Good In Practice

In this episode of the Good In Practice podcast, host Caroline Heller, Chair of Greenberg Traurig's Global Pro Bono Program, sits down with Colin Kennedy, a litigation associate in the firm's Boston office, to discuss one of the more unexpected intersections of law and passion: sharks. A self-described "shark nerd" since childhood and a certified scuba diver, Colin has channeled his lifelong interest in great white sharks into a pro bono relationship with the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, a Cape Cod-based nonprofit dedicated to shark research, public safety, and community education.

Colin shares how a law school internship with the organization eventually led to him becoming their outside pro bono counsel at Greenberg Traurig, handling a wide range of matters.

Beyond the shark stories, Colin reflects on the professional development benefits of pro bono work, explaining how serving as a primary point of contact for an organizational client has sharpened his judgment, expanded his legal knowledge across multiple practice areas, and built skills that now translate directly to his practice.

He also offers encouragement to fellow associates, emphasizing that pro bono work is most rewarding when it is connected to something personally meaningful.

In this episode of Greenberg Traurig's Good In Practice podcast, host Caroline Heller, Chair of the firm's Global Pro Bono Program, sits down with Jordan Grotzinger, Co-Chair of the firm's Los Angeles Litigation Practice, to discuss one of the most compelling pro bono cases in GT's recent history: the wrongful conviction case of Pierre Rushing.

Pierre Rushing was convicted of murder at age 22, sentenced to 50 years to life, has now spent 15 years incarcerated for a crime that mounting evidence suggests he did not commit. Pierre has maintained his innocence since the beginning.

Jordan, whose day-to-day practice focuses on trade secrets and commercial litigation, explains how a podcast he listened to during the pandemic sparked his interest in wrongful conviction work and ultimately led him to Pierre's case. He walks listeners through the significant evidentiary problems with the original conviction, including the testimony of an eyewitness whose description of the perpetrator changed dramatically over time.

Their conversation traces the long and winding post-conviction road, including two prior habeas proceedings, a federal appeal to the Ninth Circuit, and the eventual emergence of critical new evidence. That evidence includes a recantation by the original eyewitness, declarations from two individuals who were present at the scene stating that Pierre was not there, and - most strikingly - 464 pages of police reports produced by the prosecution 13 years after the conviction, which may have violated the Brady disclosure rules of evidence.

Beyond the legal details, the episode offers a look at Pierre as a person - a young man from a difficult background in Oakland who was going to school and building a future as a rapper when his life was upended. Jordan reflects on Pierre's resilience and on the extraordinary contributions of GT associate Andrea Carmona, whose work he credits as essential to getting the case to its current stage.

The episode closes with a broader call to action. With over 3,800 documented exonerations in the United States since 1989, and far more individuals claiming wrongful conviction without access to legal representation, Jordan and Caroline urge lawyers to consider taking on innocence cases pro bono.

A hearing in Pierre's case is forthcoming. For more, watch this CNN interview with Jordan Grotzinger and Andrea Carmona, visit: https://www.gtlaw.com/en/news/2026/05/media-coverage/injustice-system-re-examining-the-murder-case-of-pierre-rushing.

In this episode of Good in Practice, host Caroline Heller sits down with Elizabeth Hadley, a Greenberg Traurig shareholder in the firm's Austin office, to discuss a years-long pro bono legislative effort that culminated in a landmark victory for human trafficking survivors in Texas.

As the pro bono lobbyist for the Lone Star Justice Alliance, Elizabeth worked across multiple legislative sessions to pass a law establishing duress as a defense for victims of human trafficking who were forced to commit crimes by their abusers. The legislation, which was ultimately signed into law following a regular session, a gubernatorial veto, and a rare special session fix, allows survivors to introduce evidence of their history of trauma and exploitation at trial.

Elizabeth and Caroline discuss the coalition-building and bipartisan cooperation that made the bill possible, the story of one survivor whose experience helped drive the effort, and what this work means to Elizabeth personally.

They also reflect on how pro bono legislative work represents an often overlooked but powerful way for lawyers to give back to their communities.

In this special relaunch episode of the Good in Practice podcast, Caroline Heller, Chair of Greenberg Traurig's Global Pro Bono Program, sits down with GT CEO Brian Duffy to explore the heart and impact of pro bono work at the firm. Together, they discuss Greenberg Traurig's unique philosophy of giving back, emphasizing how pro bono service is not only an obligation but also a privilege and a core value that strengthens the firm's culture. Brian shares personal stories from his early legal career, highlighting how pro bono matters accelerate associate development, build confidence, and offer transformative opportunities for client interaction and leadership. The conversation addresses common concerns associates may have about taking on pro bono work—such as subject matter intimidation and balancing billable expectations—while reinforcing the firm's commitment to supporting approved pro bono matters. Caroline and Brian also examine how collaborating on pro bono initiatives deepens professional relationships and makes teams stronger, more empathetic, and effective. Brian encourages all attorneys to get involved, underscoring that volunteering yields personal and professional rewards far beyond expectations. Tune in to hear inspiring stories and learn why pro bono is integral to Greenberg Traurig's legacy of service, leadership, and excellence.

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 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.