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Greenberg Traurig
Type Limited Liability Partnership
Founded 1967, Miami, Florida
Headquarters Miami, Florida
Key people Cesar L. Alvarez, CEO
Larry J. Hoffman, Chairman
Industry Legal services
Revenue N/A
Employees 1,700+ attorneys
Website www.gtlaw.com

Greenberg Traurig LLP is an international law firm with approximately 1,700 attorneys and governmental professionals in 29 locations in the United States, Europe and Asia. A limited liability partnership (abbreviated as LLP) has elements of Partnerships and Corporations. Year 1967 ( MCMLXVII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the 1967 Gregorian calendar. Cesar L Alvarez is the current Chief Executive Officer for Greenberg Traurig. Larry J Hoffman is one of the founders of Greenberg Traurig, the 7th largest U For other uses of this term see Industry (disambiguation An industry (from Latin industrius, "diligent industrious" Most liberal democracies consider that it is necessary to provide some level of legal aid to persons otherwise unable to afford legal representation In business revenue or revenues is Income that a company receives from its normal business activities usually from the sale of goods and services Employment is a Contract between two parties, one being the employer and the other being the employee. A website (alternatively web site or Web site, a back-construction from the Proper noun World Wide Web) is a collection of Web pages A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more Lawyers to engage in the practice of law An attorney at law (or attorney-at-law) in the United States is a practitioner in a court of law who is legally qualified to prosecute The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Its headquarters are in Miami, Florida. Its presence in Europe is supplemented by strategic alliances with Olswang (offices in London, United Kingdom and Brussels, Belgium), and Studio Santa Maria (offices in Milan, Italy and Rome, Italy). Olswang is a Law firm, based in London, United Kingdom, with offices in Reading, Brussels and Berlin. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Brussels (Bruxelles pronounced; Brussel pronounced) officially the Brussels Capital-Region, is The Kingdom of Belgium is a Country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters as well as those Milan (Milano Milan (listen) is one of the largest cities in Italy, located in the plains of Lombardy. Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest Rome ( Roma ˈroma Roma is the capital city of Italy and Lazio, and is Italy's largest and most populous city with more than 2 Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest In Tokyo, Japan the firm maintains both its own office and a strategic alliance with Hayabusa Kokusai Law Offices. officially, is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan and located on the eastern side of the main island Honshū. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. Greenberg Traurig recently opened an office in Shanghai, China. Shanghai ( 上[[wikt 海|海]] is the largest city in China in terms of population and one of the largest urban areas in the world with over 20 million China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National Greenberg Traurig is the seventh largest American law firm based on number of lawyers. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more Lawyers to engage in the practice of law A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law as an attorney, Counsel or Solicitor; a person

Greenberg Traurig is managed by its Chief Executive Officer, Cesar L. Alvarez, and its Chairman and Founder, Larry J. A chief executive officer ( CEO) or chief executive is typically the highest-ranking corporate officer ( executive) or administrator Cesar L Alvarez is the current Chief Executive Officer for Greenberg Traurig. Hoffman, from its Miami, Florida office, the firm's historic base of operations and administrative headquarters. In Business, administration consists of the performance or management of business operations and thus the making or implementing of major decisions Headquarters (HQ denotes the location where most if not all of the important functions of an organization are concentrated

As of 2006, it was the 16th largest law firm in the world by revenue. This list of the world's largest Law firms by Revenue is taken from The Lawyer and The American Lawyer and is ordered by 2006

As of 2008, it was the 8th largest law firm in the United States by revenue. [1]

In 2007, the firm was selected as Chambers and Partners as US Law Firm of the Year for excellence in legal services in jursidictions around the world. [2]

Contents

Offices

North America

Greenberg Traurig's largest office is in the MetLife Building in New York City. The New York office is one of many offices founded in the 1990s, when GT expanded from a local Miami firm to become one of the largest in the United States.
Greenberg Traurig's largest office is in the MetLife Building in New York City. The MetLife Building, originally called the Pan Am Building, is a Skyscraper located at 200 The City of New York The New York office is one of many offices founded in the 1990s, when GT expanded from a local Miami firm to become one of the largest in the United States.

