Category: Events

Newark, NJ – Murphy Schiller & Wilkes LLP (MSW) is pleased to announce that Michael E. Silbert has joined the firm as Counsel in its Land Use, Zoning and Redevelopment Practice Group.

Michael focuses his practice on land use, zoning, redevelopment, and real estate law throughout New Jersey. He represents private developers across the state, providing comprehensive counsel on all stages of the land development process—from initial due diligence and planning through project approvals and post-approval implementation. His clients include large-scale commercial, industrial, and multifamily developers, as well as applicants pursuing rezonings, subdivisions, and residential variance approvals.

Michael has extensive experience guiding clients through major redevelopment projects from inception to completion, including preliminary planning, the adoption of redevelopment plans, site plan approvals, and the negotiation of financial and redevelopment agreements pursuant to New Jersey’s Local Redevelopment and Housing Law and the Long Term Tax Exemption Law. He frequently negotiates Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreements and advises clients on affordable housing compliance and long-term strategic planning.

Prior to joining MSW, Michael practiced at DiFrancesco, Bateman, Kunzman, Davis, Lehrer & Flaum, P.C., where he represented both private developers and public municipal entities. His dual experience provides him with a unique perspective on the development process and municipal operations from both sides of the table. He continues to appear before numerous land use boards and governing bodies across New Jersey and has experience handling land use prerogative writ litigation.

Active in the professional community, Michael serves on the Board of Directors of the Land Use Section of the New Jersey State Bar Association, where he is in the first year of a three-year term. In 2024, he was recognized by the Somerset County Business Partnership as one of its Top 40 Under 40 award recipients, honoring young professionals for leadership and community impact.

Michael earned his Juris Doctor degree with a concentration in Real Estate from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, where he achieved top honors in national negotiation competitions and served as Senior Editor of the Cardozo Alternative Dispute Resolution Competition Honor Society. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Business and Political Science from Franklin & Marshall College.

“Michael brings a tremendous level of energy, talent, and insight to our growing statewide land use and redevelopment practice,” said Kellen F. Murphy, Managing Partner of Murphy Schiller & Wilkes LLP. “His experience representing developers throughout New Jersey makes him an exceptional addition to the firm and a valuable resource for our clients.”

Murphy Schiller & Wilkes LLP (MSW) announced today that Anthony J. Passela has joined the firm as an Associate in the Litigation and Construction Law practice groups, and Julie Prelich has joined as a Paralegal supporting the Land Use, Zoning & Redevelopment and Tax Credits & Incentives practice groups.

Anthony represents owners, developers, contractors, and other stakeholders in complex commercial and construction disputes. He brings hands-on courtroom experience in insurance defense litigation and trial-level civil practice, including bench trials, court conferences, and settlement negotiations. He has conducted and defended depositions of parties and non-party witnesses, regularly prepares dispositive motions and discovery, and advises clients on practical risk mitigation strategies designed to prevent and efficiently resolve disputes.

Before joining MSW, Anthony practiced at a New York litigation boutique, where he represented clients across a broad range of civil matters from pre-suit investigation through trial preparation. He previously served as a judicial extern to the Honorable Kelly D. Eckel of the Delaware County (Pennsylvania) Court of Common Pleas, preparing bench memoranda and draft orders in real estate, contract, medical malpractice, and other civil disputes. While in law school, he was the Managing Editor of Research and Writing for the Villanova Law Review.

Anthony earned his J.D. from Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law and his B.A., magna cum laude, in Economics and Political Science with a Minor in Business from Villanova University. He is admitted to practice in New York.

Julie supports attorneys through all phases of complex development, entitlement, and incentive work with an operations-driven approach to diligence, document management, and stakeholder coordination. She helps streamline application packages, track multi-agency filings, and maintain responsive communication among clients, consultants, and municipal bodies. Her background includes high-volume transactional experience and rigorous workflow execution.

Prior to joining MSW, Julie served as a transactional paralegal at a leading New York City-based law firm, where she managed a portfolio exceeding 250 matters. In that role, she analyzed settlements, decisions, government records, and policy contracts; drafted briefs, memoranda, proposed decisions, correspondence, and financial forms; and coordinated submissions to federal agencies. She began her legal career in the New Jersey Superior Court, Family Division (New Brunswick), as a Judiciary Clerk, where she handled intake for dissolution and non-dissolution dockets, reviewed filings for jurisdiction and completeness, assigned cases, and maintained accurate records across multiple court databases in time-sensitive, confidential environments.

