Chambers USA released the latest edition of America's Leading Lawyers for Business 2006: The Client's Guide and Alston & Bird has again had a strong showing. At the national level, the firm's Business Processing Outsourcing, ERISA Litigation, Financial Services (both Regulatory Compliance and Regulatory Enforcement & Investigations) and Government Relations were ranked as among the best practices nationally. The rankings are based on more than 10,000 in-depth interviews with clients and attorneys.
Chambers recognized Chris Ford, Bob Reynolds, and Todd McClelland in the Business Process Outsourcing group and noted that “Clients commended this practice for its success in fostering ‘tireless lawyers with outstanding technical knowledge.’” In ERISA Litigation they ranked Greg Braden and Doug Hinson and reported “This dedicated unit is home to a group of ‘knowledgeable and determined’ ERISA litigators, who are equally comfortable advising on the esoteric details of ERISA law as they are fighting for a client in the courtroom.” John Douglas was ranked in the Financial Services: Regulatory Compliance group. Both the Regulatory Compliance and Regulatory Enforcement & Investigations sections were commended for their “successful representation of major banks and their officials in investigation and enforcement proceedings, as well as ongoing regulatory and transactional matters… The group's ‘excellent credentials’ for enforcement representation particularly impressed market observers.” In reference to Alston & Bird’s Government Relations group, Chambers commented that “This ‘powerhouse’ Georgia firm is ‘making a very aggressive run of it’ in Washington, DC and is famous as the base for former Republican presidential candidate Senator Bob Dole. The high-profile recruitment campaign continues apace, and the practice now has Senator Tom Daschls and Tom Scully, Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, on board. As these appointments would suggest, the firm is particularly good for healthcare lobbying.”
Regionally, Alston & Bird was ranked in Georgia in 15 practices and in the top position in 10 of those practices. Additionally, the firm's Energy practice in Washington and its Real Estate practice in New York were ranked as among the best in the country. Alston & Bird attorneys added to the list of leaders in their field include: Mark Duedall (Bankruptcy), Todd McClelland (Business Process Outsourcing/National), Teri McMahon (Corporate/ M&A), Forrest Hunter and Glenn Patton (Employment: Mainly Defendant), Ken Jaffe and Steven Agresta (Energy: Electricity), Doug Hinson (ERISA Litigation/National), John Douglas (Financial Services: Regulatory Compliance/National), Mike Kenny (Litigation: General Commercial), Joe Forte and Allison Ryan (Real Estate). To read the Chamber's complete editorial comments about Alston & Bird, please visit the Chamber's Web site at www.chambersandpartners.com/usa/rankings36.aspx?fid=2806.