The administration of Governor Phil Murphy has hired prominent litigation attorney Ted Wells of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP as its counsel in the lawsuit brought this week by insurance executive George Norcross and several companies over the independent investigation underway by the Task Force on EDA’s Tax Incentives. Wells is regarded as one of the most respected and talented litigators in the nation.

“In light of the Comptroller’s concerning findings regarding insufficient oversight of the Economic Development Authority’s corporate tax incentive programs, the Governor properly and lawfully established the Task Force to provide the public with a full accounting of these awards,” said Governor Murphy’s Chief Counsel Matt Platkin. “Given the importance of the Task Force and the fact that the lawsuit is a clear attempt to shut it down, we thought it important to hire one of the nation’s best litigators to defend the Governor and the Task Force, and to ensure the investigation continues unhindered.”

“I look forward to representing the Governor in this matter, to vindicating the right of the Governor to establish the Task Force, and to demonstrating that the Task Force has acted appropriately in conducting its highly important investigation,” said Wells.