NEW YORK – June 1, 2018 – Prestigious legal directory publisher Chambers and Partners has selected global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP to its shortlist for three Chambers Women in Law Awards: USA 2018. Winners will be announced at a ceremony and reception Thursday, June 21, at The Yale Club in New York City.
The firm is shortlisted for the Most Innovative Gender Diversity Initiative and the Pioneering Pro Bono Program of the Year awards, and one of its attorneys is in the running for an individual Future Leader – Gender Diversity award.
Greenberg Traurig is at the forefront of gender diversity, taking an innovative and inclusive approach to elevating the diversity conversation, spreading awareness, and moving ideas into actions within boardrooms and across markets. The firm does this by collaborating with clients across a broad spectrum of industries, community and professional organizations, and media partners.
The Greenberg Traurig Women’s Initiative is not just women promoting and supporting women, but men and women working together for gender equality in the legal industry, ensuring all attorneys have the resources required to provide high quality work for clients as well as creating a positive and influential work environment. The initiative achieves this through smaller internal programs and larger client-facing events. Additionally, the firm partners with outside organizations and large publications to further support women in the industry outside of the firm. Recently, Greenberg Traurig partnered with Chambers & Partners to host the 5th Annual Diversity Summit. In April 2018, the firm sponsored the International Bar Association’s 8th World Women Lawyers’ conference: From Courtroom to Boardroom: The Impact of Women.
The depth and success of the Greenberg Traurig Pro Bono Program is significant. The program addresses issues concerning human rights, gender/LGBTQI-based violence, anti-trafficking, educational rights of children, immigration, and children’s rights. Worldwide, the firm’s offices work within their local communities to assist in bringing justice to those who are so often overlooked. The firm’s pro bono program provides ample opportunity to expose junior attorneys to real-world experiences that can improve their practice and shape them into better lawyers. To facilitate this participation Greenberg Traurig requires all associates to perform pro bono work under the supervision of a shareholder or of counsel. Furthermore, the firm is the largest contributor to Equal Justice Works, providing funding through the Greenberg Traurig Holly Skolnick Fellowship Foundation to recent law school graduates pursuing a career in public interest. Many of the firm’s current fellows address issues concerning women, girls, and individuals at risk for gender-based violence.
According to Chambers and Partners, its women’s awards program is a unique opportunity to champion the achievements of legal practitioners from both in-house and private practice. They highlight firms and companies who are bringing about dramatic improvements in gender equality as well as women's advancement and inclusion in the legal profession. As part of the program, Greenberg Traurig supported the nomination of the following women and companies shortlisted for the in-house categories of the award series:
- Outstanding Contribution to Fostering an Inclusive Environment for Women in the Legal Profession: Lin Cherry, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, HBO
- Minority Female Lawyer of the Year: Michelle C. Ifill, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Verizon Corporate Services
- Inspiring Role Model in Promoting Gender Diversity and Inclusion in the Legal Profession: Marlene Gordon, General Counsel, Bacardi North America Corporation
- Most Innovative Gender Diversity Initiative: Bacardi North America Corporation
Eva Spahn, an associate in Greenberg Traurig’s Miami Litigation Practice, was shortlisted for the Future Leader—Gender Diversity award. Spahn handles complex commercial and class action matters in various forums, including state and federal courts in multiple U.S. jurisdictions, as well as domestic and international arbitrations before various arbitral bodies. Spahn is currently on the board of directors of the National Association of Women Lawyers.
Recent rankings and recognitions reflecting the firm’s commitment to women lawyers include the following:
- No. 1, Number of Women Attorneys Listed, USA, U.S. News and Best Lawyers®, 2017
- Shortlisted, Best International Firm for Latin America Practice, Best International firm for Diversity, Best International Mentoring Program, Best International Firm for Pro Bono Work, and Best International Firm for Women in Business Law, Euromoney Americas Women in Business Law Awards, 2017
- Top 5, Number of Female Partners, The National Law Journal Women’s Scorecard, 2017
Recent rankings and recognitions reflecting the firm’s commitment to pro bono, community service and philanthropy include:
- Shortlisted, Best International Firm for Pro Bono Work, Euromoney Americas Women in Business Law Awards, 2017
- Shortlisted, Pioneering Pro Bono Program of the Year, Chambers Women in Law Awards, 2017
- Recipient, "Distinguished Service to the Arts Award," Lawyers for the Creative Arts, 2017
About Greenberg Traurig’s Women’s Initiative: Greenberg Traurig is committed to its women lawyers’ success, which includes a firmwide women’s affinity group encompassing recruiting, retention, and business development. The firm regularly collaborates with like-minded organizations to address these issues on a broader scale in a variety of industries and communities. Greenberg Traurig also takes thoughtful action to address issues such as maintaining a healthy work-life balance, breaking the glass ceiling, mentoring, creating and maintaining healthy lifestyles, and giving back to the community.
About Greenberg Traurig’s Pro Bono Program: Greenberg Traurig lawyers across the firm’s offices provide pro bono legal services to the indigent and working poor, as well as to numerous civic and charitable organizations dedicated to assisting them. The firm focuses its resources on specialized and interrelated issues including civil rights and affirmative action, anti-human trafficking, family law matters, criminal appeals, immigration and political asylum, housing and homelessness.
About Greenberg Traurig: 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 2017 Am Law Global 100. Web: www.gtlaw.com Twitter: @GT_Law.