Julie holds a B.A. in Criminal Justice and a B.A. in Political Science, with a Minor in Critical Intelligence, from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey – New Brunswick.

With these additions, MSW further strengthens its capacity to advise clients across the full lifecycle of development and litigation matters, combining strategic advocacy with disciplined execution to advance client objectives efficiently and effectively.

The third quarter of 2025 started off strong for the attorneys at Murphy Schiller & Wilkes LLP (MSW). The firm acted as lead counsel in connection with the acquisition and sale of properties in all asset classes, helped our clients negotiate significant lease transactions, represented both lenders and borrowers in connection with financing CRE deals, both locally and nationally, and secured noteworthy approvals for major industrial, multi-family, and retail projects throughout New Jersey.

In Q3 2025, the firm represented the following:

• National bank in connection with the modification of a $125,000,000 revolving line of credit for a New Jersey-based company.
• Developer in connection with the joint venture and the land acquisition for $87,000,000 development project in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
• National bank in connection with a $40,000,000 refinance of a Bergen County, New Jersey retail property.
• Seller in connection with the $23,750,000 sale of Courtyard by Marriott hotel in Wichita, Kansas.
• New Jersey bank in connection with a $19,000,000 acquisition financing of a catering facility in New Jersey.
• Borrower in connection with $18,250,000 refinancing of luxury hotel in Kansas City, Missouri.
• Developer in connection with $14,100,000 purchase and financing of office building in Cedar Knolls, New Jersey.
• Developer in connection with a $13,000,000 acquisition of development site in Middlesex County, New Jersey.
• Lender in connection with $10,850,000 loan in connection with purchase money financing of shopping center in Syracuse, New York.
• New Jersey bank in connection with a $4,400,000 acquisition financing of two net leased properties in Tampa, Florida.
• Tenant in connection with lease agreement for 10,500 square foot facility for launch of state-of-the-art athletic performance and training center in Cranford, New Jersey.
• Developer in connection with land use approvals for a 6-story, 75-unit multifamily building in Newark, New Jersey.
• Developer in connection with land use approvals for 25,000 square foot warehouse building in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

MSW takes a comprehensive approach to ensure our clients can take advantage of the vast array of tax credits and incentives available through state and local agencies.

Tax credits and incentives play a key role in spurring real estate development and facilitating the financial success of even the most challenging real estate development projects.

Since the enactment of the Economic Recovery Act of 2020 (ERA), MSW has been at the forefront of helping clients take advantage of newly created programs administered by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), including tax credits available under the following programs:

• Aspire Tax Credit Program
• Brownfields Redevelopment Incentive Program
• Food Desert Relief Supermarket Tax Credit Program
• Historic Property Reinvestment Program
• Film and Digital Medial Tax Credit Program

MSW leverages our team’s collective experience in state government, policy making, investment banking, and real estate development to advise clients on a wide range of tax credit and incentive programs, at both the state and local levels. We strive to determine the option that is best suited for a development project, maximizing potential returns. Our diverse backgrounds allow us to cut through the misinformation and misinterpretations and advise our clients from a position of actual experience.

On the local level, MSW also advises clients in identifying and mitigating real property tax implications for redevelopment projects, including seeking property tax abatements and exemptions available under New Jersey’s Long Term Tax Exemption (LTTE) Law. Our firm has years of experience helping clients secure both 5-year abatements and 30-year payments in lieu of taxes (PILOTs) for projects located throughout New Jersey.

Practice Group Leaders:

Chris Murphy
Chair, Land Use, Zoning and Redevelopment
Phone: (973) 705-7421
Email: cmurphy@murphyllp.com

Brendyn Pytka
Director of Tax Credits & Incentives
Phone: (862)-418-3702
Email: bpytka@murphyllp.com

Murphy Schiller & Wilkes LLP (MSW) is proud to announce that Susan C. Karp, counsel, has been included as a top attorney in the area of Environmental Law in the 32nd edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

The Best Lawyers in America was first published in 1983. Since then, the same tried and tested peer-review process has been used consistently for more than 40 years. The core mission of Best Lawyers is to highlight the top legal talent in America.

