The First and Only Law Firm to be Included 10 Consecutive Years Ranked 36

ATLANTA — The national law firm of Alston & Bird LLP announced today that it has been ranked 36 among FORTUNE’s  “100 Best Companies to Work For” in 2009. This year’s ranking led Alston & Bird to be the first and only law firm to make the list 10 consecutive years. The 12th annual list and related stories will appear in the February 2 issue of FORTUNE (www.fortune.com/bestcompanies).

“We are very pleased to be on FORTUNE’s list again.  It confirms that our firm successfully instills a sense of pride in what we do for our clients and employees – day in day out, from administrative staff to senior leadership,” said Richard R. Hays, managing partner of Alston & Bird. “Our commitment to a work environment that values an open flow of communication and spirit of camaraderie continues to attract high-caliber employees and define the culture of Alston & Bird.”

Much has changed in the American workplace over the past decade. Several years ago, Alston & Bird was recognized as progressive for its workplace diversity, cutting-edge technology and flexible work arrangements. These highlights from Alston & Bird’s first submission are now considered standard among top law firms and other national companies. “In 1998 we were tasked with establishing tangible benefits that would separate our firm from the pack,” said Cathy Benton, chief human resource officer and leader of the FORTUNE submission through the years. “The childcare facility and unconventional benefits elevated the firm to a higher level. I’m proud of the fact that those benefits are now considered mainstream among American employers dedicated to their employees. The pressure is on for my team to evolve and remain creative to ensure we continue to lead the way.” Alston & Bird received the highest ranking for a national law firm when it secured the number two slot on the list in 2004.

“From its inception, Alston & Bird has drawn a connection between constant, open communications with all employees, an encouraging work environment and quality client service,” continued Hays. “I’m particularly proud of the fact that this firm has been able to maintain these attributes in light of recent expansion in Texas and California.  This has been very important to us and I couldn’t be more pleased with the work the integration teams have done to ensure our winning culture remains intact throughout our growing firm.”

In his FORTUNE.com blog, Managing Editor Andy Serwer writes, “no matter what happens with the economy, the demand for talent will remain. Great companies know that super-motivated, happy, world-class employees are an incredible competitive advantage.”

To pick the “100 Best Companies to Work For,” FORTUNE works with Robert Levering and Milton Moskowitz of the Great Place to Work® Institute—a global research and consulting firm with offices in 30 countries—to conduct the most extensive employee survey in corporate America.

About Alston & Bird

With more than 900 attorneys, Alston & Bird is a leading national AmLaw 100 firm.  The firm’s core practice areas are intellectual property, complex litigation, corporate and tax, with national industry focuses in health care, energy, financial services, and public policy.  The firm has built a reputation as one of the country’s best employers, appearing on FORTUNE magazine’s ranking of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” ten years in a row, more often and more highly ranked than any other law firm in the United States. The firm has offices in New York, Washington, Charlotte, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Dallas, Palo Alto and Research Triangle Park, N.C.

For more information on Alston & Bird, please visit www.alston.com.

About FORTUNE

FORTUNE is a global leader in business journalism with a worldwide circulation of more than 1 million and a readership of nearly 5 million, with major franchises including the FORTUNE 500 and the FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For. FORTUNE Live Media extends the brand's mission into live settings, hosting a wide range of annual conferences, including the FORTUNE Global Forum. FORTUNE magazine’s online home is CNNMoney.com, the most visited and utilized business destination website.