Jay Biggins
Executive managing director
Biggins Lacy Shapiro & Co.
Perfect pivot: Biggins and BLS helped open Rapid Reshore & Development, which will provide services for the fast-moving and ultra-important life sciences and biopharma industries.
Mitch Berkey
Member
Chiesa, Shahinian & Giantomasi
When you ask lawyers which of their colleagues have been overlooked on this list, Berkey — the chair of the Real Estate Group at CSG — always is near the top of the list.
Monica Casiello
Director of business development and marketing
U.S. Title Solutions
This is long overdue recognition for Casiello, who is well-known and respected as perhaps the biggest player in a huge part of the industry.
Tony Coscia
Partner
Windels Marx Lane & Mittendorf
He’ll continue to be a key player in the Gateway Tunnel project, which should pick up speed, while maintaining his role as a top lawyer and adviser on numerous key projects around the state.
Frank Giantomasi
Member
Chiesa, Shahinian & Giantomasi
Well-respected veteran always is one step ahead: It might be easier to list the Newark projects that Giantomasi is not involved with rather than the ones he is.
Bob Goldsmith
Partner/co-chair, Redevelopment & Land Use Department
Greenbaum Rowe Smith & Davis LLP
He is one of the most active practitioners in all things land use and redevelopment and a key adviser and contributor to many major trade associations in the state.
Lori Grifa
Partner
Archer Law
Long overdue honor for well-respected lawyer who has worked both in private practice and public service throughout her career.
Alan Hammer
Member
Brach Eichler
One of state’s top lawyers for property tax appeals and multifamily investment sales, Hammer, a former managing partner, has served on the firm’s executive committee since its inception.
Matt Krauser
Co-market leader
Newmark
Trusted source for wide range of commercial real estate issues, Krauser specializes in tax appeals, condemnations, litigation and open space/land preservation issues.
Bob Klausner
Partner
Fox Rothschild
He is a solid and steady regular on the list — and for good reason. Klausner always is involved in some of the state’s biggest deals and in talks with many of its most influential players.
Jennifer Mazawey
Partner
Genova Burns
A trusted adviser on all things commercial real estate, land use and construction law, Mazawey is a well-respected thought leader and former president for Commercial Real Estate Women of New Jersey.
W. Nevins McCann
Partner
Connell Foley
From major real estate projects to high-stakes litigation, he advises clients on some of the state’s most significant and high-profile legal developments, especially in Jersey City area.
Chris Murphy; Matt Schiller
Partners
Murphy Schiller & Wilkes
We would call them up-and-comers, but they already have arrived. Earlier this year, Schiller (and Charles Wilkes) joined the boutique firm, becoming name partners (along with Kellen Murphy) while adding depth to its services.
Jeffrey Otteau
President
Otteau Valuation Group
No one does what he does better. It’s as simple as that. Otteau is the go-to source for evaluation and analysis needed to show any project is worth doing — or not worth doing.
Kosi Remy
Head of New Jersey social impact initiatives
Fidelity National Title Insurance Co.
Well-respected commercial title lawyer who is firmly established. Remy has deep political connections, too — having worked with Kevin O’Toole, Ras Baraka and Chris Christie.
Jackie Urgo
President
The Marketing Directors
Long overdue selection. Urgo is one of the leaders of a residential marketing, sales and leasing company that seemingly is used by everyone to do a lot of things, including coming in early on product design to help drive the offering.
Frank Vitolo
Partner
Riker Danzig
He handles real estate and land use disputes and government approvals for commercial, mixed-use and residential developments. Was a key player in getting M Station to the starting line.
David Wolfe
Principal
Wolfe Skoloff
He is one of the leading and most highly visible tax appeal lawyers in the state — a specialty that figures to be extraordinarily busy once the pandemic’s impact on commercial real estate is truly understood.
Ted Zangari
Member
Sills, Cummis & Gross
Thought leader on all things commercial real estate, especially incentives and Opportunity Zone opportunities, Zangari is connected to deals — and the power players — throughout the state.
Jerry Zaro
Member
Sills, Cummis & Gross
Industry veteran is a leading voice on public projects, which is one of the many reasons he’s the perfect choice to be a trustee on Gateway Tunnel project, which may finally get going.
