Arnold & Porter Lands Spot On Corporate America's List of GLBT- Friendly Work Places

Washington, D.C., September 19, 2006 -- Arnold & Porter LLP has been recognized by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) through its inclusion on the 2006 competitive list of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) friendly workplaces in corporate America. In this year's report, the fifth annual Corporate Equality Index, released by HRC today, an unprecedented 138 major U.S. companies earned a top rating of 100 percent in providing GLBT benefits and protections for their employees. Arnold & Porter was one of 12 law firms on the list to receive a 100 percent rating, and the only law firm of that group with its home office in Washington, D.C.

"Arnold & Porter strongly supports the efforts of the Human Rights Campaign in promoting equality for GLBT employees in corporate America and we are proud to be named to this list," said managing partner Richard Alexander. "Our firm is committed to individuality and diversity in the workplace as one of our core values. We believe this strengthens our firm both as a place to work and serves the needs of our clients."

"This year, more major American businesses received a perfect rating for equality and fairness than in any other year," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. "At an ever increasing pace, corporate executives understand that supporting their gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender employees is not only the right thing to do but it is also good for business. The findings in this year's report sends a clear message that the American workplace is rapidly becoming more inclusive of diversity."

Arnold & Porter consistently ranks among the top firms in the country for women, racial minority, and gay and lesbian attorneys. Widely recognized for its commitment to GLBT issues, Arnold & Porter has garnered the Ally of Justice Award from the Human Rights Campaign as well as from the Gay and Lesbian Attorneys Association of Washington, and is ranked among the top 20 U.S. firms for "Best in Diversity with Respect to GLBT" by Vault Guide 2007. Within the firm, GLBT attorneys serve on major firm governance committees and, as a matter of firm practice, at least one gay or lesbian attorney serves on the hiring committee. And for the past decade, an affinity group of GLBT lawyers at the firm has met regularly to provide mentoring, discuss pro bono opportunities, and organize recruiting events. Arnold & Porter's family-friendly policies that positively impact the GLBT community include payments to help defray the costs associated with adopting a child, as well as twelve weeks paid leave for the primary caregiver after the birth of a child or an adoption. For these and other reasons, Arnold & Porter has been on FORTUNE's "100 Best Companies to Work For" list for four years running.

In its pro bono practice, Arnold & Porter actively encourages attorneys to take on matters involving issues of importance to the GLBT community. The firm has worked with Lambda Legal (a civil rights organization for the GLBT community) on various matters, including preparing amicus briefs in connection with litigation in the New York and Maryland state courts regarding gay marriage, and representing a man who is suing the State Department because of its prohibition on hiring people with HIV in the Foreign Service. Arnold & Porter has also worked with HRC on its opposition to the Federal Marriage Amendment and regularly staffs legal clinics for persons with HIV and AIDS.

Arnold & Porter LLP is an international law firm of more than 600 attorneys with offices in Washington, D.C., Northern Virginia, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, London, and Brussels. The firm, founded in 1946, maintains more than 25 practice areas spanning a broad spectrum of the law, with a primary focus on litigation, transactional matters, and regulatory issues.