Fran Griesing - Griesing Law, LLC
2018 NAWBO Woman Business Owner of the Year Finalist
The Philadelphia Chapter’s own Francine Friedman Griesing, founder and managing member of Griesing Law, LLC has been selected as one of three finalists for the Woman Business Owner of the Year award sponsored by Bank of America.
This award recognizes and rewards an entrepreneur who excels at strategy, operations, finances, problem solving, overcoming adversity and giving back to the community. Chosen by a panel of NAWBO leadership and Bank of America representatives, the winner will be announced at the Awards Gala on September 25 during the National Conference in Spokane.
A NAWBO member since 2011, Fran says she is “honored to be among an impressive array of woman business leaders as a finalist. I can't wait to celebrate with my peers in September at the National Women's Business Conference!”
Like many NAWBO members, she is a relentless advocate for professional women. Fran is actively involved in Women Owned Law (WOL), the Forum of Executive Women, the National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF) and the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD). Both NAMWOLF and LCLD aim to build a diverse legal profession by fostering relationships between corporate in-house counsel and minority and women-owned law firms. Griesing Law was awarded NAMWOLF’s 2013 Law Firm MVP Award as the law firm that does most to advance the organization’s mission.
Fran launched Griesing Law in 2010, when all sectors were experiencing economic downturns. From a handful of clients and an 800 sq. ft. sublet space, her original three-person team has grown into a 15+ person team that is licensed to practice across the country and has offices in Philadelphia, New York and Cincinnati. Last year, Griesing Law received The Philadelphia Business Journal’s Soaring 76 award for being one of the fastest growing businesses in the Philadelphia area, just one of the most recent in a long list of recognitions by prestigious legal and professional organizations.
With over 35 years of experience representing clients in complex business transactions, high stakes litigation, employment matters and alternative dispute resolution matters, Fran is a valued strategic advisor to the region’s and country’s top executives. She serves as general counsel to some of the nation’s largest corporations and institutions, including Fortune 500 companies, privately held businesses and non-profits. She’s also highly sought as an arbitrator and mediator, primarily in employment and business disputes.
Those who attended the Greater Philadelphia Leadership Conference last Spring know Fran is a dynamic speaker. She is a speaker, writer and respected authority locally and nationally in the legal and entrepreneurial communities where she frequently shares her expertise as an attorney and as a business owner. She’ll be a featured panelist in a National Conference breakout session entitled “Grow Well: Million-Dollar Success Stories.” Her written work has been published in The Philadelphia Business Journal, The Legal Intelligencer, American Bar Association’s Law Practice Today, Section of Litigation, The Woman Advocate, and Hotel Business Review. Fran’s story on founding the firm was also included in the book, “The Road To Independence: 101 Women’s Journeys to Starting Their Own Law Firms”, published by the ABA. Through these various forms of thought leadership, Fran has shared her lessons learned over the course of her 35 year career with hundreds if not thousands of attorneys and other business professionals to help them succeed.
Giving back to the community is also high on her radar screen. Fran sits on multiple non-profit boards including the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, Committee of Seventy and Philadelphia/South Jersey Region American Jewish Congress.
The Greater Philadelphia Chapter is thrilled to congratulate Francine Friedman Griesing on her achievement, and are rooting for her to take away the top award at the National Conference!