By Karina Timmel
Job: Managing Partner of Morris, Manning & Martin and the founding partner of the firm’s Residential Real Estate Practice
Born in: Memphis, Tennessee
Lives in: Sandy Springs
Following law school, Louise Wells began working at Morris, Manning & Martin (MMM), and has never left. Wells started her career in 1978 at MMM as the first woman associate, then became the first woman partner at the firm, and is now the first woman managing partner for the firm—clearly no small feat. And if her 30-year tenure in Atlanta real estate law isn’t enough to showcase her commitment to her firm, if you ask what is her favorite place to go in Buckhead, her answer is: “My office.”
Wells is enthusiastic about mentoring women inside and outside of the workplace. Under her leadership, her company has grown to an Am Law 200 firm with an award-winning women’s initiative. MMM Women’s Initiative strives to encourage and cultivate further leadership of women at the firm and in the community through mentorship, collegiality and training.
This passion also led to her support of fellow mentor and friend Becky Blalock’s book DARE, which offers advice for women on career development. In addition, Wells serves on the board of directors for Horizons Atlanta, an educational summer enrichment program serving low-income public school students, furthering her mentoring spirit.
Her Biggest Life Lesson:
“Save for a rainy day because rainy days happen.”
