Brian Wilton, a former top aide to Gov. Phil Murphy and the New Jersey Transit general counsel, is departing state government to join the government affairs practice at one of the state’s top law firms, McCarter & English.
Wilton, a former mayor of Lake Como and municipal prosecutor, served as deputy chief counsel and authorities unit director in Murphy’s office before joining the nation’s most extensive statewide public transportation system. He brings over twenty years of government experience to the firm and its bipartisan government affairs team.
“We are excited to have Brian join our team of bipartisan experts who understand the importance of politics in every business decision—few understand that more than Brian,” said Guillermo Artiles, chair of McCarter’s Government Affairs practice. “Our clients across industries, especially those in transportation, energy, and infrastructure, will benefit greatly from his representation.”
Artiles said Wilton “has built strong, bipartisan relationships while working on critical issues affecting New Jersey.”
“This deep understanding of policy and governance has allowed him to effectively navigate complex legal and regulatory landscapes,” he said.
Joe Boccassini, McCarter & English’s managing partner, said Wilton’s “experience in the infrastructure, transportation, healthcare, and energy industries will provide our clients with another true advocate.”
McCarter & English has a long record of integrating lawyers with major state government officials. The two sons of its founder served as attorney general of New Jersey: Thomas McCarter, a former New Jersey Senate Majority Leader, was nominated as the state’s top law enforcement official in 1902 by Gov. Franklin Murphy. His brother, Robert McCarter, succeeded him after he resigned to become president of the Public Service Corporation (now PSE&G) in 1903.
During the era of Jersey City Mayor Frank Hague, Robert McCarter served as counsel to a legislative committee investigating allegations of voter fraud in Hudson County during the 1930s.
Former New Jersey Supreme Court Justice Jaynee LaVecchia joined McCarter as a partner after 23 years as an associate justice. The former U.S. District Court chief judge, Jose Linares, is also with the firm.
Stephanie Olivo, the former director of compliance at the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission, joined McCarter & English last summer. The firm has also added: Mike Maitland, the former chief of staff to Rep. Donald Norcross (D-Camden); Catherine Tung, a former top aide to Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin; Christian Callegari, who served as chief of staff to Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh; and the venerable Michael Murphy, a former Morris County Prosecutor and gubernatorial candidate who has been a fixture on the New Jersey political scene for decades.