By Joshua Burd
Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla has named three new shareholders in its real estate, land use and redevelopment practice, the Red Bank-based firm announced this week.
According to the practice, the newly promoted attorneys include Adam Garcia, Brian Shemesh and Evan Zimmerman. Their new roles were effective Jan. 1, GHC said, noting that 25 of its 65 attorneys handle real estate, land use, redevelopment and related areas.
Garcia, a shareholder in the real estate practice, focuses on land use litigation on behalf of developers involving property use, the development process and post-approval property use issues, according to a news release. He also handles commercial and residential landlord-tenant matters and represents owners and contractors in construction litigation in a range of disputes over defects and delays.
Garcia received his J.D. from Boston College Law School and his bachelor’s from Boston College.
Shemesh, meantime, is a shareholder in the redevelopment, real estate and planned real estate development practice group, GHC said. He handles acquisitions, dispositions, redevelopment, financings, project incentives and leasing in urban and suburban markets, while also negotiating and securing long-term tax exemptions, short-term abatements, Garden State Growth Zone exemptions and other incentives.
His background as a corporate and private equity attorney has allowed him to develop extensive experience negotiating and preparing agreements between joint venture partners, the news release said. Among other professional activities, Shemesh is a member of NAIOP’s New Jersey Legislative Committee, having graduated summa cum laude from Rutgers Law School-Newark and cum laude from Rutgers University.
Zimmerman, a member of the land use and development law and real estate practices, represents clients in complex development projects, the firm said. He counsels commercial and residential developers, property owners and real estate investors in acquisition and development, including due diligence, investigations, purchase and sale contracts, business formations, financing and preparation of easements and agreements.
Zimmerman also appears before municipal land use agencies and governing bodies, while he prepares general business contracts, including operating, joint venture and business ownership agreements, according to the news release. He is a member of the Land Use Section of the New Jersey State Bar Association and earned his law degree and MBA from Villanova University and a bachelor’s from Colgate University.
“Adam, Brian and Evan have contributed greatly to the firm and are part of the reason for its growth,” said Michael Bruno, chair of the firm’s redevelopment practice area and co-chair of its real estate practice area. “They each have broad knowledge in real estate matters and understand how to resolve complex legal issues to position our clients to achieve the best possible solutions for their legal challenges.”
“Their dedication to the practice is admirable, and we are excited for their continued contributions as they enter the next phase of their legal careers.”
