Good In Practice

In this episode, Caroline speaks to Shareholder Jennifer A. Surprenant and Associate Ryan Foreman about how they helped an active member of the U.S. military obtain more access to his child. The group discusses how distance due to station locations can affect parent-child relationships and how the possibility of deployment affects custody decisions. 

In this episode, Caroline speaks to Michael R. Sklaire, Jacob D. Bundickeg, Shirin Afsous, and Christian T. Spaulding about how they helped reunite a grandmother in Washington, D.C. with her 10 year old granddaughter. The group discusses the complexities of working with clients in two different states on a deadline and how, because of Greenberg Traurig's global presence, we were able to help.

In honor of Veterans Day, Caroline speaks with Greenberg Traurig's Adam Siegler, of counsel in the firm's Los Angeles office and its co-pro bono coordinator, veteran, and founder of Greenberg Traurig's Military & Veterans Program. They discuss Siegler's work with both veterans and active military members as well as his own service and why it is so important to him to continue to give back to those who served our country. Siegler explains the different legal barriers members of the military, both active and retired, may face over time, and Heller discusses how non-veteran attorneys can help.

In this episode, Caroline speaks to Matthew Ladika, CEO of The Children's Place at HomeSafe, David M. Layman, a shareholder in the firm's West Palm Beach office and its Real Estate Practice, and Elliot Scherker, a Shareholder in the firm's Miami office and Co-Chair of its National Appellate Practice. They discuss HomeSafe's origins and how it developed into an organization that helps young victims of abuse and domestic violence through prevention and intervention programs. Layman discusses his provision of pro bono transactional services to HomeSafe for over 20 years and the legal services he recently provided to help HomeSafe expand their reach in Palm Beach County. Scherker discusses his involvement successfully defending legal challenges to HomeSafe's expansion. All three share what brought them to Team HomeSafe and tell some their favorite success stories.

In this episode, Caroline continues her conversation with Samantha Kubek, a former Equal Justice Works (EJW) fellow co-sponsored by GT and Greystone & Co. Inc. Kubek discusses some of the challenges that her clients face when they're applying for veterans benefits, how she practices self-care, and long-term efforts in the Senate to pass the Military Justice Improvement and Increasing Prevention Act, legislation designed to reshape the manner in which the U.S. military prosecutes sexual assault within its ranks.

In this episode, Caroline talks to Samantha Kubek, a former Equal Justice Works (EJW) fellow co-sponsored by GT and Greystone & Co. Inc., and current visiting assistant clinical professor and director of Robert W. Entenmann Veterans Law Clinic at Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University. Kubek discusses the importance of relating to and establishing trust with her veteran clients, and the extraordinary effect an award of benefits can have to a veteran and their family.

In this episode, Caroline talks to Greenberg Traurig Shareholder and Houston Co-Pro Bono Coordinator Jennifer Tomsen and her client, Oscar, an unaccompanied minor from Honduras for whom Jennifer obtained a green card. Oscar discusses his life in Honduras, why he fled to the United States to be with his mother when he was 17 years old, and how he acclimated to his new life. Tomsen discusses the lengthy step-by-step process and barriers along the way of attaining legal residency for young refugees, and the joy of successfully helping a child find safety in the United States.

In this episode, Caroline continues the conversation with Greenberg Traurig Associate and Atlanta Office Pro Bono Chair Andrew Z. Smith and Lauren Duncan, one of Smith's pro bono clients. They discuss the difference between transgender individuals legally changing their name and changing their gender identification markers, access and barriers to comprehensive medical care, and the importance of transgender visibility in media. Heller, Smith, and Duncan also discuss what people and firms can do to be allies to the LGBTQ+ community.

In this episode, we talk with Greenberg Traurig Associate and Atlanta Office Pro Bono Chair Andrew Z. Smith about his pro bono work assisting transgender individuals legally change their names. They are joined by Lauren Duncan, one of Andrew's pro bono clients, and discuss Lauren's decision to legally change her name, as well as the legal process and the practical and emotional aspects of Lauren's decision.

In this episode, Caroline speaks with Greenberg Traurig Shareholders Iris Escarra and Danielle Gonzalez along with Associate Devon Vickers about how Greenberg Traurig helped the non-profit Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida relocate its headquarters. GT attorneys assisted with finding, acquiring, rezoning, and developing a new site that will not only house Make-A-Wish offices, but also serve as a place to grant wishes to children. As the three discuss the undertaking, Vickers relays why this was a deeply personal chance for her to give back to an organization that once granted her a wish.

In this episode, we talk with Greenberg Traurig Shareholders  Nicole Goodwin  and Kristen Ng along with Associate John A. Shumate about being in the right place at the right time to help a family who had fled from war-torn South Sudan. When Malith Chan fled from Sudan and came to the United States, he had to leave behind his 13- year-old orphan brother, Makulang. When Malith crossed paths with Goodwin and she heard his story, she rose to action to help reunite Makulang with his older brother in the United States. Malith joins the podcast and details the amazing journey that shows us how pro bono opportunities and opportunities to do good are everywhere.

In this episode, we talk with Greenberg Traurig Chicago office Associate LaQuenta C. Rudison about her transactional non-profit work. Rudison discusses growing up in south Chicago, how that helped shape her pro bono practice, and what led her to commit to work for and with the community that she used to call home.

