Joseph R Neal w/ Neal Law

AV Pre-eminent rating by Martindale-Hubbell.  Mr. Neal is a Lifetime Charter Member of Rue Ratings’ BEST ATTORNEYS OF AMERICA and was among the “Top Lawyers of Georgia” featured in Atlanta Magazine in 2014.  Mr. Neal has been nominated for the 2014 Litigator Awards by the Trial Lawyer Board of Regents and is a highly skilled and experienced Trial Lawyer licensed to practice law in Georgia for 21 years, representing victims and families of Personal Injuries and Wrongful Death.

In 2012, NEAL LAW obtained the biggest wrongful death settlement and recovery in history against the uninsured government of Augusta-Richmond County, Georgia for the wrongful deaths of a young couple and a substantial confidential settlement against Georgia Power. These tragic deaths resulted from a double fatality trailer fire in which high school sweethearts were burned alive and choked to death on super-heated soot and smoke inhalation. The case lasted four years, including victories for the Plaintiff’s on sovereign and official immunity in the trial Court, the Georgia Court of Appeals, and the Georgia Supreme Court.v See Vann v. Finley, 313 Ga. App. 153, 721 S.E.2d 156 (2011), certiorari denied 2012 Ga. Lexis 387.

January 2007 obtained a $3,000,000 federal jury verdict in Hill v. USA Truck, Inc., 2007 WL 1574545 (D.S.C.), a case where a tractor trailer ran off the road and struck a mildly mentally retarded laborer on his friend’s bicycle. Confidentially settled wrongful death suits involving gas and electrical fires for substantial monetary sums against large utility companies in Georgia on novel theories.  Mr. Neal has also successfully handled medical malpractice cases over the past fifteen years, including a wrongful death EMTALA action in federal court. Reversed a malice murder verdict in the Georgia Supreme Court, and later retried the case before a jury, obtaining an acquittal of his client on all counts in 2000. Lindsey v. State, 271 Ga. App. 657 (1999).

Website      LinkedIn     Twitter     Facebook     Google+

Lee Biola w/ Law Office of D. Lee Biola, LLC

Lee Biola represents workers who have been injured on the job before the State Board of Workers’ Compensation. Lee is a former insurance company attorney who now declines offers to represent insurance companies. After graduation from law school, Lee worked for another law firm where he primarily represented insurance companies in workers’ compensation cases. Upon opening his own law practice in 2001, Lee changed his focus from representing insurance companies to representing injured workers.

Lee is a graduate of the Georgia State University College of Law where he served as Co-editor of the legislative history section of the Georgia State University Law Review.

Lee personally handles all of his workers’ compensation cases. Clients do not deal with paralegals or legal secretaries, but receive individualized attention directly from an attorney.

Website       AVVO      LinkedIn       Google+

Attorney Barbara Moon

“I obtained my law degree from Georgia State University College of Law in 1988. Subsequently, in 1989, I was admitted to the District of Columbia, the U. S. District Court, the Northern and Middle Districts of Georgia, the U. S. Court of Appeals, the Eleventh Circuit, the Georgia Court of Appeals and the Georgia Supreme Court. On motion by former Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court, Charles Longstreet Weltner, I was admitted to the Supreme Court of the United States of America on July 17, 1992.

I was a former part-time Magistrate Judge in Clayton County. I have also served on the faculty of the William Daniels Trial Advocacy Program and lectured at various seminars and trial lawyers’ workshops at the University of Georgia Trial Lawyers Association.

I have been featured on CourtTV, Forensic Files and other local media channels.

High Profile Cases include:

U.S. vs. Sheriff Richard Lankford, Atlanta, GA; Co-Counsel; Reverse on Appeal

U.S. vs. The Gold Club, Jana Pelnis, etc., Atlanta, GA; Counsel; Nolle Prosequi

State vs. Lewis Joyner, Atlanta, GA; Co-Counsel with Steve Sadow

State vs. Billy Moclaire, Atlanta, GA; Co-Counsel with Steve Sadow; (Bad Cops Case)

State vs. Candace Overstreet, Jonesboro, GA; Co-Counsel with Drew Findling; (Homicide of Police Officer)

State vs. Freeman Salahuddin, Atlanta, GA; Co-Counsel with Bruce Harvey and Walt Britt; Order for Directed Verdict (Quadruple Homicide)

State vs. Jim Watson, Atlanta, GA; Co-Counsel with Lee Sexton, Ricky Morris, and Scott Key; (Homicide)

State vs. Jean Long, Jackson, GA; Co-Counsel with Wade Crumbley; Acquittal (Homicide)

State vs. Gerald Hall, Jonesboro, GA; Co-Counsel with Steve Sadow; Nolle Prosequi (Homicide)

State vs. Marcus Shaw, Atlanta, GA; Co-Counsel with Bruce Harvey; Nolle Prosequi (Homicide)”.

