This Atlantan soars in the BigLaw market when it comes to IP, litigation, healthcare and antitrust matters especially.
Alston & Bird is one of the top firms in Atlanta for areas like healthcare, corporate/M&A, real estate and tax, IP, white-collar crime & government investigations, labor & employment and its premier antitrust expertise. Nationwide the firm is known for IP, international trade and financial services regulation. Beyond Atlanta, Alston & Bird has offices in nine other domestic locations, as well as three overseas posts in Beijing, Brussels and London.
View the firm's Chambers USA rankings here>>
Associates say…
“I chose the firm because of its great reputation for culture and excellent training.”
“I like the fact the firm is very calculated with decisions and growth. I feel good about the long-term success of Alston & Bird because they think everything through.”
Strategic recruitment focuses 2022
Finance careers
The view from the firm: Alston & Bird’s respected structured finance and securitization practices represents many of the most active issuers, originators, master servicers, servicers, trustees, fund managers, investors, domestic and foreign financial institutions, rating agencies and insurers in a variety of debt financings. The practice puts its deep bench in several leading US financial centers and in London into play to lead transactions in virtually every asset class of the structured finance and securitization markets.
Finance clients: Citibank, UMB Bank, Wells Fargo.
Recent highlight: Represented loanDepot, a retail mortgage lender, as issuer and sponsor, on a $1 billion securitization.
Healthcare careers
The view from the firm: The firm’s extensive, full-service healthcare practices has demonstrated transactional, regulatory, public policy, government investigations and litigation expertise, including former senior health policy and enforcement officials from the US Congress and executive branch departments and agencies, including the White House, Departments of Justice and Health & Human Services, and Food and Drug Administration.
Healthcare clients: Clearview Capital, Avanos Medical, Marietta Eye Clinic, American Clinical Laboratory Association.
Recent highlight: Advised Waud Capital on regulatory aspects of its acquisition of respiratory product company Prompt Care.
Intellectual property careers
The view from the firm: Alston & Bird’s highly-regarded IP practice provides a full range of intellectual property services, including patentability and prosecution, litigation, post-grant review proceeding expertise and services, patent maintenance, counseling regarding infringement avoidance and validity and infringement studies and opinions.
IP clients: National Geographic, Nokia, Skechers.
Recent highlight: Won a case for National Geographic against a plaintiff who alleged trademark infringement and demanded over $20 million in damages.
Litigation careers
The view from the firm: Alston & Bird’s attorneys have litigated in virtually every major industrialized jurisdiction around the world. The firm’s litigation experience includes antitrust, bankruptcy, construction, environmental and land development, ERISA, international trade and regulatory, labor and employment, securities, products liability and class actions.
Litigation clients: Dell, UPS, T-Mobile USA.
Recent highlight: Acts as lead counsel for Microsoft Mobile in a matter involving the recovery of additional costs incurred due to a price-fixing conspiracy connected to the sale of lithium ion batteries.
Natural resources and energy careers
The view from the firm: Attorneys provide energy clients with nationally recognized expertise in virtually every aspect of the law affecting the energy industry, from electric and natural gas regulation and project development and financing to carbon management, energy supply transactions and public policy.
Natural resources and energy clients: Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia, NextEra Energy Resources, Chick-fil-A.
Recent highlight: Represented Public Gas Partners on the acquisition and management of three Gas Supply Pools worth approximately $500 million.
Career development & the path to partnership
|
20 |
1:1 |
15% |
||
|
partners made |
associate:partner |
of junior associates intend to make partner |
||
|
77% |
78% |
77% |
||
| felt partnership was achievable for attorneys with children | strongly agreed the firm’s name adds value to their resume |
agreed partners are nurturing future leaders |
||
The view from the firm: Our one-on-one mentoring program for junior lawyers is designed to guide associates through their first few years of practice. Our A&BCD Initiative focuses on group coaching and is designed to support Senior Associates in the development of the skills, knowledge and relationships necessary to succeed. Additionally, we have practice-specific skills checklists for use as a benchmarking guide through each level of development. We provide our own internal course offerings through Alston & Bird University. Our Business Development training curriculum is offered to all lawyers and our experienced Marketing Specialists are available to assist with individual business development needs and plans.
Hours & compensation
|
1,950 |
8 |
53 |
|
billable hours |
average number of vacation days associates took |
average number of hours associates worked |
|
77% |
46% |
62% |
| agreed they had a good work-life balance |
said the benefits package makes the workload worthwhile |
found the bonus allocation fair and transparent |
1st year salaries
- Atlanta, Raleigh (Patent Bar qualified): $170,000
- Atlanta, Raleigh (non-patent): $165,000
- All other offices: $190,000
The view from the firm: We provide competitive compensation and a merit bonus program with 150 pro bono hours counted toward hours-based bonus qualification. The firm’s Flexible Time Off Policy permits all salaried attorneys to take time away from work with pay for rest and relaxation at their discretion. Our wide range of benefits, work life balance programs, and alternative work arrangements and career options are designed to address the challenges of balancing the demands of family and career and provide the support and resources our attorneys need to successfully integrate their work and personal lives at every stage of development.
Is Alston & Bird the right firm for you?
|
94% |
72% |
85% |
|
said they’d chosen the right firm |
were happy in their current role |
felt comfortable being themselves |
The view from the firm: Lateral hiring is critical to Alston & Bird's overall talent strategy and long-term commitment to our clients. We highly value the experience and expertise our lateral attorneys bring to the firm, and we integrate them fully as future partners and leaders. We seek highly motivated attorneys who are committed to their practice, are intellectually curious, and who celebrate a diverse and inclusive work environment. Our website job board contains current opportunities available throughout the firm and is updated in real time.
What stands out about the firm's culture?
“You can really tell that people bring their whole selves to work.”
“There’s a high degree of trust in senior management.”
Diversity, inclusion and wellbeing
|
46% |
46% |
26% |
26% |
||
|
reported strong performance in inclusivity training |
rated the firm for mentoring from diverse role models |
of partners are women |
identify as ethnically diverse |
||
The view from the firm: Under the oversight of the national Diversity Steering Committee, our diversity efforts can be categorized in five specific areas: recruiting; retention; mentoring; promoting diversity throughout the firm; and communication. Our goals include: 1) increasing our emphasis on and resources toward hiring and retaining top talent; 2) ensuring that members of diverse groups sustain a level of success as partners; 3) providing appropriate mentoring to all diverse lawyers; 4) recognition, celebration and education regarding cultural differences; and 5) broadening our efforts in communicating the firm’s diversity initiatives and accomplishments to add a voice to the call for diversity within the profession.
Pro bono
|
71 |
85% |
|
average pro bono |
found the pro bono |
The view from the firm: Alston & Bird encourages every lawyer to pursue his or her passion and do so with the support of the firm and the Pro Bono Committee. The Committee hosts regular trainings and provides a variety of pro bono opportunities and each practice group has assigned pro bono ambassadors which has been put in place with the goal of supporting and engaging everyone in finding and doing meaningful and impactful pro bono work.
Sustainability and CSR
The view from the firm: The firm has taken a leadership role in the legal industry by helping found the Law Firm Sustainability Network (LFSN), sharing its vision with other green law firms to improve the entire industry’s sustainable practices. From comprehensive recycling programs to composting services, to waste reduction and reuse initiatives, we do all that we can to reduce, recycle and reuse. Our firm is American Legal Industry Sustainability Standards (ALISS) Gold certified, a sustainability self-assessment program started by the LFSN. We purchase a full 50% of the entire firm’s electricity from wind farms.
Contact
See opportunities at Alston & Bird here>>
Recruitment contacts here>>