Profile
Ernest Greer is Co-President of Greenberg Traurig, an international law firm of over 2,750 attorneys in 47 locations. Ernest plays a key role in the strategic direction of the firm and firmwide day-to-day operations. Ernest is dedicated to continuing to shape the firm’s brand as a collaborative law firm providing high-quality legal work and excellent service to our clients and the communities we serve. Ernest also serves as Chairman of the Washington, D.C. office. Previously, Ernest served as Vice President of the firm, Co-Chair of the U.S. Strategic Committee, and Atlanta Managing Shareholder. During his tenure as Managing Shareholder, Ernest was instrumental in the growth and advancement of the Atlanta office.
His leadership, accomplishments, and legal practice have been recognized by many industry publications and organizations, including being named as The Atlanta Business League’s 2021 CEO of the Year, honored by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta as a 2021 Legacy Award recipient, inducted into the Junior Achievement (JA) of Atlanta Hall of Fame in 2022, and receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Anti-Defamation League Southeast. Additional accolades include recognition by Georgia Trend (100 Most Influential Georgians, Legal Elite), National Law Journal (Equality Trailblazer), Atlanta magazine (Atlanta 500 – The Most Powerful Business Leaders in Atlanta; Top 100 Attorneys in Georgia), Atlanta Business Chronicle (100 Most Influential Atlantans, Most Admired CEO; Corporate Diversity Champion), Daily Report (Distinguished Leader), National Bar Association (Heman Marion Sweatt Award, Sankofa Award), The Atlantan (Philanthropist of the Year), Best Lawyers in America, and Georgia Super Lawyers (Top 100 Lawyers in Georgia). In 2018, Ernest was inducted into the Gate City Foundation’s Hall of Fame.
Ernest is not just a highly-accomplished business attorney, but he is an outstanding leader and champion for his community. He uses his global position to reflect the firm’s commitment to dedicating time and talents through active involvement in communities in which they live and work. In doing so, Ernest served as the Chairman of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce in 2014, where he was the first lawyer to serve in this capacity in the Chamber’s more than 100-year history. At present, he serves on the boards for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, and Equal Justice Works. Ernest also currently serves as the Director of Buckhead Coalition, and is a member of the Rotary Club of Atlanta, and the Atlanta Chapter of the National Association of Guardsman, Inc. Past board memberships include the Atlanta History Center, Achieve Atlanta, Center for Civil & Human Rights, 100 Black Men of Atlanta, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, The Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta, and The Carter Center’s Board of Councilors, which he joined at former President Carter’s request.
Concentrations
- Class action litigation
- Employment litigation
- Contracts, including suits on account and guarantee/indemnity agreements
- Trademarks
- Products liability
Capabilities
Recognition & Leadership
- Listed, Lawdragon, "500 Leading Lawyers in America," 2022-2024
- Listed, Georgia Trend magazine, "100 Most Influential Georgians," 2022-2023
- Listed, Georgia Trend magazine, "Georgia 500," 2022-2023
- Team Member, a Law360 "Product Liability Practice Group of the Year," 2021-2022
- Team Member, The American Lawyer’s "Regional Litigation Department of the Year - Georgia," 2018 and 2021
- Listed, Thomson Reuters, "Stand-Out Lawyers," 2022-2024
- Inducted, Junior Achievement (JA) of Atlanta Hall of Fame, 2022
- Recipient, Lifetime Achievement Award, Anti-Defamation League Southeast, 2022
- Listed, Acritas Stars™ Independently Rated Lawyers, "Star Lawyers," 2021
- Listed, Atlanta magazine, "Atlanta 500 – The Most Powerful Business Leaders in Atlanta," 2019-2023
- Listed, Atlanta Business Chronicle, "100 Most Influential Atlantans," 2012-2017, 2020-2022
- Honoree, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta’s Legacy Awards, 2021
- Recipient, National Bar Association, 40th Annual Mid-Year Conference "Heman Marion Sweatt" Award, 2020
- Named, Women Works Media Group, Law and Justice Awards, "Man of the Year" and "Georgia's Most Powerful and Influential Attorneys," 2019
