Chatham, NJ

Nicholas Liakas

Nicholas Liakas is a Senior Partner at Liakas Law, where he leads the firm’s most complex and high-profile litigation. A nationally recognized personal injury and civil rights trial attorney, he is known for securing some of the top verdicts and settlements in New York State. Over the course of his career, Nicholas has been responsible for recovering hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation for injured victims and their families. He has represented thousands of clients, achieving successful outcomes in both State and Federal courts. In 2020, he was named to The National Trial Lawyers’ “Top 40 Under 40,” a distinction awarded to fewer than one percent of attorneys who demonstrate outstanding skill, knowledge, and results in the field of personal injury law. He has maintained this recognition every year since, reflecting his continued excellence in high-stakes litigation. Widely regarded as a commanding presence in the courtroom, Nicholas is known for his tireless preparation, persuasive advocacy, and ability to distill complex issues into compelling narratives. Jurors can rely on his authenticity, clarity, and deep sense of purpose, making him a trusted and credible advocate in the courtroom. As a result of his trial expertise, Nicholas is routinely brought in as trial counsel by other law firms to handle their most complex or contentious cases. His reputation as a trusted courtroom advocate has made him a go-to litigator for firms seeking experienced and effective representation in cases headed to trial. Whether stepping in shortly before jury selection or managing litigation from its outset, he provides strategic direction and advocacy that consistently delivers results, grounded in a presentation style that earns the confidence of juries and judges alike. What distinguishes Nicholas just as much as his record of results is the deep trust he builds with his clients. Known for his empathy, accessibility, and personal commitment, he takes the time to understand not only the legal dimensions of a case but also the personal challenges clients face after life-altering injuries or injustices. Clients routinely describe him as a steady, reassuring presence during some of the most difficult periods of their lives. Nicholas is also deeply committed to driving legal reforms through litigation, aiming to create systemic change that enhances safety for individuals and communities. By taking on cases with broader societal implications, Nicholas seeks not only to secure justice for his clients but also to influence public policy and corporate practices. His efforts often lead to changes in safety regulations, worker protections, and the accountability of public and private entities. Whether challenging unsafe working conditions, holding institutions accountable for civil rights violations, or advocating for stronger consumer protections, Nicholas strives to make a lasting impact both in the courtroom and in the lives of those affected. For six consecutive years, Nicholas has been recognized by Super Lawyers Magazine as one of the top personal injury attorneys in the New York Metropolitan area-a testament to the respect he has earned from peers, clients, and courtroom observers. Nicholas’s legal work has drawn widespread recognition both within and beyond the legal community. He has been featured and quoted by major news outlets and radio stations for his advocacy on behalf of clients and underserved populations. In 2023, he was awarded a Citation from the New York State Attorney General and received a Proclamation from the Mayor of New York City for his contributions to advancing workers’ rights and safety. He is admitted to practice in New York, and in the Eastern District of New York federal court.

John M. Blume

John M. Blume was the founder of the firm, joining his father Charles Blume in practice in 1956. He built a formidable plaintiff’s personal injury practice over nearly 60 years, representing clients in various difficult cases. He was a Certified Civil Trial Attorney, a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, and received numerous awards including from the Essex County Bar Association and Trial Attorneys of New Jersey. He was recognized by the National Law Journal as a top Litigator and named Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers in 2009 and 2012. He was also listed on the N.J. Super Lawyers list from 2005 to 2014.

Sagar Chadha

Sagar Chadha is a Senior Partner and Chair of the Labor Law (Construction Accidents) Department at Liakas Law, P.C. Sagar earned his stripes as an Assistant District Attorney in Queens County, NY from 2010-2015, prosecuting hundreds of major felony cases including but not limited to kidnapping, burglary, attempted murder, robbery, assault, grand larceny, and identity theft. He has also represented victims of asbestos exposure, successfully achieving results against large multinational companies. It was there that he began to build the reputation he holds today as a passionate, no-nonsense attorney with fourteen years of experience who devotes himself completely to his clients and his casework. Sagar joined Liakas Law in 2024. Today, he exclusively concentrates his legal on New York construction accidents and their accompanying workers’ compensation matters. A Queens native, Sagar has a deep respect for the hard work and resilience of the men and women of New York. He understands the pain and frustration caused when work or enjoyment of life is taken away from someone due to injury. If asked to summarize his career in one sentence: Proud to serve the injured and aggrieved throughout New York City. Sagar is fluent in four languages and takes pride in assisting clients who speak Hindi, Urdu, and Punjabi at depositions to ensure their testimony is preserved accurately. Outside of his legal practice, he is a founder and former General Secretary of the South Asian and Indo-Caribbean Bar Association of Queens (SAICBA-Q). He now serves on SAICBA-Q’s advisory board. He is also a member of New York State Trial Lawyers Association (NYSTLA), New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers (NYSATL), American Association of Justice (AAJ), and the Queens County Bar Association(QCBA). He is admitted to practice in New York, and in the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York federal courts.

