Biography
Donald M. Pepe devotes his practice to all aspects of complex real estate development and real estate transactional work with an emphasis on retail and residential development.
Donald works closely with business executives and in-house counsel to develop strategies for targeting acquisitions, land purchase negotiations, managing and evaluating feasibility studies, representing corporate interests before local, state and federal approval authorities, and securing land use and administrative approvals.
Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Pepe was Division General Counsel of the Nation’s largest residential real estate developer with hands-on responsibility for every aspect of the development process from land acquisition through construction contracting and outsales. Mr. Pepe’s prior experience means he understands firsthand the time constraints and budgetary challenges facing developers and has tailored his practice to provide the skills, advice, efficiency and responsiveness needed to allow clients to comfortably forego the necessity of day-to-day project management and instead focus attention on identifying new development opportunities.
Mr. Pepe has considerable experience securing development approvals and closing commercial real estate transactions. Since joining the firm, Mr. Pepe has negotiated and drafted a broad range of agreements pertaining to the acquisition and sale of property, financing and leasing, commercial and residential condominium formation and management, municipal and private development agreements, development grants and incentives, easements and operating agreements – across multiple property types, including office, retail, industrial and residential.
Throughout his career, Mr. Pepe has developed relationships with a number of prominent New Jersey planners, architects, engineers and other development professionals whose practices are complimentary and allow Mr. Pepe to offer a single-contact source for the development needs of the most demanding developer clients.
A graduate of Rutgers University School of Law, Mr. Pepe is an active member of the International Council of Shopping Centers, New Jersey Builders Association, Shore Builders Association, and the Monmouth Ocean Development Council.
