A MESSAGE OF SOLIDARITY – Greenberg Traurig’s Social, Racial & Economic Justice Action Plan
In the face of injustice, Greenberg Traurig’s Social, Racial & Economic Justice Action Plan commits to upholding the rule of law and equality for all. More deeply than ever before, we join the voices against racism, including antisemitism. We are listening. We see you. We are with you. As lawyers we have a responsibility to drive change, fight injustice, and advocate for justice. Never has it been more critical than now for us to recognize that role and opportunity and to act on it. We do a great deal. But it’s not enough. The many acts of violence and breeches of trust that fill our headlines today are stark reminders that we need to do more and stand up and ensure justice and respect for all. This is our time to listen. To have those uncomfortable conversations. To have the courage to act and to do our part. It is way past time.
More than ever, all of us need to come together.
TAKING ACTION; DRIVING FORWARD
Diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect for the individual are part of GT’s core values. We have redoubled our commitment to live and act on those values through the pillars of our Social, Racial, and Economic Justice Action Plan. These pillars focus on serving as community leaders, supporting, and training our talent, and supporting programs that address systemic racism in our society and seek to provide impoverished communities and individuals with essential economic, social, and cultural rights.
GT is proud to commit $5 Million over the next five years to support programs that address the causes and effects of systematic racism in our society, and seek to provide impoverished communities and individuals economic, social, and cultural rights. One of the marquee components of this commitment will be supporting GT’s Equal Justice Works fellows dedicated to addressing racial, social, and economic justice issues.
GT has updated guidelines for the firm’s U.S. associates intended to reward and incentivize participation in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion as well as Community and Civic activities effective July 1, 2020. Associates will receive up to 50 hours of billable equivalent credit for work on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives and 25 hours for activities that serve to advance Community and Civic interests. The firm’s associates also receive 100 hours of billable equivalent credit for pro bono legal work, 25 of which are mandatory for associates.
Greenberg Traurig has rolled out the Social Justice Action Academy with aims to:
- Educate and train GT employees on matters of race, justice, and equity;
- Facilitate and encourage Courageous Conversations on the topics of race and social justice; and
- Drive forward meaningful change consistent with the action plan.
The Equality Toolkit, a key Academy offering, is designed to address the need for education, resources, and information to equip members of the GT community to be leaders within the firm, with our clients and business partners, and the communities in which we work and live on topics of race, inclusion, and equity and combatting hate, including antisemitism.
The Academy’s “Courageous Conversations” includes a series of internal and external programs where we will have the chance to hear about personal experiences, as well as what others are learning – all with the goal of elevating our collective empathy and creating positive change.
Past guests and topics include:
Nov 20, 2022 |
Neurodiversity & the Law, addressed the tools that listeners can use to work alongside neurodiverse people, and the important legal components involved, including ADA accommodations. Neurodiversity, is a concept about differences in the brain, that cause people to interact with the world around them in a variety of ways including in the ways people socialize, learn, and perform various mental tasks. Speakers were Gary Lesser, President, Florida Bar; Michael Alessandri, Ph.D., Executive Director of the University of Miami-Nova Southeastern University Center for Autism and Related Disabilities; Gary A. Costales, Costales Law, Labor and Employment Attorney; Raquel Regalado, Commissioner, Miami-Dade County District 7, and William E. Pelham, Jr., Ph.D., Director of the Center for Children and Families at Florida International University. From GT, GT Real Estate and Land Use Shareholder Iris Escarra and GT Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Debra Sydnor. |
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Aug 4, 2022 |
How Equal Justice Works Fellows Transform the Legal System for Marginalized Communities – Part one. Attendees were invited to hear from former and current EJW Fellows about how they have turned their passion for community change and empowerment into successful careers advocating for the marginalized and underserved. Program one focused on the laws meant to educate and protect students with disabilities; how and why some states and localities at times fail to comply with these laws; and how non-profit lawyers advocate for this vulnerable population. Speakers were Matthew Lenaghan Deputy Director, Advocates for Children of New York; former EJW Fellow; Ericka Sanchez Executive Director, Foundation for Those with Special Needs, former EJW Fellow; and Claire Nilsen Blumenson Executive Director & Co-Founder, School Justice Project, former EJW Fellow. From GT, Pro Bono Chair Caroline J. Heller provided introductions and Global Pro Bono Program Manager Elba B. Gutiérrez, and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Manager Rita M. Treadwell co-moderated. |
