Yesterday, McDermott Will & Emery announced opening their 13th US office in Atlanta. Compass Law Group was glad to facilitate this impressive entry into Atlanta's strong and growing legal community. Compass Law Group's managing partner Rusty Branch worked with McDermott's Partner in Charge of Strategy Michael Poulos to put together this office with three groups from DLA Piper, Kasowitz, and Jones Day.
"We were excited to work with McDermott on this project," said Branch. Compass Law Group is based in Dallas, but he said that didn't hinder he and his team, which included experienced recruiters John Thomas, MacKenzie Alexander, and Jesse McDonald. "We practically relocated to Atlanta for a year to find the right group of attorneys, which I believe we were able to do," Branch said.
As the time came to sign on the dotted line in March, a global pandemic was approaching. “The marketplace was scrambling to deal with the pandemic and the uncertainty it brings to our industry,” Poulos said in McDermott's firm announcement. “We did not think it appropriate to announce a new office in the middle of that.”
"We were concerned, obviously, with COVID-19 and what that might mean for the timing of this opening" said Branch, "but despite challenges the firm leadership was determined and flexible, and we thankfully were able to make it happen."
The firm's eight Atlanta attorneys are working remotely, according to the firm's announcement, and they plan to occupy their office June 1.
Compass Law Group specializes in opening firms in new markets across the country, and our extensive work on this project has given us expertise in the highly competitive Atlanta legal market. If your firm is interested in either growing or entering Atlanta, please contact us for a free consultation.