PHILADELPHIA – Oct. 12, 2018 – The Philadelphia office of global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP welcomed the 82nd Attorney General of the United States to its office for an address on increasing engagement of young lawyers in election protection efforts.
Eric H. Holder, Jr. spoke to a crowd that included GT attorneys, leaders and members of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Pennsylvania and two noted National Bar Association chapters – the Women Lawyers Division, Philadelphia chapter and the Barristers’ Association of Philadelphia – among other attendees. Pennsylvania State Sen. Sharif Street also attended.
Holder’s message centered on the nonpartisan nature of the franchise, one that Americans have fought to ensure greater inclusivity – for women, for people of color, and for the young.
“To turn our backs on that progression is to turn our back on our history and on people who sacrificed a great deal so people would have the right to vote,” Holder said.
“Lawyers are given great amounts of power. We know the system, how it works and how it is supposed to work. Given all the power we are given, we have to use that power in productive ways,” he added. “Among the best things we can do as lawyers is protecting the right to vote.”
Holder also showcased a lighter side during the day, taking time for photos as well as greeting newborn Jonah Elliot Yanoff, whose mother, Samantha E. Hirsch, is a Labor & Employment practice group attorney at Greenberg Traurig.
Shareholder Kevin Greenberg of the Government Law & Policy Group arranged the visit during Holder’s latest swing through Pennsylvania.
“During National Pro Bono Month, this was a timely message for all of us to hear,” said Managing Shareholder Curtis B. Toll. “From our most junior associates to the most senior attorneys, we know the importance of the vote and the fair application of the law. It’s not every day you have an attorney general come in to underscore that point.”
About Greenberg Traurig’s Philadelphia office: Founded in 1997, Greenberg Traurig’s Philadelphia office is home to 43 attorneys and practices that include Real Estate, Public Finance, Litigation, Labor & Employment, Environmental, Government Law & Policy, Restructuring & Bankruptcy, Corporate & Securities, Intellectual Property, Business Immigration & Compliance, Investment Regulation, and Tax. The Philadelphia office represents clients in the manufacturing, health care, real estate, energy, financial, and insurance industries, state and local governments, professional service, and energy firms and individuals.
About Greenberg Traurig, LLP: Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GT) has more than 2,000 attorneys in 38 offices in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. GT has been recognized for its philanthropic giving, was named the largest firm in the U.S. by Law360 in 2017, and is among the Top 20 on the 2018 Am Law Global 100. Web: www.gtlaw.com Twitter: @GT_Law.