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