Michael A. Bruno
Mike, chair of Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla's Redevelopment practice area and co-chair of our Real Estate practice area, focuses his practice area on real estate transactions and approvals with an emphasis on redevelopment, planned residential development, affordable housing, and mixed use development. Mike represents and counsels companies and developers in every phase of real estate acquisitions, financing and development including redevelopment agreements and long and short term financial agreements and other state, regional and local agency financing programs available in connection with various types of development. His experience includes both inner city and suburban redevelopment projects and commercial and residential projects including mixed use projects, transit villages, affordable housing and planned communities. He has experience with long term tax exemptions and state economic incentive programs. He appears on land use matters before municipal and county planning boards and state agencies. Mike also represents lenders and banks on both mortgage and asset backed loans. He has closed hundreds of commercial real estate and financing transactions.
Practice Areas
- Real Estate
- Redevelopment
- Land Use & Development Law
- Corporate & Business
- Litigation
- Renewable Energy
- Affordable Housing
- Energy, Climate Change and Public Utilities
- Banking and Commercial Lending
Practice Focus
- Redevelopment Law
- Affordable Housing
- Real Estate Transactions
- Development Applications to Municipal, County and State Agencies
- Business Transactions
- Banking
- Commercial Litigation
Professional Activities
- Member of the New Jersey Builders Association Redevelopment Committee
- Member of the American Bar Association
- Member of the New Jersey State Bar Association
- Member of the Advisory Board of Investors Bank
- Member of the Shore Builders Association of Central New Jersey
- Member of the New Jersey Planning Officials
Admissions
- New Jersey
- U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey
Education
- New York Law School, J.D. (1987)
- Columbia University
- Northeastern University, B.S. (1983)
Honors/Awards
- Voted 2023 Best Lawyers® "Lawyer of the Year" in Woodbridge Area
- Voted a 2021 Monmouth County Top Lawyer,* Monmouth Health & Life, October 2021
- Voted a 2020 Monmouth County Top Lawyer,* Monmouth Health & Life, October 2020
- Voted a 2018 Monmouth County Top Lawyer,* Monmouth Health & Life, November 2018
- Named NJBiz's Vanguard Series: Leaders in Law,* July 2018
- New Jersey Builders Association's Chairman's Award for the Mixed Use Developers Committee, 2018
- Named as a New Jersey Super Lawyer®,* 2014-2024
- New Jersey Builders Association's Chairman's Award for the Mixed Use Developers Committee, 2013
- Selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers* since 2013
Representative Matters
- Redevelopment of a 450 acre, 2,000,000 square foot mixed-use development of a former corporate park.
- Redevelopment of lands that were part of the former Fort Monmouth Army Base for up to 650,000 square feet high-tech commercial office space.
- Redevelopment of a former industrial site for mixed use of 500 residential units and commercial uses.
- Redevelopment of a New Jersey Transit property over 750 residential units and various commercial uses.
- Economic redevelopment growth grant and long term tax exemption for a supermarket and mixed used redevelopment.
News
- 21 Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla, P.C. Attorneys Recognized as 2025 Best Lawyers® Award Recipients
- Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla Attorneys Selected as 2024 New Jersey Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
- Twenty-Two GH&C Attorneys Recognized in the 2024 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America®
- Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla Attorneys Selected as 2023 New Jersey Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
- 24 Lawyers from Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla, P.C. Were Recognized in the 2023 Edition of the Best Lawyers in America®
- Four Attorneys from Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla Named 2023 Best Lawyers® "Lawyer of the Year" in Woodbridge Area
- Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla Attorneys Selected as 2022 New Jersey Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
- Here's How East Brunswick Overcame Property Owners' Opposition to Route 18 Development Project
- Several GH&C Attorneys Named "Monmouth County's Top Lawyers 2021"
- 24 Lawyers from Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla, P. C. Were Recognized in the 2022 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America®
- Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla Attorneys Selected as 2021 New Jersey Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
- 23 Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla, P.C. Lawyers Named to 2021 Best Lawyers® List
- Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla Attorneys Selected as 2020 New Jersey Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
- 23 Attorneys from Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla Named to 2020 Best Lawyers® List
- Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla Attorneys Selected as 2019 New Jersey Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
- Giordano Law Firm Creates Energy, Climate Change and Public Utilities Practice
- Michael Bruno and Steven Dalton Receive NJBA's Cornerstone Award
- 22 Attorneys from Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla Named to 2019 Best Lawyers® List
- Michael Bruno Named One of NJBiz's Vanguard Series: Leaders in Law
- Tax Abatements Friend or Foe Workshop
- Somerville Approves 40-Acre Transit Village
- Somerville Approves 40-Acre Transit Village
- Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla Attorneys Selected as 2018 New Jersey Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
- Michael Bruno Honored with NJBA Committee Chair's Award
- 22 Attorneys from Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla Named to 2018 Best Lawyers® List
- Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla Attorneys Selected as 2017 New Jersey Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
- Michael Bruno Authors "The Economic Opportunity Act of 2013: Incentives And Challenges For Residential Developers"
- Twenty One Lawyers From Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla Selected For Inclusion In Best Lawyers in America 2014 List
- Eight months after the enactment of the 2012 Solar Act (L. 2012, c. 24), what do we know about NJ's solar industry?
