About Phillip J.
Phillip J. Closius earned his J.D. from Columbia University in 1975 after receiving a B.A. from the University of Notre Dame in 1972. Those academic credentials launched a career that has moved between the classroom and the practice of law. He has spent decades combining teaching and legal work.
He entered legal academia fairly early. In 1979 he joined the University of Toledo College of Law as a professor. During his years there he taught law students, supervised research, and participated in the daily demands of a law school faculty. Students and colleagues came to know him for thorough preparation and a steady presence in the classroom.
In 2007 he joined the faculty at the University of Baltimore School of Law as a professor of law. That appointment extended his teaching career into a different academic setting and included delivering courses and seminars, engaging with students at multiple levels, and contributing to the intellectual life of the law school.
Alongside his academic posts, Closius moved into practice and advisory roles. He serves as Of Counsel at Silverman Thompson and is admitted to practice in New York. His dual experience in teaching and practice has allowed him to work on problems that require detailed legal research and careful analysis rather than quick answers.
Closius’s expertise centers on legal research, case analysis and the translation of complex legal ideas for students and clients. He has worked on drafting memoranda, supporting litigation teams, and helping junior lawyers refine arguments. In the classroom he has emphasized doctrinal clarity and practical reasoning. In practice he has been valued for careful review and a methodical approach to legal questions.
Today he is of counsel at Silverman Thompson and continues to balance academic interests with firm work. He practices in New York and carries out advisory and research tasks for the firm’s matters.
