David is a Partner with Calcagni & Kanefsky.  A veteran New Jersey prosecutor and former Trial Chief in the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, David’s skill in the courtroom is second to none.  He brings his extensive experience to bear on internal and government investigations, complex litigation, employment disputes, and white collar criminal defense.

Over the course of his 25-year career as a state prosecutor, David handled every kind of criminal matter, tried nearly 60 jury trials, and became the highest ranking Chief Prosecutor in the County.  As Trial Chief, David oversaw the team of attorneys who handled the majority of criminal cases in Bergen County, the most populated county in New Jersey.  During his tenure, David also served as Chief of the Special Investigations Squad, where he oversaw complex criminal prosecutions involving wiretap investigations, organized crime rings, and other criminal enterprises operating in and around Bergen County.  David recently served as President of the Assistant Prosecutors’ Association of New Jersey, the leading advocate for New Jersey’s prosecutors.

Over the past twenty-five years, David has thrived in the courtroom, trying nearly 60 criminal jury trials spanning from juvenile offenses to homicides.  For over ten years, David managed Special Victims Unit cases, successfully completing over twenty-five SVU trials.  Most recently, David successfully tried to verdict a complex medical defense homicide case.

From 2012-2017, the New Jersey Attorney General designated David as the Human Trafficking Liaison to the Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Task Force for the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office.  In that capacity, he was the primary assistant prosecutor investigating and prosecuting human trafficking cases in Bergen County.  David is also a certified police instructor and has trained police recruits and in-service personnel.

David began his legal career as a judicial law clerk for the Hon. Ronald Marmo and the Hon. Joseph Riva, Superior Court Judges (Criminal Part) in Passaic County.

Prior to attending law school, David held positions in our nation’s capital with the U.S. Department of Justice-Office of Immigration Appeals and on Capitol Hill for a member of the United States Congress.  Following his service in Washington, D.C., David worked as a grassroots lobbyist for a prominent public relations firm.

• Tried nearly 60 criminal jury trials in cases concerning countless offenses, spanning from juvenile offenses to homicides.
• Successfully tried to verdict a Major Crimes Unit homicide case involving a complex medical defense.
• Tried over 25 high-stakes sex crimes matters arising out of the Special Victims Unit.
• Successfully tried and oversaw investigations involving public officials, police officers, public employees, and licensed professionals including, physicians, attorneys, teachers, dentists, nurses, and counselors.
• Oversaw complex multi-jurisdictional investigations involving organized criminal enterprises, wiretaps, and asset seizure/forfeiture, leading to successful outcomes in both federal and state court.

The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office awarded to David its highest distinction, the Meritorious Service Award, recognizing his years as an accomplished trial advocate, leader, and mentor.

David was a founding member of the Bergen County Assistant Prosecutor’s Association (the chief bargaining unit for Bergen County assistant prosecutors) in 2013.  Following its creation, David was elected and re-elected President. He successfully negotiated three contracts on behalf of his fellow assistant prosecutors and served as the driving force for the organization’s backing of 2021 state legislation that restored the prosecutors pension to the pension system for all New Jersey assistant prosecutors.

Following his service to the BCAPA, David was elected and then re-elected President of the statewide Assistant Prosecutors’ Association of New Jersey, serving more than 1,000 New Jersey assistant prosecutors.  In this capacity, David served as the driving force for the organization’s successful effort to enact legislation restoring the pension for all New Jersey assistant prosecutors.  Governor Murphy signed this legislation into law in September of 2021.

For over twenty years, David has served Seton Hall Law School on the Alumni Council as an Emeritus member and as the former Alumni Council President.  He is a frequent speaker on various legal topics and a regular panelist at CLEs, Inns of Court, and bar associations.