Mercer Times

Governor Phil Murphy announced the upcoming departure of his Chief Counsel, Parimal Garg, who will leave the administration next month to enter private practice. Governor Murphy reflected on Garg's tenure, stating, "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." He highlighted Garg's role in handling complex issues, including managing a pandemic and selecting Supreme Court Justices. "I am grateful for Parimal's many years of service and his unwavering friendship," Murphy added.

Garg expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to work with Governor Murphy since 2016. He stated, "When I decided to work for Phil Murphy in 2016, I did it with a belief that regardless of his political odds, he was the right person to put New Jersey back on track." Garg praised Murphy's leadership in addressing state finances and public health challenges. "I am forever grateful to Governor Murphy for the opportunity to help lead his team," said Garg.

Garg has served as Chief Counsel since October 2020 and is noted as New Jersey's longest-serving Chief Counsel to a governor. Prior roles included Deputy Chief Counsel from January 2018 to October 2020 and senior policy advisor during Murphy’s gubernatorial campaign starting in summer 2016.

Before joining the administration, Garg was a litigation associate at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP in Washington D.C., and served as a law clerk to New Jersey Supreme Court Chief Justice Stuart Rabner. He holds a B.A. from Georgetown University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.

Originally from Lawrenceville, Garg currently resides in Montclair. His departure is set for mid-November, with an announcement on his successor expected before then.