By day, they practice law, but by night, at least this week, they are practicing music. We're talking about members of the dozen music groups competing in the seventh annual Battle of the Law Firm Bands, a fundraiser for D.C. homeless, on Thursday night.
The concert is set for 7 p.m. to midnight July 7 at The Black Cat at 1811 14th Street, NW, and is presented by Gifts for the Homeless, a lawyer-led charitable organization now marking its 25th anniversary. Money is raised by "Chicago-style" voting -- one vote for each dollar donated -- and the winner, declared at the end of the evening, is the one that raises the most money. All of the money goes toward buying clothing and other winter items that are distributed to 35 shelters in the D.C. area. Last year, the event raised $120,000. Fifty law firms, associations and individuals (including The National Law Journal and Legal Times) are helping sponsor the benefit.
One of the bands is making its debut this year: Jazz Ipsa Loquitor, which speaks for itself and is populated by lawyers from Foley & Lardner. With seven instrumentalists and five singers, the band is planning on a mix of Motown and jazz pieces. "We're very excited," said Foley partner Richard Peet. "We're the first jazz group to play in the event."
Most of the others are relying on rock and blues numbers, including Larry and the LandLawyers, organized by, you guessed it, a real estate law firm named Walsh Colucci Lubeley Emrich & Walsh in Arlington, Va. "It's a good release, something for us to do, for a great cause,' said H. Mark Goetzman (above, center,) a shareholder of the firm.
The latest information about the event can be found at the Gifts for the Homeless web site and on its Facebook page.
Photo by Christine Kieffer
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