Mention Southern lawyers and most folks picture ol' Ben Matlock coaxing a tearful murder confession from some suspiciously moussed tennis pro who's not even on trial. Sure, you'll spot a bolo tie or two down at the Fulton County courthouse, but the truth is, you're more likely to come across a multi-million-dollar IP dispute than a jury trial over who stole Granny's prized peahen. With more than four million residents, Atlanta is the eighth-largest metro area in the United States, headquarters to Fortune 500 companies like Coca-Cola and UPS, and home of media behemoths CNN and Cox Communications. With its revolutionary state-funded "technology incubators" and swarms of venture capitalists, this town has attracted more techie moguls than a weenie roast at Bill Gates's house. So if you're looking for Matlock, try (Atlanta's own) TBS on weekdays, just after Mama's Family-this city is for real lawyers. Hot Jobs With so many big businesses and entrepreneurs kicking up dust, it's no wonder top-notch international megafirms like Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue have put down stakes here. Two of the top hometown shops: King & Spalding and Alston & Bird. K&S, where former U.S. attorney general Griffin Bell and former senator Sam Nunn practice, is one of the leading M&A firms in the country, while A&B, known for its litigators, boasts a running spot on Fortune's "100 Best Companies to Work For" (one of only four law firms on the list in 2001). Up-and-coming Morris, Manning & Martin is renowned for its technology practice; the local office of Greenberg Traurig represents musical legends like B.B. King as well as hot acts like Christina Aguilera, Mandy Moore, and Lil' Kim; and D.C. import Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garret & Dunner is a highly regarded IP boutique. Finally, in-house opportunities abound with so many big companies on hand. Coca-Cola alone employs 69 attorneys. Hot Tickets Before the arrival of the '96 Olympics, Bob Costas dubbed Atlanta "The Sports Capital of the World." In 2002, the "capital" maintains its preeminence by hosting the NCAA men's basketball final four and major annual events like the PGA's Buick Challenge and NASCAR's Napa 500. Looking for something less likely to attract Georgia Tech frat boys? Try the world-class Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Or treat yourself to a refreshing spa day, a round of golf, or a wine-tasting tour at elegant Château Elan-a 3,500-acre winery/resort 40 minutes north of the city. Hot Shopping With eclectic boutiques ranging from classy to sassy, Virginia-Highland is the favorite shopping district for locals and tourists. Bill Hallman designs helps you take a walk on the wild side with rock-star pants and sexy dresses. For ultrastylish business attire, Andrew will dent your wallet, but how many places can you get a suit designed by Cary Grant's tailor? When you finally pay off those student loans, dump the duct-taped futon and head to Domus for some high-end Euro furniture. Hot Neighborhoods Although the metro sprawl engulfs 20 counties, most big firms have congregated downtown and in Midtown, and there are plenty of good accessible neighborhoods. Buckhead, with its massive, old-money estates, is accurately touted as "Atlanta's most sought-after address," and nearby Virginia-Highland is a favorite with the pre-Buckhead set. If you just graduated from Berkeley, you'll find a home (and, if you like, a nice hemp poncho) in bohemian Little Five Points. Midtown itself is thriving with new condos and apartments-it's no Buckhead, but you can't beat the commute. Hot Restaurants Artsy-fartsy mumbo jumbo has done what other new glamour hogs like Spice and BluePointe have failed to do-impress food critics. Try the Irish salmon with English pea risotto-a testament to the virtues of peace in the British Isles. True Southerners can replenish with soul food at newly opened wildwood in Midtown-a great place for a lunchtime game of "spot the seersucker" with a client. And if your tastes lie even farther south, Oh . . . Maria! , in the heart of Buckhead, backs up its punctuation with more than 600 (!) tequilas and the best (!) Mexican food in town. Hot Bars For an after-work drink on a warm night, hit the patio at Front Page News. On Sundays you can build your own Bloody Mary as you try to reconstruct the events of Saturday night. For live music, squeeze into the cozy Earthlink Live the only venue known to have featured live performances of the Charlie Hunter Quartet back-to-back with Echo and the Bunnymen. Or revel in the irony as death metal bands like Slayer Mosh from the pulpit at Tabernacle, a former Baptist . . . tabernacle. This article originally appeared in the February/March 2002 issue of JD Jungle.

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