HunterMaclean

Goals: In order to grow the presence of firm partners, associates and practice areas on a local and regional level, HunterMaclean sought in-house PR and marketing support to aid in ongoing media efforts, as well as strategic business development and community relations.

Background: HunterMaclean is the largest law firm in the state of Georgia outside of Atlanta. With more than 50 attorneys operating from offices in Savannah and Brunswick, HunterMaclean offers one comprehensive source to handle a full range of legal needs.

Target Audience: The firm’s primary focus, while intensely geared towards local and regional markets, has broadened over the years to include a national presence in select firm practice areas.

Communications Objectives: APR developed a full-scale public relations effort, which includes securing ongoing media placements featuring the firm’s partners and associates, as well as implementing a customized strategic business development plan-of-action for the firm’s various practice groups. With APR’s unique breadth of community relations, counsel on corporate sponsorship efforts and community events is essential to ensuring high-profile participation and added value for the firm and its top clients. In addition, APR provides ongoing copy assistance, including web and collateral materials, to maintain consistent firm branding. APR has consistently secured approximately $300,000 in ROI annually for HunterMaclean.

Results: As one of Abshire PR’s longest standing clients, HunterMaclean has received consitently positive media coverage on a local and regional level since 2002. The nationally-acclaimed law firm has been featured on a local and regional level through secured press placements in Savannah Magazine, South Magazine, Savannah Business Journal, Business in Savannah, Savannah Morning News, Atlanta Journal Constitution, The ABA Journal, WTKS-Radio, WJCL, WTOC, and WSAV. Most recently, APR pitched and secured several national articles featuring the firm’s IT attorneys in Tech Journal South and CIO Insight.

APR also helped develop what has become a cornerstone in the firm’s branding and community commitment with the launch of the HunterMaclean Critical Issues Forum, which unites area business leaders and political officials to develop potential solutions to important community challenges in areas such as transportation, education and economic development. Past speakers have included U.S. Congressman John Barrow, Savannah-Chatham Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Thomas Lockamy, Savannah Mayor Otis Johnson and Savannah Economic Development Authority President Steve Weathers.

In 2010, APR was awarded the “Legal PR Award” by PR News for organizing the Critical Issues Forum on behalf of HunterMaclean.The synergy between firm and community created by this special event has had a lasting positive effect.  As one of APR’s current clients, our firm continues to develop creative and unique ways HunterMaclean attorneys can foster lasting client relationships, as well as new client prospects. HunterMaclean’s Women’s Initiative is yet another example of this type of creative tie into the community. Each quarter, this invitation-only women’s networking event is hosted by HunterMaclean’s female attorneys at a corresponding female-owned local business and allows women professionals across multiple industries a chance to further expand their contacts and potential business leads in a casual, fun environment.

Richard Henry, Partner at Holland, Henry and Bromley

“After the cover story about our firm’s 20-year anniversary ran in Business in Savannah, we received calls from investors and dozens of comments from others on the street. I now believe in PR done right.”

Corey Jones, Owner, Lucky Savannah Rentals

“As a small business owner, I always thought public relations was for the “Big Companies.”  We decided to give Abshire PR a shot with the promotion of our grand opening for LuckySavannah Vacation Rentals.  To my surprise, we signed up a new vacation property owner as a direct result of APR’s work. For me, APR and their services went from vague and unnecessary to concrete, essential and profitable.”

Cari Clark Phelps, Founder and President, Salacia Salts

“Abshire PR’s focused strategy allowed our small, regionally-recognized startup reach a national audience in a short period of time. Their recommendations allowed us to be published in several nationally distributed publications in less than 60 days. We’d definitely turn to APR when we need to create our next big buzz!”

Daniel Carey, President and CEO, Historic Savannah Foundation

“APR is the gold standard in reaching the news media about HSF’s events and projects. They consistently go above and beyond the call of duty and make us feel like their top client.”