December 10, 2009 09:00 ET

NAWBO Announces New Partnership With Hogan & Hartson

This Formidable Advocacy Firm Gives NAWBO a More Powerful Voice on Issues Impacting Women-Owned Businesses

WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwire - December 10, 2009) - Founded in 1975, NAWBO is the voice of America's more than 10 million women-owned businesses and is the only dues-based organization representing the interests of women entrepreneurs across all industries. With the announcement of a new partnership with formidable international firm Hogan & Hartson LLP to provide legislative and advocacy services, NAWBO's voice will grow even stronger.

Specifically, NAWBO will be working with Hogan & Hartson's Senior Government Affairs Advisor Dr. Christine Warnke. Dr. Warnke represents clients on legislative and regulatory matters before U.S. Congress, the White House and various departments and independent agencies of the executive branch in the United States. She also represents national and multinational corporations, trade associations and coalitions and has spearheaded several initiatives that have both domestic and international implications, particularly in the areas of health, human rights and women's issues.

"NAWBO is uniquely positioned to provide incisive commentary on issues of importance to today's women business owners," says NAWBO President and CEO Helen Han. "As such, we are thrilled to partner with Hogan & Hartson, and with Dr. Christine Warnke, for even more opportunities to speak on behalf of our members and women business owners in general."

These issues include health care, procurement opportunities, access to capital, fair and equitable tax treatment for small businesses and more. Additionally, NAWBO is in the process of launching the Legislative Action Center on its Web site to provide a powerful platform to engage its members in public policy and get their voices heard by decision makers.

Ms. Han adds that NAWBO's volunteer leadership will play an integral role in this new partnership and commentary, including NAWBO Chair-Elect Kelly Scanlon, who leads the Public Policy Committee, and NAWBO Immediate Past Chair Cynthia McClain-Hill, who leads the Political Action Committee.

"NAWBO's vision and mission is to propel women entrepreneurs into economic, social and political spheres of power worldwide," emphasizes Ms. Han. "Our efforts to transform public policy and influence opinion makers will go a long way to this end."

About NAWBO

Founded in 1975, NAWBO propels women entrepreneurs into economic, social and political spheres of power worldwide. More than 35 years later, NAWBO is still the only organization that solely represents the interest of women entrepreneurs in all industries. The organization's mission is to strengthen the wealth-creating capacity of its members and promote economic development; to create innovative and effective change in the business culture; to build strategic alliances, coalitions and affiliations; and to transform public policy and influence opinion makers. To learn more about NAWBO, visit www.nawbo.org.

About Hogan & Hartson

Hogan & Hartson is an international law firm founded in Washington, D.C., with more than 1,100 lawyers in 27 offices worldwide.

Nearly 40 years ago, Hogan & Hartson was the first U.S. law firm to create a separate department to develop and foster pro bono work. The firm provided more than 100,000 hours of free legal assistance in 2008.

Hogan & Hartson has offices in Abu Dhabi, Baltimore, Beijing, Berlin, Boulder, Brussels, Caracas, Colorado Springs, Denver, Geneva, Hong Kong, Houston, London, Los Angeles, Miami, Moscow, Munich, New York, Northern Virginia, Paris, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Shanghai, Silicon Valley, Tokyo, Warsaw, and Washington, D.C. For more information about the firm, visit www.hhlaw.com.