This episode features the President/CEO of Unincarcerated Minds, Inc. Bobby Harris; Greenberg Traurig Government Law & Policy Shareholder Karen M. Kennard; and Caroline Heller who discuss the social issue of criminal justice reform as it relates to wrongful convictions and rehabilitation of the incarcerated. Moderated by Greenberg Traurig Shareholder and Chief Diversity Officer  Nikki Lewis Simon, the group discusses ideas for tangible actions that can be taken through legal pro bono work and more to create lasting impact.

In the final episode of this two-part series, Heller continues her conversation with East Harlem Tutorial Program (EHTP) CEO Jeff Ginsburg and Co-Chair of Greenberg Traurig's Global Real Estate Practice Stephen L. Rabinowitz. Ginsburg and Rabinowitz detail what it has been like working together to support the East Harlem community, the importance of understanding and serving the communities in which we live, and how critical the GT-EHTP partnership has been for the organization and the community at large.

In this episode, Host Caroline Heller is joined by East Harlem Tutorial Program (EHTP) CEO Jeff Ginsburg and Co-Chair of Greenberg Traurig's Global Real Estate Practice Stephen L. Rabinowitz. The first in a two-part interview, Ginsburg details how the local organization supports its community in East Harlem and Rabinowitz shares his involvement in the organization and how Greenberg Traurig supports EHTP's growth.

In this episode of Good in Practice, Host Caroline Heller is joined by Greenberg Traurig Shareholder Elisabeth Ross Hadley and Senior Director Agustin G. Corbella. Hadley and Corbella share how lobbyists can offer unique insight in pro bono cases, their work with the Tahirih Justice Center, and how they helped end the practice of child marriage in Texas and Florida.

In episode 8 of Good in Practice, Host Caroline Heller is joined by Morgan Stanley's Chief Legal Officer Eric Grossman. The episode highlights the importance of pro bono to Morgan Stanley, its internal program and who they serve, as well as why Grossman is a champion for pro bono.

In this episode, Caroline speaks with Greenberg Traurig's CEO Brian Duffy and its Co-Presidents Brad Kaufman and Ernest Greer.  The four discuss the critical role pro bono plays in times of crisis, especially in light of COVID-19; personal experiences that drive Brian, Brad, and Ernest to prioritize pro bono at the firm; Greenberg Traurig's collaboration with clients and the community on pro bono work; and why these firm leaders focus on “doing well by doing good.”

In this episode, Heller is joined by Wellspring Living's Founder and Executive Director, Mary Francis Bowley, and colleagues from the firm's Atlanta office, Associate Christopher Walker, who has provided pro bono work for Wellspring Living, and Marketing Director August Trammell, who is a current board member of the organization. The episode delves into how Wellspring Living came to be; the needs it addresses of those who are survivors of sexual abuse, trafficking, and exploitation; and how Greenberg Traurig's Atlanta office not only supports the organization but helps individual women in its programs.   Atlanta's Managing Shareholder Ted Blum also joins to share some insight as to how and why Wellspring Living is so important to Greenberg Traurig, including its partnership with Wellspring's Women's Academy.

In episode 5 of Good in Practice, host Caroline J. Heller takes a look back at 2020 and describes Greenberg Traurig's pro bono efforts amid a difficult year. Specifically, Heller highlights the recipients of the firm's pro bono awards and their impactful work in 2020.

In episode 4 of Good in Practice, Host Caroline J. Heller is joined by Elba B. Gutiérrez, Greenberg Traurig associate and the pro bono coordinator in the firm's Mexico City office. Their conversation highlights the differences between pro bono work in the U.S. and Mexico, the impact the firm has made through pro bono work, and how the office partners with local organizations and other law firms to continue to support the community.

In episode 3, the Greenberg Traurig shareholders who led the firm's team representing Theophalis Wilson, Kelly Dobbs Bunting and Brian T. Feeney, return as guests.  Host Caroline J. Heller, Bunting, Feeney, and Wilson discuss the challenges they faced, what eventually led to a break in their case, and reflect on the day Wilson was eventually exonerated, Jan. 21, 2020.   The three-part “Perfect Storm” tells the story of Theophalis Wilson who was wrongfully-convicted and incarcerated for 28 years before being fully exonerated in January 2020. Greenberg Traurig represented Wilson in his fight for innocence alongside the non-profit public interest law firm Phillips Black.

Episode two, “A ‘Perfect Storm' of Injustice (Pt 2),” picks up where episode one left off – Theophalis “Bilaal” Wilson was wrongfully-convicted and sentenced to life in prison. The second part of a three-part interview, Host Caroline Heller and Bilaal talk about what life was like during his 28-years in prison, how he maintained his innocence, and what led to meeting Greenberg Traurig Shareholders Kelly Dobbs Bunting and Brian T. Feeney, who also join as guests on this episode.

Episode one, “A ‘Perfect Storm' of Injustice,” features Theophalis Wilson, who goes by Bilaal, a wrongfully-convicted man who was incarcerated for 28 years before being fully exonerated in January 2020. In the first of a three-part interview, Host Caroline Heller and Bilaal discuss his life before being convicted and the events that led him to be sentenced to life without parole.