Alan Solow
Encyclopedia
Alan P. Solow is an American
lawyer
, Jewish leader and philanthropist
. He is a partner at DLA Piper
's bankruptcy
group based in Chicago
, and a Chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. He is also a veteran supporter and a longtime friend of the United States President Barack Obama
.
in 1976, and received J.D.
degree (also cum laude) from Harvard Law School
in 1979. Before coming to DLA Piper in 2009, he worked at Goldberg Kohn commercial law
firm for 25 years.
He was elected a Fellow in the American College of Bankruptcy and is included in The Best Lawyers in America. He is a member of Aitz Hayim Center for Jewish Living
located in Highland Park, Illinois
. He is married and has three children.
His term as chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations is slated to expire June 1, 2011, when he is succeeded by the next chairman Richard Stone
for the Illinois State Senate, including an interview to The Forward
praising Obama's abilities. At the time, Solow resided in Obama's South Side of Chicago
district. This support continued with the Senate
campaign
and played an important role in the Presidential campaign
, helping gather Jewish support for the candidate. He was also one of the bundlers (major financial backers) of the Obama campaign, having contributed over half a million dollars.
Solow is credited with calling Barack Obama "the first Jewish president". In 2008, he was quoted: "I said with a smile that he will be the first Jewish president. He also has a deep understanding of issues that confront Israel and the Jewish community." He also traveled with Obama to Israel
in a highly publicized visit in 2007.
It is widely speculated that the friendship with the president helped Solow become the chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, a suggestion rejected by Solow. Later, Solow criticized the Obama administration for its stand on the Israeli settlement
s issue. He also criticized Obama anti-semitism envoy
Hannah Rosenthal
for remarks which "could threaten to limit her effectiveness in the area for which she is actually responsible".
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, Jewish leader and philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
. He is a partner at DLA Piper
DLA Piper
DLA Piper is a global law firm with 76 offices across 30 countries and more than 4,200 lawyers. As of May 2011, it was the largest law firm in the world by number of attorneys. The firm's global revenues were $1.92 billion in 2009-2010. The firm is composed of two partnerships, DLA Piper...
's bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
group based in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, and a Chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. He is also a veteran supporter and a longtime friend of the United States President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
.
Biography
Solow graduated summa cum laude from University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
in 1976, and received J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
degree (also cum laude) from Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
in 1979. Before coming to DLA Piper in 2009, he worked at Goldberg Kohn commercial law
Commercial law
Commercial law is the body of law that governs business and commercial transactions...
firm for 25 years.
He was elected a Fellow in the American College of Bankruptcy and is included in The Best Lawyers in America. He is a member of Aitz Hayim Center for Jewish Living
Aitz Hayim Center for Jewish Living
Aitz Hayim Center for Jewish Living is a post-denominational synagogue in Glencoe, Illinois. Founded in 1994 as a member-led congregation by Dr. Marc Slutsky, Steven Silberman, and Rabbi Irwin Kula, cited as the 8th most influential rabbi in U.S and the 11th most influential Jew in the world and...
located in Highland Park, Illinois
Highland Park, Illinois
Highland Park is a suburban municipality in Lake County, Illinois, United States, about north of downtown Chicago. As of 2009, the population is 33,492. Highland Park is one of several municipalities located on the North Shore of the Chicago Metropolitan Area.-Overview:Highland Park was founded...
. He is married and has three children.
His term as chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations is slated to expire June 1, 2011, when he is succeeded by the next chairman Richard Stone
Support of President Obama and criticism of the Obama administration
Solow was one of the earliest supporters and financial backers of President Barack Obama, since his 1994 campaignIllinois Senate elections of Barack Obama
Barack Obama won three Illinois Senate elections. The Illinois Senate career of Barack Obama began in 1997 after his first election in 1996 to a two-year term in the Illinois Senate representing Illinois' 13th Legislative District in Chicago. He was re-elected in 1998 to a four-year term and...
for the Illinois State Senate, including an interview to The Forward
The Forward
The Forward , commonly known as The Jewish Daily Forward, is a Jewish-American newspaper published in New York City. The publication began in 1897 as a Yiddish-language daily issued by dissidents from the Socialist Labor Party of Daniel DeLeon...
praising Obama's abilities. At the time, Solow resided in Obama's South Side of Chicago
South Side (Chicago)
The South Side is a major part of the City of Chicago, which is located in Cook County, Illinois, United States. Much of it has evolved from the city's incorporation of independent townships, such as Hyde Park Township which voted along with several other townships to be annexed in the June 29,...
district. This support continued with the Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
campaign
United States Senate election in Illinois, 2004
The 2004 United States Senate election in Illinois was held on November 2, 2004. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Peter Fitzgerald decided to retire after one term. The Democratic and Republican primary elections were held in March, which included a total of 15 candidates who combined to spend a...
and played an important role in the Presidential campaign
United States presidential election, 2008
The United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on November 4, 2008. Democrat Barack Obama, then the junior United States Senator from Illinois, defeated Republican John McCain, the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. Obama received 365...
, helping gather Jewish support for the candidate. He was also one of the bundlers (major financial backers) of the Obama campaign, having contributed over half a million dollars.
Solow is credited with calling Barack Obama "the first Jewish president". In 2008, he was quoted: "I said with a smile that he will be the first Jewish president. He also has a deep understanding of issues that confront Israel and the Jewish community." He also traveled with Obama to Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
in a highly publicized visit in 2007.
It is widely speculated that the friendship with the president helped Solow become the chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, a suggestion rejected by Solow. Later, Solow criticized the Obama administration for its stand on the Israeli settlement
Israeli settlement
An Israeli settlement is a Jewish civilian community built on land that was captured by Israel from Jordan, Egypt, and Syria during the 1967 Six-Day War and is considered occupied territory by the international community. Such settlements currently exist in the West Bank...
s issue. He also criticized Obama anti-semitism envoy
Office To Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism
The Office To Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism is a part of the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Affairs at the United States Department of State. It is headed by the Special Envoy To Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism . The office "advocates U.S...
Hannah Rosenthal
Hannah Rosenthal
Hannah Rosenthal is a Special Envoy and the head of Office To Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism in the Obama Administration, sworn to office November 23, 2009.-Biography :...
for remarks which "could threaten to limit her effectiveness in the area for which she is actually responsible".
External links
- Alan Solow, a profile on the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations website.
- Partner Alan P. Solow, a profile on the DLA Piper's website.