Website     LinkedIn     AVVO

Lee Ann Bellon w/ The Bellon Firm

Lee Ann Bellon has devoted her entire career to working with attorneys. She has in depth experience with first year associates as well as partners with millions of dollars in business.

An article entitled “Dialing for Dollars” published in 1983 in The American Lawyer changed her life. It was about the emergence of recruiters working solely with attorneys. There were only thirteen legal recruiters scattered throughout the United States. No legal recruiters were in Atlanta and there were virtually none in the southeast.

Few southern law firms had used recruiters and every one of the managing partners she met told her that her business concept would never work. It took 6 months to make the first placement, but then the phone started ringing with clients interested in the company’s services.

Lee Ann has had a number of articles published in local and national publications.

She is now in the final stages of writing her first book. She is knowledgeable, and her approach is authentic, straight forward and fun. She is an entertaining speaker who clearly makes her points while keeping her audience’s attention.’

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Co-Host Josh Schiffer w/ Chanco Schiffer PC appeared previously on the show.  His bio can be found here.

Special Veteran’s Day Episode of Atlanta Legal Experts Radio

Fred Burkey w/ The Burkey Law Firm

What if you took a taxi one night to celebrate with friends and you ended up seriously injured when a car hit the taxi, then took off?  And when you tried to get help to pay for injuries and loss of income, your insurance company denied your claim because no one could find the at-fault driver?  That is what happened to Melissa.  What if you were stopped by police on a misdemeanor and incarcerated but while detained you fell seriously ill and denied proper medical treatment?  Would you risk death?  That is what happened to James.  When faced with an unforeseen crisis, people should choose the best legal representation that has the knowhow and commitment to take on aggressive insurance adjustors and mounting healthcare bills.  Fred Burkey of the Burkey Law Firm successfully litigated the cases of Melissa and James.  Since 1994, the Burkey Law Firm has obtained verdicts and settlements valued over millions of dollars for individuals and families who have been seriously harmed by the actions of dangerous drivers or harmed due to no fault of their own.  The practice focuses on trucking accidents, car accidents and accidents caused by drunk and reckless drivers often exceeding client expectations.  The Burkey Law Firm is dedicated to legal excellence and integrity while providing a voice that gives clients a fair shot at justice.

Website     LinkedIn     Twitter     AVVO 

Kelly Michael Hundley w/ Kelly Michael Hundley, LLC.

For more than 25 years, Kelly Michael Hundley has been a trusted legal adviser to businesses and executives in all manor of industry across the Metro-Atlanta region. Having spent time in the board room and shop floor, Kelly understands that legal issues don’t arise in a vacuum. Whether its a lawsuit, helping a client chart a path to avoid a lawsuit, or helping a new business figure out what laws impact what it wants to do, the focus and philosophy is the same–providing practical effective advice and solutions tailored to each clients unique circumstances.

Kelly Michael Hundley graduated with High Honors from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1987. Outside the office, Kelly enjoys reading, cooking, and spending time with his wife, Pam, and friends … and his dogs, Ellie and Scooter. His passion for education led him to sit on the board of the Georgia Perimeter College Foundation.

Website      LinkedIn      Blog

H. Lane Dennard, Jr. w/ Emory Law Volunteer Clinic for Veterans

Lane Dennard was born in Macon, Georgia, and graduated from Mercer University in Macon with an A.B. degree in 1966. He served in the Army as a Captain and Company Commander in Vietnam. His decorations include the Silver Star, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, and Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster. After his military service, Mr. Dennard attended the University of Georgia School of Law where he received the J.D. degree in 1973.