- Listed, National Law Journal, "Equality Trailblazer," 2019
- Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation; Litigation – Construction; Litigation - Labor and Employment; Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants, 2013-2024
- Recognized, JAMES Magazine, "Georgia's Most Influential Politically-Connected Attorneys," 2019
- Listed, Super Lawyers magazine, Georgia Super Lawyers, 2007-2024
- Listed, "Top 100 Lawyers in Georgia," 2011, and 2013-2022
- Listed, "Rising Star," 2005-2006
- Inducted, Gate City Foundation, Hall of Fame, 2018
- Recipient, The Atlantan, “Philanthropist of the Year,” 2018
- Selected, The Atlantan, "Lending Hands," 2018
- Selected, Atlanta Business Chronicle Diversity and Inclusion Awards, "Corporate Diversity Champion," 2018
- Listed, Daily Report, "Distinguished Leader," 2017
- Listed, Atlanta magazine, "Top 100 Attorneys in Georgia," 2016
- Listed, Georgia Trend magazine, "Legal Elite," 2008-2013 and 2015-2016
- Listed, Savoy, "Most Influential Black Lawyers," 2015
- Whitney M. Young, Jr. Service Award from the Atlanta Area Council, Boy Scouts of America, 2015
- Recipient, 16th Annual Justice Robert Benham Award for Community Service, State Bar of Georgia, 2015
- Listed, Lawyers of Color, "Power List," 2014-2015
- Recipient, National Bar Association, "Sankofa" Award, 2014
- Recipient, Gate City Bar, "A. T. Walden Outstanding Lawyer" Award, 2014
- Recipient, The Atlanta Business Chronicle, "Most Admired CEO – Professional Services," 2014
- Listed, James magazine, "100 Most Influential Georgians," 2014
- Honoree, Atlanta Hawks African American Trailblazer Awards, February 4, 2014
- Named, BTI Client Service All-Stars Report, "Client Service All Star – Federal Regulations," 2014
- Team Member, a U.S. News - Best Lawyers® "Government Relations Law Firm of the Year" 2014
- Ranked, Tier 1 – Government Relations, Atlanta Metropolitan Area
- Ranked, Tier 1 – Administrative/Regulatory Law, Atlanta Metropolitan Area
- Listed, Atlanta Business Chronicle, "Who's Who in Law and Accounting," 2012-2015
Current
- Board Member, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
- Board Member, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Board of Trustees, 2015-2017
- Director, Buckhead Coalition
- Member, Rotary Club of Atlanta
- Member, Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, Inc. (Kappa Boulé)
- Member, The National Association of Guardsmen, Inc., Atlanta Chapter
- Member, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Past
- Member, Atlanta History Center, Board of Trustees, 2018-2022
- Chair, 2017-2018
- Vice Chair, 2016-2017
- Board Member, Achieve Atlanta, Board of Directors, 2015-2022
- Board Member, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Board of Directors, 2017-2021
- Co-Chair, Atlanta History Center, Swan House Ball, 2018
- Member, The American Heart Association, Atlanta Heart Ball, Executive Cabinet, 2018
- Board Member, The Woodruff Arts Center, Board of Trustees
- Chairman, Georgia Chamber of Commerce, 2014
- Co-Chair, Grady White Coat Gala
- Board Member, Center for Civil & Human Rights, Board of Directors
- Secretary, 100 Black Men of Atlanta, Inc., Board of Directors
- Board Member, The Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta, Board of Directors
- Board Member, The Carter Center, Board of Councilors
- Member, Transition Team of Attorney General of the State of Georgia, Sam Olens, 2010
- Co-Chair, Families First, 14th Annual Dining for a Difference Dinner, 2012
- Co-Chair, American Jewish Committee, National Human Relations Dinner, December 6, 2010
- Co-President, Trinity School Parents Association, 2007
- Leadership Atlanta, Class of 2004
- Board Member, Emory University, Board of Visitors
- Committee Member, Georgia Competitiveness Initiative
- General Counsel, National Association of Minority Contractors, Atlanta
- Member, Citizens for Transportation Mobility (CTM), Finance Committee
Credentials
-
J.D., Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, 1991
- Patricia Roberts-Harris Fellow (3-year full tuition fellowship)
- Northwestern University Fellow
-
A.B., Government, Harvard University, 1988
- Letterman, Varsity Football
- Hon. Damon J. Keith, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, 1991-1992
- Georgia