Attorney Ralph Abbott celebrates 30 years of excellence

Date: 2/27/2013

SPRINGFIELD – Attorney Ralph Abbott, partner at Skoler, Abbott & Presser, P.C. (SAP) celebrated 30 years of achieving an AV Preeminent Rating. Peers of Abbott recognize that he posses the highest standards in both ethical behavior and quality of his legal work for many years.

The AV Preeminent rating is the pinnacle of excellence earned through a strenuous Peer Review Rating process that is managed and monitored by the world's most trusted legal resource – Martindale-Hubbell.

A partner since 1975, Abbott is known throughout the legal community for his work representing management in labor relations and employment-related matters, providing employment-related advice to employers, assisting clients in remaining union free, and representing employers before the National Labor Relations Board.

He has been widely recognized as one of the country's leading attorneys in the labor and employment field in numerous national publications. Abbott has also been selected as a Super Lawyer and named among the Best Lawyers in America numerous times.

The Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings are objective indicators of lawyers' ethical standards and professional abilities. Ratings are determined through evaluations of lawyers by other members of the bar and the judiciary in the United States and Canada, and reflect a combination of a "Very High General Ethical Standards" rating and a "Legal Ability" numerical rating.

A threshold number of responses are required to achieve a rating.

"Legal Ability" ratings are based on performance in five key areas, rated on a scale of 1 (low) to 5 (high). These areas are:

• Legal knowledge: familiarity with the laws governing a specific practice area(s);

• Analytical abilities: creativity in analyzing legal issues and applying technical knowledge;

• Judgment: the demonstration of the salient factors that drive the outcome of a given case or issue

• Communication skills: the ability to communicate persuasively and credibly; and

• Legal experience: a lawyer's degree of experience in his or her specific practice area(s).

U.S. News Best Lawyers recently named SAP a Best Law Firm.

Founded in 1964, SAP is a boutique firm that exclusively practices labor and employment law and represents only the interests of management.

The firm has eight attorneys in its main Springfield office and an ERISA specialist who practices of counsel to the firm. In addition to its offices in Springfield and Worcester, the firm also has an extensive practice with a satellite office in Meriden, Conn.

Further information about SAP can be found at www.skoler-abbott.com.