Of Counsel
Business and Finance Department
215.496.7231
[email protected]
George Burrell has been a leader in the business, civic, and political affairs of Philadelphia for more than 30 years. He served as a ranking official in the administrations of two mayors; a member of Philadelphia City Council; president of a minority-owned investment management business; general counsel to one of America’s premier African-American-owned businesses; and a partner in two prominent Philadelphia law firms. George brings the knowledge and experience he has developed as a lawyer, businessman, and public official to clients as an Of Counsel member of Kleinbard’s Business and Finance Department and a member of the Firm’s Government Relations Group.
George advises clients on building effective relationships with state, local, and federal officials; advocating on public policy and legislative initiatives; and competing for public and private sector procurement opportunities. He also serves as a strategic adviser to for-profit and nonprofit executives and board members on issues with public implications related to long-range planning and crisis management, and the development of coordinated corporate messaging for public affairs and government relations departments. George’s work with two African-American-owned businesses with national reputations has positioned him to understand the unique challenges faced by minority- and women-owned companies.
University of Pennsylvania Law School (J.D. 1974)
The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania (B.S. 1969)
Pennsylvania
Recognition & Accomplishments
Prior Experience
Prior to joining Kleinbard, George served as a senior official in the administrations of Mayors Green and Street and as an at-large member of Philadelphia City Council.
He was a partner at Obermayer, Rebmann, Maxwell & Hippel; Fox, Rothschild, O’Brien & Frankel; and Burrell, Waxman, Donaghy & Lee. He also served as president of Sturdivant & Co., a minority-owned equity investment firm; CEO of Innovation Philadelphia, a regional economic development program; and general counsel for PRWT Services, Inc., one of Black Enterprise’s top 100 African-American-owned businesses in America.
George was appointed by Governor Tom Wolf to serve on the Governor’s Council on Diversity, Inclusion and Small Business Opportunity. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Community College Foundation.
He is a former member of the Board of Trustees at the University of Pennsylvania; the Urban League of Philadelphia (Chairman); the National Bar Association (Vice President); the Kimmel Center for the Regional Performing Arts; the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority; the Economy League; and the Center City District. He was also, with former Congressman William H. Gray, III, a founder of Operation Understanding, a youth leadership program for African-American and Jewish high school juniors.
George is a regular participant on Inside Story, a popular local public affairs television program airing on Sunday mornings.
In addition, as a volunteer, George frequently mentors newly elected officials and young professionals interested in public service.