Ms. Silberstein, Global Chair of Debevoise’s Investment Management Group, oversees the firm’s funds practice in the U.S., Europe and Asia. Ms. Silberstein was previously Co-Chair of the firm’s Private Equity Group for over a decade, and has built a leading fund formation practice over her nearly 30 years at the firm. She focuses on advising private equity firms and financial sponsors of private investment funds, including global private equity, leveraged buyout, energy and infrastructure, banking and financial services, mezzanine, credit and distressed debt funds, as well as bespoke funds and separate accounts. She also advises on regulatory matters, carry plans, employee investment programs and acquisitions and dispositions of interests in private equity firms, as well as joint ventures and strategic partnerships, management team spin-outs and the establishment of new private equity firms. Ms. Silberstein’s clients include Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, Global Infrastructure Partners, Kelso & Company, Morgan Stanley, One Rock Capital and Stone Point Capital.
Ms. Silberstein was named to The American Lawyer’s “45 Under 45” list of the top women lawyers, where she is applauded for building a high-profile practice with “a unique mix of tenacity and grace.” Ms. Silberstein is ranked in the top band for private equity fund formation by Chambers USA (2023), where she is said to be a “a fierce advocate for her clients,” “proactive, smart, and commercial” and “technically skilled.” The guide has described her as “an impressive lawyer [who] has her pulse on what’s happening in the field” and a “fantastic” lawyer who is “very practical, very smart and really knows the industry.” Sources say she is “a luminary,” with clients praising her for her understanding of “the nuances of our business and the market.” The guides have also described her as “a fount of knowledge,” and “a market leader.” She has received extensive praise from clients, who laud her “great advocacy and great representation in the context of a very commercial backdrop” and endorse her “incredibly thoughtful and business-minded approach,” noting that “she has a tremendous understanding of the issues that are unique to this industry and is a standout negotiator.” She is recognized as a top-tier lawyer in Chambers Global (2024), and in previous editions of the guide, sources say she “always understands the issues, is very commercial in her approach and understands our business and sensitivities well.” Ms. Silberstein is also recognized in The Legal 500 US (2023) Hall of Fame, named a Notable Woman in Law by Crain’s New York Business (2019), listed as a Global Elite Thought Leader for private funds by Who’s Who Legal Private Funds: Formation (2024), and she is noted as a highly regarded lawyer for Investment Funds Private Funds in the United States by IFLR1000 (2022). In 2016, she was named “Best in Investment Funds” at the fifth annual Americas Women in Business Law Awards presented by Euromoney Legal Media Group.
Ms. Silberstein served as the New York City Bar Association’s 2018-2021 Chair of the Private Investment Funds Committee and has been a leader of the International Bar Association’s Investment Funds Committee for over a decade, serving as 2017–2018 Co-Chair of the Committee. She was the 2014 Chair and is a leading member of the Private Investment Funds Forum and is a frequent speaker at seminars and conferences. She was Chair of the 2019 IBA Annual Conference on the Globalisation of Investment Funds and is the 2023 and 2024 Chair of the IBA Private Investment Funds Conference.
Ms. Silberstein joined Debevoise in 1993 and became a partner in 2001. She received her B.A. magna cum laude from Yeshiva University in 1990 and her J.D. summa cum laude from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in 1993, where she was a supervising editor of the Law Review.