Last night, Bisnow was on hand as West Orange-based law firm Chiesa, Shahinian & Giantomasi celebrated the opening of its new office at 11 Times Square, the 40-story, LEED Gold mixed-use tower in Midtown Manhattan owned and managed by SJP Properties and Prudential Real Estate Investors.

There, we snapped CSG real estate and land use gurus Jeffrey Gussoff, Mitch Berkey, Frank Giantomasi and Lisa John Basta with SJP chairman/CEO Steve Pozycki (second from right).

Recent work the law firm has worked on in New Jersey includes representing China Construction in securing its designation as redeveloper of two projects in Jersey City, as well as associated development approvals; obtaining land-use approvals and closing a construction loan for the renovation of an existing building in Newark into the 100-room Wyndham TRYP Hotel; and representing the developer of Hallmark House, a new residential mixed-use apartment tower in downtown Newark.

In New York, the firm is also working on the ground-up development of a Cambria Hotel & Suites in Chelsea and Red Lion's Hotel RL in Queens. Mitch says that while the team has been involved in New York real estate for years, the Times Square office represents the firm's commitment to growing its Big Apple presence. Its office is in 5,200 SF on the 31st floor of the building.