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Minneapolis (25-May-2010) - Faegre & Benson LLP received an InsideCounsel Economic Empowerment Award at a ceremony held May 24 at the Fairmont Chicago.

The first annual Transformative Leadership Awards ceremony honored women general counsel and law firms that demonstrate a commitment to advancing the empowerment of women in corporate law. Leslie A. Fields, Kathy E. Noecker and Linda S. Svitak accepted the award on behalf of the firm.

Faegre & Benson was one of only two firms recognized with an award for strong representation of women on its management committee and in other leadership positions.

"We're proud of the strides Faegre & Benson is making in advancing women and in developing leadership talent among all our diverse lawyers," says Fields. "We look forward to continued progress in this area—and hope to serve as an example for other national firms."

Three women lawyers, Fields, Noecker and Svitak, serve on the nine-member Faegre & Benson Management Committee. Lisa R. Pugh chairs the firm's benefits committee, and Heather Carson Perkins chairs its legal personnel committee.

Women also serve as executive partners of two of the firm's five offices: Terri L. Combs in Des Moines and Linda Rockwood in Denver. Kathleen Smith Ruhland is co-chair of the firm's international practice.