<p>Former U.S. Sen. Sam Nunn announced his retirement from a prominent Atlanta law firm.</p><p>Nunn, who had been at the firm for seven years, departs King and Spalding effective Wednesday. The decision involves new federal rules altering the role of independent directors such as Nunn.</p><p>Nunn serves on the boards of the Coca-Cola Co., General Electric, ChevronTexaco and Scientific-Atlanta _ all of which are clients of King and Spalding.</p><p>Nunn said under the new federal rules he would not have been considered an independent director on those boards if he were still a partner at the law firm. As such, he could not serve on the boards audit or corporate governance committees.</p><p>Nunn said he is leaving the law firm to remove any appearance of a conflict of interest.</p>
