Arent Fox Receives National First Place Award for Community Relations from the Legal Marketing Association

Several hundred children from dozens of District of Columbia Public Schools participate in multiple tournaments each year based on GeoPlunge, a geography game created more than a decade ago by Communications, Technology & Mobile leader Alan G. Fishel. Hundreds of other students play in intra-school tournaments or clubs at their schools.

“Alan is well-known for his creativity when resolving clients’ issues,” said Managing Partner Matthew J. Clark. “With GeoPlunge, he has provided a great example of how that kind of thinking can also be used to benefit our nation’s students.”

“GeoPlunge is one of our marquee service programs that connects the firm with the local community,” said Mr. Fishel. “The firm’s outreach has been very well-received. For more than a decade the tournament has drawn rave reviews from DCPS, students, teachers, principals, parents, local businesses, clients, and sponsors, all of whom have helped make this program a success.” In fact, a LMA judge noted that “this is one of the most ambitious ventures I have seen in a long time.”

But just as important as the community element is the effect the game has had on children. “The game is designed to do more than just teach students about our great country, which is an important aspect of GeoPlunge,” said Mr. Fishel. “The objective is to also help them develop skills that they will need to succeed in their careers, including learning how to prepare for major competitions and assignments, recognizing the critical importance of attention to detail, enhancing their strategic thinking skills, and embracing their role as a member of a team.”

Arent Fox won the LMA Capital Chapter’s Your Honor Award for Capital Engagement in 2014 for its work with GeoPlunge before winning the national award last week. The LMA Your Honor Awards program recognizes excellence in legal marketing by promoting projects and programs that exemplify innovation and community support. With more than 3,000 members, LMA is the industry’s leading trade association and maintains professional standards for business development, client service, and communications disciplines within the legal profession.

More than 50 Arent Fox employees are involved in the GeoPlunge program. In addition to Mr. Fishel, other people who lead Arent Fox’s efforts include partners Wilburn L. Chesser, Elizabeth H. Cohen, and Juliana I. Haydoutova, associates Adam D. Bowser, Tiffany Brooks Healy, Daniel B. Jasnow, Eva J. Pulliam, Amy E. Salomon, Loni J. Sherwin, and Andrew F. Solinger, technology solutions director Saishree Shetty, paralegals Johanna Mansilla and Cathy O’Brien, legal secretary Shaunice Thomas, and client services coordinator Lanitra Bryant.