Rebecca was introduced to me back in 2013 when I first transitioned to personal finance after an unsuccessful run for office. I had spoke with an advisor in Minnesota who had started her own firm and Rebecca was one of two people she knew in the Washington, DC area.
When working with risk management. She (and her team) were instrumental resources for clients early on and still today!
BIOGRAPHY
Rebecca Geller is an award-winning attorney, a philanthropist, a trailblazer, and a passionate advocate for equality and human rights. Rebecca is also a devoted wife, mom to three young kids + a dog, and community leader.
While working as a corporate lawyer for an AmLaw 100 firm, Rebecca witnessed brilliant women fleeing the profession because big law firm partners showed disregard for attorneys’ lives outside the firm. As the mother of a baby and toddler at the time, Rebecca knew there had to be a better way to run a law firm that enabled women to be moms and successful lawyers. She also knew it was time to stop making women fit into work environments that were traditionally defined by men. Rebecca didn’t see an alternative model in existence—so she created one.
In 2011, Rebecca formed The Geller Law Group with a business model that makes sense for working parents and embraces new roles both women and men are taking in their homes and communities.
Bringing attention to the fact that attorneys have families and lives outside of the office, Rebecca and The Geller Law Group were profiled by The New York Times in 2015 for the firm’s innovative approach to maintaining work/life balance. The firm also has been profiled in the DC Bar Magazine for reinventing the law firm model and has twice been listed among the Best 100 Places to Work in the Greater Washington Area by the Washington Business Journal.
In May 2015, Rebecca delivered a speech at the US Capitol as part of a press conference with Nancy Pelosi and six Members of Congress to advocate for women’s economic security issues including paid leave, flex schedules, and telecommuting.
In 2016, Rebecca became a professional speaker with the National Speakers Association. That same year, Forbes Magazine recognized The Geller Law Group as one of the top companies in the U.S. for teleworking and flexible work/life schedules.
In October 2018, the Washington Business Journal wrote a profile story about the firm entitled, “How Rebecca Geller Built a Law Firm Around Working Parents.”
Rebecca lives by the idea that “To whom much is given, much is expected.” She believes it is vitally important that the law—and all the protections and opportunities it provides—is accessible to all, including those who cannot afford legal help. Whether the firm is helping victims of domestic violence navigate the legal system or assisting a low-income woman with starting her own business, Rebecca believes in integrating community service into the law firm and her everyday life.
In July 2015, Rebecca championed a law guaranteeing that mothers in Virginia have a legal right to breastfeed in public after an encounter she had while discreetly breastfeeding her infant daughter. Governor McAuliffe signed the bill and on July 1, 2015, the new law took effect. At the time, Virginia was only 1 of 4 states in the nation without this type of legal protection for moms.
Rebecca’s client work includes wills/trusts/estate planning, corporate, contracts, mergers/acquisitions, trademark, political law, telecommunications, employment, and helping non-profits. She has vast experience helping businesses develop a solid legal foundation that positions them for growth and excellence. For the past 7 years, Rebecca has taught a monthly course for new entrepreneurs at the Community for Business Partnership in Springfield, VA.
Rebecca is frequently asked to present at local conferences and speak to organizations about her community leadership and legal expertise. She averages 50 presentations and webinars every year.
Not only has Rebecca changed the lives of the female attorneys who work for her firm, but she also has created a business model for other law firms and companies to follow.
She believes in giving back to her community and is a regular volunteer with the Lorton Community Action Center, a local food pantry. During the pandemic, she ran a food drive collecting over $100,000 worth of donations and organized the donations in her garage to then be delivered to the food pantry. The New York Times featured her garage food pantry as an example of giving back during the pandemic. She also formerly served as co-President of her synagogue, Congregation Adat Reyim in Springfield, VA, and is on the legal steering committee for the Democratic Party of Virginia.
In her spare time, Rebecca enjoys traveling, taking flying trapeze lessons, springboard diving, cheering on the Washington Nationals and Capitals, volunteering at the food pantry, hosting political events at her house, cooking with her family, and spending time with her 3 kids + dog (and her husband) at Lake Anna.
We had an opportunity to interview Rebecca during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic about how to navigate a crisis. You can check out that interview by clicking here.