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Our Attorneys

Finest in their league

Michael J. DeBlis III, Esq.

Partner

Bio of Michael DeBlis, III

Michael is a partner in the boutique law firm of DeBlis Law where he specializes in tax compliance. Michael graduated from Western Michigan University School of Law in 2007 and later went on to earn his Masters of Law in taxation (LL.M.) from Thomas Jefferson School of Law in 2012.

As a former public defender, Michael has spent nearly fifteen years cutting his teeth on some of the most serious felony cases to pass through the state courts of New Jersey.

Michael’s unique background in tax law puts him into an elite category of criminal defense attorneys who specialize in criminal tax defense. His extensive trial experience and solid grounding in all major areas of federal taxation make him uniquely qualified to handle any white-collar case, no matter how sophisticated it might be.

Michael is known for his creativity, his charismatic personality, and his unyielding dedication to his clients. As a graduate of the National Criminal Defense College, Michael has trained under some of the best known criminal defense attorneys in the country. That experience has taught him that justice for a person accused of a crime is only won through a full understanding of the client and the case. To that end, Michael attempts to understand each client’s case as a convincing narrative, not just as a set of innocuous facts and arcane legal rules.

When he’s not in the courtroom, you can find Michael on stage. As a professionally trained actor, Michael’s passionate about helping trial lawyers harness the power of persuasion and positive communication in the courtroom in order to connect to the jury on a human level.

Michael’s training as an actor allows him to combine a unique blend of left-brain thinking with right brain artistry to make even the most dull and abstract areas of the law come to life. This burst of creativity has contributed to Michael’s success as a distinguished author and sought-out speaker.

Michael has written articles that have been published in leading tax journals, such as “CCH Journal of Tax Practice and Procedure,” “EA Journal,” “Global Tax Weekly,” and “ABA News Quarterly” and is a columnist for “Law360.” He has been featured on the media affiliates of several major media networks, including NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox, and CNN.

Michael is a living example of the tremendous power that comes from combining passion, preparation, persuasion, and positive communication in the courtroom. His courage and relentless work ethic have earned him a reputation as a zealous advocate and one of New Jersey’s rising stars of the legal profession.

Professional affiliations

Member, White Collar Crime Committee, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Member, Committee on Civil and Criminal Tax Penalties, Section on Taxation, American Bar Association

Member, Criminal Justice Section, American Bar Association

Member, Business Law Section, American Bar Association

Member, Alumni Board of Editors – Thomas M. Cooley Journal of Practical and Clinical Law – January 1, 2007 – Present

Member, Cybersecurity Law Project, Seton Hall Law School

Member, Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers of New Jersey

Education

Thomas Jefferson School of Law, LL.M. in International Tax & Financial Services, summa cum laude, 2012

Thomas M. Cooley Law School, J.D., cum laude, 2007

Rutgers University, B.A., 2001

Representative matters

Obtained an acquittal in a First Degree Armed Robbery case where the client was charged with robbing the clerk of a convenience store at knife-point.

Successfully defended a client who was charged with racketeering conspiracy in a fifty-two count indictment with multiple co-conspirators and hours of wiretaps.

Successfully defended a high ranking manager of a auto dealership against multiple counts of theft by deception, identity theft, deceptive business practices, and defrauding secured creditors. The client was charged in connection with an alleged car-financing scam where the fraudulent loans exceeded $ 700,000.

Member of the criminal defense team that defended the CEO of an international computer company against charges that he used his company to launder millions of dollars for South American drug cartels.

Natalie Santos

Office Manager & Paralegal

Bio of Natalie Santos

Natalie has extensive experience in residential and commercial real estate matters, and complex civil and criminal trial matters over the last 24 years. She is fluent in Portuguese, Spanish, and English.

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