NEW YORK – May 13, 2022 – Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP is a finalist for the 2022 Chambers and Partners Pro Bono: Outstanding Firm Diversity & Inclusion Award. Intellectual Property & Technology Associate Tzy-Ying (Sandy) Chiu is a finalist for the Diversity & Inclusion: Future Leader award. Winners will be announced at the Chambers and Partners Diversity & Inclusions Awards Ceremony June 9 in Los Angeles.
According to Chambers and Partners, the UK-based legal directory publisher, its Diversity & Inclusion awards celebrate firms and individuals who are furthering the advancement of diversity and inclusion in the United States.
Chaired by Litigation Shareholder Caroline J. Heller, Greenberg Traurig’s Global Pro Bono Program is supported by attorney pro bono coordinators across the firm. Heller was recently one of two 2022 recipients of the prestigious American Bar Association (ABA) Litigation Section John Minor Wisdom Award. Among her many projects, Heller, together with a Greenberg Traurig Warsaw partner, coordinates the firm’s efforts to provide pro bono legal services for Ukrainian refugees. In addition, she directly represents pro bono clients in landmark and life-changing situations concerning immigration and access to special education cases, making significant contributions to the legal profession and the value of pro bono legal representation, among other areas.
Greenberg Traurig attorneys provide pro bono services in the areas of need in their communities. During 2021, Greenberg Traurig attorneys spent a significant amount of time on immigration cases involving refugees in Mexico and in the United States, as well as assisting hundreds of Afghans file for humanitarian parole. They also assisted non-profits with real estate, intellectual property, corporate, and employment matters; represented veterans and active military in a variety of matters; represented LGBTQ asylum seekers, and; represented individuals in a variety of criminal justice matters, an area that disproportionality affects low-income and Black, Indigenous, and people of color communities. The program was awarded the ABA 2021 Exceptional Service Award for Death Penalty Representation for its work in this area.
Chiu focuses her practice on technology and intellectual property transactions and strategy. She supports large-scale transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, spin-outs, and licenses, and handles intellectual property risk-management for many public and private companies. Chiu transferred from Greenberg Traurig’s Miami office to the New York office during the height of the pandemic. She quickly took an active role in the community; organized programming as part of Greenberg Traurig’s Social Justice Action Academy; and together with other firm members, became involved in the Alliance for Asian American Justice, a national pro bono initiative committed to advocating for victims of anti-Asian hate. Previously in Miami, she was elected president of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of South Florida (APABA). Her proudest achievement during her tenure with APABA was her participation in an effort to successfully repeal the 1926 “Alien Land Law” on Florida’s books that prevented certain immigrants from owning land. She continues to serve on the board of APABA of South Florida. Chiu is also passionate about mentorship. A first-generation lawyer, she did not have the benefit of being mentored by other attorneys early in her career, so she feels strongly about filling that role with students when she can.
About Greenberg Traurig: Greenberg Traurig, LLP has more than 2400 attorneys in 43 locations in the United States, Europe, Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East. The firm, often recognized for its focus on philanthropic giving, innovation, diversity, and pro bono, reported gross revenue of over $2 Billion for FY 2021. The firm is consistently among the top firms on the Am Law 100, Am Law Global 100, NLJ 250, and Law360 (US) 400. On the debut 2022 Law360 Pulse Leaderboard, it is a Top 15 firm. Greenberg Traurig is Mansfield Rule 4.0 Certified Plus by The Diversity Lab and net carbon neutral with respect to its office energy usage. Web: www.gtlaw.com.