George Garcia
By Joshua Burd
Real estate and land use attorney George Garcia has joined Connell Foley LLP’s executive committee, in one of several new leadership moves announced by the firm.
According to a news release Thursday, Garcia moves into the role alongside Leo Hurley of Connell Foley’s commercial litigation practice group and Margot Wilensky of the complex casualty litigation team. The Roseland-based firm also announced that it has elected Timothy E. Corriston to serve as managing partner for another two years, complementing what it described as a period of significant leadership evolution within its ranks.
To that end, Corriston said the three new executive committee members provide the right mix of experience, industry knowledge and diverse generational and cultural viewpoints to an already robust and talented group of attorneys.
“Our firm has made incredible strides in recent years, and I’m excited to continue building on that momentum,” he said. “As we look ahead, my focus will be on fostering innovation in our practices, maintaining our attention to superior client service and continuing to strengthen our leadership team. We’re confident that George’s, Leo’s and Margot’s energy and fresh perspectives will take the firm to new heights.”
Garcia, who co-chairs the real estate and land use practice group, has an extensive background that includes obtaining permits and land use approvals for thousands of residential units, the news release said. Connell Foley cited his vast knowledge of the technical requirements involved in establishing rehabilitation and redevelopment zones under the Local Housing and Redevelopment Law, noting that he regularly negotiates and drafts redevelopers’ agreements and negotiates on behalf of private clients for large-scale projects throughout the state.
He also frequently prepares and negotiates long-term tax abatement applications on behalf of developers and lectures on tax abatement and land use for the New Jersey Redevelopment Authority, the firm said. Additionally, Garcia guides clients with complex private equity, debt and preferred equity transactions, advising on several transactions nearing $1 billion of capital deployment for both borrowers and lenders.
The veteran attorney joined Connell Foley in 2016 and rose to the practice co-chair role late last summer.
Connell Foley’s Garcia named real estate, land use cochair alongside McCann
