Joseph A. Paparo

Joseph Paparo guides clients through the complexities of land use, zoning, and redevelopment with a sharp focus on advancing projects in highly regulated and fast-evolving sectors. With particular strength in representing multi-family residential and industrial developers, he offers deep industry knowledge and strategic foresight to every stage of the development process.

His clients include private developers, national retailers, franchise operators, non-profit housing organizations, and cannabis-related businesses. Whether assisting a large-scale warehouse and logistics project in an industrial corridor or securing approvals for a downtown mixed-use redevelopment project, Joseph combines practical insight with a nuanced understanding of local and state land use and redevelopment regulations to keep projects moving forward.

He provides comprehensive counsel from initial local zoning and entitlement diligence reviews, to development application filings, to securing approvals from planning and zoning boards and is also well-versed and experienced in resolving disputes related to land use decisions.

As chair of the firm’s Real Estate, Land Use, and Environmental Practice Group, Joseph also oversees the team’s transactional real estate work including commercial lending and financing, as well as the environmental and real estate litigation capabilities of the team.

His prior experience as a zoning board attorney gives him a valuable, multi-dimensional, insider’s perspective on municipal land use considerations, helping clients anticipate obstacles and streamline the approval process.

In addition to his legal practice, Joseph also serves as a board member of Porzio Compliance Services, a subsidiary of Porzio, Bromberg & Newman, which helps businesses navigate complex regulatory environments through practical, compliance-focused solutions tailored to their operational needs.

• The Best Lawyers in America® - Land Use and Zoning Law (2023-2026); Litigation - Land Use and Zoning (2023-2026); Real Estate (2026)
  • "Lawyer of the Year," Newark Area - Land Use and Zoning (2026)

• NAIOP – Member, New Jersey Chapter
• Morris County Chamber of Commerce – Member
• The Greater Elizabeth Chamber of Commerce - Member
• New Jersey State Bar Association – Member, Land Use Section