After graduation from law school, he was associated with the firm of Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak, and Stewart and served as managing partner of the Atlanta office. He joined King & Spalding as a partner in January of 1991 and served as a senior partner on the Labor and Employment Law Team.  Prior to his retirement from King & Spalding in 2003, Mr. Dennard represented both unionized and union-free employers in the field of labor and employment law for over 30 years, litigating the full range of cases in state and federal courts.

Since his retirement, Mr. Dennards legal practice has focused on veterans advocacy and the pro bono representation of veterans before the VA. In 2011 Mr, Dennard received the Georgia Bar’s Marshall-Tuttle Award as the top lawyer in the state providing pro bono services to veterans. He has played a role in the start-up and operation of the Emory Law Volunteer Clinic for Veterans and currently serves as co-director with Professor Charles Sanor.

Website

Cary King w/ Jacobs & King, LLC

I am an Atlanta native and am married to an Atlanta native, Sherry King. We have 5 children and 6 grandchildren and reside in Dekalb County, Georgia near Murphy Candler park and have lived there since 1993. My wife and I both are 1959 graduates of Henry Grady High School. I graduated from Georgia State University in 1963 with a Bachelor of Arts degree and received a law degree from John Marshal Law School in 1983. I also attended Graduate School at Georgia State University and the University of Alabama at Huntsville in Finance and Economics.

As an attorney, I currently practice as the Senior Attorney in the firm of Jacobs & King, LLC along with my son Scott, Greg Jacobs and 4 other attorneys. I was the senior partner of Slater & King for 17 years and a partner with Shuster, King & King for 11 years prior to that.  I was one of the lead defense counsel for Tonya Craft, in the case of the State of Georgia vs. Tonya Craft, a jury trial in Catoosa County which lasted over 6 weeks and has garnered national media attention. I have appeared on Good Morning America, Inside Edition and several local television and radio shows regarding various cases in which we were involved. I also have been involved in numerous high profile civil litigation matters in state and federal courts.

In January 2013, I was awarded the Marshall-Tuttle Award as the Outstanding Lawyer of 2013 by the Military and Veterans Affairs Section of the State Bar of Georgia for services rendered to veterans for the last 16 years and received a Certificate of Appreciation from the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs in Washington, D.C. for co-founding and operating the free legal clinic at the VA Medical Center on Clairmont Road in Decatur. In March 2013, I received the Public Service Law Section from John Marshall Law School for community and public services rendered throughout the last 30 years. In March and April 2013, I began serving on the Fulton Count Mentoring sub-committee to establish Veteran Mentors for a special Veteran’s Court in Fulton County along with Judge T. Jackson Bedford, also a Vietnam Veteran, Judge Todd Markle and other lawyer veterans. The Court began operation in April 2013 and is now a little over  18 months of operation and recently received an award from the Congressional Black Caucus of the United States House of Representatives.

I remain involved in a wide range of litigation scenarios. I practice in both state and federal courts, am a member of the Georgia Bar, the Federal Bar for the Northern District of Georgia, the 11^th United States Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court Bar.

By way of other general background, after graduation from college, I entered the United States Army and was commissioned through the ROTC program. I served on Active Duty as Regular Army officer until January 31, 1970. I retired from the Army Reserve/Army National Guard in 1987 after 24 years total service. In Vietnam, I served in the Infantry with 2nd Battalion, 28^th Infantry, 2nd Brigade of the 1st Infantry Division supervising and conducting search and seal operations, and Commanded both C Battery, 1^st Battalion, 7^th Artillery and HHB, 1^st Infantry Division Artillery. Additionally while with 2nd Brigade, I served as an Aerial observer. I was there during the 1968 Tet Offensive and the Spring and Fall Counter Offensives of 1968. While on active duty I was assigned to various military installations and served oversea tours in Germany and South Vietnam. My Vietnam service began in early 1967 and continued through November 4,1968 with the U.S. Army First Infantry Division. I received the following decorations for my service:

Five Bronze Stars ( With “V” Device for Valor)

Purple Heart

2 Air Medals

The Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry w/ Palm

Two Army Commendations Medal (one with V Device for Valor)

