Longtime Murphy Advisor From Montclair Is Leaving For Private Practice

MONTCLAIR, NJ — A Montclair resident who is leaving his role in Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration got a fond farewell from the governor’s office and U.S. Sen. George Helmy on Monday.

According to a statement from Murphy’s office, his longtime chief counsel, Parimal Garg, will depart the administration in mid-November to work in private practice.

Garg, who has served in the role since October 2020, is the longest serving chief counsel to the governor in New Jersey history.

From January 2018 to October 2020, Garg served as deputy chief counsel to the governor, after having worked as a senior policy advisor on Murphy's gubernatorial campaign beginning in the summer of 2016. Previously, he served as a litigation associate at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP in Washington D.C., and as a law clerk to New Jersey Supreme Court Chief Justice Stuart Rabner.

Garg – who is originally from Lawrenceville and now lives in Montclair – received his B.A. from Georgetown University, magna cum laude, and his J.D. from Harvard Law School, cum laude.

An announcement on Garg’s successor will be made prior to his departure, the governor’s office said.

“Parimal Garg has been by my side for the last eight years, from the early days of my first campaign through nearly seven years in the governor's office,” Murphy said.

“I relied heavily on Parimal's advice and counsel on issues from managing a once-in-a-century pandemic to selecting four Supreme Court justices, and everything in between,” Murphy continued. “No matter the complexity of the challenge, Parimal always thought through every angle of the issue, identified goals, and formulated strategies for achieving them. I am grateful for Parimal's many years of service and his unwavering friendship, and I know he will excel in this next chapter of his legal career.”

Garg also saw praise from U.S. Sen. George Helmy – Murphy’s former chief of staff – who is serving until a permanent senator is elected to the seat this November and officially sworn in.

“Parimal’s expertise and tireless dedication were instrumental in advancing Gov. Murphy's vision for a stronger and fairer New Jersey since the beginning of the administration,” Helmy said. “His fingerprints are on every single one of the governor’s many legislative victories and accomplishments that will benefit New Jerseyans for years to come.”

Garg said he is “forever grateful” that he got a chance to serve in the role.

“I know that the governor, the first lady, and the entire Murphy administration will spend the next year cementing a record of achievement that is unparalleled in our state's history,” Garg added.

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