Footwear Giant Forms New Partnership-Commits to Diversity Initiative for Outside Counsel Selection

The National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF) is pleased to announce that Payless ShoeSource has joined the Associations Corporate and Public Entities Partnering Program.

TOPEKA, KS (PRWEB) August 20, 2003 -- The National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF) is pleased to announce that Payless ShoeSource has joined the Associations Corporate and Public Entities Partnering Program.

NAMWOLF is looking forward to building a mutually beneficial relationship with Payless ShoeSource," said Emery K. Harlan, Board Chair of NAMWOLF. They have been regarded as the leader in providing affordable footwear to diverse communities. It is inspiring to see them expand their diversity initiatives to include professional service providers. It is an extraordinary step," he added.   

The Corporate and Public Entities Partnering Program requires interested corporations and other entities to agree to set a goal of eventually expending a minimum of 5% of their outside counsel budget with certified minority and women-owned law firms. NAMWOLF strives to recruit and admit only those minority and women-owned law firms that have a track record of representing major corporations and public entities.

Payless ShoeSource has long been committed to increasing our use of diverse suppliers. It is through NAMWOLFs Corporate and Public Entities Program that we plan to diversify our legal counsel through the use of qualified minority and women-owned law firms," said Jay Andrews, Employment Counsel for Payless ShoeSource.

Payless ShoeSource, Inc. (www.payless.com) is the largest family footwear retailer in the Western Hemisphere. Payless ShoeSource operates approximately 5,000 stores in all 50 U.S. states plus Puerto Rico, Guam, Saipan, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Canada, Central America, the Caribbean and South America. They feature fashionable, quality footwear for women, men and children at affordable prices.

The National Association of Minority & Women Owned Law Firms (www.namwolf.org) was founded in June 2001. It is a national trade association comprising a select group of minority and women-owned law firms who exhibit excellence in the legal profession. The primary aim of the organization is to advocate for the utilization of minority and women-owned law firms by major corporations and government entities throughout the United States