MIAMI – Sept. 10, 2020 – Cesar L. Alvarez, senior chairman of global law firm Greenberg Traurig, P.A., received the South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (SFLHCC) Lifetime Achievement Award Sept. 4 at the organization’s Hispanic Leadership Awards reception in Coral Gables, Florida. The award is the SFLHCC’s highest recognition for business and community leadership contributions to the South Florida community.
According to the SFLHCC’s website, the annual Hispanic Leadership Awards recognize the top Hispanic leaders who have made significant and positive contributions to the community. Honorees are chosen based on their combination of unique leadership achievements and a strong commitment to community service.
“It gives me great pleasure that our board selected Cesar Alvarez as the recipient of the SFLHCC Lifetime Achievement Award. Cesar is an extraordinary attorney who led Greenberg Traurig to become one of the most respected global law firms,” said Liliam M. Lopez, president and CEO of the South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. “Cesar is a community leader, who through his involvement in civic, charitable, and business organizations, has made significant contributions to help make Miami the international city that it is today.”
Alvarez previously served as Greenberg Traurig's chief executive officer for 13 years and executive chairman for more than three years. During his tenure as CEO, he directed the firm's growth from 325 lawyers in eight offices to approximately 1850 attorneys and government professionals in more than 36 locations in the United States, Europe, Asia and Latin America, including strategic alliances in Milan and Rome, Italy. Under Cesar's leadership, the firm was recognized as the fastest-growing law firm in the United States and is among the Top 10 law firms in the country.
Alvarez, a Cuban refugee who came to the United States as a teenager, said in his acceptance speech that he was honored to accept on behalf of the many immigrants who came before him.
“I see myself as a proxy for all those who came here with nothing and dedicated their lives so we could achieve,” Alvarez said. “They are the ones who engineered the building of our city and laid the foundation for what we all enjoy today.”
Before taking the helm as CEO, Alvarez practiced securities, corporate, and international law for more than 25 years. Throughout his career, he has represented numerous public companies and served on the boards of directors of several publicly traded corporations and charitable organizations. He has been recognized nationally and locally for his professional, business, and charitable leadership. Alvarez has been honored as one of the "100 Most Influential Lawyers in America" by The National Law Journal in 1997, 2000, and 2006 (the last three editions), as one of the top most powerful Hispanics by PODER's Power Issue, and among "The 25 Best Latinos in Business," Hispanic Magazine's Power Issue, both in 2008. He also has been honored by Chambers and Partners with its "Lifetime Achievement" Award and by the American Bar Association with its "Spirit of Excellence" Award.
Alvarez currently serves as Chair of the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science Board of Trustees and of the Florida International University College of Law Advisory Board, as well as a member of the Florida International University Board of Trustees. In the past, Alvarez has served as a trustee for Miami Dade College and the University of Florida Levin College of Law. Alvarez also previously served as Chair of the American Bar Association’s National Commission on Hispanic Legal Rights and Responsibilities, Chair of the United Way of Miami Dade and Chair of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.
Founded 25 years ago, the SFLHCC seeks to provide opportunities in commerce to the different Hispanic populations that exist in South Florida. With more than 1,200 members and advocates for thousands of Hispanic businesses in Florida, the SLFHCC is recognized as one of the most influential Hispanic chambers in the country and one of the leading Hispanic business organizations in Florida. To learn more, visit www.sflhcc.com.
About Greenberg Traurig, LLP: Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GT) has more than 2,200 attorneys in 40 offices 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: http://www.gtlaw.com Twitter: @GT_Law.
According to the SFLHCC’s website, the annual Hispanic Leadership Awards recognize the top Hispanic leaders who have made significant and positive contributions to the community. Honorees are chosen based on their combination of unique leadership achievements and a strong commitment to community service.
“It gives me great pleasure that our board selected Cesar Alvarez as the recipient of the SFLHCC Lifetime Achievement Award. Cesar is an extraordinary attorney who led Greenberg Traurig to become one of the most respected global law firms,” said Liliam M. Lopez, president and CEO of the South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. “Cesar is a community leader, who through his involvement in civic, charitable, and business organizations, has made significant contributions to help make Miami the international city that it is today.”
Alvarez previously served as Greenberg Traurig's chief executive officer for 13 years and executive chairman for more than three years. During his tenure as CEO, he directed the firm's growth from 325 lawyers in eight offices to approximately 1850 attorneys and government professionals in more than 36 locations in the United States, Europe, Asia and Latin America, including strategic alliances in Milan and Rome, Italy. Under Cesar's leadership, the firm was recognized as the fastest-growing law firm in the United States and is among the Top 10 law firms in the country.
Alvarez, a Cuban refugee who came to the United States as a teenager, said in his acceptance speech that he was honored to accept on behalf of the many immigrants who came before him.
“I see myself as a proxy for all those who came here with nothing and dedicated their lives so we could achieve,” Alvarez said. “They are the ones who engineered the building of our city and laid the foundation for what we all enjoy today.”
Before taking the helm as CEO, Alvarez practiced securities, corporate, and international law for more than 25 years. Throughout his career, he has represented numerous public companies and served on the boards of directors of several publicly traded corporations and charitable organizations. He has been recognized nationally and locally for his professional, business, and charitable leadership. Alvarez has been honored as one of the "100 Most Influential Lawyers in America" by The National Law Journal in 1997, 2000, and 2006 (the last three editions), as one of the top most powerful Hispanics by PODER's Power Issue, and among "The 25 Best Latinos in Business," Hispanic Magazine's Power Issue, both in 2008. He also has been honored by Chambers and Partners with its "Lifetime Achievement" Award and by the American Bar Association with its "Spirit of Excellence" Award.
Alvarez currently serves as Chair of the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science Board of Trustees and of the Florida International University College of Law Advisory Board, as well as a member of the Florida International University Board of Trustees. In the past, Alvarez has served as a trustee for Miami Dade College and the University of Florida Levin College of Law. Alvarez also previously served as Chair of the American Bar Association’s National Commission on Hispanic Legal Rights and Responsibilities, Chair of the United Way of Miami Dade and Chair of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.
Founded 25 years ago, the SFLHCC seeks to provide opportunities in commerce to the different Hispanic populations that exist in South Florida. With more than 1,200 members and advocates for thousands of Hispanic businesses in Florida, the SLFHCC is recognized as one of the most influential Hispanic chambers in the country and one of the leading Hispanic business organizations in Florida. To learn more, visit www.sflhcc.com.
About Greenberg Traurig, LLP: Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GT) has more than 2,200 attorneys in 40 offices 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: http://www.gtlaw.com Twitter: @GT_Law.