Gibbons PC is based in Newark.
By Joshua Burd
A former key economic development official with the city of Newark has joined Gibbons PC as a director in its real property group, the firm announced Tuesday.

The practice, which is based in the city, said Bisola A. Taiwo most recently served as assistant director and chief of staff for Newark’s Department of Economic and Housing Development. In that role, she led more than 70 employees across five multidisciplinary divisions, managed a high volume of complex redevelopment projects from concept to completion and oversaw day-to-day operations on key initiatives and municipal capital improvement projects.
“We welcome Bisola to the Gibbons real property team,” said Douglas J. Janacek, the group’s co-chair. “Her depth of experience in redevelopment and related areas will strengthen our existing practice throughout the state and help our clients with some of the largest and most sophisticated projects currently under development.”
Taiwo also directed an outside legal team on negotiations with private developers in connection with routine to non-routine real estate transactions and large-scale development projects, while structuring and monitoring the orderly disposition and development of the city’s real estate portfolio in accordance with its redevelopment plans, according to a news release. In the planning and execution of the projects, she reported directly to the mayor and business administrator on key economic development metrics.
Her arrival at Gibbons follows a quick ascent through Newark City Hall in which she rose from legislative director to chief of staff for the economic and housing development department after only 18 months.
“In her role with the City of Newark, Bisola shepherded billions of dollars in complex redevelopment projects, which have been part of Newark’s unprecedented growth,” said Jennifer Phillips Smith, co-chair of the real property group. “Anyone who has worked with Bisola knows her dedication, experience, and commitment to excellence.”
In announcing the hire, the firm said Taiwo’s achievements with the city include structuring the deal terms for billions of dollars of new redevelopment projects and managing the predevelopment activities and day-to-day aspects of the Riverfront Park expansion project and planning. She also executed the end-to-end revitalization of 45 undeveloped or underdeveloped parcels in the West Ward, creating more than 200 affordable rental units and 24 three-family homes for sale.
Prior to working for the city of Newark, Taiwo was an attorney in private practice in New Jersey. She served as a law clerk to U.S. District Court Judge Susan D. Wigenton in New Jersey, former Superior Court Appellate Division Judge Paulette M. Sapp-Peterson and Superior Court Judge Lisa P. Thornton, who sits in Freehold.
Taiwo earned her J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law and her B.A. from Colgate University, having recently completed the Harvard Kennedy School of Government Executive Education – Leadership Decision Making Program, Gibbons said. She is admitted to practice in the states of New Jersey and New York, while she is a member of the New Jersey State Bar Association, Essex County Bar Association, New Jersey Women Lawyers Association and Volunteer Lawyers for Justice.