Douglas R. Henshaw

Douglas "Doug" Henshaw knows that nothing gives more insight or provides a greater advantage than for a land use lawyer to walk the land and understand the issues and challenges of the property. He visits the property, researches its history and understands the ordinances, statutes and regulation that will allow, delay or possibly negate his client's goals for the property. Armed with this knowledge, he anticipates what is at stake and develops a strategy that will either lead to the client's desired resolution or, if there are too many impediments to achieve the client's goal, he will suggest a viable alternative.

Doug monitors land use trends in various municipalities, reading legal notices in the newspapers, touching base often with local contacts and tracking the trends in laws and regulations at the local, state and federal levels. He is known for his high level of energy and enthusiasm, his ability to pull out all the stops to help clients, and his honest perspective and straight-forward approach. Doug is totally engaged with and for every client.

Doug is invested in the client and their interests and it has been a hallmark of his legal career. In 1994, he tried a landmark case that went all the way to the New Jersey Supreme Court that is still argued regularly by lawyers when their clients file a development plan that requires no variances. It upholds the law that if there are no variances, the planning board "shall" approve the plan. The case underscores that in New Jersey development circles "shall" means "go."