Chris J. Murphy is a founding partner of Murphy Schiller & Wilkes LLP (MSW) and a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. He chairs both the Land Use, Zoning & Redevelopment Practice, and the Tax Credits & Incentives Practice, overseeing two of the firm’s core statewide platforms and helping guide MSW’s strategic growth and direction.

Chris represents institutional developers, national real estate companies, and emerging market leaders in connection with major development projects throughout New Jersey. He has secured land use approvals for more than 5 million square feet of industrial warehouse development and thousands of multifamily units, and regularly represents clients in connection with large‑scale mixed‑use, retail, and commercial projects. His work spans local planning and zoning boards, county agencies, and state regulatory bodies, where he is known for navigating complex entitlement processes and advancing transformative redevelopment initiatives.

As chair of the firm’s Tax Credits & Incentives Practice, Chris has helped clients obtain over $1 billion in tax credits and incentives through programs administered by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) and other governmental entities. His experience includes securing benefits under the Aspire Tax Credit Program, CAFE, Grow NJ, ERG, and a wide range of municipal and county‑level incentive tools, including negotiating payments in lieu of taxes (PILOTs) throughout the state. He is recognized for structuring sophisticated incentive strategies that enhance project feasibility, drive capital investment, and support long‑term economic growth.

Chris 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. His insights on real estate development, incentives, and market trends have been featured in regional and national publications, including The Wall Street Journal, Real Estate NJ, ROI-NJ, and NJBIZ.

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

Before beginning his legal career, Chris competed professionally in both ice hockey and boxing, bringing the same discipline, resilience, and competitive drive to his practice and leadership at MSW.