Greenberg Traurig

Greenberg Traurig
Company type	Private
Industry	Law firm, Government relations
Founded	January 1, 1967; 59 years ago in Miami, Florida, United States
Founder	Mel Greenberg, Larry J. Hoffman, Robert H. Traurig
Headquarters	Miami, United States
Area served	United States, Europe, Middle East, Latin America, Asia
Key people	Brian Duffy (CEO)
Products	Legal services, Government relations services
Number of employees	Approximately 2,850 lawyers (2025) (2025)
Website	www.gtlaw.com

Greenberg Traurig is an international law and government relations firm established in Miami in 1967 by Mel Greenberg, Larry J. Hoffman, and Robert H. Traurig.

By 2025, it stands as the eighth-largest law firm in the United States, with a network of 49 offices spanning the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, Latin America, and Asia, employing around 2,850 lawyers globally. The firm's revenue for 2024 surpassed $2.6 billion.

Its New York City office is the largest and represents prominent clients including Diane Von Furstenberg Studios, Conde Nast Publications, The New Yorker, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, and entities within the plastics sector.

20th century

During the 1970s, with the addition of attorneys Norman H. Lipoff and Albert D. Quentel as named partners, the firm became known as Greenberg, Traurig, Hoffman, Lipoff, and Quentel. In the early 1980s, the late Florida governor Reubin Askew was also a named partner while pursuing the Democratic presidential nomination.

Larry Hoffman assumed the role of managing partner in 1991 and began expanding the firm nationally, initially opening an office in New York City. By 1999, additional offices were launched in Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles, and Wilmington, Delaware. That same year marked the establishment of the Greenberg Traurig Holly Skolnick Fellowship Foundation to support public interest lawyers affiliated with Equal Justice Works; this foundation was renamed in 2013 to honor shareholder Holly Skolnick.

21st century

In 2000, Greenberg Traurig expanded its footprint in New York City by acquiring the local office of Graham & James.

The firm inaugurated its London office in July 2009 under the name Greenberg Traurig Maher LLP (currently Greenberg Traurig, LLP), situated within The Shard skyscraper.

During the 2012 election cycle, Greenberg Traurig ranked among the leading contributors to federal candidates, donating $1.49 million with a slight majority (50.2%) directed to Democratic candidates. Since 1990, total federal political contributions by the firm reached $11.2 million.

From 2011 through 2013, Greenberg Traurig took part in the American Bar Association's National Pro Bono Week initiatives.

In 2013, the firm launched a residency program designed for associates recruited outside conventional campus interviews; this program permitted associates to allocate up to one-third of their billable hours to training during a one-year trial period.

Brian Duffy was appointed CEO in 2016. Founding partner Robert H. Traurig passed away in Miami in July 2018 at age 93.

In 2020, Greenberg Traurig became the first law firm certified as net carbon neutral by the Center for Resource Solutions. In October 2022, it achieved Mansfield Rule 5.0 Certified Plus status by ensuring at least 30% representation of historically underrepresented groups among leadership roles and lawyer staffing.

Abramoff lobbying scandals

In January 2001, lobbyist Jack Abramoff departed Preston Gates & Ellis to join Greenberg Traurig where he assembled "Team Abramoff," a lobbying group later involved in the Jack Abramoff Indian lobbying scandal and associated financial influence controversies.

Chicago patronage

Victor Reyes, former leader of the Hispanic Democratic Organization, joined Greenberg Traurig in 2001 to head its Chicago lobbying division. Between 2001 and 2005, the firm received $3.5 million in legal fees related to city matters including work on United Airlines and RCN Cable TV bankruptcies. U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald accused Reyes’s office of being central to a patronage system that allocated city jobs to workers supporting Richard M. Daley’s campaign. Reyes resigned in 2005 and was described as a "co-schemer," though he faced no charges. CEO César Álvarez stated there was no knowledge of any misconduct by Reyes within the firm.

