Anthony F. DellaPelle, CRE

Name: McKirdy & Riskin, P.A.
Address: 136 South Street, Morristown, NJ, 07850
Telephone: 973-539-8900

Home » The Firm » Attorneys » Anthony F. DellaPelle, CRE

“The most important thing I can do for my clients is to quickly assess the issues and recommend a plan of action. I know what to look for, can map the issues to their needs, implement the game plan successfully, and maximize the results they obtain.”

Present and former clients, as well as other attorneys in New Jersey and around the country, refer eminent domain, condemnation, redevelopment, and real estate tax appeal cases in New Jersey to Anthony DellaPelle for a singular reason. Because they know, firsthand, that he has what it takes to deliver the results that matter most to clients. Practicing exclusively in the area of eminent domain, condemnation, redevelopment law, and real estate tax appeals, Mr. DellaPelle’s knowledge of the legal issues and ability to quickly assess options has resulted in maximum just compensation for his clients, time and time again.

Mr. DellaPelle is serving as the 2024 Global Chair of the Counselors of Real Estate®, an international group of real estate professionals recognized as leading advisors in complex real property matters with approximately 1,000 members worldwide, of which less than 10% are practicing attorneys. Mr. DellaPelle is co-author of New Jersey Condemnation Practice, the standard New Jersey treatise on eminent domain. He is the sole New Jersey representative for Owners’ Counsel of America, a national association of leading eminent domain lawyers across the country. He is one of only approximately 2% of all licensed attorneys in the State of New Jersey who are Board Certified Civil Trial Attorneys by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.

The cornerstone of his law practice is carved from over thirty-five years of experience serving New Jersey property owners of all types, including small business owners, developers, commercial entities, and other attorneys, as well as experience in representing a variety of local government agencies as special counsel in eminent domain, condemnation, real estate tax appeal, and land use matters.

“All of my clients are important, big and small. All get superior service, attention, dedication, and results.”

In the practice of eminent domain law, defending the constitutional rights of property owners can be an uphill battle. Experience gained from being in the trenches in a variety of property rights actions can make the difference in the yield to the property owner.

Experienced, driven, aggressive, successful, and 100% client-focused, that’s the game plan Mr. DellaPelle knows, and it works: It’s about results.

Representative Cases »

In the condemnation of an underground sewer easement in Hudson County, a jury awarded Mr. DellaPelle’s client just compensation totaling $5,058,900, which was nearly 10 times the amount of $523,200 originally offered for the taking by the regional sewerage authority.

In a redevelopment taking involving commercial property near a PATH station, the redeveloper’s offer of compensation was $8,900,000. Mr. DellaPelle was able to obtain a settlement of this matter, before a condemnation complaint was even filed, in which his client was paid $16,800,000 as just compensation.

In a redevelopment case involving oceanfront land in Monmouth County, New Jersey, the City and its designated redeveloper offered his client $422,500. Prior to trial, Mr. DellaPelle was able to obtain a settlement whereby his client received $2,040,000 as just compensation.

In a condemnation by the New Jersey Department of Transportation for highway widening purposes in Monmouth County, the State offered his clients $1,400 for a partial taking of their commercial property. A jury awarded his clients $63,500, more than 45 times the amount of the original offer.

In a condemnation involving the preservation of open space of land by a County Park Commission, the County offered compensation to his client in the amount of $320,000. Prior to trial, Mr. DellaPelle obtained a settlement requiring the County to pay $1,150,000 as just compensation.

