Dozens of Atlanta lawyers crossed the partnership finish line at their law firms in the New Year, including those at Atlanta's largest firms—Alston & Bird, King & Spalding, Eversheds Sutherland, Troutman Sanders, Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton, Morris Manning & Martin and Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Smith—as well as at local firms and big national firms with offices here.

All promotions were effective Jan. 1.

Alston & Bird elected eight new partners in Atlanta, out of 21 firmwide. The Atlanta promotions are focused on litigation and intellectual property law.

They are: Jeffrey Adams in the real estate finance and investment group, Aaron Karl Block in the products liability group, David Carpenter in the litigation and trial practice group, Christopher Kelly in the IP patents group, Meredith Jones Kingsley in the litigation and trial practice group, Chris Lightner in the IP patents group, Cara Peterman in the securities litigation group and Nadya Sand in the trademark and copyright group.

Seven of King & Spalding's 17 new partners are local—a big change from last year, when half of the firm's 14 new partners were in Washington with only two in Atlanta. Six of the seven new Atlanta partners have corporate practices. They are: Zachary Cochran (corporate), Jeffrey Dutson (financial restructuring), Gibbs Fryer (real estate finance), Matthew Sandiford (finance), Spencer Stockdale (M&A), Elliott Tapp (M&A, private equity) and Thaddeus Wilson (bankruptcy litigation).

Eversheds Sutherland announced a total of 37 partner promotions globally—20 in its U.K. and international offices and a record 17 for its U.S. branch, known as Sutherland Asbill & Brennan before the firms combined last February. Among the 17 U.S. promotions, four new partners are in the firm's Atlanta headquarters. Of those four, three are women.

Cindy Upchurch advises electric cooperatives and other energy clients on financing transactions. Stacy Fredrich is a patent prosecutor and advises clients on patent portfolio management. Trent Myers advises lenders, developers and investors on commercial real estate transactions. Brenna Clark handles employee benefits and compensation issues.

Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton promoted four lawyers to partner in its Atlanta headquarters, out of 12 firmwide: Nicki Chollet on the trademark and copyright team, Alisha Gibson and Robert Shaw on the mergers & acquisitions and securities team, and David Reed on the patent litigation team.

Morris Manning & Martin also promoted four lawyers to partner, all in its Atlanta headquarters. Justin Barry represents financial institutions in real estate lending deals. Marc Bulson handles commercial real estate transactions, representing developers, owners and investors. Matt Peurach also handles commercial real estate deals, focusing on agreements for private equity funds, partnerships and other joint venture-related entities. Mark Zisholtz, an employment lawyer, heads the firm's contingent labor team, which addresses the gig economy.

Troutman Sanders elected four new partners in Atlanta, out of nine firmwide. Alan Bakowski is a business litigator, representing enterprises ranging from financial institutions and multinationals to small companies. Tom Hay handles high-stakes insurance disputes, advising on issues including professional and cyber liability. Puja Patel Lea handles IP disputes and related strategic counseling for national and multinational businesses. Austin Padgett advises businesses and creators on copyright, trademark and advertising law.

Ogletree Deakins promoted two new Atlanta shareholders, out of 11 firmwide. Bonnie Puckett heads the firm's Asia-Pacific practice, advising on cross-border and global employment matters. Deepa Subramanian represents employers in all aspects of employment law, including litigation and counseling.

Swift, Currie, McGhee & Hiers elected six lawyers to partner. Four of them handle workers' compensation defense: Ken Brock, Mark Irby, Marion Martin and Jeff Stinson.

Ashley Alfonso handles general liability and civil litigation and Drew Timmons handles medical malpractice defense, premises liability, insurance coverage disputes and automobile liability.

Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, based in Columbia, South Carolina, has promoted three Atlanta associates to partner: Katelyn Fredericks in the corporate and transactional practice, Lee Hart in the financial institutions group and Mark Nash in the general litigation practice.

Commercial real estate firm Hartman Simons & Wood has elected Ryan Rivera to equity partner and Whalen Kuller to partner. Rivera represents developers and retailers in a broad range of matters. Kuller handles real estate and corporate matters.

National IP firm Fish & Richardson named patent litigators Erin Alper and Jacqueline Tio in Atlanta to partner among 21 promotions firmwide. Alper is the recipient of the firm's inaugural Associate Pro Bono Impact Award. Tio also takes on pro bono cases, including clients seeking post-conviction relief.

Coleman Talley made two new partners for 2018: Emily Macheski-Preston in Atlanta and Mary Margaret Williams in Valdosta. Macheski-Preston is a litigator handling issues related to local government, zoning law, and affordable housing property management. Williams handles affordable housing, commercial real estate and commercial transactions.

Among 39 new partners worldwide, Jones Day has promoted Amisha Shrimanker to partner in its banking, finance and securities practice. Shrimanker focuses her practice on capital markets and corporate governance.

Holland & Knight, based in Florida, elected Alyson Pirio partner in Atlanta, among 29 lawyers firmwide. Pirio is a business lawyer, focusing on tax issues in transactions.

IP firm Meunier Carlin & Curfman has promoted Bjorn Anderson to partner. Anderson is a patent prosecutor specializing in computer, electrical and mechanical technologies.

Litigation defense firm Carlock, Copeland & Stair promoted Tyler Wetzel to partner. Wetzel is a commercial litigator with a focus on accounting and legal malpractice defense.

Burr & Forman, based in Birmingham, has elected Bret Beldt to partner out of eight lawyers firmwide. Beldt is a commercial litigator, focused on business disputes and financial services litigation.

Stites & Harbison, based in Louisville, Kentucky, named Brian Levy to the partnership. Levy represents financial institutions, mortgage servicers and other creditors in commercial loan recoveries and consumer finance litigation.