| Alston & Bird LLP | One Atlantic Center, 1201 West Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA 30309 |
| www.alston.com | (404) 881-7000 Fax: (404) 881-7777 |
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A November 1999 article in The New York Times reported the Atlanta region's population grew no less than 70 percent between 1980 and 1999. Observers expect that the fabled Southern city will add an additional one million more people by 2025. Riding the population wave is Atlanta's Alston & Bird, one of the city's top law firms.
Alston & Bird takes wing
Judge Augustus Holmes Alston once told his son, Robert C. Alston: " I know of no one who has a brighter future before them than you have. The world is open to you, and you can be anything that an honorable ambition may aspire to." The younger Alston went on, of course, to become a lawyer, and in 1893 founded the firm that would be Alston & Bird. The firm is one of the oldest - and largest - firms in the southeast, employing about 470 lawyers in Atlanta, GA, Washington, DC, Charlotte, NC, and the Research Triangle Area of North Carolina. Moreover, the firm's Atlanta branch has grown so quickly that it is rapidly running out of office space. Recognizing this, Alston signed a 12-year lease for a new building located directly across the street from their current offices, which they will continue to occupy.
Put another notch on their lipstick case
Alston & Bird has attracted many accolades in its recent history. In 1998 Alston & Bird shared first place with Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen, & Katz on AmLaw Tech Magazine's list of the top 100 firms for technological prowess. The firm also placed highly on The American Lawyer's 1998 "Corporate Scorecard" (particularly for its work as counseling both issuers and underwriters of initial public offerings) and has won recognition in rankings compiled by industry watchers such as Securities Data, American Banker, the International Tax Review, and MergerStat. January 2000 saw Fortune magazine include the firm on its closely watched list of "The 100 Best Companies to Work For in America." Alston, ranked 36th, was one of only two law firms to make the list.
E-commerce for everyone
The jewel in Alston & Bird's crown is its high tech and intellectual property practice. In fact, 50 lawyers at the firm are members of the patent bar, a number that sets Alston & Bird well apart from its Georgia-based competitors and puts it in the same class as IP heavyweights such as Baker Botts and Howrey & Simon. The firm particularly touts its e-commerce practice group and its three-pronged strategy for growth: helping established companies with e-commerce efforts; catering to startups; and leveraging the firm's expertise in venture capital. Alston partner David Stewart represented Umbro International Inc. in its bid against a cyber-squatter who registered the domain name umbro.com. While Umbro prevailed in getting the domain name, it wasn't satisfied with later developments in the case. In May 2000, the Virginia Supreme Court ruled that Umbro could not garnish the other domain names held by the defendant, a Canadian company that held no other available assets.
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Top grades expected
Alston & Bird associates report that the firm's hiring "seems like it used to be more competitive." Nevertheless, insiders state that the firm "usually hires applicants from the top 10 to 15 percent of graduates." One contact notes that grades are not the only criteria used by the hiring committee: "The firm is highly competitive in its selection process, but not in an arbitrary or unfair manner." Another associate elaborates, "For associates being hired directly out of law school, the firm expects top grades. The firm also continues to place significant emphasis on the personality fit between the firm and the student. Great grades alone are not enough if the student's attitude or conversational skills don't measure up." Insiders disclose that the type of law one plans to practice is also vital to the decision-making process: "Some practice groups really focus on personality mix, others just really need the bodies." Most summer associates are given offers, according to associates. In fact, "it seems that the weeding out of associates occurs later on." The firm recruits at most top-tier law schools as well as large law schools throughout the South.
