Several large Atlanta firms are observing Juneteenth for the first time on Friday, in observance of the end of slavery in the United States. 

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton and Morris Manning & Martin are giving employees a full-paid holiday, while Hawkins Parnell & Young is closing at noon for paid time off. Firms in Atlanta previously announcing Juneteenth holidays include Akerman, Jackson Lewis, Littler Mendelson, Seyfarth Shaw and Smith Gambrell & Russell.