# Alan Solow

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{{short description|American lawyer}}

{{Infobox person
| name               = Alan Solow
| education          = [University of Illinois](/source/University_of_Illinois) <small>(AB Pol Sci-summa cum laude)</small><br>[Harvard Law School](/source/Harvard_Law_School) <small>(J.D.-cum laude)</small>
| occupation         = public affairs consultant<br>political advisor
| known_for          = Grover Strategies LLC <small>(founder)</small>
| movement           = 2012 Obama-Biden re-election campaign <small>(national co-chair)</small><br>2003 Barack Obama's Illinois Senate campaign <small>(finance committee)</small>
}}
'''Alan P. Solow,''' founder of Grover Strategies LLC, is a public affairs consultant, political advisor, not-for-profit activist and former lawyer. He is a former chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.conferenceofpresidents.org/leadership/alan-solow|title=Alan Solow|date=2013-08-08|newspaper=Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations|access-date=2016-11-01}}</ref> and was a national co-chair of the successful [2012 Obama-Biden re-election campaign](/source/Barack_Obama_presidential_campaign%2C_2012).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/blogs/politico44/2012/02/obama-campaign-announces-co-chairs-115161|title=Obama campaign announces co-chairs|newspaper=Politico|access-date=2016-11-01}}</ref>

==Professional career==
Solow practiced law full-time until April 1, 2016, when he transitioned into public affairs advisory work and joined Resolute Consulting.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.resoluteconsulting.com/nationally-recognized-attorney-alan-solow-joins-resolute-consulting-2/|title=Nationally Recognized Attorney Alan Solow Joins Resolute Consulting|newspaper=Resolute Consulting|access-date=2016-11-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161103234142/http://www.resoluteconsulting.com/nationally-recognized-attorney-alan-solow-joins-resolute-consulting-2/|archive-date=2016-11-03|url-status=dead}}</ref> At Resolute, he provided advice to clients, focusing on government relations-based strategy. He specializes in infrastructure and technology projects and also works on communications issues.

Prior to joining Resolute, he was a principal at the Chicago law firm Goldberg Kohn and was a partner at the international law firm, [DLA Piper, LLC](/source/DLA_Piper).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/profiles/people/17557540-alan-p-solow|title=Alan Solow, DLA Piper LLP: Profile & Biography|website=Bloomberg|access-date=2016-11-01}}</ref> Solow began his career as a litigator, but practiced bankruptcy law for over 30 years. He was elected by his peers as a Fellow in the prestigious AmericaCollege of Bankruptcy and was a Co-Editor of several editions of the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education's Bankruptcy Practice handbook.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.americancollegeofbankruptcy.com/directory/alan-p-solow-356|title=Directory {{!}} American College of Bankruptcy |website=www.americancollegeofbankruptcy.com|access-date=2016-11-01}}</ref>

==Community leadership==
From January 2009 through May 2011, Solow served as Chair of the [Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations](/source/Conference_of_Presidents_of_Major_American_Jewish_Organizations), through which he met with the leaders of dozens of countries and traveled the world. Solow previously served as Chairman of JCC Association of North America between 2006 and 2010.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://jcca.org/news-and-views/community-leaders-honored-for-their-work-at-biennial/|title=Community Leaders Honored for Their Work at Biennial - JCC Association|date=2012-02-14|newspaper=JCC Association|language=en-US|access-date=2016-11-01}}</ref> He was the chairman of Chicago's [Jewish Community Relations Council](/source/Jewish_Community_Relations_Council) from 2004 to 2006.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.juf.org/news/local.aspx?id=25976|title=JUF News : New leadership for JCRC|website=JUF News|access-date=2016-11-01}}</ref> He served as President of the [Jewish Community Centers of Chicago](/source/Jewish_Community_Centers_of_Chicago) between 1995 and 1997 and was President of Young Men's Jewish Council from 1986 to 1987. He served many terms on the board of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, including on its executive committee.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.juf.org/pdf/about_juf/ar12_leadership.pdf|title=Jewish Federation Past Presidents and Chairmen|website=|access-date=}}</ref>  He also served as a Trustee of the [Jewish Federations of North America](/source/Jewish_Federations_of_North_America) and was a Director of Sinai Health Systems.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.juf.org/news/local.aspx?id=53756|title=JUF News : Sinai Health System receives McCormick Foundation grant|website=JUF News|access-date=2016-11-01}}</ref>

Solow currently is Chairman of [Interfaith Youth Core](/source/Interfaith_Youth_Core),<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ifyc.org/team|title=About IFYC|newspaper=IFYC|access-date=2016-11-01}}</ref> a national organization promoting interfaith dialogue and service projects on college campuses. He is a member of the Board of Advisors of the Truman National Security Project,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://trumancenter.org/about/board-leadership-staff/|title=Board Leadership and Staff {{!}} Truman Center|website=trumancenter.org|access-date=2016-11-01}}</ref> and serves on the boards of the Jewish People's Policy Institute and [Israel Policy Forum](/source/Israel_Policy_Forum), for which he also is a member of the executive committee.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ipforum.org/leadership/|title=Leadership {{!}} Israel Policy Forum|website=www.ipforum.org|access-date=2016-11-01}}</ref>

Solow is a recipient of many awards for his work, including the American Jewish Committee's Learned Hand Award<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.juf.org/news/local.aspx?id=50968|title=JUF News : New chairman brings knowledge of the world, vision to JCRC post|website=JUF News|access-date=2016-11-01}}</ref> and JCC Association's Weil Award<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://jcca.org/news-and-views/community-leaders-honored-for-their-work-at-biennial/|title=Community Leaders Honored for Their Work at Biennial - JCC Association|date=2012-02-14|newspaper=JCC Association|language=en-US|access-date=2016-11-01}}</ref> for outstanding contributions to the field.

