May 1, 2009
Diane Nowak-Waring
Court Blatchford
410-626-0805
mediarelations@mcca.com
Minority Corporate Counsel Association To Honor Diversity Initiatives of Google, Qwest Communications and Littler Mendelson
SAN FRANCISCO – 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 Western Region Diversity Dinner at the San Francisco Marriott on May 14, 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 Google, Inc. and Qwest Communications International Inc. They were chosen for demonstrating a commitment to diversity and creating and maintaining an inclusive workplace. Accepting the award for their companies will be David Drummond, Google’s Senior Vice President, Corporate Development, and Chief Legal Officer; and Laurie Korneffel, Qwest’s Vice President and Deputy General Counsel.
The law firm Littler Mendelson, P.C. will be honored as recipient of the Thomas L. Sager Award, named for Thomas L. Sager, MCCA board member and General Counsel for the DuPont Company. This award is given to law firms that demonstrate sustained commitment to improving the hiring, retention and promotion of minority attorneys. Accepting the award on behalf of Littler Mendelson will be Marko Mrkonich, President and Managing Director, and Lindbergh Portor, Shareholder in the San Francisco office and member of the Diversity Council.
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 San Francisco 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 Chicago, Houston, New York City and Washington, D.C.
The Minority Corporate Counsel Association advocates for the expanded hiring, retention, and promotion of minority attorneys in corporate legal departments and the law firms that serve them. Since its founding in 1997, MCCA has emerged as the legal profession’s knowledge leader on diversity issues and its expanded platform offers solutions to diversity management challenges involving women, physically challenged, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender lawyers, in addition to attorneys of color (which remains its primary focus). MCCA advances its mission by publishing innovative research, illuminating diversity best practices, honoring diversity leadership with its prestigious Employer of Choice and Thomas L. Sager awards, and assisting diverse law students through the Lloyd M. Johnson, Jr. Scholarship Program. MCCA’s award-winning programs and services have been cited by several leading organizations, including the National Minority Business Council, Inc., the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the National LGBT Bar Association, and the Association of Corporate Counsel.
MCCA is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and also has a southeast regional office in Atlanta, Ga. For more information, go to mcca.com.