Carol L. Forte is a leading female trial attorney in New Jersey, recognized by the National Law Journal as one of the top 10 litigators in the state and one of America’s top 50 women litigators. She is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, a distinction limited to one percent of attorneys. Carol joined the firm in 1984 after graduating from Seton Hall University School of Law, leveraging her prior experience as a registered nurse in medical malpractice cases. She has secured numerous multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements, particularly in brain-damaged baby cases and cases involving delayed cancer diagnoses. She is a member of several bar associations and has received multiple honors, including the Gerald B. O’Connor Award and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the New Jersey Law Journal. She has been consistently recognized as a Super Lawyer and listed in Best Lawyers, earning Lawyer of the Year titles multiple times.

Norberto A. Garcia

Norberto A. Garcia is a Certified Civil Trial Attorney and member of ABOTA, specializing in personal injury, construction accidents, premises liability, and medical malpractice. He has secured significant jury trial verdicts and settlements, including $1.24 million for a fatal bus crash and $2.1 million in a trucking accident. He is President Elect of the New Jersey State Bar Association and past president of the Hudson County Bar Association. He has been recognized as a New Jersey Super Lawyer for 11 consecutive years (2013-2024) and named to the 2025 Diverse Attorneys of the Year list by the New Jersey Law Journal. He is fluent in Spanish.

Dean Liakas is responsible for organizing the day-to-day operations of the firm, as well as overseeing all staff and employees. Dean is an aggressive attorney that specializes in construction site and automobile accidents, as well as various premises liability matters. Dean’s ability to persuade his adversaries has proven to be one of his biggest resources, while his tough negotiation skills have led to positive results which have far exceeded clients’ expectations. From New York labor laws to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Code of Federal Regulations, Dean’s ability to anticipate a defendant’s arguments and solidify each case during its investigation has proven to be a driving force in the success of Liakas Law. He is admitted to practice in New York, and in the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York federal courts.

Cassandra Rohme

Cassandra is an experienced litigator and accomplished trial attorney who chairs the firm’s civil rights practice. Cassandra and the Liakas Law Civil Rights Team fight back against those who abuse their power to harm, exploit, and kill the most vulnerable members of our society. The Civil Rights Team handles sensitive and complex litigation in state and federal court including cases involving wrongful death, excessive force and police shootings, deaths in police and/or corrections custody, wrongful convictions, malicious prosecutions, false arrests, hospital sexual assaults, corrections and custody sexual assaults, school sexual assaults, cases involving conditions of confinement and denial of medical treatment and care, Monell claims, and catastrophic injuries. Prior to law school, Cassandra worked as an investigator and forensic analyst for several international companies and is known for leaving no stone unturned when she investigates a matter. While in law school, Cassandra was selected to join the Brendan Moore Trial Advocacy Center where she learned from some of the best trial lawyers in the United States. Upon graduation, Cassandra taught trial advocacy at Fordham Law School as an adjunct professor for many years. Known as an aggressive litigator and for her devastating cross-examinations, from 2016 to 2023, Cassandra was lead counsel on nearly 60 jury trials in State and Federal Court. In 2023, Cassandra obtained one of the top 100 Civil Rights Jury Verdicts in the United States and she has been named a Super Lawyers Rising Star every year since 2021. With the tireless assistance of the Liakas Law Civil Rights team, Cassandra works hard to expose corruption and abuses of power that endanger our democracy and our country’s most vulnerable citizens. She is admitted to practice in New York, and in the Southern, Eastern, Northern, and Western Districts of New York federal courts.