(CHICAGO) Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP announced today that the firm was recognized by the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) as a Top Performer and recipient of the 2018 Compass Award.

Katten was one of a small number of LCLD members including corporations and law firms to earn both distinctions. The awards honor the firm's involvement in LCLD programs and ongoing promotion of that group's mission of creating a more diverse and inclusive legal profession.

"We are proud to be recognized for our efforts in this regard," said Katten Chairman Roger P. Furey. "We recognize the importance and have long been committed to strengthening diversity and inclusion not only at our law firm but elsewhere in the industry."

In receiving the honors, Katten was lauded as one of LCLD's most active participants and for its attendance of LCLD's annual meeting and participation in the Fellows, Pathfinder and 1L Scholars programs, all of which focus on encouraging and helping young people interested in pursuing careers in the legal field.

"At Katten, we are dedicated to offering opportunities for career advancement and setting up our diverse attorneys for success and empowering them to reach their career goals. Participating in LCLD's programs is one path to help them get there," said Chief Diversity Partner Leslie D. Minier.

This year, Litigation partner Tami Kameda Sims participated in the Fellows program, a professional development training program aimed at building relationship and leadership skills. Litigation associates Amelia M. Chapple and Johnjerica Hodge were selected for the Pathfinder program, which is intended to equip attorneys with the practical tools for developing and leveraging professional networks.

Additionally, Katten participated in the 1L Scholars program offering high-potential first-year law students the opportunity to complete challenging work assignments, participate in various summer associate events and learn firsthand what it is like to work at Katten. The program also helps create a pipeline of distinctive talent as some of these students return as 2L summer associates.