For more information, please click here: https://www.bestlawyers.com/america

Murphy Schiller & Wilkes LLP (MSW) is proud to announce that partner Charles J. Wilkes has been included as a top attorney in the area of Real Estate Law in the 32nd edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

The Best Lawyers in America was first published in 1983. Since then, the same tried and tested peer-review process has been used consistently for more than 40 years. The core mission of Best Lawyers is to highlight the top legal talent in America.

For more information, please click here: https://www.bestlawyers.com/america

Murphy Schiller & Wilkes LLP (MSW) is proud to announce that partner Matthew J. Schiller has been included as a top attorney in the area of Real Estate Law in the 32nd edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

The Best Lawyers in America was first published in 1983. Since then, the same tried and tested peer-review process has been used consistently for more than 40 years. The core mission of Best Lawyers is to highlight the top legal talent in America.

For more information, please click here: https://www.bestlawyers.com/america

Each of our litigators possesses traits of both the deliberative tactician and the fierce warrior, called upon as needed to achieve the best results for our clients. Our respective pedigrees and special skill sets enable us to swiftly and favorably resolve disputes that others cannot.

MSW vehemently and categorically prosecutes and defends real estate and construction litigation matters for a wide range of clients in federal and state courts, and before administrative agencies and other public bodies. The firm has successfully represented Fortune 100 companies, many of the Top 25 ENR Designers and Contractors, and some of the most successful real estate developers in complex litigation matters, including the following:

• Contractual Disputes
• Commercial Landlord-Tenant Litigation
• Foreclosure Actions
• Quiet Title Actions
• Construction Defect Litigation
• Catastrophic Property Damage Litigation
• High Exposure Construction Site Accident Litigation
• Shareholder Disputes
• Bid Disputes

Regardless of our clients’ breadths, or the type of dispute, we litigate every matter with fierce senses of duty, purpose and urgency. While we are particularly sensitive to each client’s business reputation and specific goals, our aim is always the same – to get our client the best result as quickly as possible. To that end, our pedigree favors swift triage of every matter, including pre-litigation resolution tactics and the development of case themes and strategies that will be relentlessly implemented to the end.

Our attorneys zealously prosecute and defend clients at the trial and appellate levels, and arbitrate and mediate predominantly in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and federal court including the U.S. District Courts for the District of New Jersey, the Eastern District of New York, the Southern District of New York, the Northern District of New York, the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and the U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit. We also offer trial, consultation and monitoring services nationwide.

Practice Group Leaders:

Anthony Capasso
Partner
Phone: (973) 354-2845
Email: acapasso@murphyllp.com

Brant Forrest
Partner
Phone: (973) 320-7591
Email: bforrest@murphyllp.com

Newark, NJ – Murphy Schiller & Wilkes LLP (MSW) is pleased to announce that Hannah Wolinsky has rejoined the firm as an associate in its transactional commercial real estate practice group. Hannah originally joined MSW in 2021, quickly establishing herself as a valued member of the team. After briefly pursuing another professional opportunity, she has returned to MSW, bringing with her a renewed commitment to serving the firm’s clients and contributing to the continued growth of the firm’s transactional group.

Hannah’s practice focuses on representing developers, investors, lenders, and other stakeholders in a wide range of commercial real estate transactions, including acquisitions, dispositions, financings, and leasing matters. Her experience and dedication to client service have made her a trusted advisor to clients and colleagues alike.

“We are thrilled to welcome Hannah back to the firm,” said Charles J. Wilkes, head of the firm’s Real Estate Finance practice group. “Hannah is a highly skilled transactional attorney. Her deep understanding of the commercial real estate market, combined with her strong work ethic and collaborative approach, make her an invaluable asset to our team. We look forward to her continued contributions as we expand our capabilities and serve our clients’ evolving needs.”

Hannah’s return underscores MSW’s commitment to attracting and retaining top legal talent in the commercial real estate sector. The firm remains dedicated to providing exceptional legal counsel and innovative solutions to clients throughout the country.