Perhaps there’s nothing differentiating a “Jersey deal” from any other, aside from a hint of swagger, but in the first installment of “Jersey Dealmakers of the Year,” the Law Journal set out to recognize excellence in corporate, M&A, real estate, bankruptcy, and other transactional practices in the Garden State.

Lawyers in these practices might not argue before judges, or see their names on important briefs, or be quoted in news reports about the day’s blockbuster verdict. But they perform an equally important task for their firms and clients.