Albert Dandridge Installed as the 88th Chancellor of the Philadelphia Bar Association

For more on this story read:
The Philadelphia Inquirer: New head of the Philly bar focused on diversity
Philadelphia Daily News: From USMC to PBA
The Philadelphia Tribune: Education remains on top of Phila. Bar Association agenda
The Philadelphia Business Journal: Dandridge calls Bar Association members into service
KYW Radio: New Head of Phila. Bar Association Stresses Importance of Public Service
The Philadelphia Bar Reporter: Community Service, Help for Vets,
Attorneys Top Dandridge’s Agenda
Main Line Times: New chancellor Al Dandridge inspires action

On December 9, 2014, Schnader partner and Chief Diversity Officer Albert S. Dandridge, III was installed as the 88th Chancellor of the Philadelphia Bar Association during the organization’s annual meeting luncheon.

 

Mr. Dandridge is the fifth Schnader attorney to hold this title for the Association, joining Bernard G. Segal, Arlin M. Adams, Harold Cramer and Laurence E. Baccini.

 

During his installation address, Mr. Dandridge recounted the lessons learned during his early days as a U.S. Marine, his decision to become a lawyer, and the experiences he cultivated in the ensuing decades.

 

One of his many goals as chancellor is to have the members of the Philadelphia Bar Association “commit to enhance our service to our community. In this regard, I will ask every leader of our Association not only to undertake pro bono service, which we all have committed to do, but also commit to other service to our community which is not of a pro bono nature.”

 

With a nod to those who have served in the military, Mr. Dandridge asked for the members’ help in “promoting programs to help our veterans.” This entails strengthening outreach to the veterans’ community, including seeking legislative solutions to veterans’ issues; participating in military assistance programs, such as counseling military personnel about predatory lending practices; and reaching out to the Veterans Administration to educate and assist veterans in receiving the benefits to which they are entitled.

 

Lastly, he suggested “that we do all that we can to enhance the opportunities for all attorneys. We, as a Bar Association, will propose the adoption of diversity action plans in which the bar leadership will be asked to individually take on diversity and inclusion initiatives and responsibilities.”

 

Mr. Dandridge was elected the Philadelphia Bar Association as vice-chancellor in 2012, the precursor to serving as chancellor two years later.

 

Mr. Dandridge’s candidacy for vice-chancellor was endorsed by the Public Interest Section, the Young Lawyers Division, as well as by the Business Section of the Philadelphia Bar Association, the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association, the Philadelphia Association of Defense Counsel, the Louis D. Brandeis Law Society, the Justinian Society (co-endorsed), the Diversity in the Profession Committee of the Philadelphia Bar Association, former chairs of the Business Section of the Philadelphia Bar Association, and Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis LLP.

 

Mr. Dandridge served on the Board of Governors for the Philadelphia Bar Association from 2000 to 2003 and was a member of the Business Law Section’s executive committee from 2000 to 2008, including chairing it in 2006.

 

During the Vietnam War, Mr. Dandridge received the Bronze Star and Purple Heart combat awards as a U.S. Marine.

 

Mr. Dandridge is chair of the firm’s Securities Practice Group and serves as  its Chief Diversity Officer. His practice focuses on municipal and corporate finance matters and he regularly counsels major public companies, broker-dealers and investment advisors on their securities reporting and financing requirements. Before joining Schnader, he served at the Securities and Exchange Commission as associate director of small business and international corporate finance in the SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance. In addition, he served as special counsel in the Division of Corporation Finance. 

Albert Dandridge receives a standing ovation upon his installation as the 88th Chancellor of the Philadelphia Bar Association.