Lou Silver


Louis Grant Silver is an American-Israeli businessperson and attorney, after having retired from a previous career as a professional basketball player. Silver received his A.B. from Harvard College in 1975, his LL.B. from Tel Aviv University's School of Law, and his LL.M. from New York University School of Law.

Basketball playing career

During his basketball playing career, the 2.03 m tall Silver, played at the small forward and power forward positions. He was considered to be an "all-around" player.

College career

Silver played college basketball at Harvard College, with the Harvard Crimson. Silver served as the team co-captain, during his final year at Harvard College. He also received a number of accolades, while attending, and playing for Harvard College, including being selected to the All-Ivy League Team, and Division honors.

Professional career

Silver was selected by the Kentucky Colonels, in the 8th round, of the 1975 ABA Draft.
Silver played in Israel, with Maccabi Tel Aviv, and he served as the captain of the team, from 1981 to 1985. While playing with Maccabi Tel Aviv, the team won 10 Israeli League championships and 8 Israeli State Cups.
Silver was also a key member of the Maccabi teams that reached 4 FIBA European Champions Cup Finals, and that won 2 FIBA European Champions Cup titles. With Maccabi, he also won the FIBA Intercontinental Cup, in 1980. Silver was selected to the FIBA European Selection All-Star Team, in 1981. In 1987, FIBA honoured Silver, with a retirement game, featuring Maccabi Tel Aviv, against the then FIBA European Selection Team.

National team career

Silver also played for, and helped lead, the senior Israeli National Team, to a second-place finish at the EuroBasket, as Israel took the silver medal, after losing to the Soviet Union National Team in the finals, at EuroBasket 1979, in Italy.

Post basketball career

Since his retirement from playing professional basketball, Silver has practiced corporate law, at Stroock & Stroock & Lavan, in New York City. He served as general counsel to a publicly listed software company, that is based in Paris, France. His professional career includes profiles as an investment banker, private banker, and hedge fund manager. Silver continues to serve as a member of the board of directors of a number of publicly listed and privately held companies. He is actively involved in corporate governance, audit, and compensation committees.