About Leon Van
Leon Van Gelderen earned his J.D. from Georgia State University College of Law in 1986, after beginning his studies in 1982. At law school he concentrated on civil litigation, the area that would shape his career. The classroom years overlapped with a period of local change in Atlanta, and he carried that practical energy into his first years at the bar.
After graduation he entered private practice and has spent his career litigating in Georgia courts and federal courts within the Eleventh Circuit. He has handled matters at every stage: initial investigation, motion practice, trials and appeals. Over time those routine tasks built a body of work that the people who hire him can rely upon for steady handling of contested disputes.
His practice spans traditional civil litigation tasks. He prepares pleadings and dispositive motions, conducts discovery and prepares cases for trial. He also has experience in appellate briefing and argument before the 11th Circuit. His courtroom time includes bench hearings and jury trials, and he often prepares cases so they can move forward efficiently when settlement is not obtainable.
Colleagues describe him as exacting in preparation and direct in the courtroom. He prefers clear issue framing and orderly development of the record. That approach helps in complex procedural settings and during the pressure of trial days. He communicates plainly about risk and timing so clients can decide whether to negotiate or proceed to trial.
Van Gelderen maintains an office in Colony Square in Midtown Atlanta. From that base he serves individuals and businesses that need litigators who understand the local rules and the federal procedures that apply in the Eleventh Circuit. He handles matters arising in Georgia state courts as well as those that move into federal court, and he often manages cases that require coordinated work across both systems.
He has practiced law since earning his degree in 1986 and remains active in civil litigation today. He currently practices civil litigation in Georgia and in the 11th Circuit.
