What we say about the firm's legal practice in United States
Investment fund formation and management
Within Real estate investment trusts (REITs), Alston & Bird LLP is a third tier firm,
Alston & Bird LLP represents public and private REITs on debt and equity capital markets transactions, but clients most praise the practice for its core focus on non-traded REITs. The 16-partner practice – spread across offices in Atlanta, New York, Washington DC and Dallas – provides transactional advice to REIT clients including Green Realty Trust and Duke Realty, as well as underwriters Wachovia and Morgan Stanley. The practice has advised on over $30bn of best-efforts offerings for non-listed REIT issuers since 2005. Rosemarie Thurston heads the REITs practice and is supported by banking practice head Mark Kanaly, both of whom are based in Atlanta.
Labor and employment
Within ERISA litigation , Alston & Bird LLP is a third tier firm,
At Alston & Bird LLP, the ‘terrific’ Douglas Hinson is a ‘fine lawyer’ and the leader of the firm’s ERISA litigation group. He and his team’s representative experience includes serving as lead defense counsel in more than a dozen 401(k)/employer stock class actions, including matters in the Districts of Oregon, New Jersey, Maryland, Eastern Kentucky, Eastern North Carolina, and Middle Florida – winning five on motions to dismiss, defeating class certification in two and resolving all others before motions to dismiss were decided, three on terms that did not require monetary compensation to the settlement class. The firm also recently represented a major airline in multi-district ERISA class actions filed in Boston, Los Angeles, New York, Cincinnati, Albuquerque and East St Louis pertaining to the actuarial value of lump sums and alleged cutbacks in pension benefits for active and retired pilots. Patrick DiCarlo is also recommended, particularly for his expertise on the ERISA and securities issues that arise in the retirement plan context.
Within Immigration, tier 4
On an annual basis Alston & Bird LLP’s immigration team, ably led by Eileen Schofield handles over 1,000 immigration cases for 120 companies and nationals from over 40 countries. The firm provides immigration-related counsel for multinational corporations, medical, financial and academic institutions, information technology providers and users, foreign investors, performers, professional athletes, manufacturers and individuals from many countries. It regularly establishes corporate policies and procedures in ongoing, restructuring and transactional situations, to both comply with the law and prepare for sensitive internal and external investigations related to hiring procedures, I-9 compliance, employment of foreign nationals, IRCA compliance and Office of Special Counsel national origin discrimination issues. It also addresses issues of philosophy, record keeping, documentation, compliance, documented use, penalties and enforcement. Representative recent experience includes handling over 30 workplace raids by the Department of Homeland Security and providing immediate and hands-on advice during actual raids, as well as follow-up, and managing over 15 Social Security Administration audits within the last two years. On national and state levels, the firm provides legislative advice and drafting expertise on proposed legislation related to employers, employer compliance and employer sanction issues. Clients include K Mart, UPS, Itron, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company and Duke Energy.
Tax
Within Tax controversy, tier 5
Alston & Bird LLP’s eight-partner tax controversy group, ‘true tax litigators’, is headed by Michelle Henkel in Atlanta where the majority of group is based; two partners practice from the Washington DC office. Although modest in size, the firm has achieved a national reputation representing taxpayers in domestic and international tax disputes including audits, administrative appeals, trials and mediation. Highly respected for financial sector and partnership cases, the lightly leveraged team has an excellent reputation for client support. Michael Petrik chairs the firm’s SALT excellent group which regularly handles multimillion-dollar disputes for leading corporates. Clients include Delta Air Lines, AT&T, Coastal Utilities, Wellpoint and Exxon Mobil.