PHILADELPHIA, June 28, 2010—The Philadelphia Business Journal has named Nolan Atkinson, Duane Morris' Chief Diversity Officer and a partner in the Trial Practice Group, as a winner of its 2010 Minority Business Leader Award. Atkinson and other leaders in the diverse business community from throughout the region will be honored at an awards program at Philadelphia's Crystal Tea Room on August 5. Each award recipient will also be profiled in a print supplement in the August 6 edition of the Philadelphia Business Journal.

The annual awards program was created in 2009 to recognize top-level corporate executives and advocates of diverse ethnic backgrounds in the Philadelphia area. The award designates Atkinson as one of five Minority Business Advocates, recognized for their efforts to promote the growth of minority-owned businesses. Atkinson was nominated for the honor by representatives at the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.

Atkinson is an experienced litigator in commercial matters, representing banks, insurance companies and other businesses in major disputes. He has an extensive background in defending major corporations in product and toxic tort matters. He has also represented numerous hospitals and physicians in complex health-related matters. Atkinson was appointed the first Chief Diversity Officer of Duane Morris in August 2007. He is also the chairman of the firm's Diversity Committee.

In 2009, Atkinson was honored as the recipient of the inaugural Diversity Leadership Award from the American Bar Association, Section of Litigation. He is the former chair of the Philadelphia Diversity Law Group, Inc., a consortium of law firms and corporations committed to increasing ethnic and racial diversity in Philadelphia’s larger law firms.

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