MCCA to Honor Diversity Initiatives of Exelon Corporation, KeyCorp and Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione

Minority Corporate Counsel Association to Honor Diversity Initiatives of Exelon Corporation, KeyCorp and Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione

CHICAGO – The Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA) will honor two of the nation’s leading corporate legal departments and spotlight a law firm with diversity awards at its Midwest Diversity Dinner at the Chicago Marriott Downtown on March 18, 2009. The event will begin with a reception at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 7:00 p.m.

Receiving MCCA’s Employer of Choice Award this year are the legal departments of Exelon Corporation and KeyCorp. They were chosen for demonstrating a commitment to diversity and creating and maintaining an inclusive workplace. Accepting the awards on behalf of these legal departments will be their general counsel, William VonHoene, Jr. for Exelon and Paul Harris for KeyCorp.

The Midwest Region offices of the law firm Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione will be honored as recipient of the Thomas L. Sager Award, named for MCCA Board member and DuPont Company Vice President and Assistant General Counsel Thomas L. Sager. This award is given to law firms that demonstrate sustained commitment to improving the hiring, retention and promotion of minority attorneys. Gary M. Ropski, president of the firm, will accept the award on the firm’s behalf.

From 4:00-5:30 p.m., MCCA will also host the Diversity Dialogue, a panel discussion of diversity best practices featuring the evening’s award winners. The Diversity Dialogue is part of a professional development series that gives attendees information about award-winning diversity initiatives in their local areas, as well as practical information they can take back to their companies or law firms.

The Chicago dinner is part of an annual series of five dinners designed to address issues of diversity in corporate law departments. MCCA Diversity Dinners are also held in Dallas, Washington, D.C., New York City and San Francisco.

The Minority Corporate Counsel Association advocates for the expanded hiring, promotion, and retention of minority attorneys in corporate legal departments and the law firms that serve them. MCCA furthers its mission by publishing research on achieving diversity and best practices in the legal profession, honoring innovative diversity programs with its Employer of Choice and Thomas L. Sager awards, and assisting diverse law students through the Lloyd M. Johnson, Jr. Scholarship Program. MCCA’s work has been recognized with awards from the National Minority Business Council, Inc., the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the National Gay and Lesbian Law Association, and the Association of Corporate Counsel.

Founded in 1997, MCCA is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and also has a Southeast regional office in Atlanta, Ga. For more information, go to mcca.com.