Big Law expands in Atlanta market
Atlanta's dynamic economic growth, particularly in sectors like private equity, technology, and finance, is attracting an influx of national and international law firms eager to tap into the city's market. At the forefront of this strategic expansion are several distinguished alumni of Emory University School of Law, demonstrating the institution's continued influence in shaping the legal landscape.
Atlanta's dynamic economic growth, particularly in sectors like private equity, technology, and finance, is attracting an influx of national and international law firms eager to tap into the city's market. At the forefront of this strategic expansion are several distinguished alumni of Emory University School of Law.
Among the alumni spearheading this new wave are Amie Singer 00L at Reed Smith, Zach Crowe 14L at Gunderson Dettmer, and Cory Mull 20L at Buchalter. Their leadership roles in establishing and growing their respective firms' Atlanta offices underscore the robust opportunities within the city and the high caliber of legal talent nurtured by Emory Law.
Reed Smith's strategic entry with Amie Singer 00L at the helm
Singer's appointment as the inaugural managing partner highlights her extensive experience and deep understanding of the transactional legal space. Her career has been spent advising sponsors, their portfolio companies, and emerging growth companies on a comprehensive range of transactional needs. She is particularly renowned for her expertise in navigating complex domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, carve-out transactions, and leveraged buyouts. Her ability to identify creative financing options for emerging growth companies, including strategic partnerships and joint ventures, positions Reed Smith to cater to Atlanta's startup and investment ecosystem.
Reed Smith's strategic move into Atlanta reflects a broader trend of AmLaw 100 firms recognizing the city as a major player in key industries. The firm's initial team, comprising professionals from prominent Atlanta firms, immediately established a foundation, and the office has continued to expand.
“We are excited to build the foundation for Reed Smith’s new Atlanta office,” said Singer. “We’ve been across the table from Reed Smith deal lawyers for years and were drawn to the firm’s collaborative culture and sponsor finance, regulatory compliance, and emerging technology practices. Reed Smith’s platform aligns perfectly with our strategic vision for our practices, and the firm’s strong presence in sectors like health care, life sciences, industrials, entertainment and consumer goods will open new doors for our clients.”
Gunderson Dettmer bolsters tech and venture capital prowess with Zach Crowe 14L
Crowe's expertise lies in advising emerging companies through every stage of their lifecycle, from formation through scale to exit. This includes providing counsel on day-to-day corporate operations, governance, equity financings, strategic transactions, and mergers and acquisitions. His practice also extends to advising leading venture capital, growth equity, and private equity firms on their investments into and acquisitions of tech and tech-enabled companies. This focus aligns perfectly with Atlanta's burgeoning technology sector, which has seen significant growth in recent years.
As a co-founder of the Atlanta office, Crowe plays a crucial role in establishing Gunderson Dettmer's presence in the Southeast. His experience and deep connections within the emerging company and venture capital community position the firm to be a key legal partner for the region's innovative startups and the investors who fuel their growth. He says, “The Southeast as a whole, and Atlanta in particular, has seen strong growth in tech and venture capital, with a rising focus on AI. The city is emerging as a leader in applied AI, especially in the corporate sector, an advantage for startups in the innovation economy. We anticipate this resulting in a continued increase in the dollars invested into private companies in the region and the emergence of new tech-focused venture capital and private equity funds. Law students looking to build their career in the region will have numerous opportunities to learn and thrive as the landscape continues to evolve.”
Buchalter expands intellectual property footprint with Cory Mull 20L
Mull explains, “Atlanta was an obvious choice for Buchalter’s eastward expansion. As the center of one of the nation’s fastest growing and most innovative markets, Atlanta demonstrates ever-increasing demand for sophisticated legal services. For the same reasons, Atlanta offers an exceptional environment for legal education that allows aspiring lawyers to immediately put their coursework into practice through clinics, externships, and summer internships with dozens of market-leading companies located here in the city.”
Mull's practice focuses on intellectual property litigation, patent preparation and prosecution, and strategic IP advising. His experience spans a diverse range of technologies, including medical devices, mechanical systems, and wireless communication equipment, reflecting the broad spectrum of innovation occurring in the Atlanta area. His background as an engineer, with prior experience in oil and gas production and automated machinery design, provides him with a unique and valuable perspective in complex technological legal matters.
Buchalter's expansion into Atlanta, with practitioners like Mull leading the charge in intellectual property, signals the increasing demand for specialized legal services to protect the innovations emerging from Atlanta's vibrant business community.
The confluence of these three law firm expansions, each led or significantly influenced by Emory Law alumni, speaks volumes about the quality of legal education and the strong professional network fostered by the institution. Emory Lawyers are not only contributing to the growth of their respective firms but they are also actively helping to shape the future of the Atlanta legal market.
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