From left: Matthew J. Schiller, Chris Murphy, Charles J. Wilkes and Kellen Murphy are the name partners of the newly formed Murphy Schiller & Wilkes LLP. — Photo by Ivana Vranjes Field/Courtesy: MSW
By Joshua Burd
Murphy Partners LLP, a Newark-based law firm specializing in commercial real estate, has added two veteran attorneys to form a new practice known as Murphy Schiller & Wilkes LLP.
The firm announced Monday that Matthew J. Schiller and Charles J. Wilkes, both formerly of Greenbaum Rowe Smith & Davis LLP, have joined forces with founders Kellen and Chris Murphy to launch the new team. The newly minted Murphy Schiller & Wilkes, or MSW, also announced that Susan C. Karp has joined the firm as of counsel to spearhead its environmental practice group.
“We are incredibly excited to have Matt and Charlie join the firm as name partners,” said Kellen Murphy, managing partner at MSW. “Since starting the firm in 2017, Chris and I have always believed that our success would be based on finding like-minded contemporaries to complement our unique skill sets. Matt and Charlie are two of the most accomplished real estate attorneys in the state, and they share our vision of building a leading law firm in the commercial real estate legal space.
“With the addition of Matt and Charlie, along with Susan joining the firm to spearhead the environmental practice group, we have established a full-service commercial real estate and development law firm in the most economically important market in the country.”
With offices in Newark, New York City and Trenton, MSW represents businesses, property owners, investors and lenders in complex real estate and commercial transactions, banking and financing matters, environmental concerns and real estate-focused litigation, according to a news release. The firm’s attorneys also represent clients in the procurement of planning, zoning and other development approvals, while helping clients identify, negotiate and secure real estate and economic development incentives.
Schiller will lead multiple practice groups at MSW, including the commercial leasing, Opportunity Zone and distressed real estate practice groups. He joins the firm after recently serving as the vice chair of the real estate department at Greenbaum, one of the state’s most venerable law firms.
“I am so incredibly excited to have the opportunity to partner with Chris, Kellen and Charlie to form MSW,” Schiller said. “Through the combination of our collective experience and shared vision for the firm, I have no doubt that we will build MSW into a unique 21st century law firm that provides unparalleled service for our clients as well as an incredibly vibrant, collaborative work environment for our attorneys.
“I would also be remiss if I did not thank my incredible colleagues at Greenbaum, who are great lawyers and even better people.”
Wilkes, meantime, will lead MSW’s banking and commercial finance, corporate and real estate finance practice groups. He was previously a partner at Greenbaum, having spent nearly seven years with the Woodbridge-based firm.
“Chris and Kellen exhibit three characteristics that are too rarely found together,” Wilkes said. “They excel at their craft; they have excellent business instincts; and they are good people who have their colleagues’ and clients’ best interests at heart.
“After a few initial meetings with Chris and Kellen, Matt and I both instinctively knew that the four of us could forge a great partnership that would deliver the best service and value to our clients. I will always be grateful to my good friends at the Greenbaum firm for their guidance, support and friendship, but I am thrilled to embark on this new journey at MSW with Chris, Kellen and Matt.”
Murphy brothers building on careers in law, government with launch of boutique firm