- Michael A. Bruno & Steven P. Gouin Author Legal Q&A on Solar Energy in NJ
- GH&C Attorneys To Speak At The 2013 Atlantic Builders Convention
- Michael Bruno Receives NJBA's Chairman's Award
- 22 Lawyers from Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla Selected For Inclusion In The Best Lawyers in America
- Blight Means Blight: Redevelopment Post Gallenthin Realty Development, Inc. vs. Borough of Paulsboro
- COAH's 3rd Round Regulations-Navigating the COAH Objection Process
- The Applicability of Amended Development Fee Ordinances Under the COAH's Third Round Regulations
- New Legislation Requires Newly Constructed Affordable Housing Units be Adaptable for Use by Elderly and Disabled Persons
Articles/Publications
- "Extension of Affordable Housing Controls Considered by New Jersey Senate," New Jersey Redevelopment Blog, November 18, 2020
- "Land Use Considerations During COVID-19," New Jersey Redevelopment Blog, April 14, 2020
- "Supreme Court Declines to Hear Undesignated Redeveloper's Appeal," New Jersey Redevelopment Blog, November 8, 2018
- "Payments in Lieu of Taxes: A Look at the Long-Term Tax Exemption Law, Problematic Pending Legislation and the School Funding Issue," Dimensions, Spring 2018
- "Federal Qualified Opportunity Zones," New Jersey Redevelopment Blog, May 17, 2018
- "New Jersey Residential Fire Sprinkler Requirements," Dimensions, March 2015
- "Will Governor Christie Extend The Moratorium on Non-Residential Development Fees?" New Jersey Redevelopment Blog, July 29, 2014
- "Attention Tenants! Grow-NJ Tax Credits Without Prevailing Wage," New Jersey Redevelopment Blog, July 11, 2014
- "The Economic Opportunity Act of 2013: Incentives and Challenges For Residential Developers," Cutting Edge, December 2013
- "Garden State Growth Zones Under The Economic Opportunity Act of 2013," New Jersey Redevelopment Blog, December 3, 2013
- "The Economic Opportunity Act of 2013 - Incentives and Challenges For Residential Developers," New Jersey Redevelopment Blog, December 3, 2013
- "'Automatic Variance' Bill For FEMA Base Elevations Passes NJ Legislature," New Jersey Redevelopment Blog, July 23, 2013
- "The Salt & Light Company, Inc. v. Township Of Willingboro Zoning Board Of Adjustment: Variances For Beneficial Use," New Jersey Redevelopment Blog, July, 11, 2013
- "High Court Overturns Abolition Of COAH," New Jersey Redevelopment Blog, July 10, 2013
- "NJ Economic Opportunity Act Will Consolidate Economic Development Incentives," New Jersey Redevelopment Blog, June 18, 2013
- "Procedures for Contractors Seeking to Participate in NJ Homeowner RREM Program," New Jersey Redevelopment Blog, June 18, 2013
- "Legal Q&A," New Jersey Tech News, April 2013
- Blight Means Blight: Redevelopment Post Gallenthin Realty Development, Inc. vs. Borough of Paulsboro
- "COAH 3rd Round Regulations Overturned," January 2007
- "COAH's 3rd Round Regulations- Navigating the COAH Objection Process," October 2006
- "The Applicability of Amended Development Fee Ordinances Under the COAH's Third Round Regulations"
- "New Legislation Requires Newly Constructed Affordable Housing Units be Adaptable for Use by Elderly and Disabled Persons"
Press Mentions
- "Here's How East Brunswick Overcame Property Owners' Opposition to Route 18 Development Project," New Jersey Law Journal, March 1, 2022
- "Judge: East Brunswick Land Lawfully Redesignated for Condemnation Redevelopment on Route 18," TAPinto East Brunswick, March 1, 2022
- "Industry Leaders Zucker, Marchetta Honored at Annual Monmouth Dinner," Real Estate NJ, May 31, 2019
- "Somerville Approves 40-Acre Transit Village," Tap into Flemington/Raritan, May 11, 2018
- "Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla Attorneys Conduct First Major Closing For The Former Fort Monmouth Property," February 11, 2013
Seminars/Presentations
- Moderator, "Building & Innovating Multifamily with Creative Design Strategies," New Jersey Multifamily Conference, November 2, 2023
- Presenter, "Mixed-Use Development/Redevelopment," Atlantic Builders Convention, March 30, 2023
- "Mixed-Use Development/Redevelopment," Atlantic Builders Convention, October 13, 2021