The latest promotions from Alston & Bird, Troutman Sanders, Smith Gambrell & Russell and eight other firms further show Atlanta-based firms are promoting large classes of lawyers to partner. Except for Alston, though, women still are being promoted at a lesser rate than men. For the 28 new partners named in this report, only 11 are women–and six of those are in Alston's Atlanta office.

The Daily Report has previously reported on large new partner classes at Atlanta firms King & Spalding, Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton and Morris Manning & Martin, as well as Eversheds Sutherland and Arnall Golden Gregory.

All promotions were effective Jan. 1, unless otherwise noted.

Alston & Bird

Alston & Bird elected 16 lawyers to partner firmwide. Women make up half of Alston's new partner class, and of the nine new partners in Atlanta, six are women.

“Each of these attorneys has demonstrated the highest ideals of client service while fostering a workplace culture where people and ideas thrive,” said Alston's managing partner, Richard Hays, in an announcement.

Elizabeth Broadway Brown is a litigator who defends class action and privacy matters, primarily for health care, tech and financial services companies. Elizabeth Gingold Clark is a securities litigator, representing public companies and financial institutions in securities class actions, shareholder derivative suits and government investigations and enforcement actions.

Pamela Holland Councill is an intellectual property litigator, handling patent and trademark infringement, trade secret misappropriation and other matters. Jenny Hergenrother is a products liability litigator, handling class and mass actions in the automotive, food and beverage and pharmaceutical industries, as well as high-value personal injury and wrongful death cases and false advertising allegations.

Sarah Hess Mackenzie is in the corporate group and handles complex M&A and securities transactions for private and public companies. C. Jordan Myers, in the finance group, represents banks, alternative lenders, private equity funds and corporate borrowers in lending transactions, with a focus on retail and consumer products, restaurants and franchises.

Nicholas Roecker, also in the finance group, represents financial institutions, private equity sponsors and corporate issues in debt finance transactions, including leveraged buyouts, acquisition financings and investment-grade credit facilities. Jason Rottner handles complex commercial litigation, including class actions, product liability cases, contract and warranty suits and insurance disputes. Alison Drane Waterson has a real estate finance practice representing institutional lenders and borrowers in commercial real estate financing matters.

Troutman Sanders

Three of Troutman's 13 newly promoted partners are in Atlanta.

Robert Lee handles business immigration matters for international companies, U.S. tech firms, nonprofits and individuals. Brendan Thomas handles M&A and private equity transactions, corporate law and advises community banks on regulatory and other matters.

Dustin Weeks has an IP practice handling patent prosecutions, patent litigation and counseling for clients ranging from inventors to Fortune 500 companies.

Smith, Gambrell & Russell

Smith Gambrell has elected two Atlanta lawyers to partner out of four firmwide. Anthony Rollins is a tax lawyer representing individuals and businesses in tax planning and controversies. Darren Rowles has a construction law practice, handling contracts and disputes, as well as environmental due diligence.

Fisher & Phillips

Labor and employment firm Fisher Phillips has elected Lorie Maring and Joshua Viau to partner in Atlanta, out of 14 promotions firmwide. Maring advises on ERISA and other employee benefits plans and represents employers in government audits and compliance matters. Viau has a labor and employment practice with a focus on helping employers avoid disputes.

Meunier Carlin & Curfman

IP boutique Meunier Carlin & Curfman promoted Chris Glass and Trey Levie to partner, effective Oct. 1, 2018. Glass, a former patent examiner at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, handles U.S. and international patent matters involving computer hardware and software, medical devices, optical physics and semiconductors. Levie focuses on IP litigation, handling patent or trademark infringement, copyright and fair-use protection cases.

The firm promoted Warren Thomas, who handles IP litigation and post-grant proceedings, to partner, effective Jan. 1. Thomas had a former career as a tech consultant and software developer.

Other Firms

Wargo & French has elected Vernon Strickland to partner. Strickland handles complex commercial and financial services litigation as well as internal investigations. Before becoming a lawyer, he was a linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers, New York Giants and Berlin Thunder in NFL Europe.

National IP firm Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner has elected Kevin Rodkey to partner out of seven firmwide. Rodkey handles the gamut of patent matters, including post-grant review proceedings, patent prosecution, litigation and appeals, due diligence counseling and transactions in areas including wireless technology, mobile devices and data processing.

Birmingham-based Burr & Forman has elected Louis Fiorilla to partner out of 13 lawyers firmwide. Fiorilla handles commercial and financial services litigation, both in trial and appellate courts.

Balch & Bingham, also based in Birmingham, has promoted Brooke Gram one of its five new partners firmwide. Gram is a litigator, handling commercial disputes, property litigation and personal injury and property damage defense.

Florida-based Holland & Knight has named Ashley Plemons one of its 26 newly promoted partners. Plemons is a transactional lawyer handling M&A, private equity and venture capital investments, as well as financing transactions, restructurings and other corporate matters.

James Bates Brannan Groover has promoted two lawyers in its Atlanta office to partner: W. Collins Brown, who has a tax and wealth planning practice, and Heather Hestley, who has a real estate practice. In its Macon headquarters, it has promoted Corrie Hall, who has a financial institutions practice, and Ross Schell, who handles commercial real estate and timberland transactions.