Europe

Asia

History

Formation and growth

Greenberg, Traurig and Hoffman was founded in Miami, Florida in 1967 by attorneys Lawrence J. Hoffman, Mel Greenberg, Robert Traurig. Albany is the Capital of the State of New York and the County seat of Albany County. Boca Raton ("bōkə rə-tōn" is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida incorporated in May 1925 One International Place is a modern Skyscraper in the Financial District neighborhood of Boston Massachusetts. Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. The JPMorgan Chase Tower, located at 2200 Ross Avenue in the City Center District of downtown Dallas, Texas ( USA) Wilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware, United States and is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine The City and County of Denver (pronounced /ˈdɛnvɚ/ is the Capital and the most populous city of Colorado, in the United States Fort Lauderdale, known as the "Venice of America" due to its expansive and intricate Canal system is a city in Broward County, Florida, Las Vegas ( Spanish: "The Meadows" is the most populous City in the state of Nevada, the seat of Clark County, and an internationally Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West Florham Park is a borough in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. The City of New York The MetLife Building, originally called the Pan Am Building, is a Skyscraper located at 200 Orange County is a county in Southern California, United States. Orlando is a major City in central Florida, USA and is the County seat of Orange County Florida. Philadelphia (ˌfɪləˈdɛlfiə Phoenix (ˈfiːˌnɪks O'odham Skikik, Yavapai Wasinka, Western Apache Fiinigis, Navajo Hoozdo, For the valley nicknamed "Silicone Valley" see San Fernando Valley. Tysons Corner is an Unincorporated area in Fairfax County, Virginia, near Washington D Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D West Palm Beach, also known as West Palm, is the most populous city in Palm Beach County, Florida, USA. Amsterdam (pronounced) is the capital and largest city of the Netherlands, located in the province of North Holland in the west The Netherlands ( Dutch:, ˈnedərlɑnt is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands the Netherlands Brussels (Bruxelles pronounced; Brussel pronounced) officially the Brussels Capital-Region, is The Kingdom of Belgium is a Country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters as well as those Olswang is a Law firm, based in London, United Kingdom, with offices in Reading, Brussels and Berlin. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Olswang is a Law firm, based in London, United Kingdom, with offices in Reading, Brussels and Berlin. Milan (Milano Milan (listen) is one of the largest cities in Italy, located in the plains of Lombardy. Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest Rome ( Roma ˈroma Roma is the capital city of Italy and Lazio, and is Italy's largest and most populous city with more than 2 Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest Zürich (, Zürich German: Züri, Zurich, Zurigo; in English generally Zurich) is the largest city in Switzerland and capital of the Switzerland (English pronunciation; Schweiz Swiss German: Schwyz or Schwiiz Suisse Svizzera Svizra officially the Swiss Confederation Shanghai ( 上[[wikt 海|海]] is the largest city in China in terms of population and one of the largest urban areas in the world with over 20 million China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National officially, is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan and located on the eastern side of the main island Honshū. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. Year 1967 ( MCMLXVII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the 1967 Gregorian calendar. Larry J Hoffman is one of the founders of Greenberg Traurig, the 7th largest U The firm initially had only one associate and one junior partner, and had no plans of expanding outside the Miami metropolitan area. As recently as 1991 it only had two offices, in Miami and Fort Lauderdale. Fort Lauderdale, known as the "Venice of America" due to its expansive and intricate Canal system is a city in Broward County, Florida,

After Hoffman became managing partner in 1991, the firm began to expand nationwide, beginning with the opening of an office in New York City. The City of New York [3] Much of the firm's growth was achieved by handpicking lawyers compatible with the firm's goals. [4] The firm claims that this tactic allows the firm to grow without diluting its business-oriented, 'built for change' culture, a unique outlook on the practice of law that is uncommon among other major firms. [5] During the past decade, the firm grew by over 800 percent and New York became its largest center of business. [6]

