Jeffrey B. Lehrer (left) and Aileen Brennan
By Joshua Burd
Jeffrey B. Lehrer and Aileen Brennan have joined Murphy Schiller & Wilkes LLP, adding significant depth to one of the Newark-based firm’s flagship practice areas.
Lehrer, who joins MSW’s land use, zoning and redevelopment group as of counsel, arrives with more than three decades of experience representing private developers, property owners and business interests in connection with residential, commercial, mixed-use and redevelopment projects throughout New Jersey. The firm also touted him as a widely recognized leader in land use law, noting that he has held public-sector leadership roles such as township attorney for several New Jersey municipalities and director of law in Edison, while he has also served as attorney to planning and zoning boards throughout the state and as special counsel on redevelopment and affordable housing matters.
Brennan, for her part, joins the practice as counsel with a focus on redevelopment, land use, zoning, eminent domain and related litigation and transactional matters, according to MSW. She represents developers, property owners and investors through every stage of the development process, from project planning and entitlement approvals through implementation and litigation.
What’s more, Brennan has extensive experience negotiating and drafting redevelopment agreements, payment in lieu of taxes agreements, redevelopment plans, ordinances and related legislation. She regularly appears before municipal land use boards and has successfully represented clients in litigation involving redevelopment designations, redevelopment agreements, zoning ordinances and development approvals.
“Jeffrey and Aileen are highly respected practitioners whose experience, reputation and deep understanding of New Jersey’s land use and redevelopment landscape make them tremendous additions to our firm,” said Chris Murphy, a partner at MSW. “Their combined experience advising developers, property owners, investors, municipalities and other stakeholders on transformative development projects will further strengthen our ability to provide sophisticated, practical counsel to clients navigating increasingly complex development and redevelopment opportunities.”
Lehrer also has extensive experience appearing before planning boards, zoning boards of adjustment, governing bodies, redevelopment entities and state agencies, providing clients with a unique perspective on the governmental processes that shape development projects, the firm said. In recognition of his contributions to the profession, he received the prestigious William M. Cox Award from the New Jersey Institute of Local Government Attorneys in 2011, an honor that highlights excellence in land use law and service to local government and the legal profession.
Brenna’s representative matters include negotiating the rehabilitation of a historic landmark into affordable housing, handling condemnation proceedings associated with major development projects in Newark and securing and defending approvals for solar energy facilities, according to MSW. She has also defended zoning ordinances supporting transformative redevelopment initiatives and negotiated redevelopment and PILOT agreements along New Jersey’s waterfront communities.
The new additions significantly expand MSW’s capabilities in land use and zoning law, redevelopment, affordable housing, eminent domain and complex real estate development matters throughout New Jersey.
“Aileen has built an outstanding reputation as a strategic and solutions-oriented advocate for developers and property owners,” Murphy added. “Her experience in both the transactional and litigation aspects of redevelopment and land use law complement Jeff’s decades of leadership in the field and creates exceptional depth within our practice group.”
