It's that time of year when we anticipate an end to the vacation days of summer and the resumption of the school year routine. As it draws to a close, this has been a summer for the history books in many ways. Severe weather crisscrossed the country devastating communities with unprecedented heat and flooding. After the COVID-19 induced hiatus, crowds flocked to movie theaters to view the "Barbenheimer" duo on the big screen in air-conditioned comfort. And in Philadelphia, Cherelle Parker became the first Black woman to win the Democratic nomination for mayor. Her Republican opponent in the November election, former Council Member David Oh, is the first Asian elected to Philadelphia City Council. Given the disparity between Democratic and Republican registered voters, former council member and majority leader Parker is likely to be the city's next Mayor. But whichever of these civic-minded candidates prevail, the next mayor of Philadelphia will be breaking barriers. That is a tribute to the diversity in the home of the Liberty Bell—the "city that loves you back."

Although I am not a native Philadelphian, I grew up in New York, another city with a deep history of welcoming immigrants and offering a culture enriched by its diversity. I then spent most of my adult life in Philadelphia and founded our firm here. Our goal was to create an environment in which women and others in historically marginalized groups could achieve success in the legal profession without some of the obstacles they faced in traditional firms. Our team and clients have benefited from our varied backgrounds, our commitment to the elimination of bias, and the inclusive culture we fostered. Our engagement with the broader community, both locally and nationally, has exposed us to new ideas that enrich our practice enabling us to support the multicultural constituencies that comprise the private, non-profit, and public clients we serve.