25% Diverse Partners Highest Percentage Among All D.C.-Based Large Partnerships

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C., an intellectual property law firm in Washington, D.C., has been recognized for having the highest percentage of minority partners among Washington-area law offices with at least 25 partners in the 2009 Legal Times 150 published in the October 19, 2009 issue of The National Law Journal. Twenty-five percent of the firm's 28 directors identify as minorities - the next highest ranked firm had seventeen percent minority partners. Additionally, SKGF was ranked #18 in total lawyer racial diversity.

"We are very pleased with our diversity," said firm Managing Director Michael B. Ray. "We place a premium on lawyers who also have advanced degrees in various technical and scientific fields, which naturally means that we work with a significantly smaller recruitment pool than firms with multiple practice areas. Moreover, this pool tends to be less diverse, because certain minority groups tend to be underrepresented in engineering and the sciences. To fully appreciate the scope of this issue, consider that, of our 127 timekeeping professionals, we have a large number of Ph.D.'s and Master's degrees."

Eldora L. Ellison, director and SKGF diversity committee chair, adds, "The firm's retention efforts for all attorneys are focused on providing a rewarding and pleasant work environment, where everyone has an opportunity to work on interesting and challenging projects. By consistently providing this environment for more than thirty years, we have achieved the levels of diversity for which we are now being recognized on a wider scale."

Each year, the Legal Times/The National Law Journal surveys all Washington, D.C. metro area law offices in order to compile its Legal Times 150 rankings.

Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C. - Strategists and Advisors specializing in the protection, transfer and enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights. Founded in 1978 and based in Washington, D.C., the firm has over 130 patent attorneys, agents and technical specialists representing a broad range of clients, including emerging and established companies, venture capital firms, universities and select individuals.

SOURCE Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox

RELATED LINKS
http://www.skgf.com