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May 25, 2022 | “China Initiative”: Will anything change? As we celebrated Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month, attendees joined a Courageous Conversation addressing the impact of legal issues and criminal justice disparities faced by these communities, as well as the positive impact of community advocacy. They learned how to be allies and, if qualified, how to use their legal backgrounds to support Asian communities on difficult issues such as racial profiling, violence, and discrimination. Speakers were Gisela Perez Kusakawa, Assistant Director of the Anti-Racial Profiling Project at Asian Americans Advancing Justice, and Dr. Anming Hu, Associate Professor at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. From GT we had Andrew Chongseh Kim, Litigation Associate and Daniel Taylor, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Manager. | |||
Sept. 30, 2021 | W. E. B. Du Bois: Agent of Change – His Relevance Today, the first in a series of roundtable discussions about Dr. Du Bois and his impact. Featured speakers include Arthur McFarlane II, the great grandson of Dr. Du Bois; Whitney Battle-Baptiste, Director of the W. E. B. Du Bois Center and Professor for the Department of Anthropology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst; and Adam Holmes, Assistant Director of the W. E. B. Du Bois Center. From GT David Dykeman, Co-Managing Shareholder Boston Office & Patent Attorney; Nikki Lewis Simon, Shareholder and Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer; Mistie Weishaar, Marketing Manager; and Alex Longoria, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Coordinator. | |||
June 2, 2021 |
A “Look Back”: A Year Since George Floyd with keynote speaker Juliette Pryor, Executive Vice President, Corporate Secretary and General Counsel, Albertsons Companies, talked about her experiences individually and as a leader in the past year since George Floyd’s death in the midst of a pandemic, where we “go” from here to achieve equity, and discuss what challenges might lay ahead. |
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May 27, 2021 |
The Rise of Anti-Asian Sentiment and How to Impact Change, an Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month Conversation with special guests Congresswoman Grace Meng (D-NY 6th District); and A.B. Cruz, III, President of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA); and GT attorneys Chinh H. Pham, Shareholder and Co-Chair, Asian American Affinity Group; and Sandy Chiu, Law Clerk/JD Intellectual Property & Technology, addressed the rise of Anti-Asian sentiment, how to impact change, and the importance of participation from Asian Americans in government. |
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March 3, 2021 |
How Inclusion Powers the Economy with Raphael Bostic, President & CEO, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta shared how organizations and their leaders can participate in the betterment of communities and businesses through the promotion of equality and opportunity. Attendees gained a deeper understanding of how inclusion impacts the economy and why it is good for business. |
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Feb. 10, 2021 |
Allyship in Black and White moderated by Charlton Copeland, Professor of Law & Dean's Distinguished Scholar at the University of Miami School of Law, with GT attorneys, Laurie Gildan, Shareholder Real Estate; Glenn Meier, Of Counsel Litigation; and Michael Nicodema, Shareholder Litigation, shared personal experiences of allyship and discussed how individuals from majority groups can be allies for marginalized or underrepresented persons. |
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Jan. 14, 2021 |
Taking Action on Criminal Justice Reform was a follow up to GT’s earlier program in which GT attorney, Karen Kennard, courageously shared the personal story of her family’s experience with the criminal justice system when her oldest brother, Tim Cole was wrongly convicted of a crime. Bobby Harris, President/CEO Unincarcerated Minds Inc.; and Caroline Heller, Shareholder and Global Pro Bono Program Chair Litigation, joined Karen for a roundtable discussion on criminal justice reform and actions anyone can take to create lasting impact, regardless of their background. |
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Oct. 27, 2020 |
GT attorney Karen Kennard, Shareholder Governmental Law & Policy, discussed Criminal Justice reform and the profound impact it has had on her and her family. Her oldest brother, Tim Cole, was the first person in Texas to receive a posthumous exoneration and posthumous pardon. The Texas exoneration compensation system and the Texas Innocence Commission are named in his honor. |
DIVERSE VOICES
GT’s ongoing “Courageous Conversations” series invites firm members and guest speakers to share their diverse experiences and to inform our colleagues and clients on critical issues impacting our communities.
