MEMBERSHIP
There and Back Again : A Note to Eversheds Sutherland
E . TYRON BROWN Hawkins Parnell & Young LLP tbrown @ hpylaw . com
T his article is a celebration of , and a note of gratitude to , Eversheds Sutherland . This year , Eversheds Sutherland helped the Atlanta Bar Association reach a milestone by rejoining the Atlanta Bar ’ s 100 % Club . In doing so , it became the first law firm of 100 or more attorneys to join the 100 % Club in 15 years . That , however , is just the beginning of this story , this journey . The 100 % Club was created by the Atlanta Bar Association in 2004 to recognize law firms at which 100 % of the attorneys in their Atlanta office are members of the Atlanta Bar Association . Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP was a Charter Member of the 100 % Club . This year , as Eversheds Sutherland , it returned to where it all began , a member of the 100 % Club . Thus the title of this article , “ There and Back Again .”
It is perfectly fitting that Eversheds Sutherland , which will be celebrating 100 years of service in Atlanta in 2024 , rejoined the 100 % Club , as the Atlanta Bar Association , founded in 1988 , celebrates 135 years of service . Also fitting because of Eversheds Sutherland ’ s rich history as a leader in Atlanta ’ s legal community . The firm started in 1924 as Sutherland & Tuttle . William Sutherland ( Eversheds Sutherland ) served as a law clerk to Justice Louis Brandeis ( United States Supreme Court ). Sutherland and the late Chief Judge Elbert P . Tuttle ( United States Court of Appeals ) were brothers-in-law . Hon . Tuttle served as Chief Judge of the Fifth Circuit from 1960 to 1967 . On the Fifth Circuit , Hon . Tuttle ( United States Court of Appeals ), Hon . John Minor Wisdom ( United States Court of Appeals ), Hon . John R . Brown ( United States Court of Appeals ), and Hon . Richard T . Rives ( United States Court of Appeals ), became known as the “ Fifth Circuit Four ,” or just “ The Four .” They established an indelible legacy for crucial decisions that advanced Civil Rights . They are the centerpiece of the book titled “ Unlikely Heroes : The Fifth Circuit Four ,” by Dr . Jack Bass – a must read for Atlanta lawyers . Artifacts from the old Fifth Circuit are on display at the current Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals , in downtown Atlanta .
So , this article is a celebration of , and a note of gratitude to , Eversheds Sutherland -- not just for rejoining the Atlanta Bar Association ’ s 100 % Club , but also for providing leadership , and leaders , that helped reshape our great city , state , and nation . Thank you to Lee Peifer ( Partner , Eversheds Sutherland ) for leading this effort , and thank you to Kristina Kopf Thomas ( Partner , Eversheds Sutherland ) in charge of the Atlanta office , and to Mark Wasserman ( Managing Partner , Eversheds Sutherland and Co- Chief Executive Officer of Eversheds Sutherland Limited ).
Thank you , Eversheds Sutherland .
Welcome , Eversheds Sutherland , to the
100 % Club !
Since its founding as Sutherland & Tuttle , the firm now named Eversheds Sutherland is a global top 10 law practice , but still a leader in Atlanta ’ s legal community . www . atlantabar . org THE ATLANTA LAWYER 33