Chairman/Managing Partner, Alston & Bird LLP

Richard Hays has been Managing Partner of Alston & Bird LLP since 2008. He is the former Financial Partner and now heads the firm’s Administrative Committee. Richard also serves on the Pro Bono Institute’s Law Firm Advisory Board Committee and is a member of the Alexis de Toqueville Society of the United Way.
As part of LCLD's Leaders at the Front initiative, Richard created a Leader's Pledge detailing his personal and organizational commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Read Richard's pledge here.
Alston & Bird shows its commitment to diversity through a Diversity Steering Committee, required diversity training, and a variety of partnerships with diversity organizations. They have been named a best workplace for multicultural lawyers, women, and African-Americans and received a perfect score on the Human Right’s Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index sixteen times in a row.
Joined LCLD 2009
Highlights of LCLD Participation
Fellows Program
Hosted Leadership Lunch (2012)
Fellows nominated:
2022: Alexandra Barnett; 2020: Derin Dickerson; 2018: Cory Cordell Davis; 2017: Brandon Raynard Williams; 2015: Kevin Andre Gooch; 2014: George Douglas Medlock, Jr.
Pathfinder Program
Pathfinder Selected:
2022: Jordan Edwards, Courtney Quiros; 2019: Christina Anderson, Heather Barger
Success in Law School Mentoring Program
Mentors provided: 2021, 2020, 2017, 2016, 2014, 2012
Member: Richard Hays
Diversity Professionals: Angela James, Angela Payne James, Ashley Austin
Communications: Nick Clarke, Mark Thompson