Hawkins Parnell Thackston & Young runs a debt-free, cash-and-carry style of business that has set its course for strong growth.

The firm jumped from 135 attorneys in 2012 to 148 now, for a nearly 10 percent increase. Since 2010, the firm added offices in Austin, San Francisco, St. Louis and New York, driven by existing client need. It has other offices in Charleston, S.C.; Dallas; Los Angeles; and its headquarters in Atlanta.