Friday, March 1, 2013

Meyer Glitzenstein & Crystal celebrate their twentieth anniversary

Today marks the twentieth anniversary of Meyer Glitzenstein & Crystal.  Founded by Katherine Meyer and Eric Glitzenstein on March 1, 1993, the Firm has since been an unwavering voice for animals, the environment, and public interest advocacy.  Part of the team since the beginning, Director of Operations Leslie Mink has helped grow the Firm into a practice that has been recognized by Washingtonian Magazine as “the most effective public-interest law firm in Washington.”
 
In 1996, the firm was joined by Howard Crystal, who became a name partner in 2005. Over the years, many talented and dedicated lawyers have been part of the firm – and many of our former attorneys have gone on to impressive careers in public interest law and other forms of public service.  Last year, attorney Bill Eubanks was named partner in the Firm.
 
Among the highlights of the Firm’s accomplishments over the past twenty years are:

-  victories for animals, successfully challenged federal regulations allowing “canned hunting,” ending the burning of endangered sea turtles in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, stopping the infamous Hegins pigeon shoot, eliminating grizzly bear hunting in Montana, and establishing a legal framework for Article III standing for individuals harmed by the treatment of captive wildlife;

bringing many cases to protect endangered species and preserve biodiversity, including cases leading to the creation of new sanctuaries and refuges for the Florida manatee, protection of the North Atlantic right whale from ship strikes, and the listing of hundreds of animals and plants as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act;

- protecting wild places by winning cases curbing off-road vehicles, jetskis, and snowmobile use in national parks;

- protecting public health and safety by achieving intervention for public health organizations in the U.S. Department of Justice’s massive case against the tobacco industry, and obtaining improved restoration of Department of Energy nuclear waste sites; and

ensuring access to government records and other agency proceedings through the Freedom of Information Act, Federal Advisory Committee Act, and other open government statutes.
 
Other current members of the Firm, Amanda Barker and Jessica Almy, congratulate the Firm’s founders and partners on this milestone and wish them great success as they continue to trailblaze on behalf of animals, the environment, and the people who care about them over the coming years.