Philadelphia bankruptcy matter

In May 2005, Robert S. Grossman, a partner at Greenberg Traurig in Philadelphia, admitted guilt for providing false statements in a 1996 bankruptcy proceeding. The case involved his concealment of diverting more than $100,000 into his personal account during his tenure as a real estate developer in Virginia.

Hamilton Bank settlement

In June 2006, Greenberg Traurig agreed to pay $7.6 million to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) due to its advisory role with the now-defunct Hamilton Bank located in Miami. This payment resolved accusations that the firm assisted in concealing financial wrongdoing by bank executives. Additionally, the firm incurred a $750,000 penalty from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency for submitting false statements and withholding critical evidence.

Tax shelter kickback scandal

Jay I. Gordon, formerly chairing Greenberg Traurig’s tax division, was disbarred in November 2006 after resigning from the New York State Bar Association. This followed revelations that he received kickbacks exceeding $1.2 million related to tax shelters promoted to affluent clients.

New York real estate litigation

A New York state court refused to dismiss a lawsuit in November 2008 involving Robert J. Ivanhoe, leader of Greenberg Traurig’s real estate practice. The suit alleges that Ivanhoe violated fiduciary responsibilities by acquiring an interest in an entity competing against a client engaged in a multibillion-dollar property project. The client initiated legal action against Ivanhoe and the firm in April 2008 for breach of fiduciary duty and malpractice. Greenberg Traurig denied all claims and intended to pursue an appeal.

Trademark infringement lawsuit

In December 2008, Greenberg Traurig along with several current and former attorneys, including Harley Lewin and Steven Wadyka, faced litigation in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia filed by Catherine and Richard Snyder of Herndon, Virginia. The dispute related to Greenberg Traurig’s client Diane Von Furstenberg Studios and Conde Nast Publications, including The New Yorker magazine and journalist Larissa MacFarquhar. This case originated from a 2006 trademark infringement suit brought by Diane Von Furstenberg Studios against Catherine Snyder, which concluded with damages awarded to DVF Studios.

Insider trading inquiry

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) initiated an investigation in 2014 concerning insider trading allegations involving Brian Sutter, staff director for the U.S. House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health, and lobbyist Mark Hayes from Greenberg Traurig. In November 2015, Judge Paul Gardephe ordered compliance with an SEC subpoena by both the Committee and a former staff member, ruling that communications between Sutter and Greenberg Traurig personnel were not shielded under the congressional Speech and Debate Clause. After extensive litigation and an appeal lasting two years, the Committee ultimately ceased opposing the SEC’s subpoena toward the end of 2016.

Rudy Giuliani association

Greenberg Traurig severed ties with Rudy Giuliani in May 2018 following his public assertions regarding payments to opponents linked to the Stormy Daniels controversy. Giuliani claimed such payments were routinely made without necessarily informing clients, prompting the firm to publicly disassociate from his remarks.

Frank Butselaar

In February 2025, former partner and tax attorney Frank Butselaar received a federal prison sentence of 30 months for aiding affluent clients in hiding tens of millions of dollars from the IRS.

Finances

Revenue Chart
Data	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021
Revenue (in $ billions)	$1.27B	$1.32B	$1.38B	$1.48B	$1.56B	$1.64B	$1.73B

Awards and rankings

Greenberg Traurig is positioned as the ninth largest law firm in the U.S. by number of attorneys and consistently ranks within the top 20 of the Am Law 100 based on gross revenue, the top 10 of the NLJ 500, and among the top 25 in the Global 200. In 2025, it was recognized as one of the 23 most recommended firms by general counsels according to BTI Consulting Group, receiving exceptional ratings for trust and client relationship management.

Law Firm Rankings
Year	AM Law 100 Rank	Global 200 Rank	NLJ 500 Rank
2021	16	21	9
2020	14	19	9
2019	14	19	10
2018	14	19	N/A
2017	14	19	N/A
2016	14	20	N/A

External links

References