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Thompson Hine LLP, a full-service business law firm with approximately 400 lawyers in 8 offices, was ranked number 1 in the category “Most innovative North American law firms: New working models” by The Financial Times and was 1 of 7 firms shortlisted for The American Lawyer’s inaugural Legal Services Innovation Award. The firm has been recognized by the National Law Journal as a Legal Technology Trailblazer and featured by Bloomberg for its innovative service delivery models, which drive accuracy and predictability. The firm’s commitment to innovation is embodied in Thompson Hine SmartPaTHTM – a smarter way to work – predictable, efficient and aligned with client goals. For more information, please visit ThompsonHine.com and ThompsonHine.com/SmartPaTH.

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Thompson Hine is pleased to announce that partner Robyn Minter Smyers has received the Outstanding Fundraising Volunteer Award from the Greater Cleveland chapter of The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP). Smyers received this recognition in connection with AFP’s celebration of National Philanthropy Day®.

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Smyers is a member of Thompson Hine’s Executive Committee, former Cleveland office partner-in-charge, and former chair of the firm’s Diversity, Equity &amp; Inclusion Initiative. A partner in the firm’s Real Estate, Construction and Corporate Transactions &amp; Securities practice groups, Smyers focuses on commercial real estate and corporate transactions, particularly shopping center, urban redevelopment, multifamily housing, manufacturing plant, distribution center, hospitality and public-private partnership deals. She also counsels corporations on environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives; real estate strategies; dispositions of environmentally contaminated assets; facilities management; and domestic sourcing and procurement transactions.

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Smyers was nominated for the award by the City Club of Cleveland, where she served as board president from July 2018 through June 2021. Her tenure as president included addressing the challenges of COVID-19 and launching the largest fundraising campaign in the City Club’s history. In nominating Smyers, the City Club noted, “When the pandemic caused the City Club to shut down in March 2020, Robyn led the board through critical conversations about how to pivot quickly and identify new philanthropic support as well as new income streams. Her calm but pragmatic board leadership during the early, stressful, and financially unsure months of the pandemic helped keep all of us focused on positive options. As a result, the City Club is emerging from the shut-down with both a solid balance sheet and a new business model.”

The Outstanding Fundraising Volunteer Award is the second community service award in just the past two weeks for Smyers, who is often recognized for her civic contributions and dedication to public service. On October 25, she received the 2021 Richard H. Adler Community Leadership Award from the American Jewish Committee (AJC) Cleveland, the local chapter of a leading global Jewish advocacy organization. The award recognizes leaders who exemplify the highest ideals of leadership and commitment to the Cleveland community. In its announcement, AJC Cleveland said, “It is truly an honor to recognize Robyn, one of our community’s most accomplished and respected civic leaders. A distinguished attorney, she brings great intelligence and strategic vision along with deeply held values, a big heart, and passion to her vast civic engagement.… She inspires and motivates us, as she leads by example with great integrity, grace, humor, and sheer determination.”

Smyers is known for her advocacy of racial and social justice, democracy-building causes, education reform and the arts. She serves on the boards of the City Club of Cleveland, Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio, Codrington Foundation, Treu-Mart Fund, KnowledgeWorks Foundation, African-American Philanthropy Committee of the Cleveland Foundation and CWRU President’s Commission on Student Success. Smyers also is an active member of The Links, Incorporated, an African American service organization. She previously served on the boards of The George Gund Foundation, Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) Cleveland, The Sherwick Fund, CHN Housing Partners and Karamu House, among others.

Robyn Minter Smyers Receives AFP Greater Cleveland Outstanding Fundraising Volunteer Award