Gerald R. Salerno focuses his practice on complex civil and commercial litigation, commercial real estate and transactional matters, zoning and land use, and redevelopment matters. He represents businesses, developers, redevelopers, financial institutions, municipalities, and local boards in high-stakes disputes, significant development projects, and complex regulatory matters throughout New Jersey. An experienced litigator and strategic advisor, Gerald draws on decades of experience in land use, redevelopment, and municipal law to help clients navigate matters involving legal, financial, and political considerations.
Gerald also represents businesses and individuals in complex commercial disputes, drawing on decades of courtroom and litigation experience.
He currently serves as Borough Attorney for the Borough of East Rutherford, Land Use Board Attorney for the Borough of Wood-Ridge, Planning Board Attorney for the Borough of Rutherford, and Acting Public Defender for the Pascack Joint Municipal Court. His prior public-sector experience includes service as Special Redevelopment Counsel to the Lodi Planning Board, Counsel to the Upper Saddle River Zoning Board of Adjustment, Counsel to the Upper Main Street Business Alliance in Hackensack, and Prosecutor for the Boroughs of Wood-Ridge and Oradell.
A respected leader in the legal community, Gerald is a Past President of the Bergen County Bar Association and served as the Bergen County representative to the New Jersey State Bar Association’s Judicial and Prosecutorial Appointments Committee for six years. He also served as a member of the Bergen County Bar Association Judicial Appointments Committee.
Before entering private practice, Gerald served as Law Clerk to the Honorable Charles R. DiGisi, the presiding Criminal Judge of the Superior Court of New Jersey, Bergen County.
No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey. Click here to view recognition methodology.
Honors & Accolades
- New Jersey Super Lawyers, 2005-2007; 2009-2026
- The Best Lawyers in America, 2013-2026
- Bet-the-Company Litigation
- Commercial Litigation
- Bergen County Legal Services Pro Bono Award, 1995, awarded by the Bergen County Bar Association
- Featured in (201) Magazine’s 2016 “Faces of” profiles in “Face of Leadership in the Law”
Representative Matters
- Serves as Special Redevelopment Counsel in connection with Westmont Station, a 70-acre mixed-use redevelopment project featuring residential, retail, community, and transit-oriented development
- Secured land use approvals for Chick-fil-A developments in New Jersey
- Secured approvals for multiple billboard projects on behalf of Klein Outdoor Advertising.
- Secured land use approvals for Bank of America developments
- Obtained approvals and negotiated a PILOT for a 132-unit multifamily residential redevelopment project in Hackensack on behalf of Hackensack Investors
- Obtained approvals and negotiated a PILOT for a 235-unit multifamily residential redevelopment project in Hackensack on behalf of Waypoint Residential
- Obtained approvals and negotiated a PILOT for a 130-unit multi-family residential redevelopment project in Hackensack on behalf of 463 Main Street Urban Renewal, LLC
- Obtained approvals and negotiated a PILOT for a 255-unit multi-family residential redevelopment project in Teaneck
- Obtained approvals and negotiated a PILOT for a 247 -unit multi-family residential redevelopment project in Teaneck
- Obtained approvals for Charles Schwab: Paramus expansion
- Representation of Inserra Supermarkets Inc. in connection with acquisition of supermarkets and other related transactions
- Representation of Enburg Group USA in connection with substantial asset acquisitions including shopping centers and hotels
- Representation of Provident Bank in connection with commercial real estate loan transactions
Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.
Professional Affiliations
- Past President, Bergen County Bar Association
- Bergen County representative, New Jersey State Bar Association Judicial Appointments Committee
- Co-Chairman, Municipal Court Practice Committee, New Jersey Bergen County Bar Association
- Member, The Association of Trial Lawyers of America
- Appointed by the New Jersey Supreme Court to its Ethics Character Committee,1996
Experience
-
- EB. v. Poritz, 914 F. Supp. 85 (D.N.J. 1996); E.B. v. Verniero, 119 F.2d.1077 (3rd Cir., 1997); In the Matter of the Adoption of a Child by P.S. and J.S., 315 N.J. Super. 91 (App. Div. 1998 State v. Doriguzzi 334 N.J. Super. 530 (App. Div. 2000)
- Torres v. Travelers Indemnity Corp. 171 N.J. 147 (2002)
Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.