Philadelphia Labor Attorney Deborah Willig Named 2010 Legal Intelligencer Woman of Distinction
(Philadelphia Union Labor Attorney Receives Prestigious Legal Recognition)

PHILADELPHIA, PA, May 26, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Philadelphia union labor law firm Willig, Williams & Davidson is proud to announce that Managing Partner Deborah R. Willig has been named a 2010 Woman of Distinction by The Legal Intelligencer, the oldest law journal in the United States.

Every two years, The Legal Intelligencer recognizes women lawyers from across Pennsylvania for their exceptional contributions to the legal and public interest communities. The publication acknowledged Willig as a longtime glass-ceiling breaker and supporter of women in the profession, and noted that in addition to holding numerous leadership positions within and beyond the legal industry, she has been building her Philadelphia law firm, comprised of 43.5 percent female attorneys, since 1979 and was the first woman to serve as Chancellor of the Philadelphia Bar Association in 1992.

In selecting this year's Women of Distinction, The Legal Intelligencer culled its archives and talked to stakeholders throughout the legal community to develop a comprehensive list of candidates deserving of the legal community's respect and admiration. As a 2010 Woman of Distinction, Willig is joined by such notable female attorneys and jurists as Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin, Women's Bureau of the U.S. Department of Labor Director Sara Manzano-Diaz, well-known Philadelphia Common Pleas Court Judges Pamela Pryor Dembe (President Judge), Sandra Mazer Moss and Annette Rizzo, as well as Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman. In conjunction with selecting its 2010 Women of Distinction honorees, The Legal Intelligencer and Pennsylvania Law Weekly invited Willig to moderate a February 2010 Roundtable discussion addressing the hiring and retention of female attorneys.

"The roundtable was a great opportunity to discuss the status of women in our profession in 2010," said Willig of participating in the Roundtable discussion. "Some of the statistics, for example, the number of women at decision making levels in large firms, are still somewhat disappointing. However, the clear recognition that women are cognizant of the need to support each other in leadership and business development opportunities is a far cry from my early days in the profession. We've made great strides in that area."

A determined advocate for workers, Willig has focused her practice on labor relations and employment law since 1976. She represents a wide range of labor unions, including teachers, non-professional public school employees, public health, social and recreation workers, firefighters, teamsters and food service workers. Willig also maintains an active practice in the representation of employee benefit funds, including jointly administered funds in the public and private sectors. She is also a sought-after lecturer who is regularly called upon to speak to the media, unions and legal organizations regionally and nationally.

"Best Lawyers in America" has listed Willig as one of the field's top labor and employment lawyers since 1999. Philadelphia Magazine has included her as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer since 2004, listing her among the Top 50 Women Lawyers in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania every year since, and among the Top 100 Women Lawyers in Philadelphia for the last two years. She has received a wide array of other prestigious awards, including the Agent of Change Award from Women's Way, the Sandra Day O'Connor Award from the Philadelphia Bar Association, the Labor Human Rights Award from the Jewish Labor Committee and the Attorney of the Year Award from the Jewish National Fund. Willig is the current President of the French International School of Philadelphia.

Press Release Contact Information:

Leah Ludwig
Willig, Williams & Davidson
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Philadelphia, PA
USA 19103
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