Month: April 2021

Despite uncertainty in the commercial real estate market due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Murphy Schiller & Wilkes (MSW) transactional practice groups have had an incredibly busy first quarter. Having closed major transactions in multiple jurisdictions, the firm predicts an increase in transactions in the coming months as the world begins to get back to some form of normal and clients look for opportunities in all asset classes in response to an increase in demand.

We have recently represented the following:

• Borrower in connection with $41,500,000 construction loan for multi-family development project in Bloomfield, NJ.
• Seller in connection with $35,600,000 sale of biotech facility in Florham Park, NJ.
• Seller in connection $17,500,000 sale of mixed-used building in Newark, NJ.
• Purchaser in connection with $5,250,000 acquisition of multi-family redevelopment site in Plainfield, NJ.
• Senior mezzanine lender in connection with negotiation of Assignment in Lieu Agreement concerning $4,000,000 mezzanine loan for a multi-family development in Houston, TX.
• Seller in connection with $3,850,000 sale of development site in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania.
• Purchaser in connection with $3,500,000 acquisition of multi-family building in Hoboken, NJ.
• Major international bank in connection with a $2,000,000 revolving line of credit and $5,000,000 mortgage loan to a chocolate distributor.
• Pennsylvania-based bank in connection with a $5,300,000 non-revolving credit line to support a development project in Essex County.
• Major international bank in connection with a $2,400,000 mortgage loan for the acquisition of an industrial building in Connecticut.

Murphy Schiller & Wilkes LLP (MSW) is pleased to announce that Chris Murphy has been named a 2021 Leader in Law by NJBIZ. Following an open nomination period, honorees were chosen by a panel of independent judges with experience in the justice system. The selections were based on legal professionals – lawyers and general counsels – whose dedication to their occupation and to their communities is outstanding.

For a full list of this year’s 51 honorees, and information on attending the May 13, 2021 virtual awards ceremony, click here.

Following an incredibly unpredictable year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 2021 has started off strong for the Murphy Schiller & Wilkes (MSW) Land Use Team. Having obtained approvals for major projects throughout the State, the firm predicts an increase in project flow over the coming months as the world begins to get back to some form of normal and developers look for opportunities to develop all asset classes in a response to an increase in demand.

Recent Matters:

• Represented institutional developer in connection with approvals for the construction of a 420,000 square foot distribution center in Elmwood Park, NJ.
• Represented national self-storage developer in connection with approvals for the construction of a 120,000 square foot self-storage facility in Toms River, NJ.



• Represented quick-service restaurant (QSR) chain in connection with approvals for a new restaurant in Randolph, NJ.



• Represented developer in connection with approvals for the construction of a 44,400 square foot industrial warehouse in Monroe Township, NJ.



• Represented institutional developer in connection with approvals for a 120,000 square foot industrial warehouse in Newark, NJ.
• Represented client in connection with the development of a five-story mixed-use building in Plainfield, NJ.

About the MSW Land Use Team

MSW regularly serves as land use and zoning counsel to developers, property owners, and businesses throughout New Jersey. The firm’s land use attorneys work closely with clients and project professionals to establish a proper legal and regulatory framework for a project’s design and construction, and help clients navigate the State’s complex land use process to ensure that they receive all of the necessary government approvals and permits in a timely and cost-effective manner. The firm’s attorneys appear before local land use boards and other governmental bodies in connection with planning, zoning, and other land use approvals.

In addition, the firm’s attorneys perform land use and zoning due diligence to determine a project’s feasibility, and structure land use related provisions in purchase and sale agreements and leases. MSW also represents developers in the negotiation of redevelopment agreements, and in the procurement of tax abatements and exemptions and other public incentives needed to make a development project economically viable.

Murphy Schiller & Wilkes LLP (MSW) was recently featured as a Top Law Firm in New Jersey Commercial Real Estate in RE-NJ’s Professional Spotlight Series.

A link to the series in digital format can be found here:

2021 Spotlight NJ’s Top Law Firms (re-nj.com)