The Vietnamese Campaign Medal & The Vietnam Service Ribbons

The Vietnamese Honor Medal 1^st Class

Combat Infantryman’s Badge & Air Crewman’s Wing

The National Defense Service Medal

3 Meritorious Unit Citations

I was a member of the Dekalb County Veteran’s Advisory Committee for several years, and a Past President and Chairman of the Board of the Atlanta Vietnam Veteran’s Business Association, where I have been a member since the mid 80’s. I currently serve on the board of directors. For the last 16 years, I have provided Pro Bono legal services to the VA Medical Center in Atlanta and was one of the organizing and founding members of the clinic. As part of the Georgia State Bar Military Legal Assistance Program (MLAP), since January 2013, I have also assisted in opening 4 new pro bono clinics throughout the state, at Ft MacPherson, Carrollton and Augusta. I have served on the Board of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation as a Vice president as well as other civic and charitable organizations in the past, to include the Atlanta and National Humane Societies. I also do volunteer work at the USO at the Atlanta Airport and assist with Oral History Interviews for the Legacy Project.

Website       LinkedIn

Drew Early w/ Shewmaker & Shewmaker

Drew is an elder law attorney practicing in the greater Atlanta area.  He is experienced in probate and estate matters, adult guardianships and conservatorships, and trust work.  His elder law work led him into adult disability matters.  That, coupled with his career military experience, serves him well in assisting veterans and their families in matters before the VA.  He is published and a frequent CLE presenter on elder law and VA issues.  He is the immediate past Chair of the Military and Veteran Section of the GA State Bar and also serves on the Executive Committee of the GA State Bar’s Military and Legal Assistance Program.  He is a registered mediator and serves on the DeKalb County Probate Court’s Court-appointed list as a guardian ad litem.  He is admitted to a variety of courts, including the Supreme Court of the United States, the US Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, both Middle and Northern Districts of the US Courts for Georgia, and all State of Georgia courts.  He further serves as an adjunct professor at Emory University’s School of Law.

Education:  JD, Georgia State College of Law (cum laude), Atlanta GA; MA, US Army Command and General Staff College (with honors), FT Leavenworth KS; BS, US Military Academy, West Point NY.

Website       LinkedIn       AVVO 

Vera June Starks w/ Law Offices of Vera L. June, PA

Attorney Vera June Starks has excellent academic and professional credentials, outstanding communication skills and a relentless work ethic. Prior to attending Stetson University College of Law where she earned her Juris Doctor, Vera June gained invaluable experience as a legislative fellow for long-standing U.S. Representative Sheila Jackson Lee and later experience as a judicial intern with the Pinellas County courts.  She served as an associate in another prominent law firm prior to founding her own firm focused on practice areas that include civil litigation, business law and more.

Ms. June is licensed to practice in both Georgia and Florida, and she maintains offices in Dunwoody and the Orlando metro area. She is active in numerous professional organizations including the Atlanta Bar Association, the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys and the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association.

Website     AVVO      Twitter     LinkedIn     Pink Pumps Website

Rachel Lazarus w/ Gwinett Legal Aid

Rachel Lazarus is a Staff Attorney for Atlanta Legal Aid Society’s Gwinnett County office and the Director of the Gwinnett Pro Bono Project. As Project Director with the Atlanta Legal Aid Society, Rachel works with local private attorneys to expand pro bono services to residents in Georgia’s fastest growing county. In 2012, Rachel successfully appealed a long-standing court practice of requiring recent violence before granting protective orders.  In Lewis v Lewis, the Court of Appeals agreed with Rachel’s argument that since the Family Violence Act does not contain time limits, the court abused its discretion by requiring recent violence. This appellate case greatly expanded the access of TPOs to long-time victims of domestic violence.

Rachel obtained her J.D. in 2001 from the University of Southern California School Of Law, where she participated in the school’s first Family Violence Clinic.  While there she studied with legal greats including Constitutional scholar Erwin Chemerinsky.

A Fulton County Daily Report “Rising Star,” Rachel is a member in good standing of the State Bars of Georgia and California, and is also licensed to practice before the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia and the Southern District of California, the Georgia Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Courts of Georgia and California. She is an active member of the Gwinnett County Bar Association, and teaches religious school at Congregation Beth Shalom.  Rachel lives in Dunwoody with her husband and two daughters.

