Drinker Biddle to Receive NFBPA’s 2009 Corporate Leadership Award

Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP is the recipient of the 2009 Corporate Leadership Award by the National Forum of Black Public Administrators (NFBPA), Chicago Chapter.

The NFBPA presents the Corporate Leadership Award annually to a major establishment that demonstrates a strong commitment to the organization’s mission of promoting the advancement of black leadership in the public sector.

Drinker Biddle has a long-standing commitment to diversity, exemplified by its Diversity Strategic Plan, the establishment of the firmwide Diversity Committee, charged with implementing the programs and processes of the plan, and the creation of several regional diversity committees that focus on the firm’s diversity goals at the more local level. As part of Drinker Biddle’s commitment to diversity, the firm also has established a Women's Initiative to further the retention and promotion of women lawyers, and to support and assist them in stepping into leadership roles within the firm and in their communities.

In honoring Drinker Biddle, the NFBPA recognized the firm’s ongoing support, including its corporate sponsorship of the NFBPA and its active participation on the organization’s Corporate Advisory Council, as well as its sponsorship and chairmanship of the Public Policy Forum, a program of distinguished speakers, co-sponsored by the firm and the NFBPA, held June 12, 2008, at Drinker Biddle’s Chicago office.

The forum highlighted the innovative regulations, policies and initiatives of four supplier diversity programs in the public sector identified by an extensive nationwide study conducted by Drinker Biddle on government programs promoting the participation of minority and women business enterprises on government contracts.