MIAMI, June 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Akerman Senterfitt, one of the largest law firms in Florida and one of the top 100 firms in the U.S., has been ranked among the top 100 law firms in the U.S. for diversity in the MultiCultural Law 2009 national listing. The Top 100 Law Firms for Diversity listing is an annual survey of information from law firms across the nation and evaluates each firm on its internal efforts to promote inclusion and diversity in the legal profession.

Akerman was also named to the following specialized diversity categories in the MultiCultural Law 2009 national listing:

• Top 25 Law Firm for Hispanics
• Top 50 Law Firm for Partners
• Top 50 Law Firm for Associates
• Top 100 Law Firm for Women

"There is no doubt that our clients benefit from the varied backgrounds, perspectives and approaches of the lawyers here at Akerman," said Andrew Smulian, Chairman of Akerman. "The firm has committed to an aggressive program to preserve best practices in attracting, retaining and promoting a diverse attorney workforce, and we are pleased to be recognized for those efforts."

Akerman supports a diverse group of men and women in their professional development as lawyers, fosters a supportive and inclusive environment, and provides opportunities for advancement through partnership and leadership roles within the firm and the communities in which we practice. In addition to the firm's recent recognition in MultiCultural Law, Akerman is a recipient of the Thomas L. Sager Award, presented to the law firm that has demonstrated and sustained the highest commitment to improving the hiring, retention and promotion of minority and women attorneys.

The firm also recently announced a new partnership with Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University Law School (FAMU), one of Florida's oldest Historically Black Colleges and Universities, to promote diversity in the legal profession. At the helm of this project is The Honorable Joseph W. Hatchett, former Chief Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, and current Chair of the Appellate Practice Group and of the Diversity Committee at Akerman. The pipeline program is an initiative by the American Bar Association's Presidential Advisory Council on Diversity in the Profession that seeks to foster diversity in the profession by increasing the number of people of color on track to becoming lawyers.

About Akerman Senterfitt

Akerman is ranked among the top 100 law firms in the U.S. by The National Law Journal NLJ 250 (2008) in number of lawyers and is the dominant Florida firm. Akerman is not only one of the largest firms in Florida, but is also recognized as a market leader on issues of national significance. Comprised of more than 500 lawyers and government affairs professionals, Akerman serves clients from 13 locations, including Miami, New York, Los Angeles, Denver, Tysons Corner, and Washington, D.C. For additional information, please visit the firm's Web site at www.akerman.com.

    Contact:
    Pat Tucker
    RF|Binder Partners, Inc.
    (212) 994-7561
    patrick.Tucker@rfbinder.com

    Walter Fowler
    RF|Binder Partners, Inc.
    (212) 994-7512
    walter.fowler@rfbinder.com

SOURCE Akerman Senterfitt

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