No. 7: Matt Platkin

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As NJBIZ noted the 2019 Power 100 list, Matt Platkin remained relatively unscathed by a legislative inquiry into how the Murphy administration ended up hiring Al Alvarez, the accused rapist of Murphy campaign supporter Katie Brennan.

But Platkin, who spent hours testifying before the committee earlier this year, came up in the panel’s much-anticipated June report as one of the top Murphy officials who “seriously mishandled” the allegations by not thoroughly investigating them and not telling the governor. His tenure in the administration could hang in the balance, with some Democratic lawmakers pushing for a purge of such Murphy officials highlighted in the report as responsible for how the Brennan and Alvarez case plays out.

Nevertheless, Platkin wields considerable influence within Murphy’s circle, and has enjoyed a relatively easy rapport with the governor. These days, not a single piece of legislation will be signed or vetoed without Platkin’s input, and that extends even to nominations.

More from the 2019 NJBIZ Power 100:

• No. 1: Philip Norcross
• No. 2: Gurbir Grewal
• No. 3: Nancy Erika Smith
• No. 4: Jerry Zaro
• No. 5: Deborah Hays
• No. 6: John Fanburg
• No. 8: Kim Guadagno
• No. 9: Evelyn Padin
• No. 10: Stuart Rabner
• Law Power 50: A-M
• Law Power 50: N-Z
• Presenting the 2019 NJBIZ Law Power 50