Bar Admission »

New Jersey, 1987

New York, 1988

Professional Involvment »

Widely respected in the legal community, serving in a number of leadership roles:

2024 Global Chair, Counselors of Real Estate®
New Jersey representative of Owners Counsel of America
Receiver and special legal advisor appointed by the Superior Court of New Jersey in real estate valuation matters.
Former Trustee of the Morris County Bar Association, and long-time Chair of its Condemnation Committee.
American Bar Association, Section of Litigation’s Condemnation, Zoning and Land Use Committee.
A frequent lecturer, both in New Jersey and nationally, on eminent domain, redevelopment, and real estate tax appeal issues before a variety of professional organizations, including the American Law Institute-American Bar Association, New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education, The Appraisal Institute, the Counselors of Real Estate, New Jersey Farm Bureau, New Jersey Redevelopment Authority, National Business Institute, Urban Land Institute, and others.
A member of the New Jersey State Bar Association; the New Jersey State Builders’ Association and its Redevelopment Committee; the Metropolitan Builders’ and Contractors’ Association; and the Urban Land Institute.
A member of the faculty of the New Jersey Association of Realtors’ Graduate Realtor Institute for more than 20 years.
Former Commissioner, Vice-Chair, and Treasurer of the New Jersey Public Broadcasting Authority (2010 – 2017).
Member of Governor Chris Christie’s 2009-2010 Transition Team.

Noteworthy »

Certified by the New Jersey Supreme Court as a Civil Trial Attorney
Holds the highest peer review ranking, “AV”, from the Martindale Hubbell Law Directory
Recognized by New Jersey Monthly Magazine as a “New Jersey Super Lawyer”, he has been recognized by his peers as one of New Jersey’s “Top 10” attorneys in that magazine and one of New Jersey’s “Top 100” attorneys for 12 consecutive years*
Recognized in the “Best Lawyers in America” in the areas of Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law, and in Real Estate Law*
Recipient, Alumni Citation, Franklin & Marshall College Society of Distinguished Alumni (2021)
Recipient, Chair’s Award, Counselors of Real Estate (2018)
Recipient, Chair’s Award, Counselors of Real Estate (2015)
Recipient, Chairman’s Award, New Jersey Builder’s Association (2013-2014)
The Star-Ledger’s Inside Jersey Magazine recognized him as one of New Jersey’s “Top Rated Lawyers” in August 2012 in the field of Real Estate Law, based upon the Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings*
Real Estate New Jersey Magazine selected him as “one of New Jersey’s top real estate attorneys” in 2009*

*No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.

Awards Methodology

Awards Disclaimer

Reported Opinions »

State v. Anderson, 248 N.J. 53 (2021)
State of New Jersey, Dep’t of Env. Protection v. 1 Howe Street LLC, et als, 463 N.J. Super. 312 (App. Div. 2020)
State of New Jersey, Dep’t of Env. Protection v. Midway Beach Condominium Association, Inc., 463 N.J. Super. 346 (App. Div. 2020)
Borough of Glassboro v. Grossman, et als, 457 N.J. Super. 416 (App. Div. 2019)
State of New Jersey, Dep’t of Env. Protection v. North Beach 1003 LLC, et als, 451 N.J. Super. 214 (App. Div. 2017)
Mill Race, Ltd. v. Mayor & Tp. Committee of Bernards Tp., 230 N.J. Super 160 (App. Div.) certif. denied, 117 N.J. 154 (1989)
VSH Realty, Inc. v. Harding Tp., 14 N.J. Tax 379 (Tax Court 1994), rev’d 291 N.J. Super. 295 (App. Div. 1996)
Essex County Improvement Authority v. RAR Development Assoc., 323 N.J. Super. 505 (Law Div. 1999)
Ennis v. Alexandria Tp., 13 N.J. Tax 423 (Tax Court 1993)

Publications »

