Jerry Zaro
Jerry Zaro, Chair of Banking and Real Estate Services Department, focuses his practice on banking and finance, real estate, corporate and government relations matters. He began his law career as a judicial secretary to the Honorable Thomas F. Shebell, Jr. in the Superior Court of Monmouth County. Prior to joining Sills Cummis & Gross, Mr. Zaro was the President and Managing Partner of Ansell Zaro Grimm and Aaron for 25 years and served as the Chair of the Commercial Real Estate and Finance & Banking departments.
Mr. Zaro has served in a variety of leadership posts in the administrations of the last eight consecutive Governors of New Jersey—five Democrats and three Republicans. Mr. Zaro served as Commissioner of the New Jersey Highway Authority, Chairman of the New Jersey Highway Authority, Commissioner of the NJ Sports and Exposition Authority and as the Chief of the Office of Economic Growth for the State of New Jersey, a cabinet level position in the administrations of Governor Jon Corzine (D) and Governor Chris Christie (R). During his tenure as New Jersey's "Economic Czar," Mr. Zaro made multiple significant strides in promoting and improving the business environment in the State utilizing incentives offered by New Jersey. In this capacity, he had a hand in bringing thousands of jobs to New Jersey and helping retain jobs in danger of being relocated out of state.
On April 10, 2018, upon recommendation of New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, Mr. Zaro was appointed as the New Jersey Trustee of the three member Gateway Development Corporation (GDC), to serve alongside the New York and Amtrak designated Trustees. Mr. Zaro served as Chairman of the GDC in 2019 and now serves as Treasurer. GDC oversees the Gateway Project, a potential $30 billion infrastructure initiative to build a new rail tunnel under the Hudson River, a new Portal Bridge over the Hackensack River, an expansion of New York's Penn Station, and other ancillary projects which would comprise the largest current infrastructure project in the United States.
In May 2020, Mr. Zaro was appointed as a Member of Governor Murphy's Restart and Recovery Advisory Council - Facilities and Construction Subcommittee. The Governor's Restart and Recovery Advisory Council brings together leaders throughout New Jersey to advise state leadership on economic matters impacted by COVID-19.
Mr. Zaro has also worked to make New Jersey a friendlier environment for all businesses. He helped to create and then lead the New Jersey Real Estate Advisory Board, comprised of the leaders in the industry, to identify and eliminate red tape, propose pro-business legislation and attract more businesses to locate in New Jersey. He worked to develop the widely praised Licensed Site Remediation Professionals Act, which outsources some Department of Environmental Protection applications to private licensed professionals and fast-tracks the application process.
Mr. Zaro is also engaged in numerous business and corporate entities. He was a founder of Ocean Independent Bank, where he served as chairman, a Member of the Board of Directors of First DeWitt Bank and Rumson-Fair Haven Bank, as well as Commerce of Bank Shore N.A., now part of TD Bank. He is also a principal in numerous real estate companies which acquire, develop, own, manage and operate various properties, consisting of several million square feet, located in eight states, including office, industrial, warehouse, residential and retail properties.
In addition to his involvement with a variety of businesses and corporate boards, Mr. Zaro has been engaged with numerous charitable, governmental organizations and civic affairs.
Jerold L. Zaro to receive Award of Courage Corporation's Humanitarian Award at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Benefit: Governor Chris Christie to Deliver Keynote
Why Gateway Tunnel Project, Step Closer to Reality, Is More than Just Transportation Play
ROI-NJ 1/7/2021
ROI Influencers Real Estate 2020
ROI-NJ 11/18/2020
Zaro: Bridge Tweet from Trump Is Huge Step in Right Direction for Gateway Tunnel
The 2020 NJBIZ Law Power 50
NJBIZ 6/1/2020
The ROI Influencers Power List 2020: Economic Development
The 2020 NJBIZ Power 100
NJBIZ 2/17/2020
The ROI Influencers Real Estate 2019
The NJBIZ Commercial Real Estate Power 50
NJBIZ 11/11/2019
New Jersey Trailblazers
Gateway's Zaro Welcomes House Transportation Funding Bill
The National Economic Impact of the Gateway Tunnel Project
NJTV News 5/13/2019
Gateway Chairman Makes Case for Hudson River Tunnel Replacement
Gateway Development Head Zaro Explains Why He's Still Confident Tunnels Will Be Built Despite Latest Setback
Zaro Named Chairman of Gateway Program Development Corp.
Portal Bridge Funding: Zaro Says $600M in Bonds is Proof N.J. is All-in on Project
Gateway Development Corp. Announces Funding for Small Portion of Project, Welcomes Zaro to Board
New Gateway Trustee Zaro: It's Time to Look Beyond the First Move on the Chessboard
Roundtable: Navigating Ever-Changing Laws and Regulations
NJBIZ Power 100: The 100 Most Powerful People in New Jersey Business
NJBIZ's Power 50: The Most Influential People in Real Estate
NJBIZ Real Estate Report (Fall 2011) 11/7/2011
Public and Private Sector Experience in The Christie Era
Developers of Mall of America, Most Visited in the World, Sign Letter of Intent to Transform Meadowlands into Premier Entertainment and Retail Destination
Investment Weekly News 1/8/2011
NJBIZ Real Estate Report (Fall 2010) 9/13/2010
Experts Mixed on New Federal Financial Rules
The Rewards of Public Sector Experience
Attorney Jerry Zaro Brings His Jersey Connections to the Job
The Record; The Star-Ledger 5/23/2010
Transportation Awards Breakfast
Newark Regional Business Partnership 5/13/2019
Moving the Gateway Program Forward
Transportation Summit 2018
Meadowlands Regional Chamber of Commerce 9/12/2018
Young President's Organization
State of the Economy and a Discussion of Both the Christie and Corzine Administrations 5/5/2010
The Best Lawyers in America®* 2012-2021, Corporate Law; Real Estate Law
New Jersey Super Lawyers®* 2006-2007, 2013-2018, Real Estate: Business; Banking; Business/Corporate
New Jersey Law Journal®* "New Jersey Trailblazers" 2019
ROI-NJ* "ROI Influencers Power List" 2019 and 2020, Economic Development
ROI-NJ * "ROI Influencers: Real Estate" 2019 and 2020
NJBIZ®* magazine's "Power 100" List 2013, 2019, 2020
NJBIZ®* magazine's "Law Power 50" List 2019 and 2020
NJBIZ®* magazine's "Power 50: The Most Influential People in Real Estate" 2010, 2011, 2019
*See Award Methodology
jzaro@sillscummis.com
Corporate Banking and Finance
Equipment Leasing and Finance
J.D., Boston College Law School
B.A., Boston University