Page 38 - RE-NJ

36 WINTER 2025
PEOPLE ON
THE MOVE
FORMER DEP, NJT
OFFICIAL GRAY JOINS
GREENBAUM ROWE
Jersey and the New Jersey Licensed
Site Remediation Professionals
Association, according to a news
release. He earned his J.D. from Seton
Hall University School of Law and
Greenbaum Rowe Smith & Davis LLP
his bachelor’s from the University of
has bolstered two key practice areas
Scranton.
with the addition of John P. Gray, a
former offi cial with two prominent
state agencies.
Gray, who held signifi cant roles
with both the Department of
Environmental Protection and NJ
Transit, joins the law fi rm as a partner
in its environmental and energy and
renewable resources groups. He does
so with nearly 24 years of experience,
which he’ll
use to assist
Greenbaum’s
clients in
navigating the
complexities of
environmental
and agency
approvals for
John P. Gray
development
projects, having honed his skills in
regulatory compliance and strategic
planning prior to entering private
practice.
“After two decades of delivering
critical environmental and
construction guidance in public
service roles, I’m eager to take on
new challenges by working with
Greenbaum’s amazing team to
help our clients tackle their legal
challenges and successfully meet
their business goals,” Gray said. “In
a constantly changing landscape of
complex regulations, I look forward
to delivering solutions that assist
clients with meeting their evolving
needs.”
Gray’s work with DEP included
leading efforts in permitting complex
projects such as electric generation,
major remediation and large-scale
infrastructure, Greenbaum said,
noting that he also served as a
legislative liaison on regulatory
matters and constituent and policy
formulation issues. With NJ Transit,
he managed legal services, oversaw
compliance with federal and state
funding requirements and responded
to audits and inquiries from agencies
such as the U.S. Department of
Justice.
Based in the fi rm’s Iselin offi ce,
Gray is a member of NAIOP New
MSW TAPS LAND USE
ATTORNEY SILBERT
AS COUNSEL
Murphy Schiller & Wilkes LLP
has bolstered its land use, zoning
and redevelopment team with the
addition of Michael E. Silbert as
counsel.
According to the fi rm, which is
based in Newark, Silbert 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.
Michael E. Silbert
His clients
include large-scale commercial,
industrial and multifamily
developers, as well as applicants
pursuing rezonings, subdivisions
and residential variance approvals.
He most recently practiced at
DiFrancesco, Bateman, Kunzman,
Davis, Lehrer & Flaum PC, where
he represented both private
developers and public municipal
entities, according to MSW. The fi rm
said that dual experience provides
Silbert with a unique perspective
on the development process and
municipal operations from both
sides of the table, noting that he
continues to appear before land use
boards and governing bodies across
New Jersey and has experience
handling land use prerogative writ
litigation.
“Michael brings a tremendous
level of energy, talent and insight
to our growing statewide land
use and redevelopment practice,”
said Kellen F. Murphy, MSW’s
managing partner. “His experience
representing developers throughout
New Jersey makes him an
exceptional addition to the fi rm and
a valuable resource for our clients.”
The practice added that Silbert
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 fi nancial 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
or PILOT agreements and advises
clients on affordable housing
compliance and long-term strategic
planning.
Active in the professional
community, Silbert serves on the
board of directors of the land use
section of the New Jersey State
Bar Association, where he is in the
fi rst year of a three-year term, MSW
said. In 2024, he was recognized
by the Somerset County Business
Partnership as one of its Top 40
Under 40 award recipients.
Silbert 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’s in business
and political science from Franklin
& Marshall College.
PARAGANO JOINS JLL
DEBT, EQUITY GROUP
JLL has strengthened its Morristown-
based capital markets team with the
hiring of Nazario Paragano, a veteran
of several well-known commercial
real estate fi rms in New Jersey.
The company said Paragano joins
the debt and equity advisory group
with more than 15 years of industry
experience, including his most
recent position as vice president of
acquisitions at Winfi eld Properties.
He previously held the same title
at Onyx Equities LLC, having also
worked as a transactions and asset
management analyst at PGIM Real
Estate.
“We’re really excited to bring Naz
from the ownership side of the
business to our debt and equity
advisory team,” said Michael Klein,
senior managing director and co-
head of JLL’s New Jersey capital
markets offi ce. “His unique insights
and understanding of capital
allocation decisions, investment
strategies and the owner’s
perspective on fi nancing structures
will be invaluable to our clients.
“Additionally, having someone who
has been on both sides of the table
strengthens
our ability to
deliver best-in-
class advisory
services and
reinforces our
commitment
to providing
our clients
with the most
Nazario Paragano
comprehensive and strategic counsel
in the marketplace.”
Paragano holds a bachelor’s from
Cornell University’s Nolan School of
Hotel Administration.
“I’m thrilled to join JLL and
transition to the advisory side of
the industry, especially as the debt
markets continue to stabilize,”
Paragano said. “My background in
acquisitions enables me to foresee
clients’ needs, provide tailored
solutions and speak the same
language as the principals making
these critical fi nancing decisions.”
LMC TAPS PATEL AS
CHIEF OPERATING
OFFICER
Levin Management Corp. has
welcomed Nisha Patel as its
chief operating offi cer, the North
Plainfi eld-based commercial real
estate services fi rm announced.
In her new role, Patel will oversee
day-to-day operations and support
continued
growth across
LMC’s 16 million
square-foot
portfolio. She’ll
also work
closely with the
fi rm’s executive
leadership team
Nisha Patel
in implementing
technology solutions, strengthen
cross-department collaboration and
position the company for scalable
growth.
She comes to the post with nearly
two decades of operational and
strategic real estate experience,
the fi rm said, noting that she most