Managing Partner
Phone: 908-852-2600
Fax: 908-852-8225
Michael Selvaggi is the Managing Partner and one of the leading zoning, planning and land use attorneys in northern New Jersey. He appears regularly before zoning and planning boards for clients requiring site plan and subdivision approvals or variance relief. Mr. Selvaggi has secured site plan approvals for automobile dealerships, industrial parks and apartment/townhouse complexes. He has also been involved in some of the larger redevelopment projects in northwest New Jersey. Although he represents numerous Fortune 500 companies, he also enthusiastically works for individuals needing relief to build homes, decks, or pools. His expertise is often sought by religious organizations needing permits for their houses of worship. When a land use board unreasonably denies an application, Mr. Selvaggi has the litigation experience to capably represent the client in a prerogative writ appeal before the Superior Courts of New Jersey.
His extensive work in land use matters has provided him with an in-depth understanding of the significant government regulations that impact most construction projects, particularly the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act. Mr. Selvaggi has appeared before the Highlands Council to discuss ways to construct assisted living facilities, office complexes and residential subdivisions in the Highlands Region. His knowledge of the freshwater wetlands regulations and the storm water management rules helps clients when considering their options for development in environmentally sensitive areas. Mr. Selvaggi can also advise an applicant how to best address the impact from any possible affordable housing obligation given his experience with COAH and the Supreme Court's Mt. Laurel rulings.
Mr. Selvaggi possesses the skills to represent a client in all aspects of the land acquisition process. He has drafted agreements for the sale of land; commercial and residential leases; and options. He has handled hundreds of real estate transactions for large corporations and individuals and can prepare the requisite closing documents for virtually every transaction.
Further, Mr. Selvaggi can capably represent clients in the formation, acquisition, sale or merger of businesses. He works closely with corporations, limited liability companies, non-profit agencies, and partnerships to provide advice on a wide array of legal issues. He has prepared Shareholders' and Operating Agreements; By-Laws; Resolutions; and other corporate documents.
As baby boomers age, families are often confronted with difficult decisions regarding their care. Mr. Selvaggi assists those individuals by representing them in probate and guardianship matters in the Superior Court of New Jersey. He knows the legal requirements that someone must satisfy if she seeks to be appointed to serve as the guardian for an incapacitated person. Given his experience and credibility in such matters, he is also frequently appointed by judges to represent alleged incapacitated persons in contested guardianship matters. In fact, he served as the court-appointed guardian in the seminal case of In re Niles, 176 N.J. 282.
When not practicing law, Mr. Selvaggi dedicates a substantial amount of time to a variety of charitable and civic causes. He served as President of the Warren County Regional Chamber of Commerce; was the President of the Warren County Bar Association; and was twice nominated as a trustee to the New Jersey State Bar Association. He is a member of the Board of Directors for Abilities of Northwest New Jersey and volunteers his time to serve on the Finance Council for St. Luke Parish. Mr. Selvaggi is also an active trustee on the Foundation Board for Hackettstown Regional Medical Center and President of the Parent's Club for the West Morris Central Girls Basketball Club and a volunteer coach for the team.
AREAS OF PRACTICE
- Zoning, Planning and Land Use/Real Estate
- Corporate Law
- Probate Litigation
EDUCATION:
Seton Hall University - School of Law
- Newark, New Jersey
- Juris Doctorate, 1990
St. Joseph's University
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- B.S., Industrial Relations, 1987
- B.A., Economics, 1987
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS:
- New Jersey State Bar Association - 1991 to present
- Land Use Section - 1996 to present
- Warren County Trustee - 2000 to 2006; 2012 to 2017
- Election Committee - 2000 to 2018; Chairperson 2008 to 2010
- Warren County Bar Association - 1991 to present
- President - 2000 to 2001
CIVIC/CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS:
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Abilities of Northwest Jersey, Inc., a rehabilitative and vocational training center for the developmentally disabled - 1991 to the present. Vice President for Board of Directors
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Hackettstown Regional Medical Center Foundation, Inc.; Board of Trustees - 2001 to the present. President – 2007-2012
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St. Luke Church, Long Valley, NJ - Finance Council; Director of CYO basketball - 2009-2017; Basketball coach – 2004 to present
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West Morris Central High School Girls' Basketball. 2015 to the present; President 2016 to the present. Volunteer Coach
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ARC, Warren County Chapter, Inc. 1992 to 2015; President for Board of Directors, 2010-2014; Recipient of the ARC's Outstanding Volunteer Service Award 1996 and 1998
PUBLICATIONS:
Perspective, “The College vs. The Coach”, Seton Hall Journal of Sport Law, Vol. III, No. 1, 1993
Comment “Webster v. Reproductive Health Services, The Razing of Rowe?”, Seton Hall Law School Constitutional Law Journal, Vol. II, No. 1, 1989
SPECIAL RECOGNITION:
Two-time recipient of the New Jersey Law Journal's “40 under 40" award