The labor and employment firm ended 2010 with an 8 percent revenue decrease; however, profit declined only 2 percent. The firm thinned the lawyer ranks last year after avoiding head count reductions in 2009. And despite the revenue drop, revenue per lawyer increased about $500 to $397,298, after falling almost 9 percent in 2009. Profit per partner dwindled almost 2 percent to $380,196. The firm shed 16 lawyers overall, with an average 2010 head count of 173 lawyers. A decrease in non-equity partners from 53 to 41 accounted for a lot of the head count shrinkage, while the number of equity partners, 53, remained the same. The firms managing partner, C. Lash Harrison, said the firm wants its nonequity partners to feel they can become owners, rather than keep them in a holding pattern. Weve closed the parking lot, he said. Harrison said the firm did not lay off lawyers, but rather articulated performance expectations, which led to voluntary departures. I think weve got the right folks on the bus, he said.
Meredith Hobbs
*Variances shown are in comparison to 2009.
| MONEY | ||
| Revenue | $68,732,561 |  8.34% |
| Revenue per lawyer | $397,298 |  0.13% |
| Profit per partner | $380,196 | 1.76% |
| LAWYERS | ||
| Total lawyers | 173 | 16 |
| Atlanta lawyers | 47/27% | 3 |
| Partners | 94 | 12 |
| Equity partners | 53 | |
| Atlanta size rank among firms offices | No. 1 | |
Clients
American Airlines, Darden Restaurants Inc., Delta Air Lines, HCA Inc., The Home Depot Inc., JPMorgan Chase & Co., Randstad Staffing, Wal-Mart Stores
Offices