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Green Atlanta
Alston & Bird associates maintain that they are very well compensated. Notes one Atlantan, "The recent raises have exceeded the expectations of 90 percent of the associates." A litigator reports (no doubt to the distress of Alston partners) that the firm's "pay is tremendous, really extraordinarily generous. I feel that I am overcompensated for the work I perform." The bonus system is "based on percentage of billable hours over a certain amount plus other intangibles," according to an attorney. A first-year elaborates, "The firm has instituted a program by which associates who attain 2,100 billable hours will receive an automatic 10 percent bonus. Those who do not attain the 2,100 billable hours will receive a bonus only on a discretionary basis [for what the firm calls an 'extraordinary contribution']. The firm has, however, decided not to offer this bonus program to first-year associates." A content attorney remarks that "the bonus potential is great - depending upon your billable hours - but is not guaranteed. Because of the recent salary increase, I am pleased with this system. If you work very hard, you get a big bonus. Otherwise you just get a great salary - not bad."
Make me a big Bird
Associates at the firm report that chances of making partner at the firm are "pretty good." However, many associates also note that the ascent to partnership seem to be "getting harder every day." An attorney elaborates, "Although the opportunity for partnership is greater than at a New York firm, there is an increasing perception that associates generally will not make partner and will choose to leave." Alston & Bird has a seven-year track in order to be considered for a non-equity partner position. After being promoted, it usually "takes a few more years in order to make equity partner." An associate who was hired in 1993 reports that this position, which was once intended to be a one year trial period, "is now a four- or five-year stay (this is unwritten) in the non-equity pool until you can make equity, and then only if you have clients. But non-equity partners are paid very well."
A litigation associate sketches out the effort necessary to reach the brass ring. "The firm requires about 2,200 billable and 800 non-billable hours to make equity partner, about 2,000 billable and 500 non-billable to make non-equity." Associates are still optimistic. "I think as long as an associate does good work and is willing to invest the time necessary to make partner," one declares, "he or she will make it." While a labor/employment source states that "making non-equity seems common," he points out that "equity opportunities are anemic." Attorneys are well informed of their status. A third-year reveals, "annual reviews give you a very good idea of your partnership prospects. Reviews given at the beginning of your sixth and seventh year are labeled 'green' (keep up the good work and you'll be partner), 'yellow' (you need to do X over the next year) or 'red' (go ahead and look for another job)."
Fraternity firm
The social life at Alston is active, to say the least. One corporate party animal raves that "there is more social interaction between the lawyers than there was in my college fraternity" (a statement which might reflect more on his fraternity than it does on the firm). A mergers and acquisition specialist reports that Alstonians know how to have fun, and it's not due diligence: "Associates often spend a fair amount of time together after hours and on weekends. The camaraderie is very high at Alston." Another associate gleefully notes, "Some of my best friends are lawyers here." Firm-sponsored events include a popular Friday night happy hour.
Time, time, time
Alston associates work harder than some would like. An insider who has been around for six years predicts that the "restructuring of the bonus system is bound to put more billable hour pressure on associates." However, another associate responds that "the hours are not all that unreasonable, given the profession and the client demand. I just wish they were less. The hours are definitely not driven by the firm, though. It's the clients that are demanding." A litigator agrees: "There is a lot of work here and the final product must be good. It's rewarding but hard at times." An Alstonian who has been burning the midnight oil for seven years tells Vault.com, "I have been encouraged to take it easy, though I enjoy working so much it is tough to slow down."
Pro pro bono?
Alston & Bird's commitment to pro bono work is a controversial subject. Some associates are upset because the firm does not count pro bono work towards billing requirements. Others note that "it is considered during the review process." A fifth-year elaborates, "The firm counts pro bono commitments in its evaluations of 'other contributions' which go toward earning a bonus (in lieu of 2,100 billable hours). The theory is yet untested since the bonus structure is brand new, however. In practice, I have received a lot of support from my practice group to continue pro bono work." Another fifth-year continues, "Pro bono does not count toward billing, but it is an expected contribution and those who participate minimally or not at all are asked to step it up." Moreover, the firm assists associates in finding pro bono work: "There is a pro bono committee in place to help associates who want to do pro bono work. Many of the partners are visibly committed to doing pro bono work."
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Emily C. Shiels
Director of Attorney Hiring and Development
One Atlantic Center1
1201 West Peachtree Street
Atlanta
GA
30309
(404) 881-7014
(404) 881-7777
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