NEWS & INSIGHTS
October 24, 2024 | New Jersey Law Journal
Diversity Initiative Finalist: Greenberg Traurig
October 07, 2024 | GT Press Release
Greenberg Traurig’s Brian T. Feeney Selected as a 2024 Philadelphia Business Journal Veterans in Business Honoree
October 07, 2024 | The Recorder
Women Leaders in Tech Law Winners (Corporate/Transactions): Barbara A. Jones
October 02, 2024 | GT Press Release
Greenberg Traurig Receives Leadership Council on Legal Diversity 2024 Top Performer and 2024 Compass Award Designations
Winter 2024 |LEADERS Magazine
Leading With Unity: The Framework And Freedom For Success
September 23, 2024 | GT Press Release
Tiffany S. Fordyce Named a Crain’s Chicago Business Notable Black Leader
September 17, 2024 | GT Press Release
Carmen Beauchamp Ciparick Named to City & State’s 2024 ‘Power of Diversity: Latino 100’ List
September 13, 2024 | GT Press Release
Brandilyn Y. Dumas Named a Crain’s New York 2024 Notable Black Leader
August 13, 2024 | IFLR
From Refugee to Trailblazer: a Lifetime Commitment to Legal DEI
July 25, 2024 | GT Press Release
Greenberg Traurig is a Finalist for 3 Legal Benchmarking Group EMEA Social Impact Awards
July 25, 2024 | GT Press Release
Greenberg Traurig’s Sarah Mahood Shortlisted for Legal Benchmarking Group EMA Social Impact Award
July 24, 2024 | GT Press Release
Greenberg Traurig Receives 2024 JPMorganChase Joan Guggenheimer Global Law Firm Diversity Award
July 15, 2024 | GT Press Release
Nicholas Corsano Named Among Crain’s New York Business’ ‘Notable LGBTQIA+ Leaders’
July 01, 2024 | LEADERS Magazine
Women Leaders: Creating A Positive Impact: Leaders. Visionaries. Trailblazers.
June 13, 2024 | South Florida Business Journal
Meet the 2024 Diverse Voices
June 03, 2024 | GT Press Release
Kelly L. McNamee Recognized on City & State’s 2024 ‘Above & Beyond: Pride’ List
May 17, 2024 | GT Press Release
Jaret L. Davis Receives Equal Justice Leadership Award From Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc.
May 16, 2024 | GT Press Release
Greenberg Traurig’s Richard Kim Named ‘Trailblazer Honoree’ by the Korean American Lawyers Association of Greater New York
May 2024 | Jaffe
Advancing Law Firm DEI Despite the Backlash
April 26, 2024 | GT Press Release
Greenberg Traurig is a Finalist for Legal Media Group’s 2024 Women in Business Law EMEA Awards
April 19, 2024 | GT Press Release
Ernest LaMont Greer and Patrice Greer Honored at Atlanta History Center’s 38th Annual Swan House Ball
April 10, 2024 | Law360
Practicing Law With Parkinson's Disease
April 03, 2024 | Law360 Pulse
5 Best Practices For Firms Designing DEI Programs
March 18, 2024 | Hispanic Executive
Michelle Ferreira Finds New Space and New Mentees
March 15, 2024 | GT PRESS RELEASE
Greenberg Traurig’s Fiona Adams Wins Leadership Awards Hat-trick
March 14, 2024 | GT PRESS RELEASE
Greenberg Traurig’s Brandon D. Cox Named a Best LGBTQ+ Lawyer Under 40
March 11, 2024 | GT PRESS RELEASE
Fiona Adams Wins Law.com International’s 2024 WIPL UK's Legal Leader of the Year Award
February 27, 2024 | GT PRESS RELEASE
Greenberg Traurig’s Nikki Lewis Simon Among Diversity Global Magazine’s 2024 Top 15 Chief Diversity Officers
February 2024 | Diversity Global Magazine
2024 Top 15 Chief Diversity Officers Bring Excellence to DEIB Progress
February 06, 2024 | GT PRESS RELEASE
Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Names 3 Greenberg Traurig Attorneys to Fellows & Pathfinder Programs for 4th Consecutive Year
Winter 2023 | LEADERS
Doing Well By Doing Good
December 20, 2023 | Daily Report
Greenberg Traurig's Blum, Author of 'Calculated Risks,' Reflects on a Lawyer's Duty in Light of Israeli-Hamas Conflict
November 07, 2023 | GT Press Release
Greenberg Traurig’s Natalie Gallego Appointed to HNBA’S Young Lawyer Division Board
October 30, 2023 | Henry M. Greenberg | New York Law Journal
While Experiencing War, NY Lawyer Coordinates Meeting to Help Meet Israel's Legal Needs
October 09, 2023 | Law.com International
Global Legal Industry Responds to War in Israel and Gaza, From Sheltering in Place to Offering Support
October 09, 2023 | Bloomberg Law
Greenberg Traurig Tel Aviv Attorneys, Staff to Work Remotely
October 2023 | Richard A. Rosenbaum| LEADERS Magazine
Six Pillars of a Sustainable BigLaw Business Model: An Interview with Richard A. Rosenbaum, Executive Chairman, Greenberg Traurig, LLP
October 30, 2023 | GT Press Release
Greenberg Traurig Recognized as a 2023 LCLD Top Performer
October 02, 2023 | GT Press Release