New Jersey Condemnation Practice, 4th Edition, Co-Author, New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 2023
The Law of Eminent Domain (Co-Author, New Jersey Chapter) – Fifty State Survey, American Bar Association/First Chair Press, 1st Ed. (2012)
“The Office Real Estate Market: From COVID Disruption to Uncertain Future” Real Estate Issues, The Counselors of Real Estate, May 2023
“What is the Future of the Office Real Estate Market?” New Jersey Law Journal, April 2023
“The Aftermath of Canceled Or Abandoned ROW Projects“, Right Of Way Magazine, (July/August 2022)
Could Cedar Point Nursery Leave Both Penn Central and Tahoe-Sierra in its Rear-View Mirror?, American Bar Association, Section of Litigation, November 2021
“Impacts of COVID-19 on Real Property Taxes in New Jersey“, Dimensions, New Jersey Builders Association, Winter 2021
“Nearly One Year Later, Is COVID-19 Still a Public Health ‘Emergency‘”, American Bar Association, Section of Litigation, January 2021
“Constitutional Implications of COVID-19 and Its Impact on Property Rights and Personal Liberties,” American Bar Association, Section of Litigation, July 2020
“What Are My Rights During a Pandemic?” Real Estate Issues, The Counselors of Real Estate, Summer 2020
“Seizures, Shutdowns and Social Distancing: What Are the Limits of the Government’s Powers?”, Dimensions, New Jersey Builders Association, Spring/Summer 2020
“Land Mines With Expert Witnesses In Real Estate Valuation Matters“, American Bar Association, Section of Litigation: Real Estate, Condemnation and Trust Litigation; April 23, 2020
“Five Tips For Commercial Property Taxpayers in New Jersey“, Mid-Atlantic Real Estate Journal, January 31, 2020
“Stranded Assets’ Bill May Change Playing Field for Local Redevelopment, But Will It Work“, New Jersey Law Journal; September 26, 2019
“Should Stranded Assets Be Exempt From Zoning or Considered as Blighted“, Dimensions, New Jersey Builders Association, Fall 2018
“Local Redevelopment It’s Baack, With a Twist”, Dimensions, New Jersey Builders Association, Fall 2017
“Main Street v. Hackensack: A Signal of a Possible Revival of Urban Redevelopment in New Jersey?“, Practice Points, American Bar Association; Section of Litigation: Real Estate, Condemnation and Trust Litigation; January 26, 2016
“Severance Damages in Partial Takings Cases: Lessons Learned and Future Considerations“, American Law Institute, Eminent Domain and Land Valuation Litigation (2015), co-author
“Redevelopment Reform in N.J.: What Does it Mean And Will it Work?”, 216 New Jersey Law Journal 609 (June 2, 2014)
“Property ‘Inspection’ or Taking?“, Real Estate Issues, The Counselors of Real Estate, Vol. 39, No. 1 (2014)
“New Jersey’s New View on Partial Takings Compensation”, Planning & Environmental Law, American Planning Association, Vol. 65, Issue 11 (November 2013)
“Underwater Mortgages: Can Eminent Domain Bail Them Out”; Real Estate Issues, The Counselors of Real Estate, Vol. 38, Number 2 (October 2013)
“Working with Eminent Domain Valuation Witnesses”, The Practical Real Estate Lawyer, American Law Institute (March 2013)
“Creative Valuation Approaches for Difficult Properties” – The Practical Real Estate Lawyer, American Law Institute/American Bar Association, March 2012
“Proving Positional Bias“, Real Estate Litigation, American Bar Association, Section of Litigation, Spring 2011, Vol. 9, No. 2
“Recovering Business Goodwill in Condemnation Cases“, Condemnation, Zoning, and Land Use Litigation, American Bar Association, Section of Litigation; Winter 2011, Vol. 14, No. 1;
“Selecting Eminent Domain Experts”, The Practical Litigator, American Law Institute-American Bar Association, Vol. 21, No. 5, September 2010
“Environmental Impacts In Real Estate Valuation Litigation“, New Jersey Law Journal, March 23, 2009
“Redevelopment in NJ After Gallenthin“, RealEstate New Jersey, October 2007
“A Smoother Road for Site Improvements” New Jersey Law Journal, June 23, 1997
“Brokers Beware: Caveat Emptor Comes Crashing Down” Tri-State Real Estate Journal, April 1997
“Striking a Balance with NIMBY Critics” Tri-State Real Estate Journal, March 1996