Alston & Bird LLP, a law firm with more than 500 lawyers and offices in Atlanta, Washington, DC, Charlotte and the Research Triangle and Walter, Conston, Alexander & Green, P.C., an international law firm headquartered in New York, have combined their practices. The combined Alston & Bird has over 550 lawyers with major offices in Atlanta, Charlotte, New York, the Research Triangle, Washington, DC and a liaison office in Munich. All partners of both firms are continuing as partners in the combined firm.
"For some time Alston & Bird has recognized the importance of developing a New York platform to better serve its multinational clients located in New York such as American Express, Bank of New York, Citigroup, Fortis, Inc., AMVESCAP and INVESCO, Itochu International, Matsushita, TLC Beatrice, Verizon and others. Additionally the firm has sought to enhance its capital markets and financial services practice with New York and European based investment banks and financial institutions; and to expand its global practice, particularly in e-business, technology, intellectual property, telecommunications and media," noted Ben F. Johnson III, managing partner of Alston & Bird.
"In Walter, Conston, we have found the perfect partner with which to develop that platform. Walter, Conston is a firm with a rich history that dates back to 1843, a collegial culture that emphasizes mutual respect and teamwork, a practice that for decades has focused on a client base with strong connections to countries outside the United States including Germany, Austria, and Switzerland and a client base with a strong e-business, technology, pharmaceutical, intellectual property, telecommunications and media focus that includes clients such as Bertelsmann, Beiersdorf,
BMG Music and Doubleday Direct," Johnson added.
Explaining the forces motivating his firm in the merger Walter, Conston Managing Partner Aydin Caginalp commented, "As the demands and requirements of our clients have grown with their increasing global activity, we felt the need for increased depth, particularly in areas like antitrust, securities, environmental, intellectual property and technology, and particularly in sophisticated patent areas. Consequently we had been looking for a merger partner with these recognized practice strengths, strong financial performance and cultural compatibility, and are delighted to join forces with Alston & Bird, a firm with the practice strength and depth we need. With 60 members of the patent bar in all fields of technology and one of America's largest Internet and e-business practices with over 180 attorneys Alston & Bird was an ideal fit."
Caginalp added, "Alston & Bird brings extensive experience in domestic and international licensing and distribution of information software and content, systems integration and outsourcing, news media, telecommunications, electronic commerce, digital signatures, intellectual property protection and litigation, capital formation at all stages of growth, IPOs, merger and acquisitions and joint ventures. Given their particular focus on the application of these capabilities to technology, electronic commerce and traditional businesses Alston & Bird will allow us to address the current and future needs of our clients. In addition what became obvious as our discussions progressed were the benefits of joining a firm repeatedly recognized nationally by Fortune Magazine as one of the 100 Best Places in America to Work and the advantages to our clients who have made significant investments in the Southeastern United States in having available the depth of legal resources of Alston & Bird."
Walter, Conston, Alexander & Green, P.C. is a midsize, full-service law firm that offers clients both internationally known authorities in cross-border business transactions and specialists for laws and regulations in local jurisdictions. Walter, Conston's practice areas include: mergers and acquisitions; antitrust; corporate and commercial transactions; creditors' rights and bankruptcy; employee benefits; executive compensation and employment; finance; securities and banking; immigration and naturalization; intellectual property and technology; litigation, arbitration and alternative dispute resolution; media and entertainment; real estate; taxation; and trusts and estates.
Alston & Bird is one of the largest and oldest law firms in the U.S. Its more than 500 attorneys provide a full range of services to domestic and international clients who conduct business all over the world. Alston & Bird's practice areas include: Internet and
e-business; antitrust and investigations; tax and employee benefits; capital markets and investments; financial services; leveraged capital and public finance; intellectual property; international; trial and appellate practice; health care; real estate; environmental; bankruptcy, reorganizations and workouts; fiduciary; and labor and employment.
"For some time Alston & Bird has recognized the importance of developing a New York platform to better serve its multinational clients located in New York such as American Express, Bank of New York, Citigroup, Fortis, Inc., AMVESCAP and INVESCO, Itochu International, Matsushita, TLC Beatrice, Verizon and others. Additionally the firm has sought to enhance its capital markets and financial services practice with New York and European based investment banks and financial institutions; and to expand its global practice, particularly in e-business, technology, intellectual property, telecommunications and media," noted Ben F. Johnson III, managing partner of Alston & Bird.
"In Walter, Conston, we have found the perfect partner with which to develop that platform. Walter, Conston is a firm with a rich history that dates back to 1843, a collegial culture that emphasizes mutual respect and teamwork, a practice that for decades has focused on a client base with strong connections to countries outside the United States including Germany, Austria, and Switzerland and a client base with a strong e-business, technology, pharmaceutical, intellectual property, telecommunications and media focus that includes clients such as Bertelsmann, Beiersdorf,
BMG Music and Doubleday Direct," Johnson added.
Explaining the forces motivating his firm in the merger Walter, Conston Managing Partner
Caginalp added, "Alston & Bird brings extensive experience in domestic and international licensing and distribution of information software and content, systems integration and outsourcing, news media, telecommunications, electronic commerce, digital signatures, intellectual property protection and litigation, capital formation at all stages of growth, IPOs, merger and acquisitions and joint ventures. Given their particular focus on the application of these capabilities to technology, electronic commerce and traditional businesses Alston & Bird will allow us to address the current and future needs of our clients. In addition what became obvious as our discussions progressed were the benefits of joining a firm repeatedly recognized nationally by Fortune Magazine as one of the 100 Best Places in America to Work and the advantages to our clients who have made significant investments in the Southeastern United States in having available the depth of legal resources of Alston & Bird."
Walter, Conston, Alexander & Green, P.C. is a midsize, full-service law firm that offers clients both internationally known authorities in cross-border business transactions and specialists for laws and regulations in local jurisdictions. Walter, Conston's practice areas include: mergers and acquisitions; antitrust; corporate and commercial transactions; creditors' rights and bankruptcy; employee benefits; executive compensation and employment; finance; securities and banking; immigration and naturalization; intellectual property and technology; litigation, arbitration and alternative dispute resolution; media and entertainment; real estate; taxation; and trusts and estates.
Alston & Bird is one of the largest and oldest law firms in the U.S. Its more than 500 attorneys provide a full range of services to domestic and international clients who conduct business all over the world. Alston & Bird's practice areas include: Internet and
e-business; antitrust and investigations; tax and employee benefits; capital markets and investments; financial services; leveraged capital and public finance; intellectual property; international; trial and appellate practice; health care; real estate; environmental; bankruptcy, reorganizations and workouts; fiduciary; and labor and employment.