Some Atlanta Law Firms See Business Uptick, and Associates Benefit
Some associates in Atlanta are benefiting as their law firms detect hints of a turnaround and increased business.
Some examples, reported in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Labor and employment law firm Fisher & Phillips gave its associates a $10,000 pay raise, citing business from companies seeking advice on labor issues and defending labor lawsuits. Morris, Manning & Martin has hired nine lawyers in the last six months, reinstated its summer associate program and restored pre-recession salaries in select practice groups after 10 percent pay cuts.
Morris Manning managing partner Louise Wells told the newspaper that her firm has definitely seen signs of improvement. “We don’t have crystal balls, but all our core groups are up,” she said.
Fisher & Phillips chairman Roger Quillen said his firm never experienced a downturn. “While the whole legal industry was way off, we showed substantial growth in every category,” he told the Journal-Constitution. He hopes the pay hikes will help the firm remain competitive for associate talent.
McKenna Long & Aldridge chairman Jeff Haidet is also more optimistic. His firm is seeing an increase in real-estate transactions while its government-related work remains strong.
Also see:
ABAJournal.com: “Morris Manning’s Last-Minute Summers Can Expect More Work, Less Play & No Promises”
