ATL Holiday Card Contest: The Finalists! (2020)
Which of these law firm holiday cards is the best of 2020? Cast your vote!
(Image via Getty)
Winter is creeping up on us, and with Hanukkah almost 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 eight finalists for our twelfth 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. Brown & Bouchard: Pandemic-related bingo? This is actually pretty funny and completely relatable. From the nominator: “We sent these out to some colleagues as a little lighthearted holiday joke and the response has been overwhelmingly positive. One of them suggested we submit to ATL. This is our Telephonic Hearing Bingo Card holiday card. It definitely helped us laugh and blow off some steam. We have a tough area of practice and we are passionate about what we do. Sometimes, though, you just have to laugh about it a little.”
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2. Kramer Elkins & Watt: From the nominator: “We are a small law firm in Madison, Wisconsin, with three partners, an associate, and two (soon to be three) staff members. We opened in the fall of 2015. Beginning in 2016, we have crafted creative holiday card messages designed to poke fun of legalese. Please enjoy the 2020 version.” Who doesn’t love making fun of legalese? Check it out.
And now, the eight 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. Conn Kavanaugh: “This is our take on the 2020 viral TikTok trend,” says the nominator from this Boston-based firm. You know what they say about the law firm that drinks together… they make great holiday cards!
2. Harness Dickey: IP comes alive at this firm, and they’re on a mission to help Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer adjust to a COVID Christmas. “We realize 2020 is not a typical year. We could have easily gone with a very traditional ecard with a simple ‘Happy Holidays from Harness Dickey’ message,” said Bryan Wheelock, a Principal in the firm’s St. Louis office. “Instead, we wanted to acknowledge it hasn’t been a normal year and provide a quick smile and maybe a chuckle, even if it only lasts a minute or two. We all deserve a break this year.”
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3. Lane Powell: This year’s holiday card from Lane Powell has that touch of humanity everyone needs after a year of being apart. From the nominator: “This card manages to toe the line between acknowledging the year’s eventfulness while also making a moment for lightness and smiles. 2020 made me tired so I want familiarity and warmth, not a flat joke from a committee of lawyers. In my mind, Lane Powell delivered here.”
4. McBrayer: “We started planning and scripting this card featuring the founder of our firm in the late summer, but unfortunately — heartbreakingly so — we lost him in October after an extended illness,” says the nominator. “As with all our cards, we try to put our personality into them, and this year that takes the form of a winter visit with our late founder, Terry McBrayer, as he and our Managing Member James H. Frazier, III, discuss the origins of our firm in the form of a familiar poem.” Our condolences to the firm, and may this card serve as a lasting memory.
5. Morse: We truly enjoyed this card because it was such a creative idea. This firm decided to highlight their client’s creations during the pandemic, and it really came out wonderfully. “A representative from the firm says, “We presented all employees with a challenge: nominate a client that is either giving back to their community, is a small business that offers a service or product that might make a good holiday gift (and could use a boost during these times), or has pivoted their business to provide pandemic support in some way. The response was awesome! We had room to feature 20 clients on our e-card but we just couldn’t leave anyone out, so we added an ‘honorable mention’ list at the bottom too! From combatting loneliness in the elderly and virtual tutoring, to ‘bookends for wine’ and a manicure featured on Time’s 100 Best Inventions of 2020 list, our clients are truly doing amazing things. And they absolutely deserve the spotlight this year.”
6. Rumberger Kirk: This is a sweet holiday card that really captures the feeling of the season. “Our animations take at minimum 2 weeks to produce and this one was just over that time frame. The mask cloth simulation was quite challenging but I think we pulled it off,” says the nominator. “Attention to detail and a unique story is what makes this really stand out from the other holiday ecards. For example, the magazine on the desk is 22 pages (front and back) of Rumberger branded law content, even though you can’t really read or see much of it.”
7. Wolf Greenfield: This card comes from a two-time winner of our holiday contest, and of course the perrenial finalist made the finals once again. “We broke away from the stop motion style that led to us winning the 2017 and 2018 ATL Holiday Card Contests and placing second in 2019, and leapt into the magical and immersive world of animation,” says a representative from the firm. “We didn’t abandon our old holiday card stars altogether though! If you look closely, you’ll see nods to Wolf Greenfield cards of the past with the gingerbread cookie from 2019, the snowman from 2018, and the robot from 2017.”
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8. Venable: This card reminded me of what life has been like working from home for almost a year (with kids yelling the background and competing for attention during calls). “Since our founding, Venable has supported the economic and social vitality of the communities in which we work and live,” says the nominator. “By helping individuals and organizations meaningfully connect with opportunities, resources, and each other, we ensure that our firm’s impact reaches far beyond our day-to-day business operations.”
Now it’s time for our audience to vote. We’ll keep the polls open through SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2020, 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).
Which law firm has the best holiday card for 2020?
- Wolf Greenfield (27%, 639 Votes)
- Conn Kavanaugh (26%, 628 Votes)
- McBrayer (17%, 401 Votes)
- Harness Dickey (8%, 180 Votes)
- Venable (6%, 139 Votes)
- Lane Powell (6%, 134 Votes)
- Rumberger Kirk (5%, 130 Votes)
- Morse (5%, 127 Votes)
Total Voters: 2,378
Loading ...Thanks to all the entrants and nominators, good luck to the finalists, and happy holidays to everyone! 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.
