ATL Holiday Card Contest: Remember To Vote For The Finalists! (2021)

Winter is creeping up on us, and with Hanukkah behind us, Christmas nearly upon us, and everyone in the legal profession ready to ring in the New Year, it’s time to reveal the seven finalists for our thirteenth annual holiday card contest. But first let’s give shout-outs to some honorable mentions (click on each firm’s name to see its card):

1. Rakower Law: A cute little card that hones in on our Zoom way of life in the law, and even features Lawyer Cat. Choose a charity of your choice and the firm will make a donation based on selections received before December 23.

2. Butler Snow: It pains me to have to only give this one an honorable mention, but the submission was late and when it comes to this contest, rules are rules. This is a fantastic take on the law creeping up into every single aspect of a lawyer’s life. Check it out.

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And now, the seven finalists, in alphabetical order. Again, click on each firm’s name to view its card. Please note that most of these cards have SOUND, so you might want to turn your sound off or down, or use headphones. Explanatory comments come from firm representatives unless otherwise indicated.

1. Davis Wright Tremaine: A relaxing holiday card? Yes, it exists, and this Biglaw firm did it oh so well. “Does anyone need more gifs, jokes, twinkles, and distractions this year? No! What everyone most needs after a year that started with an insurrection and ended with a new variant is just a minute to breathe in peace. That’s the idea behind our card this year, which takes its cue from popular apps like Calm, and was produced entirely in-house, including the voice-over by DWT’s Web Content Coordinator.”

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2. Faegre Drinker: A law firm holiday party, with a twist — and this time, it’s not COVID. “The story focuses on a professional who is trying to return to the office for a holiday party as a way to insert some normalcy back into her life. From attending meetings in pajama bottoms and shuffling through toys on her way across “the office,” to dusting off her work clothes, our professional has experiences familiar to many of us this holiday season as we look to find ways to reconnect with colleagues. While she ultimately finds that she is the only one able to attend in person, she is met with the warm and friendly faces of her co-workers, who are just as excited to see her virtually as they would be in person. It is a reminder, that despite our current circumstances, and the distance that may separate us, the Faegre Drinker family is always connected.”

3. Holland & Hart: For those who like an interactive experience, this firm’s holiday card won’t disappoint. “We’ve all had enough sober and distressing news the last two years, so our team decided we and our clients needed an escape from reality. Our ‘Have an Unbelievable Holiday’ card tracks the adventures of the Holland & Hart Yeti exploring the firm’s office locations. Viewers join the Yeti on its journey, seeing the Yeti in action through video, and participating in fun games like ‘Dress the Yeti’ and ‘Find the Yeti.’ The best part: our team had an amazing experience collaborating on this project and we’ve had unbelievably positive reactions from clients, colleagues, and friends! To demonstrate our commitment to the Yeti, the firm made a donation to the National Forest Foundation to help preserve the Yeti’s habitat in the Mountain West, which is also where we live, work, and play.”

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4. Kramer Elkins & Watt: It’s a holiday card in the form of a pleading, and this is one you’ll actually enjoy reading. From the firm: “Our motion speaks for itself, so no brief will be provided.” Please take a look. You’ll at least get a little chuckle out of it, we promise.

5. McBrayer: “After advising Santa on legal issues a few years back, we were happy to welcome him back for more stellar legal advice in a number of our practice areas. As always, we had a great group of attorneys willing to provide some excellent legal assistance, and an even more game group of attorneys and staff willing to play the role of Santa. These cards are our opportunity to display some of the human touch that we bring to our client service by bringing a bit of holiday fun to the world of law.” We think you’ll really like Santa’s legal debacles, and there’s even a cameo appearance from the Easter Bunny (who could also use some legal assistance).

6. Venable: A pop-up card that’ll make your heart soar. This Biglaw firm is supporting schools during a time when they need the most help of all. “At Venable, we continue to seek meaningful ways to connect with one another and with those in the communities in which we live and work. Our 2021 holiday e-card reflects this sentiment, highlighting the Venable Foundation’s recent impact grants targeting education. In November, the foundation awarded impact grants totaling $500,000 that benefited nine organizations in the firm’s respective communities, including Baltimore, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Washington, DC. These organizations are providing enhanced services for school-aged youth that aim to bring students up to grade-level proficiency through intensive tutoring and family engagement.”

7. Wolf Greenfield: Yet another quality submission from the perennial winner of our holiday card contest. From the nominator: “IT’S TIME TO INITIATE HOLIDAY MODE! ‘Teletransport’ into the Wolf Greenfield snow globe with us. We loved the magical and immersive world of animation so much last year that we decided to utilize that medium again for 2021. (Besides, 2021 felt like an extension of 2020 anyway, so it only felt right.) While the medium is the same, the entire look and feel of the card is vastly different – almost opposite! We left the quaint mountain town from 2020 because we’re dreaming of a futuristic holiday…and the future looks both fascinating and familiar! It’s funny how dreams of the future can bring with them a feeling of nostalgia. Modes of transportation may change – like flying vehicles, jet packs, and even teleportation – but they still get us to our favorite places and people. Because nothing beats a long-awaited hug from family and friends! We hope this year you engage in your own version of HOLIDAY MODE whether that means seeing your loved ones, giving back to others, or simply snacking on a festive treat (cookies remind us of George Greenfield to whom this card is dedicated).”

Now it’s time for our audience to vote. We’ll keep the polls open through FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2021, at 11:59 p.m. (Eastern time). This gives you ample time to campaign for your pick over the holidays (but please, please, please don’t cheat).

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO VOTE.

Thanks to all the entrants and nominators, good luck to the finalists, and happy holidays to all! Above the Law is happy to celebrate holiday cheer with you!

Staci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.

Topics

Biglaw, Christmas, Contests, Hanukkah, Holiday Card Contest, Holiday Cards, Holidays and Seasons, Midsize Firms / Regional Firms, Small Law Firms