Michael E. Silbert focuses his practice on land use, zoning, redevelopment, and real estate law throughout New Jersey. Michael represents private developers across the State, providing comprehensive counsel on all stages of the land development process. His practice includes the representation of large-scale commercial, industrial, and multifamily developers, as well as rezonings, subdivisions, and residential variance applications.

Michael has extensive experience guiding clients through major redevelopment projects from inception to completion, including preliminary planning, adoption of redevelopment plans, site plan approval, and the negotiation of financial and redevelopment agreements pursuant to the Local Redevelopment and Housing Law and the Long Term Tax Exemption Law. He regularly negotiates Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreements and advises clients on affordable housing compliance and strategy.

Prior to joining his current firm, Michael practiced at DiFrancesco, Bateman, Kunzman, Davis, Lehrer & Flaum, P.C., where he represented both private developers and public municipal entities, gaining a unique perspective on the land use development process and local government operations from both sides. He continues to appear before numerous New Jersey municipal land use boards and governing bodies and provides counsel in land use prerogative writ litigation.

Active in the professional community, Michael currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Land Use Section of the New Jersey State Bar Association, where he is in the first year of a three-year term. In August 2024, he was recognized by the Somerset County Business Partnership as one of its “Top 40 Under 40” award recipients, honoring young professionals who demonstrate leadership in their fields and contribute meaningfully to the community.

Prior to entering private practice, Michael served as a judicial intern to the Honorable Freda L. Wolfson, Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.

Michael earned his Juris Doctor degree with a concentration in Real Estate from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in 2021 and was admitted to the New Jersey Bar that same year. While at Cardozo, he served as Senior Editor of the Cardozo Alternative Dispute Resolution Competition Honor Society, earning First Place Overall at the 2021 UCLA Transactional Law Competition and Second Place Overall at the 2021 South Texas College of Law Energy Law Negotiation Competition. He also received the 2020 Cardozo Course Prize in Negotiation Theory & Skills and placed Second Overall at the 2019 New York Law School Intellectual Property Negotiation Competition.

Michael received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Franklin & Marshall College, where he double majored in Business and Political Science. During this time, he gained real estate experience working with Silbert Realty & Management Co., a leading commercial real estate firm in New Jersey.