Website     AVVO     LinkedIn     Facebook

Brad Parcells w/ Aperio Coaching and Consulting

Aperio Coaching & Consulting is a professional coaching practice focusing on highly motivated men and women executives and leaders, age 35+ in corporate & non-profit service organizations, who believe they have more to offer themselves and their organization, who have a strong sense of their objectives and recognizes the need to measure their progress and success.

Coaching is a powerful process that enables the client to reveal and illuminate their authentic leadership style via a sharp focus on who they are at their core. Coaching is a highly confidential, trusting and open process that empowers a client to:

1. Increase their Self-Awareness.

2. Which facilitates greater Conscious Decision-Making.

3. Then forwards their decisions into focused and organized Action.

4. And ties in the key component of Accountability to measure progress.

Our coaching assists executives and leaders to improve their effectiveness, which drives both individual and organization results, greater team dynamics, goal achievement, and a stronger, more productive environment.

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Co-Host Josh Schiffer appeared previously on the show.  His bio can be found here.

Cade Parian w/ The Parian Law Firm, LLC.

When you call Cade Parian, you understand what it means to “Call Cade, Get Paid.”  He is not a traditional attorney, and his law firm, The Parian Law Firm, LLC, is not the traditional law firm. His approach is personal and compassionate as if you are a member of his extended family.  He has fought for individuals across America to get results they deserve in personal injury litigation, workers compensation, and consumer debt collection defense.

Cade actively participates in causes that further individual growth.  He coached youth football in his community each year, not to relive the his glory years past, but to become a role model to the children who lack such. Cade’s desire to help others build better lives can be found all over his community.

Cade has been named a Georgia rising star by Atlanta Magazine and Super Lawyers Magazine, and in 2014, The National Trial Lawyers and “The Fulton County Daily Report” both honored Cade as a “Top 40 Under 40” Lawyer.

Cade’s home base is Carrollton where he and his wife raise their two young children. While not preparing for trial or chasing children, Cade enjoys all things motorsports (except driving the things), and being the worst golfer on any golf course at any time.

Website      LinkedIn      Facebook      Twitter      AVVO

Jerbrina L Johnson w/ JL Johnson & Associates, LLC.

Jerbrina L. Johnson is an attorney representing clients throughout metropolitan Atlanta since 2006.  She has been named one of Georgia’s Rising Stars by SuperLawyers magazine.

Jerbrina earned a Bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude, in Political Science with a concentration in Legal Studies from Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi and a Juris Doctorate from The University of Mississippi School of Law in Oxford, Mississippi.

Prior to her actual graduation from law school, Jerbrina moved to Atlanta, Georgia, in the fall of 2004 to intern with the Georgia Innocence Project, assisting wrongfully convicted inmates with release based on DNA evidence that was not available at the time of their convictions.   Jerbrina began the law practice of J. L. Johnson & Associates, LLC in the fall of 2006 and has continued as Founder and Managing Partner for the past seven years. Her law firm focuses in the areas of family law, including divorce, legal separation, child support, custody, visitation, contempt, modification and establishment, contract preparation, review and negotiation, consumer bankruptcy and social security disability.  She also serves as a Guardian Ad Litem, representing the best interest of minor children in custody cases.

Jerbrina is a member of the Georgia Bar Association and is licensed in the state of Georgia to practice in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Court of Appeals for the State of Georgia, Supreme Court of the State of Georgia and all local and Superior Courts of the State of Georgia.   She is also a member of the American Bar Association.

In the way of volunteerism, Jerbrina serves as an Executive Board Member of the State Bar of Georgia Military/VA Accreditation Committee, and a member of the Metro Atlanta Consumer Bankruptcy Attorney Group. She is past Chairman of the Boy Scouts of America Friends of Scouting and past Board Member of the Beulah Urban Outreach executive committee. Jerbrina frequently judges national and local mock trial and moot court competitions, and also participates in career day at numerous metropolitan Atlanta elementary and middle schools. Jerbrina has been a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. for 14 years, and is the proud owner of her Maltipoo, Skyler.

