Akin Gump Named Among Top Innovative Firms, Advocacy Efforts on Behalf of Independent Venues Recognized, in FT Innovative Lawyers North America Report
(New York) – In its 2021 North American Innovative Lawyers report, Financial Times ranked Akin Gump among the top 20 “most innovative law firms in North America — Practice of law.” It also recognized the firm’s work in the “Innovation in Rescue and Recovery” category for its advocacy efforts, led by Akin Gump public law and policy senior policy advisor Casey Higgins and partner Ed Pagano, on behalf of the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA).
NIVA’s advocacy work led Congress to the passage of the bipartisan Save Our Stages Act. Passed in December 2020, the legislation provided $16 billion in grants to live entertainment venues, performing arts centers and movie theaters to survive the shutdown. Learn more Earlier this year, Ms. Higgins and Mr. Pagano were named Billboard Top Music Lawyers and NLJ Entertainment Trailblazers for these efforts.
The publication also quoted Akin Gump chairperson Kim Koopersmith, who was selected among FT’s most innovative Law Firm Leaders last year, regarding the importance of firm culture and professional fulfillment as it pertains to recruiting and retaining top talent, saying, “For me, part of the war for talent will be fought on money and making sure people aren’t burnt out. But at its core, it is how you treat people and whether they feel good about how they’re developing.”
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP is a leading international law firm with more than 900 lawyers and advisors in offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
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People Recognized