==Political engagement==
Solow has been an advisor to and activist on behalf of many politicians. In 2003, he served on the finance committee for [Barack Obama's Illinois Senate campaign](/source/United_States_Senate_election_in_Illinois%2C_2004).<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://forward.com/news/8767/illinois-senate-candidates-eyeing-state-s-jewish/|title=Illinois Senate Candidates Eyeing State's Jewish Voters|newspaper=The Forward|access-date=2016-11-01}}</ref>  He subsequently accompanied Senator Obama on his first trip to Israel in 2006.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-news-and-politics/28638/the-go-between|title=The Go-Between - Tablet Magazine – Jewish News and Politics, Jewish Arts and Culture, Jewish Life and Religion|newspaper=Tablet Magazine|access-date=2016-11-01}}</ref> Solow was a charter member of Obama's National Finance Committees for the 2008<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20080823/NEWS06/200030705/meet-obamas-bundlers|title=Meet Obama's bundlers|newspaper=Crain's Chicago Business|access-date=2016-11-01}}</ref> and 2012<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/09/13/us/politics/obamas-top-fund-raisers.html|title=Obama's Top Fund-Raisers|website=[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times) |access-date=2016-11-01}}</ref> presidential campaigns and was a national co-chair in 2012. He also served as a surrogate for the candidate in both presidential elections.

Solow has been a frequent [White House](/source/White_House) visitor and an advisor to President Obama and his team on Middle East policy. He was deeply involved in defending the [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action](/source/Joint_Comprehensive_Plan_of_Action) with Iran<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/obama-team-scrambles-for-illinois-dems-votes-on-iran-deal/|title=Obama team scrambles for Illinois Dems' votes on Iran deal|newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times|access-date=2016-11-01}}</ref> and wrote a widely published opinion piece defending President Obama.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jta.org/2015/08/14/news-opinion/united-states/op-ed-obama-is-dog-whistling-about-jews-ridiculous|title=Op-Ed: Obama is 'dog whistling' about Jews? Ridiculous|date=2015-08-14|publisher=Jewish Telegraphic Agency|access-date=2016-11-01}}</ref>

He was an official member of the United States delegation to the funeral of [Shimon Peres](/source/Shimon_Peres) and accompanied President Obama on Air Force One.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2016/09/29/president-obama-announces-presidential-delegation-state-israel-attend|title=President Obama Announces Presidential Delegation to the State of Israel to Attend the State Funeral of Former President and Prime Minister Shimon Peres|date=2016-09-29|publisher=White House|via=[National Archives](/source/NARA)|access-date=2016-11-01}}</ref> Solow was recognized as the eleventh most influential Jew in the world by the [Jerusalem Post](/source/The_Jerusalem_Post).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.jpost.com/Jewish-World/Jewish-Features/Worlds-50-most-influential-Jews-176071|title=World's 50 most influential Jews|newspaper=[The Jerusalem Post](/source/The_Jerusalem_Post)|access-date=2016-11-01 |issn=0792-822X }}</ref>

==Biography==
Solow graduated summa cum laude in 1976 from the [University of Illinois](/source/University_of_Illinois_at_Urbana%E2%80%93Champaign), with highest distinction in Political Science. He graduated cum laude from [Harvard Law School](/source/Harvard_Law_School) in 1979. While at Harvard, Solow served as President of the Harvard Law School Forum. At the University of Illinois, he was a Charles Merriam Scholar, as the outstanding undergraduate student in the Political Science Department, and was the founder and first president of the [Orange Krush](/source/Orange_Krush), the basketball team's official fan group and philanthropic organization.

Solow was married at 20 years old to his wife and had children shortly after. His first son was born in 1979 and his second son was born in 1983.

==Notes==
{{reflist|2}}

==References==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110717183226/http://www.dlapiper.com/solow_release/ Alan Solow joins DLA Piper in Chicago as Vice Chair of the US Restructuring Group], DLA Piper's press release.
* [http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=30705 Meet Obama's bundlers], ''Chicago Business'', 23 August 2008.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110715195852/http://m.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/aug/27/obama-backer-anticipates-speech/ Obama backer anticipates speech], ''[Rocky Mountain News](/source/Rocky_Mountain_News)'', 27 August 2008.
* [http://www.forward.com/blogs/campaign-confidential/14368/ Top Obama Aides Dispached to Florida, Ohio], ''[The Forward](/source/The_Forward)'', 13 October 2008.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081222073528/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1048553.html Key Obama backer, confidante Alan Solow tipped to head U.S. Jewry's top body], ''[Haaretz](/source/Haaretz)'', 22 December 2008.
* [http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-tue-law-notebook-04-14apr14,0,1309734.story DLA Piper to appoint Alan Solow vice chairman of its U.S. restructuring group], ''[Chicago Tribune](/source/Chicago_Tribune)'', 14 April 2009.
*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Solow, Alan}}
Category:Living people
Category:American Jews
Category:Lawyers from Chicago
Category:University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign alumni
Category:Harvard Law School alumni
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:Place of birth missing (living people)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Alan Solow](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Solow) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Solow?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.