Marco A. Gonzalez, Jr. practices in the areas of complex civil and environmental litigation, products liability, internal corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense.

He defends clients in enforcement proceedings and counsels clients concerning their rights and obligations under federal statutes, including the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Superfund and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. Mr. Gonzalez also has extensive experience in complex litigation, RICO actions, conducting internal corporate investigations and defending clients in governmental investigations.

A member of the firm's Puerto Rico Practice Group, Mr. Gonzalez is admitted in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico and has extensive experience representing clients on federal matters in Puerto Rico.

Having served in the U.S. Marine Corps and as an Aircraft Structural Specialist on the F-117A Stealth Fighter Project for the former Lockheed-California Aircraft Company, Mr. Gonzalez brings a unique perspective to the practice of law.

He is a member of the New Jersey State and Essex County bar associations and is a past president of the Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey. Mr. Gonzalez is a 1991 graduate of Rutgers School of Law - Newark and a graduate of Hunter College of the City University of New York.

Representative Matters

Represented pharmaceutical company in New Jersey against New Jersey Dept. of Environmental Protection allegations that the client intentionally released HAPS. Commenced internal investigation, self-disclosed, derailed criminal charges and client paid a small civil fine.
Currently representing global environmental consulting company in a USDC-PR grand jury investigation on potential criminal violations of the Clean Air Act. Government (EPA) alleges that client intentionally made false statements and falsified records in connection with the company's work in conducing a Leak Detection and Repair program at a facility in Puerto Rico.
Represented/defended a public utility in Puerto Rico in a USDOJ-Environmental and Natural Resources Div, Criminal Enf. Sec. (USDOJ-ENRD) investigation against the utility for violating the Clean Water Act (acid spill into San Juan harbor). We conducted an internal investigation into the allegations and represented the utility in negotiating a misdemeanor guilty plea by the utility; no individual targets were charged.
Represented a large pharmaceutical company in Puerto Rico against a whistleblower's allegations that the client was intentionally releasing hazardous air pollutants ("HAPS") into the atmosphere. USDOJ-ENRD commenced a grand jury investigation out of the USDC-PR. We conducted an internal investigation and persuaded DOJ to conduct informal witness interviews. No charges were filed and no civil or administrative penalties were issued by EPA.

Professional Activities

New Jersey State Bar Association
- Judicial Administration Committee, 1996-1998
Essex County Bar Association
- Co-Chair, Membership Committee, 1997-1998
New Jersey Hispanic Bar Foundation
- Trustee, 1998-present
Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey, Inc.
- President, 1997-1998

Admissions

New Jersey
U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico
U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
Supreme Court of New Jersey

Education

Rutgers School of Law - Newark, J.D., 1991

Experience

Duane Morris LLP
- Partner, 2004-present
- Associate, 1999-2003
Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey
- President, 1997-1998
Hannoch Weisman, P.C., Roseland, New Jersey
- Associate, 1996-1999
Pitney, Hardin, Kipp & Szuch, Morristown, New Jersey
- Associate, 1991-1996
United States Marine Corps Reserve

Board Memberships

Essex Network Legal Services, Inc., 2000-2002
Morris County Organization for Hispanic Affairs
Essex Newark Legal Services, 1999-2000

Civic and Charitable Activities

Human Rights First, Volunteer Attorney, 1996-Present
Jersey Battered Women's Legal Advocacy Program
- Volunteer Attorney, 1993-1996

Selected Speaking Engagements

Legal Analyst, MSNBC, Palm Beach County Voting Recount Trial, Presidential Election, December 2000
Co-Presenter, "Nuts & Bolts of Internal Investigations," National Hispanic Bar Association Annual Conference, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, October 18, 2001
Moderator, Jersey Battered Women's Legal Advocacy Program Training Seminar, Florham Park, New Jersey, April 1995