Our Team

Biography

William W. Northgrave concentrates his practice in municipal law, specifically in the areas of redevelopment and long-term tax exemption and litigation related thereto. He has worked on a number of redevelopment projects throughout New Jersey, on behalf of both public and private entities, including projects in Woodbridge, Belmar, Linden, Union, South Brunswick, Perth Amboy, West Orange, Tinton Falls and Haddon Township, among others. William currently serves as General Counsel to the Middlesex County Utilities Authority, the Woodbridge Redevelopment Agency and the Perth Amboy Redevelopment Agency and as special redevelopment counsel in, among others, the Township of Edison, the Borough of Keansburg, the City of Linden, Township of South Brunswick, the Town of Secaucus and the Township of Union.

In addition to his municipal and redevelopment practice, William devotes significant time to election law issues. He has served as general to the New Jersey State Democratic Committee and as general and special counsel to a number of County Democratic Committees. He regularly advises candidates and elected officials in various election law matters, ranging from election contests and recounts to recall elections and miscellaneous litigation arising out of contested elections, in addition to providing advice to candidates and campaigns on campaign-related issues. William proudly served in the 2008 Electoral College in the historic election of President Barack H. Obama.

William previously served as Chief of Staff in Hudson County and later as Hudson County Counsel. He has been practicing for more than 30 years in both state and federal courts and is admitted to practice in New Jersey, New York (including the Southern and Eastern Districts), and the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. William received his B.A. in curso classico from St. Peter’s College in 1987. He obtained his J.D. in 1990 from Seton Hall University School of Law.

Decisions of note in which William served as lead counsel include:

• Zimmer v. Castellano, 432 N.J. Super. 412 (App. Div., 2013), addressing whether a mayor can break a tie vote in filling a council vacancy;

• In re: Ordinance 2354-12, 2013 WL 379288 (App. Div., 2013) (cert. granted on separate grounds) – whether a redevelopment bond ordinance can be the subject of a referendum;

• In re: Ordinance 2354-12, 223 N.J. 589, 127 A. 3d 1277 (2015) – addressing issuance of redevelopment area bonds;

• G.D. v. Bernard Kenny, et al, 411 N.J. Super. 176, 984 A.2d 921 (app. Div, 2009), affirmed 205 N.J. 275 (2011) – addressing whether publication of a criminal conviction, later expunged, can form the basis for a claim of defamation;

• In re Petition for Referendum on City of Trenton Ordinance 09-02, 411 N.J. Super. 135, 984 A.2d 895 (App. Div. 2009), reversed 201 N.J. 349, 990 A.2d 1109 (2010) – addressing whether the sale of a public utility can be subjected to a referendum;

• King v. Lopez, HUD-L-3303-09 (Law Div., 2009), affirmed on other grounds, 2010 WL 4940051 – challenge to residency of elected official;

• The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey v. Bayonne Local Redevelopment Authority, et al, 2009 WL 1011333 – Open Public Meetings Act;

• St. Joseph’s Korean Catholic Church v. The Zoning Board of Adjustment of the Borough of Rockleigh, et al, 2006 WL 1320089 (Certification dismissed after argument) (Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act).