The Legal Benchmarking Group is thrilled to recognise and celebrate the recipient of the 2024 social impact leader of the year award, Chinh Pham, who is co-chair of the venture capital and emerging technology group at Greenberg Traurig in Boston.
The inaugural Social Impact Americas Awards were held in a momentous ceremony at the prestigious Metropolitan Club in New York City on June 20.
When Pham arrived in the US as a refugee from Vietnam in 1975, little did people know that this journey would ignite a lifelong mission of mentorship and advocacy. Embracing the kindness of strangers who sponsored and supported their family, Pham vowed to pay it forward, using his legal expertise to break down barriers and create opportunities for others.
In this insightful conversation, we delve into Pham's inspiring journey and dedication to supporting the next generation of lawyers.
Can you tell us about your career journey and what led you to focus on the continued development, advancement, and mobility of lawyers within the legal profession?
I arrived in the US as a refugee from war-torn Vietnam in 1975. I was fortunate that this country overall was very welcoming, and the people who helped us and sponsored us did so genuinely out of the kindness of their hearts. If nothing else, that experience almost 50 years ago has inspired me to spend a lifetime trying to pay it forward. If I have had to knock down a few barriers in the process, I hope that I have also helped others to cross them to find success.
I am acutely aware that no achievement is an isolated endeavour. My journey has been shaped by the unwavering support of mentors, colleagues, friends, and family. A strong support network was crucial for me from the time my family fled Vietnam, all through my formative years, during law school, and throughout my legal career. Without the support and encouragement of others, I may have found myself on a completely different path.
That’s why I have spent so much time mentoring others. While I had a strong support network, at times I felt that I lacked a mentor who had travelled a similar path and who could serve as an adviser and confidante. I’ve spent my career trying to be for others the mentor that I wish I had in my early days. It’s important for all of us who have achieved some level of success to pay it forward and be that beacon of light for the next generation.
What does winning the social impact leader of the year award mean to you personally and professionally?
I am deeply honoured to receive the LBG 2024 social impact leader of the year award. This recognition is particularly important to me. Throughout my career, giving back to the community has been a big part of why I do what I do. To this day, I enjoy using my legal expertise and problem-solving and analytical skills to serve the DEI community in numerous ways.
Overall, winning this award inspires me to continue advocating for justice and equality, to empower future leaders, and foster a world where diversity can also thrive. I am deeply grateful for this recognition, and I share this honour with all those who have contributed to breaking down barriers to redefine the boundaries of what is possible.
I share this honour with my law firm, Greenberg Traurig, which is a uniquely empowering and diverse firm built on a foundation of fairness, equality, and authenticity.
I also share this award with every diverse legal professional who has blazed a trail before me and those who continue to contribute to a narrative of progress.
Who or what has been your biggest inspiration in your work towards building a more inclusive legal industry?
As a refugee, opportunities to advance and make a life in this country were not handed to me on a silver platter. I learned early on that resilience would be a key attribute necessary to succeed, and this has served me well throughout my career. Like many refugees and immigrants, career development has not always been a straight path, and there are many twists and turns along the path to success. The ability to overcome adversity, whether from hardship, personal issues, or even discrimination, is essential to success. I truly believe that if you think of yourself as a victim, you will easily miss the opportunities that lie ahead. Instead, you must visualise what success means to you, ignore all the noise, persevere, forge ahead and carve your own unique path to success.
What specific initiatives or programmes throughout your career are you most proud of?
I have always recognised and valued DEI initiatives and have made every effort to contribute to their success. Along the way, I have held a number of leadership roles with numerous legal organisations and affinity groups such as:
President of the Boston Bar Association (BBA), from 2022 to 2023, where fostering diversity was one of my primary missions to ensure that the BBA truly reflected the community it served;
Member of the Society of Fellows and trustee of the Boston Bar Foundation – the charitable arm of the BBA – working to promote justice for all;
Board member and past president of the National Conference of Vietnamese American Attorneys;
Former co-chair of Greenberg Traurig’s Asian American Affinity Group, where I co-led an initiative to attract, retain and advance Asian American attorneys at the firm;
Long-time mentor to young lawyers and entrepreneurs, to help create the next generation of leaders who are confident in their diversity and leadership abilities;
Member of the board of trustees of the Museum of Science in Boston, where I work with others to advance the museum’s mission of transforming the nation’s relationship with science and technology. I am also member of the museum’s DEI Task Force, which created a DEI statement of commitment to guide the museum's vision and mission;
Former chair of the Board of Museum Advisors, and of the Fundraising and Events Committee, and current chair of the Museum’s Discoverers Committee; and
Since 2009, I’ve been a member of the Museum’s Boston Marathon team in support of Traveling Programs, which brings science and technology to schools and communities across the Northeast that may otherwise not be able to come to the museum.
I am proud of all these initiatives and programmes, as these are all examples of what we can accomplish when we work together to carve a path of service, advocacy and diversity.
