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New and Renewed Member Firms Since 2008

Alston & Bird LLP

On Wednesday, March 18, 2009, Alston & Bird LLP hosted and sponsored an ALDC STAR Lawyer Training Program: Guideposts: The Keys to Success. Brent Wilson, a Partner at Elarbee Thompson Sapp & Wilson LLP, and Angela Payne James, Partner at A & B, delivered an excellent presentation to 12 associates. In February of this year, the ALDC Board of Directors elected Ms. James to the Board and Ms. James graciously assented to serving as an ALDC mentor to metro area associates. We are grateful to Angela and to Rosalie Chamberlain, the Firm’s Diversity Manager, for their many contributions to the ALDC. The firm has received a top rating of 100 percent from the Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) seventh annual Corporate Equality Index. This is the fourth year in a row that Alston & Bird has received HRC’s perfect rating. Earlier in 2008, A&B was named to MultiCultural Law magazine's "Top 100 Law Firms for Diversity" list. They are ranked among the publication's "Top 100 Law Firms for Women," "Top 50 Law Firms for Associates" and "Top 25 Law Firms for African Americans." Alston & Bird has been ranked consecutively for 10 years, on FORTUNE's "100 Best Companies to Work For." Last year, twelve associates from A&B actively participated in the ALDC's spring and Fall 2008 "Success Training Program." Their feedback played an important role in refining future ALDC training sessions. Learn more about Alston & Bird at: http://www.alston.com/firm/diversity/.

Elarbee Thompson Sapp & Wilson LLP

Elarbee Thompson Sapp & Wilson is an award-winning Atlanta law firm dedicated to the representation of management in labor law, employment law and complex litigation. Its immigration practice assists companies and individuals with complex and standard immigration issues. Since 1973, Elarbee Thompson attorneys have earned a reputation for innovative, creative thinking that leads to bottom-line results for clients. Firm honors and distinctions include recognition by Georgia Super Lawyers, Georgia Rising Stars, Chambers USA, Top 500 Companies “Go-To Law Firm”, and Best of the Best,” Diversity& the Bar. Partners, Stanford G. Wilson and Brent L. Wilson have been recognized by their peers in Georgia Trend Magazine’s 2006 “Legal Elite” list. The Firm also has a rich history in diversity. It is the first majority law firm in the southeastern United States to hire an African-American attorney in the area of representing management in labor relations and employment discrimination law in 1979. The Firm has encouraged and strongly supported its lawyers’ involvement in such minority organizations as the Gate City Bar Association, the Georgia Hispanic Bar Association, and the Minority Corporate Counsel Association. Brent Wilson is an active Board Director of the ALDC and in March of this year, co-presented, at Alston & Bird LLP, an excellent professionalism training session, “Guideposts: The Keys to Success.” Brent also serves as an ALDC mentor for the Future STAR Lawyer Program at Morehouse and Spelman Colleges. We are grateful to Brent Wilson and his Firm for their ALDC membership. For more information: www.elarbeethompson.com.

Doffermyer Shields Canfield Knowles & Devine LLC.

Founded in 1990, DSCKD handles litigation for plaintiffs ranging from individuals to major corporations, both in Georgia and across the country. They focus on complex business disputes, environmental cases, consumer class actions, and personal injury matters involving serious or catastrophic injuries. The National Law Journal has recognized DSCKD as "one of Atlanta's leading firms in high-profile, class action litigation." DSCKD is often asked to resolve problems that involve unusual facts, novel legal issues, unanswered constitutional questions, or matters of significance from a public policy standpoint. For example, a member of the Ku Klux Klan mounted an aggressive effort in federal court to obtain confidential information about a prominent civil rights lawyer and the Southern Poverty Law Center. DSCKD thwarted this effort by proving that the information would be used to threaten the safety of Klan opponents. The ALDC is grateful that Sheryl McCalla, Partner, is both a Board Member and "STAR Lawyer Training Program" Presenter. Find out more about Ms. McCalla and her firm at: http://www.dsckd.com/about-us/.

Dow Lohnes PLLC

Dow Lohnes (DL) is a founding member of the ALDC, and is represented by Jill Harrison on our Board of Directors. Ms. Harrison, a Partner at DL, is also the ALDC's Secretary and a "STAR Lawyer Training Program" Presenter. Dow Lohnes' firm-wide Diversity Committee oversees a host of ongoing activities and programs, including a Diversity Scholarship and Mentorship Program, sponsoring minority job fairs, and participating in many diversity-related organizations. The firm's impressive retention efforts include a three-tiered mentor program designed to provide associates with mentoring relationships as they navigate through professional development stages. DL's Minority Networking Affinity Group promotes informal mentoring relationships via a monthly forum to achieve retention. DL has participated in over 21 diversity oriented organizations and events, including hosting our spring "Guideposts for Success" training that was simulcast to associates in Washington, DC. To learn more about the firm's approach to retention and success, contact Madeleine Kershek, Director, Attorney Recruitment and Professional Development at mkershek@dowlohnes.com.

