Jaspan Schlesinger LLP Partner James D. Leonard has received the “Leadership in Law” Award presented by Long Island Business News. The award recognizes attorneys whose skill, dedication and leadership in the legal profession and the community have had a positive impact on Long Island. An awards gala was held on November 29, 2018 at the Crest Hollow Country Club.
James is the Lead Administrative Partner and Chief Financial Officer of Jaspan Schlesinger LLP. In these capacities, he is responsible for oversight of the firm’s fifty attorneys and total staff of more than one hundred people. James has implemented an infrastructure at the firm that has enhanced its ability to provide clients with superior and efficient legal representation.
James began his career as the Controller of a national chain of upscale restaurants. He later became an accountant and was brought to Jaspan Schlesinger as the firm’s Controller and Chief Financial Officer more than twenty-five years ago. While serving in that role, James pursued and obtained his Juris Doctor from St. John’s University School of Law. He later went on to obtain a Masters of Law in Taxation from Villanova University Charles Wigder School of Law.
Since becoming an attorney more than a decade ago, James has become the Partner-in-Charge of Jaspan Schlesinger’s Tax Certiorari and Condemnation Practice Group. James’ extensive expertise in accounting and finance has given him a unique advantage over other attorneys, enabling him to provide practical legal and business solutions to the firm’s commercial and private clients. From navigating Long Island homeowners through complicated assessment practices and aiding small and mid-sized businesses in managing their commercial tax burden, to obtaining individual or corporate six and seven-figure tax refunds from federal and state agencies, James views his role in each instance as “an advocate for fairness.”
In the legal community, James currently serves as Treasurer of the Amistad Bar Association of Long Island and participates in many of the organization’s community awareness events.