Willig, Williams & Davidson’s Deborah R. Willig Receives Ambassador of Hope Award

Oct. 17, 2012 - PRLog -- City of Hope and the Tri-State Labor & Management Council have honored Philadelphia labor and employment lawyer Deborah R. Willig, Esq. of Willig, Williams & Davidson with the 2nd Annual Bob Kyler Ambassador of Hope Award. The award was presented to Willig on Sept. 20, 2012, in recognition of her unwavering commitment to community service. A role model for women lawyers, a determined advocate for working individuals and their families and a well-known community leader, Willig is a previous recipient of City of Hope’s Spirit of Life® Award, the highest honor City of Hope bestows on individuals for their philanthropic endeavors.

“As an attorney who strives to safeguard the rights of working people and their families, it is a natural extension of my professional life to aid a remarkable institution that provides such incredible health care services to working families,” said Willig. “I cannot imagine enjoying the success that my profession has afforded me without sharing that good fortune with others. City of Hope is a unique and remarkable institution whose founding almost 100 years ago had its roots in the labor community. It has contributed to the world’s ability to assist in the treatment and cure of diabetes, HIV / Aids and all forms of cancer. I greatly appreciate the recognition I have received from City of Hope and the Tri-State Labor & Management Council.”

Willig has been at the helm of Willig, Williams & Davidson since the firm’s founding in 1979. As a labor and employment lawyer, she has been involved in representing a wide range of labor unions including public school teachers and employees; public health, social and recreation workers; firefighters; teamsters; and orchestra musicians. Her work for both public and private sector unions includes contract negotiations, presenting interest and grievance arbitrations, and advising clients on internal union governance and staff matters. She also maintains an active practice in the representation of employee benefit funds, including jointly administered funds in the public and private sectors.

Since 1990, Willig has been consistently selected by her peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® in the fields of Labor and Employment Law (Copyright 2012 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, S.C.). She has consistently been named a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer® by Thomson Reuters, published annually in Philadelphia magazine, since 2004. Willig is also the recipient of a wide array of highly prestigious awards and honors including the Agent of Change Award from Women's Way, the Sandra Day O’Connor Award from the Philadelphia Bar Association, the Labor Human Rights Award from the Jewish Labor Committee, the Israel Labor Medal from the State of Israel Bonds, the Vocational Service Award from the Rotary Club of Philadelphia, the Outstanding Service Award from Pennsylvania Citizen's Action and the Attorney of the Year Award from the Jewish National Fund.

About City of Hope – City of Hope is a leading research, treatment and education center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases. Designated as a comprehensive cancer center, the highest honor bestowed by the National Cancer Institute, and a founding member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, City of Hope's research and treatment protocols advance care throughout the nation. City of Hope is located in Duarte, Calif., just northeast of Los Angeles, and is ranked as one of "America's Best Hospitals" in cancer by U.S. News & World Report. Founded in 1913, City of Hope is a pioneer in the fields of bone marrow transplantation and genetics.

About Willig, Williams & Davidson – Willig, Williams & Davidson (www.wwdlaw.com) is one of the largest and most respected union-side labor law firms in the United States. The firm has offices in Philadelphia, Media, Jenkintown and Harrisburg, Pa., as well as Haddonfield, N.J. Founded in 1979, Willig, Williams & Davidson focuses on representing labor unions, employee benefit funds and individual working people and their families on a variety of legal fronts, including national, regional and local contract negotiations; dispute resolution through mediation, arbitration and litigation; tax and benefit law compliance issues; discrimination and other employment matters; prepaid legal services for union members; and workers’ compensation matters in Pennsylvania and beyond.