Government Law & Policy Attorney Will Be Part of Third Leadership Cohort for Philadelphia’s Celebrated Nonpartisan Civic Organization
PHILADELPHIA – Sept. 26, 2019 – The Committee of Seventy, a leading nonprofit focused on effective government in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania, recently named George J. Farrell, Government Law & Policy associate at global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP, to its latest class of up-and-coming civic leaders from the region as a 2019-20 Buchholz Fellow.
Farrell is one of six in the 2019-20 class. According to the Committee of Seventy, the program elevates and further trains emerging leaders under 40 who work in the private or nonprofit sector and embody personal and professional integrity, work ethic, collaborative spirit, superior intellect, and a passion for improving the community.
“While I’m delighted by this news, I can’t say that I’m surprised. Since joining the firm, George has worked to make an impact, both in his practice and as a member of this community. This fellowship serves as further proof of that,” said Curtis B. Toll, managing shareholder of Greenberg Traurig’s Philadelphia office where Farrell sits. “It’s exciting that this young lawyer will have this opportunity to further enhance and exercise his leadership skills and commitment to increasing Philadelphia’s vibrancy,” Toll added.
Farrell joined the firm in 2018 and focuses his practice on regulatory and government-related issues, complex commercial litigation, class action, political law and compliance, and labor and employment matters. Previously, he held posts for a senior staffer for both a Pennsylvania state senator and a Philadelphia city councilman.
He is a 2008 graduate of Franklin & Marshall College and a 2017 graduate of Temple University’s Beasley School of Law, where he was a member of both the Temple Political and Civil Rights Law Review and the Rubin Public Interest Law Honor Society. Farrell remains civically involved as a member of the Friends of Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School and the Project Home Young Leaders Committee. He also engages in pro bono legal service through Philadelphia VIP.
Buchholz Fellows serve as nonvoting members but otherwise full board participants of the Committee of Seventy, which has been dedicated to increasing strong, ethical governance, public policy, civic education and engagement in Philadelphia since 1904.
“This program is an important part of Seventy’s plans for the future of our organization, and for civic leadership in Greater Philadelphia. Building a pipeline of next generation talent, insight and relationships is key for Seventy moving forward,” said Committee of Seventy CEO David Thornburgh. "We look forward to working with this exceptional group of fellows to achieve our mission to advance representative, ethical, and effective government in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania through citizen engagement and public policy advocacy."
The program is named for Carl Buchholz, a noted civic-minded attorney with a long history of leadership in the private and public sectors. The one-time U.S. Senate staffer later helped build the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. His career included managing the Philadelphia offices of two AmLaw 200 firms as well as serving on the boards of Drexel University, Visit Philadelphia, and the United Way of Southeastern PA, which he chaired. The fellowship honors the professional and personal attributes of Buchholz, who died in 2016 at age 51.
For details, visit www.seventy.org.
About Greenberg Traurig’s Philadelphia Office: Founded in 1997, Greenberg Traurig’s Philadelphia office is home to some 50-plus attorneys and more than a dozen practices including Real Estate, Litigation, Restructuring & Bankruptcy, Corporate, White Collar Defense & Special Investigations, Environmental, Immigration & Compliance, Investment Regulation, Labor & Employment, Public Finance, Government Law & Policy, Private Wealth Services, 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’s Government Law & Policy Practice: Greenberg Traurig’s Government Law & Policy Practice combines the capabilities of its Federal Practice in Washington D.C. with its state and local practices across the country. The firm’s national team of governmental affairs professionals and attorneys spans major political and commercial capitals throughout the United States, including: Albany, Austin, Denver, Las Vegas, Nashville, New York City, Philadelphia, Sacramento, Tallahassee, and Washington, D.C. Most recently, Greenberg Traurig’s Government Law & Policy team was “Top Listed” for Government Relations in Best Lawyers in America’s 2018 edition. The team was also named “Law Firm of the Year” for Government Relations by the U.S. News-Best Lawyers 2014 edition of "Best Law Firms." The practice also received the most first-tier Government Relations rankings in the U.S.
About Greenberg Traurig, LLP: Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GT) has approximately 2,100 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.