Mr. McAuley is a partner with Connell Foley’s Real Estate Law and Land Use practice. During his nearly thirty-year legal career, he has developed a reputation for expertise in the area or property condemnation. He is also an experienced practitioner in a broad spectrum of real estate issues, including acquisition and sale of properties, negotiating regulatory issues, redevelopment, and obtaining zoning and planning approvals.
Mr. McAuley has worked with various state and local regulatory agencies, as well as private developers in connection with real estate development and financing of such development. He has assisted in obtaining subdivision, site plan and related permits and approvals for projects of nearly every size and character, including retail and office spaces, hotels, a baseball stadium, an aquarium, housing projects and others in various counties throughout the state.
Mr. McAuley served as outside General Counsel to the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) for approximately seven years. As part of his tenure with that agency, Mr. McAuley was responsible for all of the acquisitions made by the CRDA for redevelopment purposes. Additionally, he oversaw several hundred different sites acquired through the use of the power of eminent domain for various types of commercial, industrial, residential and recreational facilities and for infrastructure. During this period, Mr. McAuley was also a member of the casino division of the New Jersey State Bar Association.
Prior to joining Connell Foley in 1982, Mr. McAuley began his legal career as law clerk to Chief Justice Richard J. Hughes of the Supreme Court of New Jersey. He also clerked for the Honorable George P. Helfrich, the Superior Court of New Jersey Law Division.
Delivered conference presentation on urban development and eminent domain. "Navigating Eminent Domain and Urban Redevelopment Issues in the New Jersey Market" addressed how to successfully navigate the unsure waters surrounding eminent domain issues and explained the distinction between a site that is "blighted" and one that is "underutilized" (2007).
Associate Member of New Jersey Communityl Builders Association.
Served as Secretary of the Supreme Court of New Jersey District V-C Ethics Committee (1987-1992).
President and Member of the Board of Trustees of the Beacon Hill Club in Summit, New Jersey.
Contributed to the National Eminent Domain Case Law Review for the American Bar Association.
Featured in the April 2007 issue of
Real Estate New Jersey. The issue’s cover story,
Meet the Lawyers, profiled some of New Jersey’s leading attorneys who commented on a number of the state’s key real estate issues. McAuley discussed restrictions on the use of eminent domain and how it impacts New Jersey
Represented owner of the Secaucus, New Jersey site on which a portion of a rail station has been constructed. Succeeded in obtaining development approvals for construction of office towers, hotels and retail space totaling approximately 3.7 million square feet.
Represented the New Jersey Casino Reinvestment Development Authority in connection with a mixed-use rehabilitation and development project in Perth Amboy, including drafting and negotiating an umbrella cross-easement agreement that all owners and lenders agreed to abide by.
Represent owners of Regional Mall in land acquisition, site plan approval and environmental (wetlands) permitting for initial construction and subsequent expansions of a 2.0 million square foot mall.
Represented Enron N.A. Corp. in connection with its disposition of the company’s assets in New Jersey, including a recycling facility, a paper products manufacturing facility and related real estate holdings.
Represented a state redevelopment agency in acquisition, reconfiguration and subdivision of six-block area of development in a major city, including street and utility relocations as well as obtaining licenses for entertainment/retail businesses.
Represented an international company in connection with an application for a casino industry license.
Represented one of three designated redevelopers in complex land swap and related transactions, including street vacations and relocations in connection with the Prudential Arena.
Sold Atlantic City casino for approximately $300 million.
Handled scores of acquisitions of properties through the exercise of the power of eminent domain for public authorities, including a redevelopment agency. Work included filing complaints, drafting orders to show cause, declarations of takings, commissioner’s hearings, appeals and jury trials.