Fisher & Phillips LLP

Greenburg Traurig LLP

The ALDC is pleased to have Ernest Greer and Ken Neighbors (two Board of Directors) be part of our effort. Ernest was key to the early development of the ALDC providing his time and insights for many years. Of late, Ken has volunteered to be the Chair of the "Future STAR Lawyer Program", and generously mentor dozens of pre-law students each semester by phone and in person. We are most grateful to these faithful troopers of Greenburg Traurig LLP in supporting our endeavors. GT boasts 29 locations and 1,750 lawyers world wide and is the only AmLaw 100 Top 20 firm with a Hispanic or African-American president or CEO. The Minority Law Journal ranked GT No.1 in the category of “Most Minority Partners.” GT attorneys have been recognized for their diversity efforts by a host of industry organizations, including the ABA, the Anti-Defamation League, and the National Conference for Community and Justice. Special thanks to Kenneth Neighbors and Ernest Greer for their active participation on our Board and for helping the ALDC increase its enrollment in our STAR Lawyer Training Program. Learn more about GT’s diversity efforts at: http://www.gtlaw.com/AboutUs/FosterDiversity.

Jones Day LLP

The Jones Day task force on diversity joins ranks with the ALDC's mission to advance inclusion and excellence. Jones Day's diversity outreach and attorney-development efforts are working: Women head their Washington, Pittsburgh, Houston, and Atlanta offices. 14 women and three minorities sit on the Firm's Advisory Committee. Of the 33 U.S. lawyers elevated to partner last year, eight are minorities and seven are women. As of January 2008, women made up more than 36 percent of their attorneys worldwide and minorities made up 11 percent of their U.S. attorneys. Of the 147 new associates who will start work in U.S. offices in the fall of 2008, 71 are women and 33 are minorities. Thanks to the leaders of Jones Day’s Business Development Team, Senna Randolf and Elizabeth Kuney, and to their Partner-in-Charge, Lizanne Thomas for their progressive diversity initiatives and for their support of our "Success Training Program." See: http://www.jonesday.com/firm/diversity/.

Kilpatrick Stockton LLP

King & Spalding LLP

King & Spalding (K & S) is a founding ALDC member, STAR Lawyer Training host firm, and home to our current President, Sam Matchett. K&S is recognized around the world for its contributions to fostering excellence and inclusion. For the fourth consecutive year, K & S figured prominently in MultiCultural Law magazine’s list of the top 100 law firms for diversity. It is also ranked as a top law firm for women and for African Americans. While the ALDC’s "success training" approach to retention comes from Sam Matchett’s leadership and the sage advice of our Board of Directors, we also acknowledge the informative role played by the K & S attorneys who participated in our 2008 STAR Lawyer Training Program: Walter Bibbins, Royce Bluitt, Ann Broussard, Anne Maynard, Regina Myers, Thomas Reynolds, Ian Smith, and others. For more information on K & S diversity efforts, contact Dick Cirillo (rcirillo@kslaw.com) or Lovita Tandy (ltandy@kslaw.com). Gratitude goes out to Kathy Timcho for her valuable support during this re-building year.

McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP

The founding of the ALDC owes in large measure to the vision and commitment of Tom Wardell, Senior Partner at McKenna Long & Aldridge (MLA) and past ALDC President. Along with Naomi K. McLaurin (our former Director), Tom Wardell was determined to set a course and stay the course toward advancing the aims of diversity and excellence in the city’s legal community. Tom continues on as an active Board Member and volunteers his time as an ALDC “STAR Lawyer” presenter; he is also a Diversity Committee member at MLA. MLA has earned high marks for its multiple programs, sponsorships, and activities, to recruit, develop, promote and retain a world-class talent base that reflects the diversity of the communities it serves. To learn more about MLA’s many achievements and array of internal and external efforts in this worthy arena go to: http://www.mckennalong.com/firm-diversity.html. The ALDC appreciates those MLA associates who attended Tom’s “Interpreting Documents” training this spring: Monique Gonzalez, Allix Magaziner, Sharice Owens, and Aisha Oliver-Staley. We also wish to thank Laura Ruttan for her over seven years (and counting) of talented service to the ALDC.

Sutherland LLP

Sutherland has been there for the ALDC since our inception and continues to give generously. Sutherland attorney’s have served and continue to serve on our Board of Directors and provide excellent leadership. Allegra Lawrence-Hardy is the ALDC’s Membership Chairperson and a Board member. Her leadership is also exhibited at work where she serves as co-chair of the Complex Business Litigation group and is Sutherland’s “Diversity Partner.” Sutherland is a law firm with global reach known for solving challenging business problems and resolving unique legal issues for many of the world's largest companies. Founded in 1924, the firm has grown to more than 500 lawyers handling matters in every part of the world. The recipient of a host of awards and recognition for the firm’s efforts to promote diversity, Sutherland has repeatedly been ranked by MultiCultural Law Magazine as a top 100 Firm nationally for Diversity and for Women, and a Top 5 firm for Disabled Americans and a Top 25 firm for African-Americans. We are grateful to Allegra for her work and we share Sutherland’s desire to provide its workforce “work-life solutions designed to retain employees and help them succeed.” Please see: http://www.sutherland.com/diversity/. Special thanks to Mary Ann Lamb for her valuable assistance as well.