NEWARK, N.J. – Murphy Schiller & Wilkes LLP (“MSW”) is pleased to announce that Jeffrey B. Lehrer has joined the firm as Of Counsel and Aileen Brennan has joined as Counsel in the firm’s Land Use, Zoning & Redevelopment Practice Group.

The addition of Lehrer and Brennan significantly expands MSW’s capabilities in land use and zoning law, redevelopment, affordable housing, eminent domain, and complex real estate development matters throughout New Jersey.

“Jeffrey and Aileen are highly respected practitioners whose experience, reputation, and deep understanding of New Jersey’s land use and redevelopment landscape make them tremendous additions to our firm,” said Chris Murphy, Partner at MSW. “Their combined experience advising developers, property owners, investors, municipalities, and other stakeholders on transformative development projects will further strengthen our ability to provide sophisticated, practical counsel to clients navigating increasingly complex development and redevelopment opportunities.”

Lehrer brings more than three decades of experience representing private developers, property owners, and business interests in connection with residential, commercial, mixed-use, and redevelopment projects throughout New Jersey. Widely recognized as a leader in land use law, his practice focuses on land use and zoning, redevelopment, real estate development, and affordable housing matters.

Throughout his distinguished career, Lehrer has served in numerous public-sector leadership roles, including Township Attorney for several New Jersey municipalities and Director of Law for the Township of Edison. He has also served as attorney to planning and zoning boards throughout the state and as special counsel on redevelopment and affordable housing matters. His extensive experience before planning boards, zoning boards of adjustment, governing bodies, redevelopment entities, and state agencies provides clients with a unique perspective on the governmental processes that shape development projects.

In recognition of his contributions to the profession, Lehrer received the prestigious William M. Cox Award from the New Jersey Institute of Local Government Attorneys in 2011, honoring excellence in land use law and service to local government and the legal profession.

Brennan’s practice focuses on redevelopment, land use, zoning, eminent domain, and related litigation and transactional matters. She represents developers, property owners, and investors through every stage of the development process, from project planning and entitlement approvals through implementation and litigation.
Brennan has extensive experience negotiating and drafting redevelopment agreements, PILOT agreements, redevelopment plans, ordinances, and related legislation. She regularly appears before municipal land use boards and has successfully represented clients in litigation involving redevelopment designations, redevelopment agreements, zoning ordinances, and development approvals.

Her representative matters include negotiating the rehabilitation of a historic landmark into affordable housing, handling condemnation proceedings associated with major development projects in Newark, securing and defending approvals for solar energy facilities, defending zoning ordinances supporting transformative redevelopment initiatives, and negotiating redevelopment and PILOT agreements along New Jersey’s waterfront communities.

“Aileen has built an outstanding reputation as a strategic and solutions-oriented advocate for developers and property owners,” Murphy added. “Her experience in both the transactional and litigation aspects of redevelopment and land use law complement Jeff’s decades of leadership in the field and creates exceptional depth within our practice group.”

The addition of Lehrer and Brennan further enhances MSW’s ability to advise developers, property owners, investors, and other stakeholders on the full spectrum of land use, zoning, redevelopment, affordable housing, eminent domain, and development-related matters throughout New Jersey. Their arrival adds significant depth to the firm’s Land Use, Zoning & Redevelopment Practice Group and reinforces MSW’s commitment to providing sophisticated, practical counsel on complex real estate development projects.