![Brian J. Shemesh]( /65C0C8/assets/images/attorneys/2/Brian_J_Shemesh_min.jpg)
Brian Shemesh is a Shareholder in the Firm’s Redevelopment, Real Estate and Planned Real Estate Development Practice Groups. Brian has developed a diverse practice that allows him to deliver first-rate client service across several real estate practice areas. Specifically, Brian’s practice is focused on acquisitions, dispositions, redevelopment, financings, project incentives and leasing. Brian’s knowledge of redevelopment has been honed by representing a wide range of clientele across both urban and suburban markets in New Jersey. In connection with his redevelopment practice, he has helped negotiate and secure Long Term Tax Exemptions (PILOTs), Short Term Abatements, Garden State Growth Zone Exemptions and other incentives for his clients’ projects across the State. In addition, Brian’s background as a corporate and private equity attorney has allowed him to develop extensive experience negotiating and preparing agreements between joint venture partners, including agreements that govern Qualified Opportunity Funds and Qualified Opportunity Zone Businesses.
Brian prides himself on understanding his clients’ underlying goals, which he believes is the key to effective legal representation. He understands that legal advice provided in a vacuum is of limited utility, and therefore he advises his clients utilizing both his business acumen and technical legal knowledge. This approach allows Brian to structure creative solutions for each unique situation faced by his clients’ projects. Brian is keenly aware that all projects inevitably face challenges, and the ability of a lawyer to be nimble when encountering such situations is of critical importance to ensure a project’s success.
Brian is involved in a number of professional organizations, and serves as a member of the Legislative Committee of NAIOP’s New Jersey Chapter. He also serves on the Rutgers University Varsity R Letterwinners Association as the Men’s Lacrosse Alumni Representative.
Practice Areas
- Real Estate
- Land Use & Development Law
- Redevelopment
- Planned Real Estate Development
- Renewable Energy
- Leasing
- Affordable Housing
- Corporate & Business
- Cannabis Law
Professional Activities
- Co-Chair, GH&C's Associate Mentoring Committee
- Member, Legislative Committee, NAIOP NJ
- Member, New Jersey State Bar Association
- Member, New York State Bar Association
Other Professional and Personal Experience
Prior to joining the firm, Brian worked as an associate in the corporate group of a global law firm, assisting with corporate matters including, but not limited to, mergers and acquisitions, equity financings, private equity transactions, and capital market matters. Brian was an avid lacrosse player before attending law school, and won a gold medal with the USA U-19 team and was named a USILA Scholar All-American at Rutgers University.Admissions
- New Jersey
- New York
Education
- Rutgers School of Law - Newark, J.D., Summa Cum Laude (2014)Articles Editor, Rutgers Law Review
- Rutgers University, B.A., Cum Laude (2011)
Honors/Awards
- Selected by New Jersey Super Lawyers® as a New Jersey Rising Star,* 2022-2024
- Named Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch*, 2021 - 2023
- Saul Tischler Scholar
- 2014 Recipient of the Justice Henry E. Ackerson, Jr. Prize
Representative Matters
- Transactional / Redevelopment
- Acquisition and Redevelopment of a 36+/- acre site located in Somerset County with a mixed-use development including over 500 residential units
- Redevelopment of a vacant parcel in Burlington County with an approximately 500,000 square foot industrial facility
- Acquisition and Redevelopment of various properties located on the former Fort Monmouth Army Base
- Acquisition of a 1,200,000 square foot office building in Illinois for an adaptive reuse and redevelopment project
- Redevelopment of a mixed-use, transit oriented development in Union County, New Jersey
- Financing
- Representation of Borrower in connection with a $200,000,000.00 refinance, comprised of a senior and mezzanine loan, for a mixed-use development in Monmouth County, New Jersey
- Representation of a project receiving a Historic Tax Credit investment in connection with the rehabilitation of a historic building in Monmouth County, New Jersey
- Incentives
- Secured a 25-year Long Term Tax Exemption in Burlington County for an approximately 1,000,000 square foot industrial building
- Secured over 10 30-year Long Term Tax Exemptions in a single Ocean County Redevelopment Area
- Secured a 30-year Long Term Tax Exemption for a mixed-use development in Union County
- Secured a 30-year Long Term Tax Exemption for a mixed-use development in Essex County
- Secured a 30-year Long Term Tax Exemption for an industrial development in Burlington County
News
- Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla Attorneys Selected as 2024 New Jersey Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
- Four GH&C Attorneys have been included in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch®
- Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla Attorneys Selected as 2023 New Jersey Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
- Four Attorneys from Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla Named 2023 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America™
- Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla Attorneys Selected as 2022 New Jersey Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
- Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla Names 3 New Shareholders
- Four Attorneys from Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla Named to 2022 Best Lawyers®: Ones to Watch
- Five Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla, P.C. Lawyers Named to 2021 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch
Articles/Publications
- "NJ HMFA Seeks Comments on Proposed Amendments to Low Income Housing Tax Credits Qualified Action Plan," New Jersey Redevelopment Blog, December 5, 2018
- "Supreme Court Declines To Hear Undesignated Redeveloper's Appeal," New Jersey Redevelopment Blog, November 8, 2018
- "Payments in Lieu of Taxes: A Look at the Long-Term Tax Exemption Law, Problematic Pending Legislation and the School Funding Issue," Dimensions, Spring 2018
- "Federal Qualified Opportunity Zones," New Jersey Redevelopment Blog, May 17, 2018