Fred Knapp has been recognized for Lifetime Achievement by The New Jersey Law Journal in its New Jersey Legal Awards 2023.

Fred leads the Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) practice, as a mediator, arbitrator, hearing officer and investigator.

All those receiving the New Jersey Legal Awards will be recognized at an awards celebration on September 13. The New Jersey Legal Awards honorees are selected by Law.com and New Jersey Law Journal editors and reporters. Out of hundreds of submissions, a small percentage are selected as finalists and even fewer are selected as winners.

 

“All of Fred’s colleagues at Laddey, Clark & Ryan are very proud of his accomplishments over the course of a distinguished career, says the firm’s Managing Partner, Thomas N. Ryan. “His contributions to the legal community and to our community at large as both an attorney in private practice and as the Morris County Prosecutor for eight years are immeasurable. Fred has truly made a difference.”

Fred was appointed Acting Morris County Prosecutor in December 2012 and confirmed in 2014. Previously, he was in private practice since 1983 and founded the firm of Knapp Trimboli & Prusinowski, practicing labor and employment law.

Fred was Deputy Attorney General, New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice from 1979 to 1983 in the Appellate, Trial and Casino Prosecution sections. In 1981, he was appointed Special Assistant United States Attorney by the Department of Justice, Organized Crime and Racketeering Strike Force, where he investigated and prosecuted Organized Crime and Labor Racketeering cases. Fred also simultaneously worked with the New Jersey State Police on Organized Crime Investigations and prosecutions.

Fred was elected President of the County Prosecutors Association of New Jersey in 2017. He served as Commissioner on both the New Jersey Police Training Commission and New Jersey Criminal Sentencing and Disposition Commission during which significant measures were taken to implement police officer licensing and address sentencing disparities. In 2020 the New Jersey Bias Crime Officers Association bestowed him with their “Visionary Leadership Award” for his initiatives.

Prosecutor Knapp made narcotics enforcement and drug abuse deterrence a priority. Taking a three-pronged approach, he and his staff presented more than 200 educational programs concerning the opioid epidemic. As President of the County Prosecutors Association, he helped lead “Operation Helping Hand” divert individuals with substance abuse disorder from incarceration into treatment. While vigorously prosecuting “for profit “ drug dealers, Fred staunchly supported the Morris County Drug Court which helps people with substance abuse issues get treatment instead of incarceration. During his tenure, that program had the highest success rate in New Jersey. He was named “Prosecutor of the year” by the New Jersey Narcotics Enforcement Officers Association for his accomplishments. He received the Morris County Bar Association Criminal Practice Award in 2021.