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Practices

Biography

Doug’s areas of concentration include real estate development, planning, permitting, and redevelopment matters with an emphasis on commercial, office, and industrial developments. He has appeared before planning and zoning boards and governing bodies of numerous municipalities throughout the state, and also before the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT), and other state and county agencies, in connection with real estate development and redevelopment projects.

Doug has also been involved in issues concerning a variety of regulatory requirements, including wetlands, coastal zone, stream encroachment, and waterfront development permits. He was involved in the formulation and drafting of the New Jersey Highway Access Management Code, one of the most comprehensive highway access regulations in the United States.

He routinely authors articles and appears in seminars and panel discussions involving all aspects of real estate development.

Other Info About Douglas

Experience

Legal Work Highlights

Representative Matters

  • Represents the developer of a major retail shopping center adjacent to the Hudson River waterfront in connection with all local, county, and state environmental and transportation approvals.
  • Represents a publicly traded Fortune 500 company with regard to the closure of a former landfill facility and the development of a 300,000 square foot distribution facility on the former landfill site.
  • Development counsel to a national REIT with regard to its acquisition of several million square feet of existing and proposed office and retail space in two municipalities.
  • Development counsel to an international energy conglomerate with regard to its acquisition of electric generating facilities, including a nuclear power plant, in multiple jurisdictions.
  • Represented a publicly traded international package delivery company with regard to its expansion of its distribution facilities at existing and new locations throughout the NY region.
  • Represented a residential real estate developer with regard to the conversion of a former industrial building into a multi-family townhome development in Weehawken.
  • Counseled an international news agency with regard to the proposed conversion of an office facility into a telecommunications center with redundant security and power source requirements.
  • Represents various retail developers (consumer electronics, fast food, toy, drugstore, etc.) with requirements to open numerous new sites on an annual basis. This representation requires substantial and efficient coordination of consultants and resources to identify and obtain all required approvals and permits, often on an expedited basis.
  • Represented international corporation and office developer in connection with the approval and construction of 200,000 square feet of Class A space.
  • Represented a coalition of Fortune 500 retail developers in connection with the opposition to and modification and adoption of the NJ Highway Access Management regulations.
  • Represented a state agency in connection with the drafting of regulations required to implement cutting-edge land use mechanisms as part of a “Special Area Management Plan.”
  • Represented a large-scale shopping center developer in connection with Department of Transportation and related real estate issues concerning multiple “big box” development.

Education

Law School

Rutgers School of Law – Newark, J.D.

  • Editor, Rutgers Law Review, 1984-1985

Undergraduate School

Seton Hall University, B.A., summa cum laude

Clerkships

Douglas served as a clerk for the court(s) and judge(s) below:

Law clerk to the Honorable David Landau, Superior Court of New Jersey, Chancery Division, General Equity Part, Essex, 1985-1986

Bar Memberships

Douglas is licensed to practice in the following state(s):

New Jersey

Recognition

Local & National Recognition

Award Selection Methodology

Included on the Chambers USA Guide to America’s Leading Lawyers for Business list, Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use

Recognized by Best Lawyers®, 2026 Edition: Land Use and Zoning Law

Recognized by Best Lawyers®:“Lawyer of the Year,” Land Use and Zoning Law in Newark, NJ (2014 Edition)

Included on the New Jersey Super Lawyers list, Land Use/Zoning

Recipient, National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP), New Jersey Chapter Outstanding Volunteer, November 2007

Professional Affiliations

Professional Affiliations & Memberships

Essex County Bar Association

 

New Jersey State Bar Association
Past Director, Land Use Section

 

American Bar Association

 

NJDOT Highway Access
Advisory Committee

 

New Jersey School of Architecture
Advisory Board

 

Tewksbury Township Planning Board
Former Member

 

NAIOP, New Jersey Chapter – Third Party Appeals Committee
Former Chairman

 

International Council of Shopping Centers

 

Gibbons Law Alert blog (www.gibbonslawalert.com)
Editorial Board