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Short Hills, NJ June XX, 2021 – Investors Bank recently welcomed Chris J. Murphy, a partner at the law firm of Murphy Schiller & Wilkes, LLP (MSW), to its Northern New Jersey Advisory Board. Investors Bank maintains three Advisory Boards with members located in Northern and Southern New Jersey and in New York City. Each board is comprised of approximately 50 individuals, all Investors Bank clients, representing a broad cross-section of both the for-profit and the not-for-profit sector, with companies ranging from small to large. The ideal advisor candidates are advocates for the bank and are actively involved with their local communities.

Chris is a founding partner of MSW, a boutique law firm specializing in commercial real estate, where he leads the firm’s Economic Incentive Advisory and the Land Use, Zoning and Redevelopment practice groups. In this role, he regularly assists clients in the procurement of public incentives offered through the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) and other state and local government agencies. He also represents clients in connection with the procurement of zoning, land use, and other development approvals, and regularly appears before municipal planning and zoning boards throughout New Jersey.

“We are really excited to have Chris,” said Investors Bank Vice President and Relationship Manager Michael Giacobello, who manages the relationships with the Advisory Boards. “He brings a wealth of experience in both business and law, especially as it pertains to commercial real estate, a sector in which Investors Bank is a major player in the region.”

“I am incredibly excited about the opportunity to join Investors Bank as an advisory board member. The bank has an amazing reputation in the commercial real estate industry, and I look forward to becoming a valuable addition to the board,” says Chris J. Murphy.

Chris was named a “Leader in Law” in 2021 by NJBIZ. He is the co-author of the Financial Incentives Chapter of Commercial Real Estate Transactions in New Jersey (2019, 4th Edition), published by the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education, a division of the New Jersey State Bar Association. His insight on the topic of real estate incentives has been featured in both regional and national publications, including NJBIZ, Real Estate NJ, and the Wall Street Journal.

Chris received his Juris Doctor from Rutgers Law School, and a master’s degree from the Rutgers University School of Management and Labor Relations. He received his undergraduate degree, summa cum laude, from Kean University.

Investors Bank, headquartered in Short Hills, New Jersey, is a full-service community bank that has been serving customers since 1926. With over $25 billion in assets and a network of nearly 150 retail branches, Investors Bank delivers personalized services and products tailored to the needs of its customers. Investors Bank’s banking services include complete deposit, loan and cash management products for consumers and businesses.

Investors Bank: Member FDIC and Equal Housing Lender. Investors Bank’s website is www.investorsbank.com. Follow the Bank on Facebook and Twitter.

As the e-commerce craze continues throughout the country, the demand for warehouse space in densely populated markets has drawn increased attention from state legislatures. In New Jersey, the State Legislature has advanced multiple bills that will greatly impact the development community, including bills related to solar requirements for newly constructed warehouses, intermunicipal cooperation and regional input in connection with entitlements, and changes to the construction code review process.

• Solar-Ready Buildings

On June 3, 2021, the New Jersey Legislature passed a bill (S-3504/A-3352) requiring that all newly constructed warehouses be “solar-ready.” To reach this requirement, the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) will adopt certain regulations which establish standards for the construction and design of solar-ready buildings. These regulations may include requiring a roof load capacity which can hold solar panels and proper space on the roof for the installation of solar panels and accompanying electrical or plumbing.

The bill defines warehouses as any room, structure, building or facility with a minimum of 10,000 square feet being used primarily for the storage of goods intended for sale. Those projects deemed warehouses under the statute must be a “solar-ready building” which is a building that incorporates design elements, as specified by the DCA, which allow for the installation of rooftop solar panels and, if the structure or building is intended to use hot ware, a solar water heating system.

Once signed, the bill will apply to all warehouses which have not obtained a completed construction permit before July 1, 2020.

A copy of the bill can be found here.

• Inter-Municipal Land Use Boards Revisions

A pending bill, currently before the New Jersey State Legislature, would require “retail warehouses” to be considered by a county planning board or the State Planning Commission. The proposed bill would require the host municipality of a “retail warehouse” to deliver a notice of intermunicipal impact to all adjoining municipalities. Notified municipalities who determine they have concerns about the development project may draft and deliver a resolution to the host municipality stating their apprehensions should the project progress. The bill then requires a host municipality, in conjunction with each interested adjacent municipality, convene a joint intermunicipal board, which allows each municipality equal representation, and considers submitted resolutions of intermunicipal concern. In addition to the notice of intermunicipal impact, the host municipality would be required to prepare and distribute a regional economic impact report – the cost of which will be solely shouldered by the developer.

