job as a lawyer was in insurance defense, and after three months, I was let go. I really wanted to try cases, and law firms were not comfortable letting a new lawyer try cases,” Rosen says.
Rosen later met attorney Eric Bennett, who had his own law firm, and he was hired to join his team. Bennett would allow Rosen to try nine cases in nine months between 2017 and 2018. Rosen was handling car accident cases and gained “significant trial experience” while working at Eric Bennett’s law firm.
Winning Second Chances
Just as Rosen was given a second chance by Bennett when he was offered a position at his law firm, Rosen believes in his clients receiving second chances, too. He plans to continue to argue criminal cases in defense of the accused and looks forward to expanding his law firm’s presence in New Jersey.
“I am extremely passionate about criminal defense and enjoy being in court,” Rosen says.