NEW YORK – July 6, 2020 –Kate Black, Jillian C. Kirn, and John R. Richards, shareholders from global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP, have been named to Law360’s 2020 Rising Stars. The three attorneys were among 176 attorneys recognized from 1,300 of submissions across 38 of practices. The list highlights attorneys “whose legal accomplishments transcend their age,” according to Law360.
Kate, a shareholder in the Miami office, was named a Cybersecurity Rising Star. She advises leading technology and healthcare clients on strategic data use, protection, and compliance in connection with efforts to advance innovative and emerging healthcare and consumer products, solutions, and research. Kate is a frequent speaker on data privacy, data analytics and machine learning, digital health, and genetics, and regularly writes for the firm’s Data Privacy Dish blog. Prior to joining Greenberg Traurig, Kate served as 23andMe’s first Global Privacy officer.
Jillian, a shareholder in the Philadelphia office, was named an Environmental Rising Star. She regularly assists clients in complex environmental litigation, compliance counselling, and transactional matters and specializes in helping energy industry clients manage risks associated with environmental liabilities. In addition to her work, Jillian also serves on the Board of North America’s oldest surviving botanic garden and regularly speaks on issues related to emerging contaminants, brownfields and Superfund sites, coal ash and other legacy liabilities, and alternative energy. Her work is frequently published by a variety of media outlets, including Greenberg Traurig’s E2 Law Blog.
John, a shareholder from the Atlanta office, was named an Employment Rising Star. Clients regularly enlist John to pragmatically design and implement employment/HR compliance programs. He delivers highly-tailored, dynamic training sessions to employer audiences on wage and hour issues, performance management and reductions in force, and LGBTQ+ workplace concerns. Clients also engage John to conduct highly sensitive internal investigations into harassment and discrimination claims. On the litigation side, John defends well-known companies in class and collective actions arising under FLSA and related state wage and hour laws, along with single-plaintiff claims of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and/or constructive discharge brought in court, arbitration, or by administrative agencies. In addition to his employment work, John is a key member of the firm’s Retail Industry Group through which he manages well-known brand relationships by leveraging the firm’s distinct retail platform.
In addition to their strong practices, Kate, Jillian, and John are leaders in their area of law and focused on giving back through their communities and firm diversity initiatives.
Kate began her career as a privacy advocate for the Health Privacy Project of the Center for Democracy and Technology. She later worked for the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology at the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, focusing on privacy and security in electronic health records, increasing health data interoperability, and improving patient matching. She served on the Board of Directors for Women in Security and Privacy and volunteers her time for Out in Tech and the Urban Oasis Project.
Jillian helps lead the firm’s Women’s Initiative in Philadelphia and mentors through Law School Yes We Can, a program targeting high achieving college freshmen from diverse backgrounds and mentoring them for four years. She also volunteers as part of the Arts + Business Council of Greater Philadelphia and is an advisory council member for Mural Arts Philadelphia.
John is committed to furthering the visibility, voice, and advancement of LGBTQ+ lawyers. He is a driving force behind Greenberg Traurig’s firmwide LGBTQ+ program, and spearheaded the firm’s partnership with Out Leadership, an organization dedicated to the inclusion of LGBTQ+ people at all levels of business. He is a member of the National LGBT Bar Association and served for six years on the National Board of Directors for Lambda Legal.
About Greenberg Traurig, LLP: Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GT) has approximately 2,200 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: www.gtlaw.com Twitter: @GT_Law.