Resolution 200664

..Title Recognizing and honoring the dedicated and loyal service of Marcel S. Pratt, Esquire. ..Body WHEREAS, Marcel S. Pratt, a West Philadelphia native, earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania and his law degree from Temple University; and WHEREAS, Marcel graduated at the top of his class from Monsignor Bonner High School in Drexel Hill in 2002, and attended Penn on an academic scholarship; and WHEREAS, Upon graduation from law school, Marcel worked for the Philadelphia Law Department as a Public Service Fellow on a stipend paid by the law firm Ballard Spahr; and WHEREAS, In 2010 Ballard Spahr took Marcel on as a litigation associate working on important antitrust and commercial cases, including defending pharmaceutical companies against antitrust allegations and representing a real estate developer against several suppliers of allegedly defective housing components; and WHEREAS, Marcel also served on Ballard Spahr's Hiring Committee, Summer Associate Program as the Assignment Coordinator, member of the firm Diversity Council, and an Instructor in the New Associate Training program; and WHEREAS, Marcel left private legal practice to become City Solicitor on April 19, 2018, to become the youngest City Solicitor ever appointed in Philadelphia; and WHEREAS, As City Solicitor, Marcel has led the charge on numerous efforts to defend civil rights employing cutting edge legal tactics, and he successfully fended off legal challenges to the Philadelphia beverage tax, instigated litigation challenging the U.S. Attorney General's threats to cut off criminal justice funding to the City for its support of immigration related conditions, fought First Amendment attacks to the City's Wage Equity ordinance, and diligently guided the City through the harsh realities that COVID-19 presented; and WHEREAS, Marcel continues his commitment to aid the less fortunate by serving on the Project HOME board; and WHEREAS, On December 10, 2020, Marcel will leave his position as City Solicitor to return to Ballard Spahr; and WHEREAS, We in Council join in wishing Marcel S. Pratt well in his future endeavors and hope he continues to have success in his legal career; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, By virtue of this resolution, the Council of the City of Philadelphia hereby recognizes and honors the loyal and prodigious service that Marcel S. Pratt has bestowed on the City of Philadelphia. We commend Marcel for his innovative legal work for the City, and extend the sincere respect and admiration of this legislative body. ..End