Best of the Bar 2023: Honoree Profiles
In September, Blank Rome announced that senior counsel Judge James T. Giles was inducted into the Philadelphia Business Journal’s Best of the Bar Hall of Fame, which recognizes attorneys who "have made an indelible mark throughout their legal careers."
The firm also announced that partner Kathy E. Ochroch, who serves as the firm's director of pro bono and community impact, and partner Joshua L. Strober were named to the Philadelphia Business Journal’s 2023 Best of the Bar, which honors the Philadelphia region’s 35 "most impactful" lawyers across 10 categories.
Below are excerpts of their honoree profiles, as published in the Philadelphia Business Journal.
James T. Giles
Senior counsel, Blank Rome; former chief judge for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District
of Pennsylvania
Hanging on the walls of his office at Blank Rome, where he now serves as senior counsel, James Giles has his maternal grandfather's 1896 diploma from New York Law School. It is both a reminder of the barriers his family has overcome, and the lessons imparted by his grandparents.
The same year the degree was conferred, the U.S. Supreme Court released its landmark decision in Plessy v. Ferguson, which said that racial segregation laws did not violate the U.S. Constitution as long as the facilities for each race were equal in quality, a doctrine that came to be known as "separate but equal."
"I can only imagine that his practicing law took a big hit because Plessy not only affected schools but solidified social segregation in every facet of American life," Giles said of his grandfather.
While his grandfather's legal career never took off as it should have, Giles himself was able to capitalize on opportunities afforded to him. He became the first Black lawyer and partner at Pepper Hamilton and after just 12 years was appointed as a federal judge before becoming chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. It is for his trailblazing career, which has impacted countless lawyers, that the Philadelphia Business Journal is inducting Giles into the Best of the Bar Hall of Fame.
To read the full article, please click here.
"Best of the Bar 2023: James Giles and Abraham Reich Inducted into Hall of Fame," by Jeff Blumenthal was published in the Philadelphia Business Journal on November 16, 2023.
Kathy Ochroch; Partner; Director of Pro Bono and Community Impact
Firm: Blank Rome
Law school: George Washington University (1997)
Ochroch, who supervises Blank Rome's pro bono program, was a lead attorney in the 2022 successful culmination of a 17-year-long representation of Wilfredo Ramos, who was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death in January 2000. After uncovering new evidence, Ochroch successfully petitioned to get Ramos off death row in 2008. Ramos was then resentenced to 20 to 40 years, making him eligible for parole as he had already served 24 years in prison by that time. Due to his spotless record while incarcerated, Ramos was granted parole on his first application and was released from prison in April 2022.
I knew I wanted to be a lawyer when: I recognized the power of the law in standing up to injustice and unfairness.
The biggest inflection point in my career: When I transitioned from being a commercial litigator to running the pro bono program at Blank Rome. I feel incredibly fortunate to be able to dedicate my legal career to pro bono service.
To read the full article, please click here.
"Best of the Bar 2023: Get To Know Our Honorees in the Pro Bono Category," by Jeff Blumenthal was published in the Philadelphia Business Journal on November 16, 2023.
Joshua Strober; Partner
Firm: Blank Rome
Law School: Villanova University (2006)
Strober led a Blank Rome team last December in representing Kansas-based private healthcare education provider Concorde Career Colleges in its $50 million sale to Universal Technical Institute, a workforce solution provider of transportation and skilled trades education programs. The combined company now serves over 20,000 students across 33 locations.
I knew I wanted to be a lawyer when: I realized my dream to become an archeologist in the mold of Indiana Jones was, unfortunately, incredibly unlikely.
The biggest inflection point in my career: After spending my first two years at the firm working on company public offerings, I was offered the chance to join a team for a private equity platform acquisition. I feel in love with "the M&A transaction" and never looked back.
To read the full article, please click here.
"Best of the Bar 2023: Get To Know Our Honorees in the Corporate Category," by Jeff Blumenthal was published in the Philadelphia Business Journal on November 16, 2023.