2020: A Year in Review

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December 29, 2020 | 2:00 pm

2020 has been a year of unprecedented disruption and one that will be remembered for a global pandemic, political division, and social activism. We have experienced significant shifts in the way we work and in the way we live, testing our resilience and resolve. COVID-19 disrupted our business and personal lives and challenged the norms of our safety, health, and well-being. We witnessed peaceful protest and civil unrest. We have seen challenges for a justice system that needs to work for everyone and a Presidential election that seemed to deepen the political divide in our country.

Despite these significant events, Mansour Gavin stood strong and leaned into these challenges to deliver for our clients. Here are some highlights:

Over the last two years and before the pandemic, we upgraded our software and billing systems. Our attorneys and staff were able to work remotely and seamlessly with access to our new cloud-based systems, which provide state-of-the-art security infrastructure and comprehensive governance protocols.
Firm leadership made sacrifices to ensure that the welfare of our employees is at the forefront. We managed to keep our employees safe and avoid any staff reductions throughout this challenging time. We were also able to welcome five new attorneys to the firm this year. Welcome Ken Callahan, Tatyana Pishnyak, Danielle Easton, Malek Khawam, and Kendall Grodek!
Consistent with the underlying principles and culture of our law firm, we responded to current events surrounding social injustice by looking at how we can build upon our current practices and do better. We proudly state our mission “to continue to strive to maintain a workplace that promotes and values diversity, champions individual thought and expression, and creates an inclusive culture where all forms of diversity are appreciated, and where everyone can feel valued and included.” And this year, we formalized our commitment by forming a diversity and inclusion committee.
We expanded our social media presence on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter to keep you apprised of developments in the law, the community, and at our law firm. We updated our website, launching subpages to highlight our experience in several areas, including Banking and Finance, Creditors’ Rights and Receivership, Marijuana Law and Policy, and Healthcare and Assisted Living.
We worked hard to assist our clients in continuing business operations with the least amount of interruptions, navigating the CDC and boards of health guidelines in order to return employees to work safely. In that regard, we continue to serve as a valuable resource for our clients in navigating COVID-19 as it relates to business, labor and employment, environmental, health and safety, real estate, municipal law, litigation, and estate planning. Our attorneys are staying abreast of new developments and will continue to provide timely guidance, relevant alerts, and resources addressing key changes arising from the pandemic.

While it’s been a year of many accomplishments at Mansour Gavin, we’re looking forward to turning the page to 2021. We can’t wait to resume business as usual and connect with you in person.

Before I conclude, I wish to share two inspirational moments in tribute to the people of this great Nation. At the end of WWII, one of my uncles could not make it back from overseas in time for Christmas. He wouldn’t make it home until March. My grandmother demanded, and the entire family agreed, that we keep the Christmas Tree up until he returned to open the presents then. It was all about family.

In the Pandemic of 1918, 675,000 Americans died. The United States population was one-third of what it is today. Many families left a place setting and an empty chair at the dinner table as a remembrance of a loved one that would not be with them for that special family holiday dinner. This year, keep that symbolic gesture in mind, not just for a family member that passed, but for family members in nursing homes, in quarantine, or simply unable to travel because of the pandemic. Think of it as a “remote” way to give thanks and celebrate the time you have with your family.

As we bid farewell to 2020 and leap into the new year full of hope, let us savor the holiday celebrations with family and friends, whether it’s in person or via FaceTime or Zoom and at the stroke of midnight, let us toast to the arrival of 2021 with excitement and delight.

From all of us at Mansour Gavin, we wish you a safe, healthy, and happy new year!