Greenberg Traurig today

The firm has grown from a small office in Florida to one of the largest and most prestigious firms in the U. S. and the World. In 2007 The firm received a No. 1 ranking for Bankruptcy/Restructuring; Construction; Corporate/M&A; Immigration; Labor & Employment; Litigation: General Commercial; Litigation: White Collar Crime & Government Investigations; Real Estate; Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use; Retail; Tax and Wealth Management. Chambers & Partners USA Guide, an annual listing of the leading business lawyers and law firms in the world, lists 111 Greenberg Traurig LLP attorneys in its 2007-2008 guide. Individual attorneys further received a No. 1 ranking in Litigation: Appellate; Litigation: General Commercial; Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations; Bankruptcy/Restructuring; Corporate/M&A; Real Estate; Construction; Tax: Employee Benefits; Immigration; Tax; Labor & Employment; and Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use. [7] Greenberg Traurig also emerged by a wide margin as the top trademark litigator in the United States in 2008. [8] In addition, Greenberg Traurig is widely-viewed as having the nation's leading Entertainment Law practice, particularly with regard to matters pertaining to the music industry.

Lobbying and Jack Abramoff scandal (Washington, DC)

In January 2001, lobbyist Jack Abramoff left Preston Gates & Ellis to join Greenberg Traurig. Jack Abramoff (born February 28 1959 is a former Lobbyist, and a businessman who was a central figure in a series of high-profile political scandals. See also Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Preston Gates Ellis Preston Gates & Ellis LLP, also known as Preston Gates, was a Law firm with offices in Abramoff brought a book of business then worth more than $6 million annually to Greenberg Traurig, according to his own estimates.

In 2000, before Abramoff joined the firm, Greenberg had $3. 3 million in lobbying fees. After he joined in 2001, the firm took in $16. 2 million in fees. By 2002, that number jumped to $17. 7 million, and $25. 5 million by 2003. [9] The firm became one of the top 10 of Washington lobbying firms, moving from 16th place to fourth, according to the National Journal. [10]

The firm fired Abramoff in early 2004 and has received praise from federal investigators and members of Congress for its cooperation in the Abramoff investigation. However, others that arrived at Greenberg with Abramoff were allowed to stay, including Abramoff's personal assistant. A Greenberg spokesman said that its federal lobbying revenue in 2005 was 1 percent of its total revenues of $860 million.

On July 12, 2006, the Alabama-Coushatta tribe filed a federal racketeering lawsuit against now-convicted Abramoff and his cohorts. Greenberg Traurig was not a named defendant, but the tribe began discussing a settlement payment by the firm later that month. Its lawsuit states that "There was a nexus between Greenberg, the enterprise and the pattern of racketeering. " According to the suit, internal Greenberg e-mails showed that Abramoff associate Michael Scanlon, although not a member of the firm, "billed hours to tribal clients through Greenberg and that members of the law firm, including attorneys Kevin Ring, Shawn Vasell, Stephanie Leger, Todd Boulanger and others, fabricated hours and time entries for Scanlon. Michael Scanlon is a former communications director for Rep Tom DeLay, Lobbyist, and Public relations executive who has plead guilty to corruption charges " The suit also says the firm allowed checks sent by the tribe to a bogus Abramoff-linked think tank to be funneled and cashed through Greenberg Traurig. [11]

An NPR news report from March 2006 stated that: ". . . Abramoff recently granted a rare press interview to Vanity Fair magazine, where he asserts President Bush and other prominent figures in Washington know him very well. He called them liars for denying contact with him" [12].

Criminal indictment (Guam)

In March 2008, prosecutors in Guam indicted Greenberg Traurig on felony counts of allegedly making improper billings to Guam's superior court under the guise of charging for lobbying services by Jack Abramoff [13]. Guam ( Chamorro: cha Guåhån) officially the Territory of Guam, is an island in the western Pacific Ocean and is an organized unincorporated In April 2008, the charges of deception, theft and conspiracy were dismissed by Guam prosecutors after Greenberg Traurig agreed to refund $324,000 in lobbying fees to the Guam judiciary [14].

