Attorney Profile

WILLIAM I. ARONWALD is a graduate of Hofstra University and Brooklyn Law School, where he was a member of the Law Review and the Moot Court Team. After completing two years of military service overseas, he served as an Assistant District Attorney in the New York County District Attorney's Office, long considered to be the finest local prosecutor's office in the United States. During his four years in that office, he was assigned to the Rackets Bureau where he investigated and prosecuted numerous high ranking organized crime figures including Gambino crime family underboss Anniello Dellacroce and Philadelphia organized crime family leader Angelo Bruno. Upon leaving the New York County District Attorney's Office, Mr. Aronwald served as a Special Attorney with the United States Department of Justice's Organized Crime and Racketeering Section, assigned to the Southern District of New York and, in that capacity, he again investigated and prosecuted numerous organized crime and white collar criminal cases including several high profile undercover investigations involving New York's garment center and the wholesale meat market. Mr. Aronwald received the Justice Department's Special Commendation award for outstanding service in 1973. In 1974, he was appointed the Attorney-in-Charge of the office and supervised a staff of attorneys, agents and investigators from both federal and state law enforcement agencies in the conduct of organized crime and white collar criminal investigations and prosecutions. In 1976, Mr. Aronwald became the Chief of the Criminal Division of the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York. 

In 1977, Mr. Aronwald left government service and entered private practice specializing in all areas of criminal defense at the federal and state levels. Since that time, he has handled numerous white collar criminal cases, a number of homicide, drug, Medicaid fraud and sex offense cases. He has also represented clients in criminal cases in Connecticut, Texas and Florida where he successfully represented two clients in a capital case. Mr. Aronwald also does appellate work at the federal and state levels. He has often appeared as a legal analyst for WNBC, Court TV, MSNBC, FOX Network and CNBC. He also represents clients in civil and commercial litigation. Mr. Aronwald has also lectured on a variety of criminal defense topics at Bar Association sponsored Continuing Legal Education Seminars.

Mr. Aronwald is a solo practitioner. Consequently, his clients are assured that he personally will be handling all aspects of their cases and is always readily accessible to answer any questions they may have regarding their matters.

Mr. Aronwald is a former president of the New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and has served on various committees of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Association of the Bar of the City of New York and The New York State Bar Association. Mr. Aronwald also serves as a hearing officer for the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct.

A licensed pilot, Mr. Aronwald enjoys flying and golf for recreation.

Areas of Practice

• Criminal Law
• Taxation Law
• White Collar Crimes
• DUI/DWI
• Legal Malpractice
• Litigation & Appeals
• Medical Malpractice
• Motor Vehicle Accidents -- Plaintiff
• Personal Injury -- Plaintiff
• Professional Malpractice Law
• Sexual Harassment

Bar Admissions

• New York, 1966
• U.S. Supreme Court, 1980
• U.S. District Court Southern District of New York
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York
• U.S. District Court Northern District of New York
• U.S. District Court District of Connecticut
• U.S. Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit, 1974

Education

• Brooklyn Law School, Brooklyn, New York, 1965
  J.D.
  
  
• Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York, 1962
  B.A., History
  
  

Representative Cases

• U. S. v. Pellon, 475 F.Supp. 467 (S.D.N.Y. 1979)
• U. S. v. Kurzer, 534 F.2d 511 (C.A.2 (N.Y.) 1976)
• U. S. v. Stern, 511 F.2d 1364 (C.A.2 (N.Y.) 1975)
• People v. Aquiar, 2003 WL 21739071 (N.Y. Co. Ct. 2003)
• People v. Warmus, 31 A.D. 3d 676, 818 (N.Y.S.2d 296 2004)

Representative Clients

• County of Westchester
• Local 854, International Brotherhood of Teamsters

Honors and Awards

• Department of Justice Commendation
• Best Lawyers in America, 2007 - Present
• Best Criminal Defense Lawyer (in New York Magazine), 2007 - Present

Fraternities/Sororities

• Phi Delta Phi

Birth Information

• November 11, 1940, Brooklyn, New York, United States of America