Connell Foley, which offers clients comprehensive legal services across a wide range of practice areas and industries, has strengthened its real estate practice by adding four attorneys to the Newark office.
The team is led by Elnardo J. Webster, II, and Jodi M. Luciani, who join the firm as a partner. Joni H. Noble McDonnell and Joao F. Magalhaes will be of counsel. All four come to Connell Foley from Inglesino, Webster, Wyciskala & Taylor, LLC, of Parsippany, where Webster was a partner.
The new team members enhance a well-established Connell Foley real estate and land use practice in Newark, New Jersey, and the Northeast. Professionals in Newark provide transactional and litigation services and solutions-oriented advocacy to companies and now hold an even stronger presence with 22 attorneys in the Newark office.
The firm has grown exponentially over the past decade under the strong leadership of past managing partners and continues to thrive under current Managing Partner Tim Corriston.
“Strategically adding to the Connell Foley family will help us maintain our competitive advantage and offer our clients an even greater depth of service to address their legal needs,” Corriston said.
“I am familiar with Connell Foley’s well-established reputation and have known the talented attorneys for years. My team and our clients will benefit greatly from the firm’s broad experience in corporate, real estate, and remarkable litigation and trial experience,” said Webster.
Elnardo J. Webster, II will join Connell Foley as partner. He concentrates his practice in the areas of real estate, regulatory and government affairs. His clients include healthcare providers, regulated utilities, insurance companies, developers, and business and entrepreneurial companies. He has also served as general counsel to numerous government agencies. Webster has served on the Rutgers Board of Overseers, Independent College Funds of New Jersey, Team Walker, St. Peter’s Prep School Board, Crossroads Theater, and Cathedral Healthcare System. Active in Democratic politics, Webster served as treasurer and finance chair to Senator Cory Booker’s mayoral campaigns in Newark.
Webster received his J.D. and MBA from Rutgers. Webster also played college football for Rutgers and was drafted in 1992 by the Pittsburgh Steelers where he played three games before a knee injury ended his football career.
Jodi M. Luciani will also join the firm as a partner. Her practice focuses on land use and zoning, redevelopment, municipal law, and regulatory and government affairs. She counsels private clients, corporations, and real estate clients. She has extensive insights into local, state, and federal regulations and public procedures, as well as a broad range of matters, including litigation.
Luciani received her J.D. from New York Law School and her B.A. from the University of Michigan. She is admitted to practice in New Jersey, New York, and the United States District Court of New Jersey.
Joni H. Noble McDonnell joins as of counsel. McDonnell practices in the areas of government affairs, municipal law, regulatory affairs, and land use. Her clients include New Jersey’s water and sewer utilities and other public and state agencies. She advises and counsels on compliance with local, state, and federal statutes and regulations. Her experience includes representing the Joint Meeting of Essex and Union Counties (a wastewater facility located in Elizabeth), serving as assistant township attorney for Morristown, and representing the Jersey City Municipal Utilities Authority.
McDonnell received her J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law and her B.A. from Douglass College. She is admitted to practice law in New Jersey and the United States District Court of New Jersey.
Joao F. Magalhaes joins as of counsel. He represents public and private entities in commercial transactions and litigation, corporate structuring, general counseling, bankruptcy, and regulatory affairs. Magalhaes works collaboratively with accountants, engineers, financial analysts, and other professionals for his clients. Magalhaes was appointed by the New Jersey Supreme Court to serve on the District XB Ethics Committee and serves as a coordinating editor for the American Bankruptcy Institute Journal.
Magalhaes received his J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law and his B.S. from Villanova University.
