Microsoft Corporation's Legal and Corporate Affairs Department and Brad Smith, senior vice president, general counsel, and corporate secretary, were honored last month in New York City by the International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution (CPR Institute). On behalf of his company, Mr. Smith accepted CPR Institute's 2008 Corporate Leadership Award for Microsoft's leadership and commitment to the principles of conflict management and resolution and to institutionalizing the values of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) into their corporate culture.
In his acceptance remarks, Mr. Smith encouraged the support of organizations, such as the CPR Institute, whose work provides innovative and effective legal tools and ADR methods to empower corporations to build and preserve partnerships not only with vendors and customers, but also with communities in which their work is done.
The event's keynote address was presented by John Ruggie, a professor at the Kennedy School of Government and Law, Harvard University and the UN Special Representative for Business and Human Rights.
The CPR Institute bridges the gap between thought leadership and practical application, helping to make dispute resolution integral to how business is done. Many times, it is the work of general counsel and corporate law departments that sets benchmarks, provides inspiration, spearheads innovation, and promotes excellence. Therefore, each year the organization recognizes corporations for leadership and commitment to principled and creative conflict management and resolution with the CPR Corporate Leadership Award. For more information visit www.cpradr.org.