Stikeman Elliott named among Canada's Best Employers

MONTRÉAL, Oct. 29 /CNW/ - For the second year in a row, Stikeman Elliott LLP, a national law firm with five Canadian and three international offices, has been selected among the Best Employers in Canada, in a survey undertaken by Aon Hewitt. The firm was selected as #17 overall among the 2011 recipients, with 251 organizations taking part in the study. The award follows Stikeman Elliott's earlier selection as a 2011 Top 100 Employer in Canada, in a Mediacorp Canada survey.

"Tremendous people make for a tremendous workplace," said Pierre Raymond, Stikeman Elliott Chair. "Our firm has placed great emphasis on attracting and retaining the top talent in each of our practice areas and business units. Creative, dedicated lawyers and professional staff make us what we are, and they deserve the accolades for awards such as this."

Stikeman Elliott's selection was determined primarily by surveys completed by firm members. The study measures employee engagement, with Aon Hewitt noting that organizations with high engagement enjoy tangible benefits such as a greater ability to attract and retain key talent. Taking productive steps to enhance this engagement during a recessionary economy was also cited by Aon Hewitt as a key differentiating factor for the winning organizations.

For Stikeman Elliott, the survey results showed a large majority of the firm's members would recommend it to a friend seeking employment, tell others great things about working at the firm, and that Stikeman Elliott's work environment inspires them to do their best work every day.

"This honour is particularly special because it reflects the feedback of our firm members," said Raymond. "Understanding what we're doing right and where we can improve is critical to the success of our firm."

Stikeman Elliott has undertaken a number of initiatives, often organized at a grassroots level, to enhance its workplace environment and corporate citizenship.  Some of the firm's major initiatives in recent years include:

• expansion of its "SE University" online and in-person skills training platform;
• professional and business development skills enhancement through mentorship and training programs;
• implementation of flexible work arrangements, employee engagement surveys and coaching for new mothers returning to work;
• waste reduction, recycling and sustainability planning resulting in a carbon neutral designation for its Canadian office operations;
• pro bono engagements on behalf of, among others, the First Nations Child & Family Caring Society, the Québec Coaliation of AIDS Service Organizations (COCQ-SIDA), Montréal's St. Justine Hospital, Canine Compassion Societies of Alberta and Osgoode Hall Business Law Clinic; and
• partnerships with community groups such as the United Way, Defi corporatif Canderel, Calgary's Inn From the Cold, Pathways to Education and Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council.

ABOUT STIKEMAN ELLIOTT LLP

Stikeman Elliott LLP is recognized internationally for the sophistication of its business law practice. The firm is a Canadian leader in each of its core practice areas - corporate finance, M&A, banking, corporate-commercial, real estate, tax, insolvency, structured finance, competition, business litigation - and has developed in-depth knowledge of a wide range of industries from banking and insurance to energy, mining and technology.

Stikeman Elliott maintains offices in Montréal, Ottawa, Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver, as well as London, New York and Sydney. The firm was named as one of the Canada's 50 Best Employers in Canada for 2010 and 2011 and as one of the Top 100 Employers in 2009, 2010 and 2011. It was further recognized in 2010 as one of Canada's Best Diversity Employers and Best Employers for New Canadians. It was also named as a Green 30 organization, a distinction presented to businesses who display a commitment to environmental sustainability in their operations.

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about Stikeman Elliott, please visit our website at www.stikeman.com