James M. Piro, who founded Piro, Zinna, Cifelli, Paris & Genitempo in 1969, specializes in complex commercial transactions, acquisitions and mergers and commercial real estate, in which he has represented companies in the United States and abroad in multimillion dollar transactions. He has a specialty in HUD/FHA insured commercial lending transactions. He also handles estate matters and government-related issues. From 1983 to 2011, Piro served as Chief Counsel, General Counsel and Assistant Counsel to the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission, which owns and operates the fifth largest sewerage treatment facility in the United States. He continues to be lead counsel for the firm as outside counsel to the Commission. In addition, he served as Counsel to the Pequannock, Lincoln Park and Fairfield Sewerage Authority from 1985 to 1995.
He has served as counsel for the Suburban Essex Joint Insurance Fund since 1992, as counsel to the Nutley Senior Citizens Complex since 1980 and as counsel to the Haledon Municipal Utility Authority from 2002 to 2007. A graduate of Seton Hall University and Rutgers School of Law, Piro was a judicial clerk in Passaic County before becoming Assistant Deputy Public Defender from 1969 to 1972 and Nutley Town Attorney and Prosecutor from 1972 to 1976. He was an Essex County Freeholder from 1978 to 1981.
Honors and Awards
• AV Preeminent Rating by Martindale Hubbell
• New Jersey Monthly Magazine Super Lawyer
Professional Associations and Memberships
• New Jersey Bar Association, Member, 1969
• Essex County Bar Association, Member, 1969
