The International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution (CPR Institute) on Oct. 4 presented its 2007 Corporate Leadership Award to ConocoPhillips and its Senior Vice President and General Counsel Stephen F. Gates.

The Corporate Leadership Award is given annually to a corporation that has demonstrated leadership in and commitment to the principles of conflict management and resolution.

In a statement, the CPR Institute praised ConocoPhillips' emphasis on alternate dispute resolution principles and its companywide commitment to diversity.

“For their corporate leadership, commitment to principled conflict management and their dedication to promoting diversity, the CPR Institute is proud to honor ConocoPhillips and Stephen F. Gates,” said Kathleen Bryan, CEO of the CPR Institute. “ConocoPhillips has set a successful benchmark against which all companies' legal departments should be measured.”

Gates joined Houston-based ConocoPhillips in May 2003 and, according to ConocoPhillips' Web site, will retire in January 2008. Before joining the oil company he was a partner at Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw (now known as Mayer Brown). He also served Amoco for 23 years, serving as vice president and general counsel and, following Amoco's name-change to BP, executive vice president and group chief of staff.

Past recipients of the Corporate Leadership Award include Johnson & Johnson, General Electric and Ernst & Young.