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NCLC Celebrates 30 Years of Service to the Business Community
Shortly before he was nominated to the United States Supreme Court, Lewis Powell, Jr., then a Richmond, Va., attorney, had a conversation with his next-door neighbor, Eugene Sydnor, Jr., which ultimately lead to the formation of the National Chamber Litigation Center.
As a member of the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce of the United States and chairman of its Education Committee, Sydnor felt that the business community was not doing an adequate job of educating the public about the importance of our free enterprise system. He asked Powell to prepare a memorandum outlining approaches to this problem for consideration by the Chamber's board.
Powell's response detailed how the business community could seize the initiative in presenting its point-of-view in the media, politics and, of course, the courts.
With regard to the courts, Powell wrote:
"American business and the enterprise system have been affected as much by the courts as by the executive and legislative branches of government. Under our constitutional system . . . the judiciary may be the most important instrument for social, economic and political change . . . .This is a vast opportunity for the Chamber, if it is willing to undertake the role of spokesman for American business . . ."
Since its creation in 1977, the National Chamber Litigation Center has participated in more than 1000 cases in a wide range of business-related issues at every level of the judicial system and before many regulatory agencies.
NCLC's ambitious advocacy program has grown to include all aspects of employment relations, environmental regulation and enforcement, government contracts, as well as other cutting-edge legal issues in the areas of class action reform, product liability, toxic torts, and punitive damages.
As NCLC celebrates its 30th anniversary, we gratefully acknowledge the continuing generosity of the members who have supported the Litigation Center over the years, and the many volunteers who have willingly donated their time and professional services.
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