What strategies have you found most effective in creating a more inclusive and diverse industry?
I have always believed that the biggest indicator of success is not the path you take into the profession, nor the location or size of the firm in which you practise, but rather the impact you make when you get there. As lawyers, I believe we need to use our knowledge, expertise, and position in the community to foster a more inclusive and diverse profession. We must collaborate and work together to achieve this goal and be a respected voice and convener both within the profession and the community in which we live and work.
Can you share a particularly memorable success story where your efforts significantly affected someone's career path or career view?
As mentioned, I believe that the biggest indicator of success is not the path one takes into the profession, nor the location or size of the firm in which you practise, but rather the impact you make when you get there. That is a philosophy I’ve shared with many young lawyers through my involvement with various bar associations and was a primary message for me in my role as BBA president.
What are some of the biggest challenges you have faced in your advocacy work, both within the legal industry and beyond, and how have you overcome them?
The main DEI challenges facing the legal and business communities are resistance to change, lack of awareness, difficulty in measuring success, and sustaining engagement. Addressing these involves comprehensive education and training programmes to raise awareness and understanding, building coalitions to support change, establishing clear and actionable metrics for accountability, securing leadership commitment to integrate DEI principles into organisational culture, and continuous improvement by seeking feedback and adapting strategies. By implementing these solutions, together we can make significant progress in promoting DEI within the legal profession and beyond.
I continue to be inspired by aspiring and young lawyers who are eager to learn, excel at the legal profession, and be an agent of change for the betterment of society.
What changes or trends, if any, have you observed in the legal profession since you began your advocacy efforts?
I have observed a number of changes and trends in the legal profession’s efforts to create a truly diverse and inclusive environment. Many more firms and organisations today are actively prioritising DEI values. Initiatives such as diverse hiring practices, inclusive workplace policies, and targeted mentorship programmes have become more prevalent. Additionally, there is increased transparency and accountability, with firms regularly reporting on DEI metrics and progress. The legal profession has also seen a rise in collaborative efforts, such as industry-wide DEI coalitions and partnerships, aimed at driving systemic change. These trends reflect a broader commitment to creating a more equitable and inclusive legal landscape.
My law firm, Greenberg Traurig, is, and always has been, at the forefront of these trends, and I am proud to practise at a firm that is paving the way for DEI in the legal industry.
Can you discuss any partnerships or collaborations with other organisations that have been particularly effective in advancing inclusion? How has your time as an executive committee member of the BBA aided in this journey?
I’m fortunate to have been a part of many worthwhile organisations with strong DEI missions. For example, the BBA strongly emphasises equity and inclusiveness. As a long-time BBA member, an executive committee member and a past-president, I can say that DEI is part of the organisation’s core values. While I served as president, we launched the BBA’s inaugural career fair, connecting law students of colour and from underrepresented communities with hiring representatives from Boston law firms. We expanded BBA’s DEI summer fellowship programme, providing law students with opportunities for summer internships in public interest settings. These programmes provide students —regardless of background — with access to career opportunities and mentorship, while deepening the diverse talent pool within law firms and organisations throughout Massachusetts.
In what ways have your efforts influenced your colleagues and the broader legal community? What advice would you give to other legal professionals or law firms looking to enhance their efforts?
I don’t know that my efforts alone have influenced the legal community. Rather, our success is a collective effort and a shared experience. We reflect the struggles of those who have come before us, and all those who have come to the US, dreaming of a better life. We stand on their shoulders, empowered to make a difference not only in the legal profession but also in the lives of the communities we serve. It is our responsibility to remain committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. It is our duty to light the way for those who might not have the same opportunities or access to justice that we’ve had.
For other legal professionals or law firms looking to enhance their DEI efforts, my advice is to start with education and awareness. Implement comprehensive training programmes to build understanding and buy-in. Establish clear metrics to track progress and hold everyone accountable. Engage leadership to ensure sustained commitment and embed DEI principles into the firm’s core values. Finally, create alliances within and outside the organisation to amplify efforts and drive systemic change.
What are some of your goals for the next few years in terms of promoting and advancing the development of underrepresented lawyers at your firm and the legal profession as a whole? How do you encourage others to see the value in this work?
My goal is to continue my long-held mission of “paying it forward”. I will continue to seek out opportunities to educate and advocate for diverse lawyers and hold key roles with affinity and bar groups as well as with business and charitable organisations to continue my path of championing change for diversity, equity, and inclusion in any capacity that I can. I encourage others by doing and inviting them to conversations around DEI so they can see the value and benefits that diverse perspectives and backgrounds can bring to the table.
The Social Impact Americas Awards were held at the prestigious Metropolitan Club in New York City on June 20 2024. These inaugural awards shone a spotlight on elite firms and individuals that have not only excelled in their respective fields but have also championed inclusion within their workplaces and industries. To view the evening's winners, click here.
