A jury has found Alston & Bird liable for $4.7 million after determining that the law firm’s erroneous tax advice to a longtime client and subsequent cover-up of the error constituted legal malpractice.

The jury in Fulton County, Ga., issued the Dec. 13 verdict for MSouth Equity Partners after deliberating about seven hours following a two-week trial, said David Pernini, a partner at Atlanta’s Wargo French. French was part of the team that represented MSouth Equity Partners and nearly a dozen other minority shareholders.