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Stephen N Barnes w/ Barnes+Law™

Barnes+Law™ is a boutique business law firm delivering high-quality legal services for entrepreneurs, business owners and their families throughout the southeastern United States. With a focus on affluent families, growing businesses and dynamic entrepreneurial clients, we know what drives prosperous people. Even more importantly, we recognize our clients’ deeper priorities and we help shape their expectations. As professionals, we live in the details. But we also see the big picture. Three words encapsulate our vision — Trust. Innovaton. Peace.®

Stephen is the owner and founder of the firm. After graduating with honors from Vanderbilt University in 1994, Stephen worked with the Mississippi Center for Public Policy in Jackson, Mississippi as a Research Director, assisting legislators with research on a variety of issues affecting the families of Mississippi.  This work, along with a passion for knowing the purpose of Law, spurred Stephen to consider law school seriously.

He attended the University of Georgia School of Law in Athens, Georgia, and graduated in 1998. After graduating, he married his wife Christian and they moved to Macon, Georgia where Stephen practiced at two larger firms in the areas of business and corporate law. In March of 2003, Stephen began this firm, with the desire to service businesses and families in a way unsurpassed in integrity and professionalism.

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C.R. Wright/Fisher & Phillips LLP

C.R. Wright is a partner in the Atlanta Office of Fisher & Phillips LLP. C.R.’s practice includes advising clients on general labor and employment issues, handling employment-related litigation, and presenting training seminars for managers and supervisors. He also handles OSHA inspections, affirmative action audits, charges of discrimination, and wage and hour investigations. C.R. is “AV” Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell and has been recognized as a Georgia Super Lawyer by Atlanta Magazine.

Prior to joining the firm, C.R. worked in Human Resources for Lockheed Corporation, and as also a Cobb County Police Sergeant. He served as editor-in-cheif of the Georgia State Law Review.

Specialties: Labor & Employment Law, OSHA, OFCCP, EEOC, Noncompete and Trade Secrets, Employee Terminations, Human Resources advice.

Website   Twitter   LinkedIn

Matthew Rosenkoff/Taylor English Duma, LLP

Matthew Rosenkoff is a member of Taylor English’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution, Employment, Labor and Immigration, and Data Security and Privacy practice groups. Mr. Rosenkoff’s practice extends to all phases of commercial litigation. Specifically, Mr. Rosenkoff’s experience includes representing individuals, companies, and condominium/homeowners associations in litigation matters concerning, for example, contractual disputes; business torts; labor and employment issues; real estate disputes; and resort and hospitality disputes. Mr. Rosenkoff also represents those who are the subject of complaints and claims under various consumer protection statutes, including, but not limited to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, Telephone Consumer Protection Act, Georgia Fair Business Practices Act, and Florida Consumer Collection Practices Act. Mr. Rosenkoff is licensed to practice law in Georgia as well as in Florida. Mr. Rosenkoff has experience practicing in federal courts in both Georgia and Florida, before the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, in appellate courts, and in American Arbitration Association proceedings.

Mr. Rosenkoff has been selected as a Georgia Super Lawyers Rising Star for 2012, 2013 and 2014. Mr. Rosenkoff has also served as a director on the Board of Directors for the North Fulton Bar Association since 2012.

Website    AVVO     Twitter

Loretta Lepore/MediaBar

Loretta Lepore is the founder of strategic communications firm, Lepore Associates, LLC and is a principal in MediaBar Services, a media coaching and presentation training consultancy.

Loretta’s career spans more than two decades as a journalist and network news anchor, gubernatorial spokeswoman and consultant to corporate, entrepreneurial and non-profit clients.  She has managed a diverse client portfolio with interests ranging from healthcare to technology to transportation.  Loretta has leveraged her expertise in public strategy, crisis & issues management as well as message development, media relations, interview coaching and presentation training to help her clients achieve their business goals.

During her tenure with the national law firm McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP, she designed and executed communications and crisis management strategies on behalf of lawyers, lobbyists and their clients.  Appointed by Governor Sonny Perdue, Loretta led Georgia’s effort to re-energize its brand and she managed the subsequent launch of the nationally acclaimed Georgia logo, website, and global commerce and tourism advertising campaigns.  While serving as the Governor’s press secretary, she was the administration’s primary spokesperson and the chief communications liaison with the White House planning team for the G8 Summit, which drew thousands of global journalists to Sea Island.  A former journalist herself, Loretta worked for CNN, NPR, Westwood Radio Networks as well as local stations in Washington, D.C. and Florida.

Website     Twitter   LinkedIn

Shaun Southworth/Southworth P.C.

