Crowell & Moring Recognized by the Financial Times as One of 2015’s Most Innovative Law Firms in North America

Firm Received First and Third Place Rankings in "Business of Law - Talent Development"
and First Place in "Social Responsibility – Pro Bono Cases" Categories

Washington, D.C. – December 8, 2015: The Financial Times ranked Crowell & Moring number one in the categories of "Talent Development" and "Social Responsibility – Pro Bono Cases", naming the firm a "standout" in its "Most Innovative North American Law Firms 2015" special report. The firm was also noted as "Highly Commended" in the Talent Development category. The annual report recognizes firms based on the originality of their legal work, the rationale behind strategy, and the impact of the work on the client's business.
  
Business of Law

In this category, Crowell & Moring was ranked first in the Talent Development category for the firm's Sponsorship Program. The report describes the program, which was created in 2012 to propel the careers of the firm's high talent women and diverse attorneys, as "a robust sponsorship initiative to address the glass ceiling for under-represented lawyers in the firm." Since launching the program in 2012, the firm has increased the number of its female equity partners by 15 percent.

The firm was also ranked third, and "highly commended," in the Talent Development category for the creation of its InnovationLab, an internal online tool for professional staff and lawyers to share their ideas on how to improve the firm as a business.

The Business of Law category covers innovating in compliance and technology, new delivery models, forward-thinking firms, and talent development.

Social Responsibility

Crowell & Moring ranked first in this category for its pro bono work in David v. Signal. The firm led the effort to prosecute cases on behalf of almost 500 Indian victims of human trafficking, and resulted in a jury awarding more than $14 million in compensatory and punitive damages to the first five guest workers. After a Louisiana judge denied class certification for the lawsuit, Crowell & Moring brought together lawyers from top U.S. firms to file individual cases on behalf of the workers. It became the largest trafficking case in U.S. history, forcing Signal to file for bankruptcy.

The Financial Timescommends partner Alan Howard, stating, "In the largest human trafficking case in U.S. history, the firm helped represent more than 500 workers by rallying 12 other law firms to the cause. The case proved that forced labour is not just defined by physical coercion, but can be psychological and economic."
  
The social responsibility category ranks pro bono cases that demonstrate lawyers applying their expertise and experience in new ways, and in programs that are create, effective, and sustainable.

Telephone interviews and feedback from clients and independent references were used to assess each submission. Each is scored out of 10 points for originality, rationale, and impact for a maximum score of 39.

Read the full FT report here.

Crowell & Moring LLP is an international law firm with approximately 500 lawyers representing clients in litigation and arbitration, regulatory, and transactional matters. The firm is internationally recognized for its representation of Fortune 500 companies in high-stakes litigation, as well as its ongoing commitment to pro bono service and diversity. The firm has offices in Washington, D.C., New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Orange County, Anchorage, London, and Brussels.