Sodexo Awards Ford & Harrison the Frances Nam Sodexo Law Department Diversity Award

GAITHERSBURG, Md., July 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Law Department of Sodexo Inc., the leader in quality of daily life solutions, and widely recognized for its diversity and inclusion efforts, has awarded the 2011 Frances Nam Sodexo Law Department Diversity Award to Ford & Harrison.  The award was presented at a law department reception held at the Sodexo Foundation Dinner on June 9, 2011 in Washington, D.C.

This is the fourth year that Sodexo has identified Ford & Harrison as best-in-class with respect to Diversity and Inclusion.  "Diversity is a core value for Sodexo," said Robert A. Stern, general counsel, Sodexo, "and the Sodexo Law Department continuously looks for ways to partner with law firms who share our corporate values.  Year after year since the inception of the Sodexo Law Department Outside Counsel Diversity Initiative, Ford & Harrison has demonstrated its commitment to diversity best practices.  We look forward to a long and successful partnership with the firm."

Sodexo's Law Department Outside Counsel Diversity Initiative Committee, in consultation with Stern, selected Ford & Harrison to receive this recognition.  The Sodexo legal team is committed to advocating strongly for increased usage of minority and women-owned firms and the expanded hiring, retention and promotion of diverse counsel within all other law firms that serve Sodexo.

The Committee selected Ford & Harrison based on its extensive diversity policies, including its recruitment, retention, and attorney development efforts, and its significant representation of women and minorities at all levels within its respective offices.  The Committee was particularly impressed with two of Ford & Harrison's numerous innovative programs designed to attract and retain diverse attorneys, namely: (1) its Year One Associate Development Program, where first year associates have no billable hours requirements and dedicate their time to on-the-job training; and (2) its "LEAP" business development program, the primary objective of which is to transition non-equity partners to equity partner status, with a specific focus on increasing the number of female equity partners.

"We are honored to be selected by the Sodexo Law Department as the recipient of the Frances Nam Law Department Diversity Award," said Dawn Siler-Nixon, Ford & Harrison's Diversity & Inclusion Partner.  "I am proud to see that Ford & Harrison's commitment to maintaining a diverse workforce and a culture that values the unique backgrounds, beliefs, skills and attributes of all people continues to be recognized."

The Sodexo Law Department Diversity Award is named for the late Frances Nam, vice president of Government Affairs for Sodexo. Nam was passionate about diversity and inclusion issues throughout her professional career and played an instrumental role in Sodexo's Pan Asian Network Group (PANG) during her time with the company. She also distinguished herself through her work with the Congressional Black Caucus and the United States Department of Justice's Community Relations Service – its race relations mediation arm.

About Sodexo

Sodexo in North America

Sodexo, Inc. (www.sodexoUSA.com), leading Quality of Daily Life Solutions company in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, delivers On Site Service Solutions in Corporate, Education, Health Care, Government, and Remote Site segments, as well as Motivation Solutions such as Esteem Pass. Sodexo, Inc., headquartered in Gaithersburg, Md., funds all administrative costs for the Sodexo Foundation (www.SodexoFoundation.org), an independent charitable organization that, since its founding in 1999, has made more than $15 million in grants to fight hunger in America. Visit the corporate blog at www.sodexoUSA.com/blog.

Sodexo, world leader in Quality of Daily Life Solutions

Quality of Life plays an important role in the progress of individuals and the performance of organizations. Based on this conviction, Sodexo acts as the strategic partner for companies and institutions that place a premium on performance and employee well-being, as it has since Pierre Bellon founded the company in 1966. Sharing the same passion for service, Sodexo's 380,000 employees in 80 countries design, manage and deliver an unrivaled array of On Site Service Solutions and Motivation Solutions. Sodexo has created a new form of service business that contributes to the fulfillment of its employees and the economic, social and environmental development of the communities, regions and countries in which it operates.

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SOURCE Sodexo Inc.