Hamilton Bank scandal (Miami)

In June 2006, Greenberg Traurig agreed to pay the FDIC $7. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ( FDIC) is a United States government corporation created by the Glass-Steagall Act of 1933 6 million for its role as a legal adviser to the now defunct Hamilton Bank of Miami, to settle allegations that it had helped to cover up bank officers' financial misconduct. The firm paid an additional $750,000 fine to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency for allegedly protecting the bank's officers "by making materially false and misleading assertions and by suppressing material evidence. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (or OCC) is a US federal agency established by the National Currency Act of 1863 and serves to Charter "[15]

Jay Gordon scandal (NY)

In November 2006, Jay I. Gordon, the former chairman of Greenberg Traurig's tax practice, resigned from the New York bar and was disbarred for taking over $1. 2 million in kickbacks on tax shelters that he had recommended to wealthy clients of the firm. Gordon admitted that between 1999 and 2002, he referred clients to packagers of tax shelter schemes and, in turn, those packagers expressed their appreciation by giving him kickbacks. Moreover, in connection with one kickback, Gordon caused the "referral fee" to be deposited into Greenberg Traurig's retainer account. He then created a series of fictitious bills, addressed to the client, but never sent, purporting to charge billable hours and expenses totaling over $540,000. Based upon these fake bills, the money was then transferred to the firm's income account, and Gordon received a "fee collection credit" for his imaginary work. The New York State appellate court described Gordon's conduct as involving "dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation". [16]

Leonard Ross scandal (Philadelphia)

In December 2005, Leonard Ross, an attorney associated with Greenberg Traurig's Philadelphia office, was charged with fraud and corruption as part of an FBI investigation into city government. Philadelphia (ˌfɪləˈdɛlfiə Ross was a friend and former law partner of Philadelphia Mayor John F. Street. John Franklin Street (born October 15 1943) was the 97th Mayor of the City of Philadelphia. Greenberg's offer letter to Ross stated that he would do municipal finance work and represent clients that did business with the city, and, in exchange, the firm would pay him $10,000 a month plus annual incentive payments based on business he generated. The letter specifically stated that it "would continue for so long as John Street is mayor of Philadelphia. " The firm subsequently received $690,000 in city-related legal fees over a four-year period. Ross, however, used his influential relationship with Mayor Street to procure over $50,000 in contributions to Street's re-election campaign from prospective developers.

In August 2003, a Pennsylvania state court threatened to hold Ross in contempt for failing to pay over to a client $125,000 that he had obtained for the client as the result of medical malpractice settlement two years earlier. Ross, who had been appointed by the mayor to chair a committee overseeing a development at Penn's Landing, gave insider information about the city's contractor selection process to a lobbyist who represented a development bidder. Penn's Landing is the waterfront area of the Center City along the Delaware River section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States In return, the lobbyist helped Ross obtain a $150,000 line of credit from a bank in September 2003.

Ross left Greenberg in November 2005 and a few weeks later pled guilty to fraud and conspiracy charges and was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison. Federal prosecutors alleged that Ross's employment at Greenberg was "entirely dependent on his relationship with Mayor Street" and "a motive for selling his office as a PLC [Penns Landing Corporation] board member. " [17]

Victor Reyes scandal (Chicago)

Victor Reyes, a political operative who headed the Hispanic Democratic Organization and had close ties to Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, joined Greenberg Traurig in 2001 and led the firm's Chicago lobbying practice. The Hispanic Democratic Organization (HDO was a Political action committee (PAC officially started in 1993 to aid political power for the Hispanic community in Chicago Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. Richard Michael Daley (born April 24 1942 is a United States Politician, member of the national and local Democratic Party and current mayor After Reyes's arrival, from 2001 to 2005, Greenberg earned $ 3. 5 million in city-related legal fees, including for representing the city in the United Airlines and RCN Cable TV bankruptcies. United Air Lines Inc, trading as United Airlines ( is a major airline of the United States. US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald subsequently alleged that Reyes's law office was central to a patronage scheme to funnel city jobs to pro-Daley campaign workers. United States Attorneys (also known as federal prosecutors) represent the United States federal government in United States district court and Patrick J Fitzgerald (born December 22, 1960) is an American attorney and the current United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois Patronage is the support encouragement privilege and often financial aid given by a person or an organization Reyes resigned from Greenberg in August 2005, and in September federal prosecutors indicted five city employees, including a former Reyes aide, in the scandal. Reyes wasn't charged, but prosecutors called him as a "co-schemer" in the indictment [18]. Reyes later started a lobbying firm with three other ex-Greenberg employees. Reyes and the firm claim that his resignation was voluntary and due to conflicts of interest that prevented him from representing some clients. Greenberg CEO Cesar L. Alvarez stated, "I don't know about anything [Reyes] did in the firm that was wrong. Cesar L Alvarez is the current Chief Executive Officer for Greenberg Traurig. I can only know what I have seen, and I only know that he hasn't been charged. " [19]

