SEATTLE, Wash. (December 5, 2016) - Perkins Coie is proud to announce that it has, for the ninth year in a row, earned the top rating of 100 percent in the 2017 Corporate Equality Index (CEI) and Best Places to Work. This is the 15th annual national benchmarking survey and report on corporate policies and practices related to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) workplace equality that is administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC), America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve LGBT equality.

Perkins Coie joins the ranks of 517 major U.S. businesses that have also received top marks, a perfect score, for their policies covering LGBT employees and advocacy for LGBT equality.

“Perkins Coie is dedicated to embracing and defending the LGBT community and all members of diversity in our workforce,” said Darrin Emerick, Perkins Coie’s Chief Personnel Officer. “Perkins Coie is proud to be comprised of exceptionally talented diverse professionals. We are truly honored to be recognized this ninth time in a row in the annual HRC CEI workplace ranking.”

The 2017 CEI rated 1,043 businesses in the report, which evaluates LGBT-related policies and practices including non-discrimination workplace protections, domestic partner benefits, transgender-inclusive health care benefits, competency programs and public engagement with the LGBT community. To achieve a perfect score and the coveted distinction of “Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality,” firms must have fully inclusive equal employment opportunity policies, provide equal employment benefits, demonstrate organizational LGBT competency, evidence their commitment to equality publicly and exercise responsible citizenship.

“Even in the face of relentless attempts to undermine equality, America’s leading companies and law firms remain steadfast and committed to supporting and defending the rights and dignity of LGBTQ people,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “The unprecedented expansion of inclusive workplaces across the country and around the globe not only reflects our progress, it helps drive it. As we enter a new chapter in our fight for equality, support from the business community will be more critical than ever to protect our historic advancements over the last decade and to continue to push equality forward for workers, customers, and families around the world.”

Perkins Coie has long been committed to excellence in Diversity. For 14 consecutive years, the firm has been on FORTUNE magazine’s list of “100 Best Companies to Work For.” In this year alone, Perkins Coie was named among the 100 Best Workplaces for Women by FORTUNE magazine and named one of the Best Law Firms for Women by Working Mother/Flextime Lawyers. Most recently, Perkins Coie became one of the first law firms to publicly support the American Bar Association’s (ABA) Resolution 113, which aims to promote diversity in the legal profession. And, earlier this year, Perkins Coie launched an innovative program called Le[a]dBetter® to demonstrate its commitment to business leadership equality. The program, named for the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, offers a 15 percent discount on legal services for startup companies that have at least one woman in a senior executive position.

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

Perkins Coie is a leading international law firm that is known for providing high-value, strategic solutions and extraordinary client service on matters vital to our clients’ success. With more than 1,200 lawyers in offices across the United States and Asia, we provide a full array of corporate, commercial litigation, intellectual property, and regulatory legal advice to a broad range of clients, including many of the world’s most innovative companies and industry leaders as well as public and not-for-profit organizations.

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