Selection Caps a Year of Honors for DLA Piper Attorney and Freedom Now Founder
(Geneva, Switzerland and Washington, DC) March 11, 2008 -- The World Economic Forum today announced that DLA Piper associate and Freedom Now Founder Jared Genser has been selected as a Young Global Leader for 2008. This honor is bestowed each year by the World Economic Forum to recognize the top 200 to 300 young leaders from around the world for their professional accomplishments, commitment to society and potential to contribute to shaping the future of the world.
The Young Global Leaders for 2008 include 121 business leaders, as well as leaders from government, academia, media and society at large from 65 countries. The new class represents all regions, including East Asia (64), Europe (58), Middle East and North Africa (12), North America (45), South Asia (24), sub-Saharan Africa (21) and Latin America (21). Drawn from a pool of almost 5,000 candidates, the current community of Young Global Leaders represents more than 60 countries. This year’s newly-selected Global Leaders include His Royal Highness Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck, the king of Bhutan; Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide; former Tennis player and refugee advocate Steffi Graf; Rama Yade, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Human Rights of France; Anderson Cooper, anchor of CNN’s 360°; actor Leonardo DiCaprio; skateboard entrepreneur Tony Hawk; Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, as well as many others.
In nominating Genser for the program, Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town Desmond M. Tutu wrote: “[t]hrough his work as a young human-rights lawyer, he is an exemplar of innovative and outstanding public service. It is not an exaggeration to say that his pro bono work to win people their most basic human rights is having an impact that is both historic and truly global in scale.”
As a Young Global Leader, Genser will have the opportunity to participate in and contribute to world-level events over the next five years, such as the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos. He will also participate in task forces to initiate, develop, and drive innovative solutions on important issues of global concern.
“We’re incredibly proud of Jared, who is a model of a Young Global Leader,” said DLA Piper Joint CEO Lee Miller. “His pro bono work, both at DLA Piper and with Freedom Now, sets a stellar example for all our lawyers. He personifies the commitment and professional obligation we all have to serve our communities, and to fight for justice for those who need it most. Jared has also balanced hundreds of hours of pro bono work with a full load of paying clients and two thousand hours of billable work – a truly impressive feat by any measure.”
Lisa Dewey, Pro Bono Partner at DLA Piper, commented: “Jared works tirelessly to promote freedom and human rights. From Burma to Iran to Lebanon to North Korea, Jared has demonstrated that one person’s spirited advocacy – and persistence – can make a real difference in the world. His work has helped secure freedom for numerous political prisoners, and his global advocacy has helped put a spotlight on some of the worst human rights violations around the world today. ”
Genser’s inclusion in the 2008 Young Global Leaders is the latest in a string of honors he has received for his human rights activism and advocacy:
In November, the Law Society of England & Wales (UK) named Genser as the Young Pro Bono Solicitor of the Year in the large firm category. It was one of five awards given out to UK-qualified solicitors who have been practicing fewer than ten years.
The ABA Section of Litigation recently announced that Jared Genser would receive the 2008 John Minor Wisdom Award for Public Service and Professionalism. The ABA Section of Litigation, which makes the award, has more than 75,000 members and includes trial lawyers, judges and others involved in all aspects of litigation and the dispute resolution process.
In May, Genser will be one of two commencement speakers at the University of Pennsylvania Law School graduation, alongside Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico. Genser has been designated as this year’s Honorary Fellow -- a person who has distinguished him or herself in commitment to public service in law-related activities. It is Penn Law's hope to honor lawyers who have made "significant contributions to the ends of justice" and "to inspire its students to emulate these men and women." Prior Honorary Fellows have included Ralph Nader, Marion Wright Edelman, Leonard Boudin, Morris Dees, Justice Cruz Reynaldo, Anthony Amsterdam, Michael Posner, Cory Booker, Julie Su and Michael Ratner.
About Jared Genser
Jared Genser is an attorney in the Government Affairs group of DLA Piper in its Washington, D.C. office, where his work concentrates on public international law and human rights. He is also president of Freedom Now (www.freedom-now.org), an all-volunteer non-profit organization he founded to help secure the release of prisoners of conscience worldwide. Since 2001, Freedom Now has helped secure the release of a half-dozen prisoners worldwide. In addition, Genser is also a Lecturer at the University of Michigan Law School, teaching a weekly seminar entitled The UN Security Council in the 21st Century: Operations, Impact, and Reform. He was a 2006-2007 Visiting Fellow with the National Endowment for Democracy. His human rights clients have included former Czech Republic President Václav Havel, former Norwegian Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik, and Nobel Peace Prize Laureates Aung San Suu Kyi, Desmond Tutu, and Elie Wiesel. Previously, Genser was a management consultant with McKinsey & Company, the global strategy consulting firm.
Genser received his B.S. from Cornell University and then attended Hebrew University of Jerusalem as a Raoul Wallenberg Scholar. Subsequently, he received a Master in Public Policy degree from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. Finally, Genser received his J.D., cum laude, from the University of Michigan Law School, where he was the recipient of the Jane L. Mixer Memorial Award, given to the students who have made the greatest contribution to the cause of social justice. He has published op-eds on human rights topics in such publications as the Washington Post, New York Times, International Herald Tribune, Far Eastern Economic Review, The Nation (Bangkok), The Star (Johannesburg), and South China Morning Post. Genser is also a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
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