Crowell & Moring Receives 100 Percent Ranking On The Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2008 Corporate Equality Index

New Report Finds Unprecedented Growth in Employer Policies for Gay and Transgender Workers

Washington, D.C. September 17, 2007 – Crowell & Moring LLP is pleased to announce that the firm has received a 100 percent ranking on The Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s (HRC) sixth annual Corporate Equality Index, released on September 17, 2007. The HRC Corporate Equality Index rates employers on a scale from 0 to 100 percent on their treatment of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender employees, consumers and investors. This year’s Index showed an unprecedented 195 major U.S. businesses earned the top rating of 100 percent, up from 138 last year - a 41 percent increase. The 195 businesses that met all of the criteria employ more than 8.3 million workers. When the Index was first released in 2002, only 13 companies, employing 690,000 workers, received the top rating.

"Crowell & Moring is proud to have received a 100 percent ranking on The Human Rights Campaign Foundation's Corporate Equality Index. The ranking speaks to the firm’s broader, ongoing commitment to our diverse employee and client community,” said Monica G. Parham, Crowell & Moring's diversity counsel. “Our continued success as a law firm depends on creating and maintaining a diverse team of talented professionals.”

The Corporate Equality Index, which this year rates 519 businesses, measures the extent to which employers protect their GLBT employees. Ratings are based on factors including non-discrimination policies, diversity training and benefits for domestic partners and transgender employees. Among the findings of this year's report:

• The banking and financial services industry has 32 companies with 100 percent, more than any other industry. While there are 30 law firms with the top rating, up from 12 last year.
• For the first time, a majority of rated firms - 58 percent - provide employment protections on the basis of gender identity.

"More businesses than ever before have recognized the value of a diverse and dedicated workforce," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. "More importantly, these employers understand that discrimination against GLBT workers will ultimately hurt their ability to compete in the global marketplace."

The report can be downloaded from HRC's website at www.hrc.org/cei.

ABOUT HRC

The Human Rights Campaign is America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against GLBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

ABOUT CROWELL & MORING LLP

Crowell & Moring LLP is a full-service law firm with more than 350 lawyers practicing in litigation, antitrust, government contracts, corporate, intellectual property and more than 40 other practice areas. More than two-thirds of the firm's attorneys regularly litigate disputes on behalf of domestic and international corporations, start-up businesses, and individuals. Crowell & Moring's extensive client work ranges from advising on one of the world's largest telecommunications mergers to representing governments and corporations on international arbitration matters. Based in Washington, D.C., the firm also has offices in California, New York, London, and Brussels.

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