Overview

Clients rely on Shoshana Silverstein to navigate complex legal issues that require careful judgment, deep analysis and creative thinking. Shoshana is known for her ability to work through challenging situations where the law, facts and equities intersect, helping clients move forward when there is no obvious path.

Shoshana Silverstein focuses her practice on litigation and advisory matters involving investigations, post-conviction proceedings and complex legal analysis. Before joining private practice, she served as an assistant district attorney in multiple units within the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, including the Conviction Integrity Unit, Federal Litigation Unit and Post-Conviction Relief Act Unit. Her work involved reviewing extensive records, litigating evidentiary hearings and appeals, and advising on matters with significant legal and factual complexity. Shoshana brings a disciplined, analytical approach informed by her experience handling matters with serious consequences.

Clients and colleagues rely on Shoshana when a matter requires close attention to detail and thoughtful consideration of competing interests. She is often called upon to analyze novel legal questions, develop internal procedures and advise on compliance and disclosure obligations. Colleagues describe her as thorough, prepared and steady, particularly when navigating sensitive or high-pressure situations. Shoshana’s approach is rooted in careful listening, rigorous research and clear communication.

Shoshana is particularly drawn to matters that do not present easy answers and require working through uncertainty. She enjoys untangling complex records, identifying patterns others may miss and developing strategies grounded in both law and fairness. Her experience includes litigating state and federal evidentiary hearings, drafting appellate briefs and advising senior leadership on policy and procedural issues. When clients face unclear or evolving legal challenges, Shoshana helps them move forward by clarifying options, assessing risk and offering reasoned guidance supported by careful analysis.

Representative Matters

  • Investigated and litigated claims of actual innocence and wrongful conviction as an assistant district attorney in the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office Conviction Integrity Unit, including reviewing extensive records, coordinating investigations and appearing in court proceedings.
  • Researched, drafted and argued responses to federal habeas petitions in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, including presenting oral argument and litigating evidentiary hearings.
  • Litigated post-conviction relief matters as first chair, including directing and cross-examining witnesses and drafting appellate briefs in direct and PCRA appeals.
  • Developed and delivered office-wide and unit-specific trainings on Brady obligations, discovery, legal writing, ethics and professionalism while serving in the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office.
  • Served on the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office Election Taskforce, advising on election-related investigations, briefing senior leadership and coordinating with federal, state and local partners.
  • Co-authored a successful petition for hearing en banc in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, ultimately resulting in the client’s release from prison and a $25 million settlement for his wrongful conviction, one of the largest such settlements in U.S. history.
  • Managed and advised on federal grant programs totaling $8.4 million as a Truman-Albright Fellow with the U.S. Department of the Interior, working directly with tribal leaders and federal officials on education policy and governance matters.
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