Other scandals

In May 2005, Philadelphia partner Robert S. Philadelphia (ˌfɪləˈdɛlfiə Grossman pled guilty to charges that he had lied in a 1996 bankruptcy case to cover up his improper diversion of over $100,000 to his personal account when he worked as a real estate developer in Virginia. He subsequently served four months in federal prison. Greenberg Traurig professed surprise at Grossman's arrest the following November for failing to report to prison, and stated that Grossman hadn't disclosed the criminal proceeding to the firm. Greenberg has stated that it now does background checks on all new employees. [20]

In January 2007, the firm was sued in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Bronx County, by Yasmin Marinaro, a former legal assistant, for discrimination and retaliatory termination. Among other things, Ms. Marinaro's complaint alleges that Harley Lewin, Esq. , head of the firm's Trademarks and Global Brand Strategies Practice, referred to Ms. Marinaro as "Chiquita Banana", and that he subsequently sought to prevent her from reporting his behavior. The lawsuit also names Stacey P. Dougan, Esq. , Assistant General Counsel to the firm, as an individual defendant. [21]

References

  1. ^ Two Firms Pass the $2 Billion Mark
  2. ^ Greenberg Traurig Selected by Chambers and Partners as USA Law Firm of the Year - Greenberg Traurig, LLP
  3. ^ Greenberg Traurig Endows the Larry J. Hoffman Greenberg Traurig Distinguished Professorship
  4. ^ Hire Talent
  5. ^ Hire Talent
  6. ^ Greenberg Traurig, LLP
  7. ^ Chambers and Partners : Chambers USA Guide Rankings
  8. ^ Greenberg Traurig No. 1 in Trademark Filings for 4th Consecutive Year in CSC Trademark Insider® Rankings - Greenberg Traurig, LLP
  9. ^ Greenberg Traurig Has Big Incentive to Make Talks With Tribe Work
  10. ^ www.bizforward.com
  11. ^ Greenberg Traurig Has Big Incentive to Make Talks With Tribe Work
  12. ^ Lobbyist Abramoff Says GOP Elite Know Him Well
  13. ^ [http://www.abajournal.com/news/greenberg_traurig_indicted_in_guam Greenberg Traurig Indicted in Guam]
  14. ^ Felony Charges in Guam Dropped Against Greenberg Traurig
  15. ^ Will the Corporate Model Backfire on Greenberg?
  16. ^ www.courts.state.ny.us
  17. ^ Will the Corporate Model Backfire on Greenberg?
  18. ^ Feds link close pal of Daley to hiring
  19. ^ Will the Corporate Model Backfire on Greenberg?
  20. ^ Will the Corporate Model Backfire on Greenberg?
  21. ^ Lawsuit of the Day: Marinaro v. Greenberg Traurig LLP, from Above the Law (blog)

External links

David B Lat (born 1975 is an American Blogger and a former federal prosecutor SourceWatch (formerly Disinfopedia) is an internet site which is a "collaborative project" of the Center for Media and Democracy (CMD The American Lawyer is a monthly law Magazine. It was founded in 1979 by Steven Brill. Events 1079 - Omar Khayyám completes the Iranian calendar. 1454 - Thirteen Years' War: Delegates of Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.
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