NEW YORK – Oct. 26, 2020 – Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP’s Social Justice Action Academy will host a “Courageous Conversation” on criminal justice reform with Shareholder Karen M. Kennard and Nikki Lewis Simon, Shareholder and Chief Diversity Officer. The webinar will take place Oct. 27, 3:00 p.m. to 4 p.m. ET.
This Courageous Conversation will be particularly insightful as Kennard shares her personal connection to criminal justice reform. She and her family have been involved with the Innocence Project of Texas for more than a decade. Kennard’s oldest brother, Tim Cole, was wrongfully convicted of rape more than two decades ago and died in prison in 1999, at the age of 39. In 2009, DNA testing proved his innocence, and he was the first person in Texas to receive a posthumous exoneration and posthumous pardon. In addition, the Texas exoneration compensation system and the Texas Innocence Commission are named in his honor.
“With social justice being at the forefront of current events today, criminal justice reform is a topic that is critically important now more than ever,” said Simon. “We are incredibly fortunate to dialogue with and learn from Karen, to hear about her brother’s story, and discuss what criminal justice reform means to her and how it has impacted her life and that of her family, personally.”
The Social Justice Action Academy, which is part is part of firm’s Social, Racial, Economic Justice Plan, aims to: educate on matters of race, justice, and equity; facilitate and encourage Courageous Conversations on the topics of race and social justice; and drive forward meaningful change consistent with the action plan.
Kennard, based in Austin, TX, focuses her practice on government law, policy and regulatory matters with an emphasis on municipal local government issues. Her experience spans more than two decades and includes positions as City Attorney for a large city and General Counsel for the largest municipal league in the country.
Simon, a commercial litigator based in Miami, has more than 21 years of experience as an attorney. In her capacity as Greenberg Traurig’s Chief Diversity Officer, Simon designs and guides strategic initiatives and programs to deepen firmwide diversity and inclusion efforts that further enrich client engagements and community investments. Her role is indicative of, and integral to, Greenberg Traurig’s core values of collaboration and inclusion.
About Greenberg Traurig’s Diversity Initiative: From its inception, Greenberg Traurig has been committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Greenberg Traurig is a uniquely empowering and diverse firm built on a foundation of fairness, equality, and authenticity. Through its Social, Racial, and Economic Justice Action Plan, the firm has committed $5 million over five years to help combat systemic racism and support impoverished communities. In addition, the firm’s efforts have been recognized through its Mansfield Rule 3.0 Certification, administered by The Diversity Lab, and by local, national, and global publications and organizations including Chambers and Partners. Web: DRIVES Twitter: @GT_Drives
About Greenberg Traurig: Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GT), has approximately 2200 attorneys in 40 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. The firm is net carbon neutral with respect to its office energy usage and Mansfield Rule 3.0 Certified. Web: www.gtlaw.com