Dentons, the world’s largest law firm, today announces the strengthening of its Corporate practice with the addition of Leonard A. Silverstein as senior counsel. Silverstein joins the team of more than 1,500 Corporate practice lawyers. He will focus on securities law, corporate finance law, M&A and corporate governance.
Most recently, Silverstein served as president, chief operating officer and vice chair of the board of Preferred Apartment Communities (NYSE: APTS), a publicly traded real estate investment trust that he co-founded in 2011 with John A. Williams, the founder of Post Properties. Prior to forming Preferred Apartment Communities, Silverstein co-founded and managed with Williams three private real estate investment funds that had invested in, owned and managed approximately $1.5 billion of real estate assets. Before joining the business world, Silverstein was a partner at McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP, which combined with Dentons in 2015. In that role, he focused on securities law, corporate finance law, corporate governance and M&A, advising both publicly held and privately held clients in a variety of industries, including real estate.
“We are so pleased to reunite with our former colleague and client,” said Sharon Gay, Atlanta office managing partner. “Lenny’s combination of legal acumen and business management experience will be a great resource for our clients and colleagues.
Silverstein has a long history of civic engagement. He is a former vice chair of the Securities Law Subcommittee of the State Bar of Georgia and a former board member of the Business Practice Section of the Atlanta Bar Association. He is also a member of the board of directors of the Institute for Portfolio Alternatives (IPA), a leading organization for the portfolio diversifying investments industry. He serves as one of five members of the IPA Board Governance Committee and as a member of the IPA Political Action Committee. Silverstein’s interests are extensive, as he has additionally served on the boards of the American Jewish Committee Southeast Region, the American-Israel Chamber of Commerce Southeast Region, Atlanta Symphony Associates, the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, the Vanderbilt University National Alumni Association and Zoo Atlanta, among numerous other business and civic organizations.
Silverstein holds a JD from Vanderbilt University School of Law, where he was a member and associate managing editor of the Vanderbilt Law Review. He also earned his BA, magna cum laude, from Vanderbilt. He is a cyclist and formerly a crew member of a J-Class sailboat racing internationally.
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Dentons is the world's largest law firm, connecting talent to the world's challenges and opportunities in more than 75 countries. Dentons' legal and business solutions benefit from deep roots in our communities and award-winning advancements in client service, including Nextlaw, Dentons’ innovation and strategic advisory services. Dentons' polycentric and purpose-driven approach, commitment to inclusion and diversity, and world-class talent challenge the status quo to advance client and community interests in the New Dynamic. www.dentons.com