Mr. Southworth is a graduate of the Duke University School of Law, where at graduation he received the “Faculty Award for Outstanding Achievement in Labor and Employment Law,” an award not given every year. He was also named the Neill James Blue Scholar. After Duke, Mr. Southworth was a labor and employment associate at an “AmLaw 100″ law firm, a distinction reserved for America’s largest law firms. As an employment attorney, he represented employers from small business to Fortune 500 companies. Before founding Southworth PC, Mr. Southworth was also a labor and employment attorney at another national law firm, and the senior attorney at one of America’s premier employment and federal practice boutiques,where he represented employees and former employees against entities ranging from Fortune 500 companies, to large governmental agencies. He also supervised other employment attorneys and designed the litigation strategies for numerous employment cases.

As an employment attorney, Mr. Southworth has represented clients in almost all areas of employment law, including sexual harassment and discrimination claims, racial harassment and discrimination claims, age harassment and discrimination claims, disability harassment and discrimination claims, medical leave interference and retaliation claims, wage and hour individual and class actions, and breach of employment agreement and fraud claims, among others. He has litigated claims before federal and state courts, before the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, before the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, before arbitration panels, before the EEOC’s administrative judges in hearings and otherwise, before the Merit Systems Protection Board, and before the United States Office of Personnel Management. He has litigated claims as an employment attorney against large companies, and numerous federal government agencies, including the United States Department of Labor, the United States Postal Service, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, the United States Department of Defense, and the United States Department of Justice. He has represented clients residing in over ten different states nationwide, and uses pro hac and co-counsel relationships as appropriate.

Before matriculating at Duke, Mr. Southworth was a middle school English teacher as part of the Teach for America program. Mr. Southworth is also an honors graduate of Grinnell College.

Mr. Southworth is committed to his clients.

Jurisdictions:

• Missouri
• Kansas
• Georgia
• U.S. District Court Western District of Missouri
• U.S. District Court District of Kansas
• U.S. District Court Western District of Missouri Bankruptcy
• U.S. District Court Northern District of Georgia
• U.S. District Court Northern District of Georgia Bankruptcy
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
• U.S Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

Admitted To The Bar:

• Georgia – 2012
• Missouri – 2009

Education:

• Duke University School of Law, Durham, North Carolina, Juris Doctorate, 2009
  • Honors: Faculty Award for Excellence in Labor and Employment Law
  • Honors: Neill James Blue Scholar
• Grinnell College, Grinnell, Iowa, Bachelors’ Degree with Honors, 2004
• Honors: Trustee Honor Scholar
• Honors: Humanities Scholar

Professional Memberships and Achievements:

• State Bar of Georgia
• State Bar of Missouri
• State Bar of Kansas
• National Employment Lawyers Association
• Former Middle School English teacher as Part of the “Teach for America” Program

Website    AVVO      Google+     Twitter

Terina Williams/Southworth P.C.

Terina M. Williams is an Associate Attorney at Southworth PC.  Ms. Williams represents employees and former employees in all areas of employment law, including but not limited to racial harassment and discrimination, sexual harassment and discrimination, retaliation, and wage and hour disputes.

Ms. Williams is an alumnus of the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, where she received the highest grade in multiple courses and received the “Best Brief” award in Moot Court.  Upon completing her law degree, Ms. Williams obtained her LL.M. in Taxation from Golden Gate University, School of Law where she graduated with honors.

Prior to joining Southworth PC, Ms. Williams was an associate attorney at a well-respected employment and civil rights litigation firm in California.  Ms. Williams is committed to her work as an employment attorney and looks forward to working with you on your employment related needs.

Areas of Practice:

• Labor and Employment
• Bankruptcy
• Taxation

Jurisdictions:

• California
• Georgia
• U.S. District Court Northern District of California
• U.S. District Court Northern District of Georgia
• U.S. District Court Southern District of Georgia
• U.S. Bankruptcy Court Northern District of California

Bar Admissions:

• State Bar of California, December 2009
• State Bar of Georgia, January 2014

Education:

• University of California, Hastings College of the Law, Juris Doctorate, May 2009
• Golden Gate University, School of Law, Master of Laws, Taxation, December 2010
• University of California, Irvine, Bachelor’s Degree, Criminology, Law & Society, June 2005.

