PHILADELPHIA - May 14, 2021 – In keeping with its commitment to advancing diversity in the legal profession, global law firm Greenberg Traurig presented a scholarship at the 2021 Barristers’ Association of Philadelphia Awards Ceremony & Scholarship Gala held May 13.
The association, which celebrates its 70th anniversary this year, is an affiliate of the National Bar Association. It is one of the oldest industry groups focused on the cultivation and advancement of African-American legal professionals. Greenberg Traurig was a Legacy-level sponsor of its event.
“We’re proud of our ongoing relationship with the Barristers’ Association. Its transformative work in this region to help increase pathways to opportunity and justice for Black legal professionals, law students, and residents reflects our firm’s core values,” said Curtis B. Toll, managing shareholder of the law firm’s Philadelphia office.
Greenberg Traurig provided one of 10 scholarships awarded to law students by the association. The students were selected by the group based on their demonstrated leadership ability, academic achievement, and devotion to community service and professional development.
The Greenberg Traurig scholarship was presented to James T. Smith, a 23-year-old Philadelphia native and rising student in his third year at Temple University’s Beasley School of Law.
“Greenberg Traurig, as an international law firm, definitely is up in the top echelon of law firms in Philadelphia, and I know that it takes the best and brightest, the best of the best,” Smith said. “So to find out not only that I won, but that this firm was underwriting my scholarship, well, I was deeply appreciative.”
Smith said he intends to focus his practice on tax law and policy upon graduation. He most recently served as managing editor of the Temple Law Review and treasurer of Temple’s Black Law Students Association.
“I got into tax law because how much the Internal Revenue Service is connected to day-to-day life – from starting a business to deductions on your mortgage. There are just so many facets to tax policy that it really intrigued me early on,” Smith said.
He will serve as a summer associate at a law firm in Delaware, where, he said, he hopes to deepen his practical knowledge of bankruptcy law and the Delaware Court of Chancery.
About Greenberg Traurig’s Diversity Initiative: From its inception, Greenberg Traurig has been committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. Greenberg Traurig is a uniquely empowering and diverse firm built on a foundation of fairness, equality, and authenticity. Through its Social, Racial, and Economic Justice Action Plan, the firm has committed $5 million over five years to help combat systemic racism and support impoverished communities. In addition, the firm’s efforts have been recognized through its Mansfield Rule 3.0 certification, administered by The Diversity Lab, and 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 Philadelphia: Founded in 1997, Greenberg Traurig’s Philadelphia office is home to some 50 attorneys whose practices include Real Estate, Public Finance, Litigation, Labor & Employment, Environmental, Government Law & Policy, Restructuring & Bankruptcy, White Collar Defense & Special Investigations, Corporate & Securities, Intellectual Property, 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 approximately 2200 attorneys in 40 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. The firm is net carbon neutral with respect to its office energy usage and Mansfield Rule 3.0 Certified. Web: www.gtlaw.com