PHILIP F. McGOVERN, Jr.

PHILIP F. McGovern Jr. is a savvy transactional attorney, concentrating primarily on commercial real estate and corporate transactions, real estate development, land use, complex commercial financing and commercial leasing. McGovern applies a keen business sense in identifying opportunities — both for his clients as well as for Connell Foley.

As the firm’s former managing partner and member of the Executive Committee, he has played a pivotal role in Connell Foley’s growth, from initiating the firm’s initial key expansion into Jersey City 20 years ago to providing a vision for continued growth in New Jersey and New York. McGovern also serves as managing partner of Connell Foley’s Jersey City office.

During the course of his career, McGovern has assisted several large organizations in significant development projects across the country. Among these, he represented Mack-Cali, Inc. in the assemblage, joint venture and ultimate development of its most significant residential real estate project in Jersey City, and he advised the United Parcel Company in connection with the acquisition and development of its worldwide communications facility in Mahwah, New Jersey. He also advised Merrill Lynch & Co. in the restructuring of mixed use residential/commercial developments in Charlestown, Massachusetts; Alexandria, Virginia; and Waco, Texas.

McGovern currently serves as regional real estate counsel to The Sheehan Family Companies, and outside and corporate trust counsel to U.S. Bank Trust Company National Association. He is also general corporate counsel to numerous mid-cap companies in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, where he works on entity formation, financing, contractual negotiation, acquisitions/dispositions and succession planning.

He has participated in New Jersey State and other municipal financings totaling more than several billion dollars in value and has negotiated leases on behalf of landlords and tenants for commercial structures in excess of five million square feet.

Prior to joining Connell Foley, McGovern served as a law secretary to Honorable Alfred M. Wolin, Superior Court of New Jersey, during the 1984-1985 term. He is the former secretary to the Supreme Court of New Jersey District V-C Ethics Committee.

McGovern is the chairman of the Board of Trustees for St. Peter’s Preparatory High School in Jersey City, chair of the Board of Directors of the Hudson County Chamber of Commerce, and past chairman of the Township of NutleyPlanningBoard.Hehasbeenrecognizedinboth New Jersey Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers in America.

McGovern earned a BA from St. Michael’s College, and a JD from Seton Hall University School of Law.

Married with two children, McGovern traces his Irish roots to counties Cavan and Galway.