Crowell & Moring Honored With Bar Association of District of Columbia's Constance L. Belfiore Quality of Life Award

Washington, D.C. – June 3, 2005: The Bar Association of the District of Columbia (BADC) has awarded Crowell & Moring LLP its prestigious Constance L. Belfiore Quality of Life Award in the large law firm category, which is given annually to employers who provide exceptional quality of life to their members through such methods as effective mentoring and training, flexible work schedules, and opportunities for pro bono service. The award recognizes Crowell & Moring for providing an outstanding quality of life to its members, including both attorneys and staff.

“We are pleased to receive such an important honor from the BADC. We have always believed that people perform at their highest levels when they are challenged by their work and fulfilled by their lives. To us, enabling our lawyers and staff to find the right balance is just good business. Quality of life drives culture, which ultimately drives client service,” said John Macleod, Crowell & Moring chairman.

Among Crowell & Moring's policies contributing to the award are a commitment to teamwork between practice groups and offices, work/life balance, pro bono, and diversity. For example, Crowell & Moring's billable hour requirement remains at 1,800 hours per year in a world where 1950 has become the norm. In April of 2005, Crowell & Moring was honored by the Chief Judges of the local Federal Courts for having 40 percent of its DC attorneys provide 50 or more hours of pro bono service last year. And, the firm recently established a $25,000 diversity scholarship program, created two public service fellowships for Howard University Law School students, and implemented a “Celebrating Diversity” speaker series for lawyers and staff.

“The strength of our profession is dependant on its people, so the legal community has a responsibility to rigorously guard the quality of life it provides to both attorneys and those who support them. I commend Crowell & Moring for making the investment to advance the quality of life in its firm and help set the standard for the industry,” said Constance L. Belfiore, past president of the BADC and for whom the award is named.

The firm will be honored at the BADC annual luncheon, June 13, 2005, at the Mayflower Hotel and again at their Annual Banquet in December. The winner in the small firm category is Jack H. Olender and Associates.