Managing Partner
Phone: 908-852-2600
Fax: 908-852-8225
Michael Selvaggi is the Managing Shareholder of Lavery, Selvaggi & Cohen, PC. He has practiced law in New Jersey since graduating from Seton Hall University School of Law and has developed an expertise in several practice areas.
Mr. Selvaggi is recognized as one of the leading land use and planning attorneys in northern New Jersey. He appears regularly before zoning and planning boards on behalf of clients requiring site plan and subdivision approvals or variance relief. His services are relied upon by privately-held entities; Fortune 500 companies; not-for-profit organizations and home owners. Mr. Selvaggi also serves as the attorney for municipal land use boards, counseling them on a host of differing applications.
As New Jersey continues to grapple with the need for affordable housing, Mr. Selvaggi represents developers seeking to construct a variety of inclusionary residential projects. His familiarity with the state's Fair Housing Act enables him to counsel clients in ways that maximize development while addressing the affordable housing obligation. With the legalization of cannabis in New Jersey, Mr. Selvaggi has been retained by companies and persons seeking land use approvals to engage in the retail sale of cannabis products, as well as cannabis cultivation and manufacturing.
Given his vast experience, Mr. Selvaggi has gained an in-depth understanding of the relevant environmental laws that impact on all land use matters. He is intimately familiar with the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act; the freshwater wetlands regulations; and the storm water management rules. He has lectured on such issues and his insight is desired by those contemplating a possible development proposal.
Mr. Selvaggi possesses the skills to assist a client in all aspects of the land acquisition and development process, including contract negotiations, the environmental regulatory process and the eventual closing. He is often retained by clients to safeguard their interests in real estate transactions and lease negotiations.
Further, Mr. Selvaggi skillfully represents business entities in their formation, acquisition, sale and merger. He works closely with corporations, limited liability companies, non-profit agencies, and partnerships to provide advice on a wide array of legal issues. He is also counsel to several regional banks in northwest New Jersey.
Additionally, Mr. Selvaggi devotes a significant portion of his practice to local government law. He is the appointed attorney for several municipalities in New Jersey. He is knowledgeable about the Open Public Meeting Act, the Open Public Records Act, public bidding and contract matters. He also represents a number of boards of education.
When not practicing law, Mr. Selvaggi dedicates a substantial amount of his time to a variety of charitable and civic causes. He has served as President of the Warren County Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Warren County Bar Association, He also served twice as the Warren County Trustee to the New Jersey State Bar Association. He is a member of the Board of Directors for Abilities of Northwest New Jersey and a member on the Foundation Board for Hackettstown Regional Medical Center. Mr. Selvaggi sits on the Finance Council for the St. Luke Roman Catholic Church in Long Valley and acted its Director of its CYO Basketball program and a coach for 12 years.
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