The drafters of the bill also include a section which calls for the creation of the “Intermunicipal Impact Advisory Board”, consisting of 15 members appointed by the Governor for a term of 3 years. The Intermunicipal Impact Advisory Board will not only create guidelines pertaining to what constitutes an intermunicipal concern, but will also establish procedures for intermunicipal board meetings and hear appeals regarding “retail warehouse” approvals.

A copy of the bill can be found here.

• Municipality Construction Code Review Process

Assemblyman Karabinchak (LD-18) sponsored and introduced a bill (A-5838) on June 3, 2021, which, if approved, will allow developers to opt for an alternative and expedited plan review. If a developer so chooses to take the alternative route, they will pay a fee of $500, which allows for the review and approval of the plans and specifications within ten (10) calendar days of the complete and proper submission of the application.

The expedited plan review process may be offered to applicants through a municipality’s construction code enforcement agency. If a municipality does not offer in-house expedited plan reviews, an applicant may retain a private plan review agency, so long as they are properly licensed. Utilized private plan review agencies will be obligated and subject to all the same requirements applicable to other enforcing agencies which conduct plan reviews and will be conferred all the same powers.

Though the use of private plan review agencies is permissible under the proposed bill, the local enforcing agency will maintain control over the construction project and retain the authority and obligation to issue a certificate of occupancy. If a project entails the use of a private plan review agency the agency will receive the fee associated with the expedited plan review and the local enforcing agency will retain all general application fees.

A copy of the bill can be found here.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THESE BILLS, PLEASE CONTACT CHRIS J. MURPHY, ESQ. AT (973) 705-7443 OR VIA EMAIL AT CMURPHY@MURPHYLLP.COM.

On Monday, June 14th, the Upper Deerfield Planning Board granted subdivision approval, along with certain variance relief, in connection with the subdivision of a major shopping center commonly known as Carll’s Corner.

Chris J. Murphy, Esq. led the firm’s successful efforts on behalf of the development team, which included Douglas Grysco of Dynamic Engineering, Corey Chase of Dynamic Traffic, and John McDonough of John McDonough Associates, LLC. MSW associate Hannah Bartges and land use paralegal Marika Igras also played a critical role in the process.

Newark, NJ, May 24, 2021 – Murphy Schiller & Wilkes (MSW) is pleased to announce that Lauren Perrella and Hannah Wolinsky have joined the firm.

Lauren Perrella has joined the firm as an Associate and will concentrate her practice on commercial real estate and financing matters. Prior to joining the firm, Lauren was in-house counsel to one of the largest real estate management corporations in the region, where she handled a wide range of complex business and commercial real estate issues for a diverse portfolio of clients across a multilevel organization. Following law school, Lauren served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Allen J. Littlefield, J.S.C., of the New Jersey Superior Court.

Lauren received her law degree from Rutgers Law School, where she was the Associate Editor of the Rutgers Journal of Law and Religion. She obtained her M.B.A. from Rutgers School of Business, graduating magna cum laude. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Central Florida, where she participated in the Lead Scholars Program.

Hannah Wolinsky has joined the firm as an Associate and will also focus her practice on commercial real estate and financing matters. In this role, Hannah will support the firm’s Real Estate Finance practice group, where she will represent lenders and borrowers in connection with the negotiation of mortgage and construction loans related to real estate transactions. In addition, she will support the firm’s other transactional practice groups in representing clients in connection with the acquisition, disposition, and leasing of a wide range of real estate assets, including industrial, office, retail, and multi-family properties.

Hannah received her law degree from Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad College of Law, where she graduated summa cum laude, and her undergraduate degree from Dominican College, where she also graduated summa cum laude.

“We are incredibly excited to have Lauren and Hannah join our growing team. Our ability to continue to attract top-level talent is a testament to our vision of building a first-rate boutique law firm focused solely on commercial real estate and development,” says Kellen F. Murphy, the firm’s managing partner.

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)