Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Over our history, one of our lawyers, while serving as Deputy City Solicitor representing the City Human Relations Commission, appeared before the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing (and winning) that wanted ads should not be sorted by gender. Read the case decision here: Pittsburgh Press Co. v. Human Rel. Comm’n, 413 U.S. 376 (1973).

As President of the Board of the ACLU Pittsburgh branch, attorney E. J. Strassburger was instrumental in the fight to have universities in Pittsburgh give benefits to same sex partners. He later went on to serve as President of Neighborhood Legal Services.

We are proud that approximately half of our attorneys are women. They have chaired the Women in Law Division (W.L.D.) Council of the Allegheny County Bar Association, and two attorneys currently serve on the Gender Equality Committee.

SMGG was recently selected as part of the inaugural cohort of the ALLY Initiative of the Allegheny County Bar Association, through which we commit to increasing inclusivity, creating equitable workplaces, empowering historically marginalized and underrepresented members of the bar, and reflecting the community we serve, through active participation in various key programs and projects targeted to achieve these objectives.

Attorneys from SMGG have been instrumental in forming and leading the Pittsburgh Legal Diversity & Inclusion Coalition: the first executive director, Susan Yohe, was a shareholder at SMGG, and the current executive director, Ena Lebel, is a recent alumna of SMGG.

SMGG attorneys have a history of serving in leadership roles of nonprofits dedicated to individuals with psychiatric, developmental and/or intellectual disabilities, including:

• Two past Presidents of the Board of Directors of Jewish Residential Services
• Chair Elect, Trustee and Board Members of the Epilepsy Foundation of Western/Central Pennsylvania
• Past President and Board Members of Pace School
• Vice President of the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children
• Board Member of The Children’s Home of Pittsburgh & Lemieux Family Center

In addition, SMGG is a member of Three Rivers Business Alliance, whose mission is to promote, expand, and improve the economic interests of businesses owned by LGBTQ+ persons in the Pittsburgh/Greater Allegheny Region and their allies.