Addition of Monmouth County Office

Enhances Government Affairs Capabilities 

 

Archer & Greiner has added an office in Monmouth County, N.J., with three outstanding attorneys who have  significant government experience.

Brian M. Nelson, Michael P. Supko and Christine Giordano Hanlon (pictured left to right) will be based in Archer & Greiner's newest office in Shrewsbury, the same location  that housed their former firm,  Nelson Supko & Hanlon.

Mr. Nelson represents public entities, elected and appointed officials, nonprofits and private and public corporations in legal and governmental affairs matters. He is a member of the Board of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), appointed by Gov. Chris Christie. He was a member of Gov. Christie's transition team, and served as New Jersey counsel to Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's 2008 presidential campaign.

Mr. Supko practices in the areas of real estate, affordable housing, banking, finance, municipal  law and general corporate law. He has served in the counsel's office of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and the Republican State Senate Office and as Special Counsel to the County of Monmouth. for various real estate acquisitions, and as counsel to the Monmouth County Health Department. He currently serves as counsel to the Monmouth County Board of Recreation Commissioners.

Ms. Hanlon focuses her practice on municipal law and civil litigation. She served as a member of Gov. Christie's transition team for the Office of the Attorney General and is the Republican State  Committeewoman for the County of Monmouth. She represents municipal clients and serves as a Commissioner on the Monmouth County Board of Elections.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss the capabilities of the firm's Monmouth County office, please contact Brian Nelson, Shrewsbury office Managing Partner,  at bnelson@archerlaw.com or (732) 741-9993.   

Pa. Bill Would Nix Inheritance Tax for Family Business Transfers

A bill introduced in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives would exempt transfers of assets in family-owned businesses from the state's inheritance tax, also known as the "death tax."

The legislation, HB 2639, was introduced by State Representative Stephen Bloom and has 50 co-sponsors. It has been referred to the House Finance Committee. According to Bloom, the bill would prevent family-owned businesses from being punished with death taxes during generational transitions.

Pennsylvania's inheritance tax rate is 4.5% for transfers to parents and lineal (direct) descendants; 12 % for transfers to siblings, and 15% for transfers to anyone else (except charitable organizations, exempt institutions and governmental entities, which are exempt from the tax). The rate for transfers to a spouse is zero, whether a transfer at death or jointly held property.

Read the text of the legislation

Read Rep. Bloom's news release

Stella M. Tsai

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter has appointed Archer & Greiner Partner Stella Tsai, a member of the firm's Government Affairs Group, to the Board of Trustees of the Community College of Philadelphia (CCP).

Ms. Tsai is one of seven new members the mayor recently named to the Board - including himself. Ms. Tsai, formerly a high-ranking attorney in the City Law Department, has served on Philadelphia's Ethics Board and Zoning Code Commission. By appointing himself and associates such as Ms. Tsai to the Board, the mayor is taking a more active leadership role at an institution seen as key to education, job training and workforce development.

Read a news release about Ms. Tsai's appointment

Read a Philadelphia Inquirer article about the reconstituted CCP Board  

N.J. Business Groups Oppose Increased Minimum Wage Proposal 

Steve Sweeney

Business groups in the Garden State have come out against legislation introduced by State Senate President Steve Sweeney that would amend the State Constitution to increase the minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $8.25 starting in January 2014. Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR)-1 would also provide for future increases based on inflation.

Mr. Sweeney and supporters of the measure argue it's needed to help the working poor. Opponents say the legislation would hurt businesses and "undo much of the work that has been done to reform New Jersey's sagging business climate," according to legislative testimony from business groups. For now, the resolution has passed a Senate committee and continues to work through the legislative process.  

Read Mr. Sweeney's news release on SCR-1 

Read testimony from a coalition of business groups 

The Archer & Greiner Government Affairs Group also includes:  

(Click on name for additional information)        

Vincent P. Sarubbi, former Camden County Prosecutor & Group Co-Chair

Carlton L. Johnson, former Chief Deputy Philadelphia City Solicitor & Group Co-Chair   

Lynne M. Abraham, former longtime Philadelphia District Attorney
Jack Fisher, former longtime Gloucester County Administrator

Jeffrey M. Kolansky, former Senior Supervising Philadelphia Assistant District Attorney 

Steven B. Harz, former Mayor, Borough of Closter, N.J.
Robert J. Fogg, former Director of Licensing & Certification, N.J. Department of Health  

Richard S. Mroz, former Chief Counsel to New Jersey Gov. Christie Whitman

William P. Isele, former New Jersey Ombudsman for the Institutionalized Elderly  

Brian M. Nelson, Board member, New Jersey Economic Development Authority