Anthony Pagano was born in Newark, New Jersey, in 1965. A resident of Bloomfield, New Jersey, until 1979, his family relocated to Toms River where Anthony attended Toms River North. While at High School North, Anthony was a varsity member of both the wrestling and baseball teams. He won a scholarship to wrestle in college and graduated from the University of Central Florida in 1988.

Following his graduation, Anthony returned to Ocean County, where he owned and operated the Aztec Bar in Seaside Heights for six years, gaining valuable business experience.

Shortly afterwards, Anthony enrolled at Yeshiva University, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, in New York City where he was a founding member of the Cardozo Italian American Organization (CIAO). He started working at the firm prior to graduation in 1996 and received his Juris Doctor degree from Yeshiva in 1997. In 1998, Anthony was admitted to both the New Jersey Bar and United States District Court, District of New Jersey; and, in 2005, he became a partner in the firm.

Anthony's practice includes Real Estate, Business & Corporate Transactions, Land Use, Elder Law, Estate Planning, Personal Injury, Workman's Compensation, and General Litigation. Anthony has co-authored a successful brief in the United States Supreme Court; and in 2003 he was honored by the United Way as one of the Top 40 Under 40 Best and Brightest. An active member of the local community, Anthony is a member of the Ocean County Bar Association, New Jersey State Bar Association, American Bar Association, National Italian American Bar Association, Sports Lawyers Association, National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Italian American Cultural Society of Ocean County, USA Wrestling Association, Toms River-Ocean County Chamber of Commerce, and Columbia Civic League.

He is a former member of the Ocean County Board of Realtors, a former Division Chair for the Ocean County United Way, a former Vice Chairman for the American Heart Association, a former Vice President of the Toms River Hockey Club, a former coach in the Toms River Youth Soccer League, and a current Board Member of Toms River Little League.

Anthony coached wrestling at Toms River High School North and Howell High School for eight years and is currently a coach with the Toms River Little League. A resident of Toms River, Anthony and his wife Tammi, have three school aged children.