Connell Foley, LLP a full-service law firm that has earned a reputation as a leader in the Litigation, Real Estate and Corporate practice areas throughout the state and region, has elected Timothy E. Corriston to serve as the firm’s Managing Partner for another two years. This appointment comes during a period of significant leadership evolution at the firm, highlighted by the addition of three new members to its Executive Committee: George Garcia, Co-Chair of the Real Estate and Land Use Practice Group; Leo Hurley, Co-Chair of the firm’s Commercial Litigation Practice Group; and most recently Margot Wilensky, partner in the Complex Casualty Litigation Group.
The addition of Garcia, Hurley and Wilensky heralds a new era in Connell Foley’s leadership and provides the right mix of experience, industry knowledge, and diverse generational and cultural viewpoints to an already robust and talented group of attorneys. Together, Tim Corriston and the Executive Committee members will continue to drive the firm forward, cultivate its talent, and prepare Connell Foley for the future.
“Our firm has made incredible strides in recent years, and I’m excited to continue building on that momentum. As we look ahead, my focus will be on fostering innovation in our practices, maintaining our attention to superior client service, and continuing to strengthen our leadership team. We’re confident that George’s, Leo’s and Margot’s energy and fresh perspectives will take the firm to new heights,” says Timothy E. Corriston, Managing Partner.
Garcia, Hurley, and Wilensky join existing Executive Committee members: Anthony Vitiello, Chair of the firm’s Tax and Estate Planning Practice Group; W. Nevins McCann, Co-Chair of the firm’s Real Estate practice group; Angela Iuso, Co-Chair of the Corporate and Business Law practice group; John Cromie, Co-Chair of the Corporate and Business Law practice group; and Bryan Couch, Co-Chair of the Commercial Litigation Practice Group and Managing Partner of the Newark office. The Executive Committee handles all the essential decisions concerning firm policy, planning and operations.
Tim Corriston’s Second Term
Epitomizing strong leadership and strategic vision, Corriston has been Connell Foley's Managing Partner since 2022. Under his leadership the firm has flourished, experiencing revenue growth in both 2023 and 2024; and achieving Mansfield Rule 6.0 Certification status, a prestigious designation awarded to law firms with a demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Corriston provides experienced counsel to businesses ranging from startups to mature companies on issues related to transactions and capital-raising. He rigorously represents businesses grappling with a wide array of environmental, land use, regulatory, compliance, and complex litigation concerns.
New Executive Committee Members
George Garcia’s extensive real estate law background includes obtaining permits and land use approvals for thousands of residential units. With extensive knowledge of the technical requirements involved in establishing rehabilitation and redevelopment zones under the Local Housing and Redevelopment Law, Garcia regularly negotiates and drafts redevelopers' agreements and negotiates on behalf of private clients for large-scale projects that involve capital investments throughout the state of over a $1 Billion. He frequently prepares and negotiates long-term tax abatement applications on behalf of developers, and lectures on tax abatement and land use for the New Jersey Redevelopment Authority. Additionally, Garcia guides clients with complex private equity, debt and preferred equity transactions, advising on several transactions nearing $1 billion dollars of capital deployment on the borrowers’ and lenders’ side.
Leo Hurley is an accomplished first chair trial lawyer and experienced litigator who is routinely called upon to represent corporations and individuals in high-stakes, high-profile and “bet the company” matters—both civilly, and criminally. Hurley’s litigation practice is national in breadth and substantively diverse in scope. He handles disputes among closely held businesses and publicly traded companies, including matters involving allegations of minority shareholder oppression, breaches of fiduciary duties, and violations of securities laws. Hurley regularly defends and advises corporations, government officials and private citizens in connection with government investigations and prosecutions, including allegations of money laundering, complex fraud, and political corruption. Hurley is a past president of the Hudson County Bar Association, currently serves on the New Jersey State Bar Judicial and Prosecutorial Appointments Committee and is a Board Member of the Notre Dame Lawyers of New York.
Margot Wilensky represents clients in state and federal courts, focusing her practice on complex civil litigation matters, including product liability, labor law and construction litigation, toxic torts, premises liability, general negligence, and intellectual property. She is an active member of the product liability section of the Defense Research Institute (DRI), the largest bar association for civil defense attorneys and in-house counsel, and regularly presents on topics including DEI, women’s initiatives, and substantive topics as a member of the USLAW network.
See below for a list of media coverage about this exciting news.
Connell Foley re-elects Corriston as managing partner, adds three to executive committee, ROI-NJ
Connell Foley Announces 2025 Leadership Team, New Jersey Business Magazine
Connell Foley's Managing Partner Reelected For 2nd Term, Law360 Pulse
Garcia among newest additions to Connell Foley executive committee, Real Estate New Jersey