Richard Valladares Named to Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s ‘50 Most Influential Latinos in Georgia’
September 26, 2023 | GT Press Release
Greenberg Traurig, Attorneys Have Key Roles at ACC Foundation Professional Development Retreat
September 22, 2023 | James T. Smith | The Legal Intelligencer
DEI Investment: Bridge From Dreams to Realities in Law
The Legal Intelligencer
September 20, 2023 | GT Press Release
Fiona Adams Wins Management Partner of the Year at 2023 Legal Business Awards
August 29, 2023 | GT Press Release
Greenberg Traurig’s Chinh H. Pham is the National Conference of Vietnamese American Attorneys 2023 Trailblazer
August 23, 2023 | GT Press Release
Greenberg Traurig Earns 3 Finalist Spots at The American Lawyer Industry Awards
July 06, 2023 | Johnine P. Barnes | Whitney Bly Edwards, Ph.D. | GT Alert
Employer Considerations After SCOTUS Rules College Admissions Policies that Consider Race a Factor Unconstitutional
June 2023 | Richard A. Rosenbaum | Shari L. Heyen | Chinh H. Pham | Diane N. Ibrahim | Nikki Lewis Simon | LEADERS Magazine
An Ideal and an Action
June 08, 2023 | Nikki Lewis Simon
Diversity: Concrete Actions Employers Can Consider to Help Drive Inclusion
May 15, 2023 | Jerrold F. Goldberg | Quinn Caruthers | Ellen M. Gustafson | GT Alert
NYC Passes Bill to Update Human Rights Law to Include Discrimination Based on Height, Weight
May 02, 2023 | GT Podcast
GTDRIVES: Dynamic Dialogues - Interview with Abre’ Conner
April 27, 2023 | GT Press Release
Greenberg Traurig Sponsors Record 201st Equal Justice Works Fellow
January 30, 2023 | Ann Motl | Bench + Bar of Minnesota
Building a More Accessible Bar
January 17, 2023 | GT Newsletter
GTWI Newsletter | GTWI: 2022 Year In Review
September 30, 2022 | Chinh H. Pham | Law360
From Refugee To Bar Prez, IP Atty Is 'Voice To The Community'
September 22, 2022 | GT Press Release
Greenberg Traurig’s Chinh H. Pham Begins Term as Boston Bar Association President
September 14, 2022 | GT Press Release
Greenberg Traurig Co-President Ernest LaMont Greer Receives ADL SE Lifetime Achievement Award
July 06, 2022 | GT Press Release
Profiles in Diversity Journal: 3 Greenberg Traurig Attorneys Win 2022 Women and Asian Leaders Worth Watching Awards
December 05, 2022 | GT Podcast
GTDRIVES: Dynamic Dialogues - W.E.B. Du Bois: Agent of Change – His Relevance Today, Part 2
October 12, 2022 | Mark F. Glaser | John L. Mascialino | GT Alert
New Laws Increase Oversight of New York State’s Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) Program, Reinforce NYC’s Commitment to MWBE Procurement Program
September 30, 2022 | Ann Motl | American Bar Association
The Minnesota Disability Bar Association: Achieving a Sense of Belonging
July 14, 2022 | GT Alert
GTWI Newsletter | GTWI: 2022 Mid-Year In Review
June 02, 2022 | GT Podcast
GTDRIVES: Dynamic Dialogues: The Rise of Anti-Asian Sentiment and How to Impact Change (Parts 1 & 2)
March 09, 2022 | Curtis B. Toll | Alexander L. Scarola | The Legal Intelligencer
Reaping ‘Overnight’ Lateral Hiring Success Built Five Years Ago
March 04, 2022 | GT Podcast
GTDRIVES: Dynamic Dialogues: A Covid Equity & Inclusion Discussion (Parts 1 & 2)
February 03, 2022 | GT Podcast
GTDRIVES: Dynamic Dialogues: How Inclusion Powers the Economy: Greenberg Traurig Courageous Conversation with Head of Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
October 30, 2021 | Ernest LaMont Greer | The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Opinion: Given Law’s Importance, America Needs More Black Lawyers
October 28, 2021 | Allison Ng | American Bar Association
Shattering the Model Minority Myth and Vindicating the Invisible
October 14, 2021 | Natalie Carter | Financial Times
Fix Law Firm Culture to Keep People of Colour
October 13, 2021 | Curtis B. Toll | Alexander L. Scarola | | Nikki Lewis Simon | The Legal Intelligencer
Allyship Must Be an Actionable Activity for Modern Law Firms to Thrive
June 29, 2021 | GT Podcast
Good in Practice | Episode 17: This is Always Who I've Been: The Importance of Pro Bono Name Changes in the Trans Community Pt. 2
June 22, 2021 | Jaret L. Davis | Yosbel A. Ibarra
6 ways to build diversity into workplace culture
May 27, 2021 | Akiesha Gilcrist Sainvil | Enjoliqué Aytch Lett
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Law Firms and Corporate Legal Departments
January 29, 2021 | Vanessa Albert Lowry
Big Law Must Reach Out, Work With Local Groups to Support Social Justice