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Photo by Frank Aymami<br />
Each December Phelps Dunbar rents out a movie theater for employees and their families to watch a movie. Seated, from left, are: Sarah Vandergriff, Katie Whitman, Will Nielson, Brian Davilla, Ashley<br />
Gremillion, Michele Alfred, Catherine Masterson and Abigail Gravois. Standing, from left, are: Curt Rome, Taylor Mouledoux and Robin Gosserand.<br />
F O U R - T I M E H O N O R E E<br />
Phelps Dunbar<br />
Lawyers and staff bring their children and<br />
grandchildren to Phelps Dunbar’s offices all<br />
the time to show off where they work, partner<br />
Harry Rosenberg said.<br />
“They bring them to their workplace<br />
because they’re proud to introduce them to<br />
their colleagues as friends,” said Rosenberg,<br />
regional practice coordinator of the firm’s litigation<br />
group.<br />
Rosenberg, who started with the firm 31<br />
years ago, said it’s the firm’s ability to celebrate<br />
employees’ happy occasions as well as help<br />
each other during difficult times that wards off<br />
the stodgy atmosphere law offices can have.<br />
It takes more than a friendly atmosphere to<br />
keep 140 employees out of a staff of 517 at the<br />
company for at least 10 years, and 37 for 25<br />
years and longer.<br />
Debbie Langenhennig, director of human<br />
resources, said the firm makes it a priority to<br />
cover employees during times of need, whether<br />
it’s maintaining retirement plan contributions<br />
Nature of business: law firm<br />
Where based: <strong>New</strong> <strong>Orleans</strong><br />
Employees: 537 in entire firm with 216 in <strong>New</strong> <strong>Orleans</strong> office<br />
Average starting salary: $44,000 for staff, $95,000 for attorneys<br />
Median salary: $46,000 for staff, $102,000 for attorneys<br />
Average employment time: eight years<br />
Benefits: health care with 93 percent coverage, dental, vision and<br />
prescription plans, paid maternity and paternity leave, 401(k), continuing<br />
education program, relocation assistance, telecommuting,<br />
flexible hours, employee recognition program, fitness program<br />
Wait time for benefits: about one month<br />
Paid days off: 22 to 28 for employees with less than three<br />
years tenure<br />
Web site: www.phelpsdunbar.com<br />
throughout the recession or adjusting the firm’s<br />
benefits package based on employee feedback.<br />
Langenhennig said Phelps Dunbar did not<br />
have to alter its 401(k) plan when the firm was<br />
trying to cut back.<br />
“It would not be the first thing we go looking<br />
to to save money, and we didn’t,” she said.<br />
She said their benefits keep their employees’<br />
best interests in mind as well. When the firm<br />
renews its existing benefits each year and looks<br />
to reduce costs without reducing existing benefits,<br />
they also assess the needs of employees.<br />
Langenhennig is part of the team that<br />
reviews the benefits package, and each year<br />
they look into what additional benefits employees<br />
have requested. Last year, two additions<br />
were made to the 2009 benefits: a critical illness<br />
plan and a short-term disability plan.<br />
Litigation partner Chris Ralston said what’s<br />
most important to him is that his work is satisfying.<br />
He likes the clients he works for and the<br />
cases on which he works. Ralston, who coordinates<br />
some of the firm’s community service<br />
events and initiatives, said he admires the<br />
amount of charity work Phelps Dunbar performs.<br />
“This is one of the things that attorneys and<br />
staff do together,” he said. “The lawyers, by the<br />
nature of the work we do, are not going to be in<br />
the same setting as the staff” during the workday.<br />
At the Step Out: Walk to Fight Diabetes<br />
fundraiser at Audubon Park, the company was<br />
able to come together for one cause, Ralston<br />
said.<br />
“Secretaries and their kids, associate staff<br />
lawyers and partners were all represented at<br />
the walk,” he said. “And we did it together.”•<br />
— Katie Urbaszewski<br />
December 14, 2009 33