ATLANTA and DALLAS (October 14, 2025) — Barnes & Thornburg (B&T), a national law firm with over 800 lawyers in 23 offices across the United States, announced today the additions of JD Howard and Chad Sillman as partners in the firm's Real Estate Department. Howard joins the firm's Atlanta office, while Sillman will be based in Dallas, further expanding the firm's real estate capabilities across key markets.
Howard brings real estate development experience and provides clients that operate across a wide variety of industries with strategic counsel through every stage of the design and construction process. Howard's familiarity with contract structures and project delivery methods, including design-build, EPC, CMAR, and traditional design-bid-build, ensures his clients are protected and positioned for success from pre-construction through project closeout.
Sillman advises renewable energy project sponsors, real estate developers, private equity firms, and Fortune 500 corporations on the tax complexities of their most significant investments and transactions. His practice focuses on federal income tax matters including tax equity financing for renewable energy projects, mergers and acquisitions, and tax planning, drawing on his experience at major energy companies handling investments in utility-scale and distributed generation solar, onshore wind projects, energy trading, and oil and gas investments.
"We are thrilled to welcome JD and Chad to Barnes & Thornburg," said Sal LaViña, chair of the firm's Real Estate Department. "Their skill sets enhance our ability to serve clients navigating sophisticated real estate transactions and renewable energy investments. JD's construction and development experience and Chad's knowledge in tax equity structures for renewable energy projects position us to deliver even greater value to our clients as they pursue their most strategic real estate and energy initiatives."
The additions of Howard and Sillman reflect Barnes & Thornburg's continued commitment to expanding its national platform and deepening its bench strength in high-demand practice areas. In recent months, the Real Estate group welcomed a five-lawyer team in Atlanta and added two real estate legal project managers in Wilmington.
Established in 2009, the Atlanta office has grown by more than 200% in the past six years and includes a robust real estate team. The Dallas office launched in 2015 and has grown to five times the size in the last decade, with real estate among its areas of focus.
Howard earned his law degree from the University of Georgia and his bachelor's degree from Tusculum College. Sillman earned his master's degree in law in taxation from New York University, his law degree, cum laude, from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and his bachelor's degree in business management from Brigham Young University.
With more than 800 attorneys and other legal professionals, Barnes & Thornburg is one of the largest law firms in the country. The firm serves clients worldwide from 23 offices across the United States. For more information, please visit btlaw.com.