Alston & Bird’s strategic expansionwhich in 2007 bolstered the firm’s roster by more than 100 attorneys in Los Angeles, the Silicon Valley and Dallas but cost partners substantial profits when the economy collapsed the following yearhas begun to reap dividends, justifying the substantial investment that was made. The expansion has contributed to Alston’s growing presence in patent and product liability litigation in California and in Texas. “It comes back to the practice mix … and the geographic positioning of our practices,” said managing partner Richard R. Hays. The California and Texas practices also have become centers for legal work associated with different forms of energy, including renewable energy products, Hays said, adding the firm typically represents the investor side. Alston’s lobbying practice in Washington also has grown, boosting Alston’s earnings from lobbying fees by 15 percent, from $11.9 million in 2010 to $13.7 million last year, according to Newstex. The firm also recruited three former members of Congressformer Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark.; former U.S. Rep. Earl Pomeroy, D-N.D.; and former U.S. Rep. Billy Tauzin, R-La.to bolster its Washington practice, where much of its lobbying work has focused on the implementation of the Affordable Health Care Act of 2009.
Reported by R. Robin McDonald
*Variances shown are in comparison to 2010.
| MONEY | ||
| Revenue | $644,500,000 |  12.9% |
| Revenue per lawyer | $800,000 | 11.1% |
| Profit per equity partner | $1,500,000 | 24% |
| LAWYERS | ||
| Total lawyers | 806 | 12.4 |
| Atlanta lawyers | 383/47% |  10 |
| Partners | 352 | 4.2 |
| Equity partners | 153 | 12.08 |
| Atlanta size rank among firms offices | No. 1 | |
Clients
Assurant, Bank of America, Boral, BP/ARCO, Coca-Cola Enterprises, Cox Communications, Credit Suisse, Dell, Dow Chemical Co., Electrolux, Emory University, Genuine Parts, Georgia Gulf, Georgia Pacific, Getinge AB, Global Payments, Grady Health Systems, Graphic Packaging, Honda, Houlihan Lokey, InComm, Invesco, JPMorgan Chase, McKesson Provider Technologies, Merck, Merial Limited, Morgan Stanley, MSouth Equity Partners, Nokia, Prestige Brands, PrintPack, Prudential, SunTrust Bank, Synovus, The Carlyle Group, The Coca-Cola Co., The Home Depot, Toyota, Turner Broadcasting, UnitedHealth Group, United Parcel Service, US Bancorp/Elavon, Wells Fargo, Whitney Holding Corp.
Offices
