Francis J. Giantomasi

Member Member, Executive Committee West Orange, NJ

Phone (973) 530-2022Fax (973) 530-2222fgiantomasi@csglaw.com

Francis J. Giantomasi is a member of the firm's Real Estate, Development & Land Use Group. He has over four decades of experience in all aspects of real estate acquisitions, sales, development, complex commercial transactions and Chancery litigation, and has successfully argued before the New Jersey Appellate Division and the New Jersey Supreme Court.

Frank is recognized as a leader in planning, zoning, and development law including tax abatement law for the City of Newark and urban areas. He has served as Chief Development Counsel for some of the region's major real estate projects, including the planning and development of Prudential Insurance Company's Newark Headquarters.

In 2017, Frank was named to New Jersey Governor-elect Phil Murphy’s Transition Team – Transition Counsel Committee.

Frank received his J.D. from Seton Hall Law School. He served as a law clerk to Essex County's Assignment Judge, Arthur J. Blake. Prior to joining the firm, Frank maintained the law firm of Giantomasi & Oliveira for over 20 years and spent 4 years at Genova Burns Giantomasi & Webster.

He is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese.

Education

Seton Hall University School of Law (J.D., 1979)
St. Peter's College (B.A., 1976)

Admissions

New Jersey
New York
U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey
U.S. Supreme Court

Has represented developers in many of New Jersey's major real estate projects, including Panasonic Corporation's North American headquarters and its eventual sale to KFH Capital Investment Co. for $165 million; the $35 million Newark Courtyard by Marriott hotel; the Newark Hotel Indigo; seven historic building conversions on Market Street developed into 35,000 SF of retail with over 80 residential units in a $35 million mixed-use project; an 11-acre property being developed into Springfield Avenue Marketplace, a mixed-use development in Newark; Richardson Lofts, an eight-story, 96,000 SF conversion of a former jewelry factory into 67 residential rental lofts; a senior citizen complex with 154 residential units in Belleville; Studebaker Lofts, an affordable housing community in the City of Newark's North Ward neighborhood; and Packard Lofts, luxury housing located at 1002-1008 Broad Street.
Acted as Chief Development Counsel on the $500,000,000 Hudson Lights Retail/Residential Complex in Fort Lee.
Acted as Chief Development Counsel for 75 Park Lane, a 37-story mixed-use project with 7,300 SF of retail and 359 residential units, and Shore Lofts, a 7-story mixed-use project with 15,500 SF of retail and 71 residential units, in downtown Jersey City.
Essex County Counsel, 2003-2005.
Chief counsel, Essex County board of freeholders, 1992-2003, overseeing its legal staff, a $500 million operating budget, and all county contracts and litigation.
Managed land condemnations in connection with the development of the county-owned Newark Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium.
Special counsel, Essex County Utilities Authority, since 2005.
Handled land condemnation matters involving the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission and the New Jersey Department of Transportation plus various matters involving Newark's Prudential Arena site.

August 19, 2021

Is the COVID-19 Pandemic a "Natural Disaster"? An Analysis of the SDNY's Force Majeure Ruling in JN Contemporary Art, LLC v. Phillips Auctioneers LLC

February 27, 2021

New Opportunity Zone Program Provides Taxpayers with Significant Tax Benefits While Supporting Businesses in Low-Income Communities

January 22, 2018

The Real Deal: Eastern Promises - Investors from China, Korea and Kuwait, among others, are Eying Garden State Properties

May 9, 2017