SAN FRANCISCO, CA (February 27, 2012, 2012) - Littler Mendelson, P.C. (Littler), the nation’s largest employment and labor law firm representing management, has been awarded the National Diversity Excellence Award in the Associate category from the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). The ABC Diversity Excellence Awards recognize member organizations and companies that show leadership in diversity within their workforce, supply chain and community.

“We are honored to be recognized for our commitment to diversity, which we strive to emphasize at every level of our firm,” said Marko Mrkonich, president and managing director of Littler. “We take great pride in the diversity of our staff members and attorneys, and in the respectful, open and inclusive environment that we have cultivated.”

Among the criteria for consideration was the firm’s formal diversity strategy; the availability of diversity-focused employee resource groups and diversity in company hiring, retention, and promotion. Other key factors for consideration included availability of talent development programs, diverse representation in firm management and in the overall workforce and diversity accountability measures for leadership.

Mark Jodon, a shareholder in Littler’s Houston office, accepted the recognition on the firm’s behalf at the ABC’s 22nd Annual Excellence in Construction Awards program at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix, AZ.

Littler has consistently positioned itself as a leader in workplace diversity initiatives. In addition to its Diversity and Inclusion Council, the firm has a number of affinity groups that allow its attorneys to network with peers and engage in open dialogue, while its Women’s Leadership Initiative assists its female lawyers in achieving their career goals while maintaining a balance between work and family.

Attorney retention is strongly emphasized at the firm through a mentorship program designed to promote associate development and inclusion. Littler maintains relationships with a number of diversity-focused bar associations and business and civic organizations and actively recruits a diverse workforce through targeted outreach programs and job fairs.

About Associated Builders and Contractors

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) is a national association with 74 chapters representing 22,000 merit shop construction and construction-related firms with nearly two million employees. ABC’s membership represents all specialties within the U.S. construction industry and is comprised primarily of firms that perform work in the industrial and commercial sectors of the industry.

About Littler Mendelson

With over 900 attorneys and 56 offices, Littler Mendelson is the largest U.S.-based law firm exclusively devoted to representing management in employment and labor law matters. As the only U.S. member of the Ius Laboris global alliance, Littler has extensive resources to address the needs of multi-national clients, from navigating international employment laws and labor relations issues to applying corporate policies worldwide. Established in 1942, the firm has litigated, mediated and negotiated some of the most influential employment law cases and labor contracts on record.