Tiana Russo (left) and Joshua Lesser
By Joshua Burd
Murphy Schiller & Wilkes has bolstered several key practice groups with the addition of Tiana Russo and Joshua Lesser as associates, the Newark-based firm announced.
Russo, part of MSW’s land use, zoning and redevelopment team, will assist clients through all stages of the entitlement process. That includes providing research on issues related to zoning in connection with property acquisitions and assisting attorneys in preparing for appearances before local land use boards and other governmental bodies in connection with development approvals and permits.
In addition, Russo will support the firm’s construction law practice in cases related to contract disputes, delay claims, defective construction claims, design negligence and shareholder disputes filed in state and federal courts, MSW said. She received her law degree from Rutgers Law School and her undergraduate degree from Rutgers University.
Lesser, meantime, has joined the firm’s construction law and litigation practice groups and will support its partners in representing developers, owners, contractors, subcontractors, construction managers, architects, engineers and surveyors across an array of matters in the commercial real estate and construction industries. Such matters involve cases related to contract disputes, delay claims, defective construction claims, design negligence and shareholder disputes in state and federal courts.
MSW noted that Lesser received his law degree from Seton Hall University School of Law, where he was selected for the Seton Hall 2022 Summer International Law Fellowship, a competitive fellowship awarded to one law student each year. He graduated first in his class from Dickinson College with a bachelor’s in Middle East studies.
“We are incredibly excited to have Tiana and Joshua join our growing team,” said Chris J. Murphy, a founding member of MSW. “Both spent last summer with the firm as summer associates and understand what it takes to succeed at MSW. As a firm, we are committed to finding and developing the best talent in the marketplace. Tiana and Joshua have exceeded expectations since joining us last summer, and we look forward to watching them succeed at MSW.”
