ATLANTA – Sept. 20, 2019 – Ernest LaMont Greer, co-president of Greenberg Traurig, LLP, has been recognized as a 2019 Equality Trailblazer by the National Law Journal (NLJ). The list recognizes movers and shakers in the legal industry who have made an impact in their sector through new types of strategies or innovative court cases. Greer’s Equality Trailblazer profile appears in a supplemental edition of the NLJ.
“Throughout the course of life, you can get some breaks, but there are also a lot of roadblocks and impediments. So diversity and inclusion have been part of my DNA. I’ve always recognized it, lived it and continue to live it,” Greer told the NLJ.
“I was the first African American managing partner at the firm, and I have the opportunity to bring leadership to the diversity and inclusion space at Greenberg Traurig. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished in our history and what we’ve accomplished on diversity and inclusion. We are currently in efforts to be best in class,” he notes in the Trailblazer article.
“I’m able to bring in not simply diverse lawyers but diverse staff, and that’s significant. Everyone focuses on the attorneys, but the existence of diverse staff is just as important. And I’m able to effect that. For example, our staff is over 40 percent diverse,” he is quoted as saying in the feature.
As co-president, Greer is one of few African-American executives at an Am Law 20 firm. He uses his role and voice to not simply create awareness but, most importantly, to boldly create action leading to the creation of opportunities for diversity at the top, in real time. Greer is integrally involved with Greenberg Traurig’s Diversity & Inclusion Initiative, which focuses on nurturing diversity and creating an environment where differences are embraced. He serves as part of the critical force behind many of the firm’s strategic partnerships that benefit minority attorneys and business professionals. In the past year, he participated in an Executive Committee/Board of Directors meeting and client-facing reception for Lambda Legal, and a client-facing reception held in conjunction with the national conference for Corporate Counsel Women of Color.
Greer previously served as a vice president of the firm (2013-2015) and as the Atlanta office's managing shareholder for nearly a decade. He is a highly accomplished business litigation attorney and in addition to his leadership roles in the firm, he has maintained an active legal practice trying cases across the country. He has wide-ranging trial experience representing clients in multimillion-dollar actions in complex commercial litigation.
Personally, Greer is passionate about his community and holds several board positions which he uses as a platform to promote diversity, especially at the leadership level, to some of the most influential leaders in the business community.
Greer’s work and community involvement have been widely recognized. A few of his most recent honors include: JAMES Magazine, recognition as among "Georgia's Most Influential Politically-Connected Attorneys," 2019; Atlanta magazine, on the “Atlanta 500 – The Most Powerful Business Leaders in Atlanta” list, 2019; induction into the Gate City Foundation Hall of Fame, 2018; The Atlantan, “Philanthropist of the Year,” 2018; and Atlanta Business Chronicle Diversity and Inclusion Awards "Corporate Diversity Champion," 2018.
About Greenberg Traurig’s Diversity Initiative: From its inception, Greenberg Traurig has been committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Greenberg Traurig is a uniquely empowering and diverse firm built on a foundation of fairness, equality, and authenticity. The firm's efforts have been recognized by local, national, and global publications and organizations including Chambers and Partners. Web: https://www.gtlaw.com/en/general/our-firm/diversity Twitter: @GT_Drives.
About Greenberg Traurig, LLP: Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GT) has approximately 2,100 attorneys in 41 locations in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. GT has been recognized for its philanthropic giving, diversity, and innovation, and is consistently among the largest firms in the U.S. on the Law360 400 and among the Top 20 on the Am Law Global 100. Web: http://www.gtlaw.com Twitter: @GT_Law.