Media Contact:

Russell Lawson
Marketing Director
Direct: (804) 783-6799
Cell: (804) 240-8862
Fax: (804) 783-7291
Email Russell Lawson

Byrd Elected To International Executive Group

L. Lee Byrd, chair of the Business and Professional Litigation practice at the law firm of Sands Anderson Marks & Miller, was elected to the six-member Executive Committee of the Law Firm Alliance at their recent meeting in Atlanta, firm president C. Thomas Ebel announced today.

"We're proud of Lee's selection, both because of his commitment to leadership in the Alliance on behalf of our firm and because of his excellent command of the current business issues for firms like ours, which make up the membership," said Ebel.

The Law Firm Alliance, formed in 2000, is a group of about 50 law firms spread throughout North America, in Mexico and several European countries. The aim of the group is to share information about common business issues, management and marketing, and to provide a ready network of referral firms which can help clients who have legal needs in locations not served by their primary law firm. Each firm is mid-sized for its specific geographic market and has been rated AV within the Martindale Hubbell Peer Review system, a program where lawyers rate one another and firms on legal skills and ethics. AV is the highest possible rating in the system.

The Executive Committee manages the affairs of the Alliance, which typically include the planning of two education and networking meetings each year, the expansion of the Alliance through new members recruitment and the promotion of referral work.

 "I am honored to be asked by my fellow members to take part in managing the growth and direction of our Alliance and in ensuring that we continue to discuss and address today's important issues facing mid-sized law firms, which include the promotion of superior legal work, client service and management skills," said Byrd.

Byrd chairs a practice group at Sands Anderson that includes sixteen attorneys in four of the firm's offices. Their clients range from corporations and privately-owned businesses, to local governments, non-profits and individuals. Significant litigation practices among these attorneys include employment, professional malpractice and ethics, construction, intellectual property, contracts and real estate.

Founded more than 150 years ago, Sands Anderson has 76 lawyers practicing among its offices in Richmond, Blacksburg, Fredericksburg and McLean, Virginia, and the Research Triangle of North Carolina. In 2008, it was ranked 9th in the Virginia Lawyers Weekly annual listing of the state’s largest law firms. Sands Anderson provides a full range of legal services to corporations and businesses, healthcare providers, financial institutions, state and local governments, the insurance industry and individuals.