William John Camp/Westmoreland, Patterson, Moseley & Hinson, LLP

Website        AVVO     Twitter

Benin Brown/Brown Web Copy

Benin Brown is one of the few people that you will meet in Atlanta that was actually born and raised here. Mr. Brown is a Digital Media Specialist at the John Marshall Law School in Atlanta. His background includes extensive search engine optimization experience both in an in-house marketing setting and the agency environment. Prior to becoming a creative content writer, Benin worked as an SEO analyst for an Atlanta based marketing agency that specialized in providing lawyer marketing services.

“Moreover, as a published book author and content writer, my writing experience qualifies me to write on a variety of topics. If you were to select me as a content writer, here’s what you could expect:

* Content that is engaging, unique and well researched

* SEO know-how that results in content that helps you rank for even the toughest of keywords

* Content that is compliant with Google’s Penguin and Panda algorithms

* Writing that is optimized for search AND primed for maximum conversions”

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Joshua G. Schiffer

Joshua G. Schiffer was raised in the wilds of East Cobb County by Dr. Daniel and Prof. Gail Schiffer.  He attended Rocky Mountain Elementary, Mabry and Simpson Middle Schools, and graduated from The Walker School in 1994. He graduated from Clark University in Worcester, MA where he majored in Government/International Relations with a minor in International Development. Mr. Schiffer studied Economics in Luxembourg and traveled extensively.  After working as a truck driver and warehouse worker during and after college, Mr. Schiffer continued his education and obtained his Juris Doctor from Georgia State University College of Law in 2002.  While in law school, Mr. Schiffer was active in Mock Trial, Student Trial Lawyers Association and a variety of social/professional groups.

Mr. Schiffer began his career as a clerk in the Superior Court of Cobb County, transitioned into real estate and eventually gravitated towards trial work as a senior trial attorney for the Metro Conflict Defender and Georgia Public Defender Standards Counsel.  During this period, Mr. Schiffer trained numerous attorneys in complex trial techniques and was the senior trial attorney for several judges.  He has supervised the All Purpose/Fast Track Courts, Magistrate Courts and General Trial Courts.

In 2007,  Mr. Schiffer was invited to the exclusive Gerry Spence Trial Lawyers College in Duboise, WY where he spent the summer working with a class of 50 Plaintiffs and Criminal Defense Lawyers on Advanced Trial Techniques including Sociometry, Psychodrama, Experiential Therapy and Group Dynamics with an internationally acclaimed faculty including Gerry Spence, Joane Garcia-Colston, Fredilyn Sison, Rafe Foreman, Joshua Karton, Betsy Greene, and Maren Chaloupka.  Mr. Schiffer continues to attend college events on a regular basis and relies extensively on the network of graduates to ensure his clients achieve the greatest results in their cases.

Mr. Schiffer formed The Schiffer Firm, LLC upon his return from the college.  The Schiffer Firm, LLC continues to represent the victims and accused in cases involving Domestic Violence, both in Civil and Criminal arenas.  Mr. Schiffer is regarded as one of Georgia’s leading authorities on Domestic Violence issues and dedicates much of his pro bono efforts to this area.

In 2011 Mr. Schiffer and Mr. Chanco formed ChancoSchiffer P.C. as a new paradigm in Legal Services.

Mr. Schiffer is married to a successful financial executive and lives in Buckhead with his daughter and Chihuahuas.  A supporter of various social and political organizations, he enjoys fishing, gardening, theater, target shooting and politics.

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Douglas Chanco

Douglas Chanco is admitted to the practice of law in both Georgia and New York.  He has also been admitted to practice before the Georgia Supreme Court, the Georgia Court of Appeals, and the United States District Court.  He founded The Law Offices of Douglas B. Chanco, LLC in 2010 and was an incorporator of ChancoSchiffer, P.C. in 2011.  Prior to this, Mr. Chanco worked at a law firm were he rose to become the senior associate attorney specializing in litigation work including: criminal defense, DUI defense, civil litigation, personal injury, and divorce matters.  Attorney Chanco began his legal career by serving as an assistant solicitor general for the Fulton County State Court in the city of Atlanta, Georgia.  In this position, Attorney Chanco tried and successfully prosecuted numerous criminal cases including DUI.

During law school, Attorney Chanco worked as a certified legal intern for The Office of the Public Defender for the city of Jacksonville, Florida, where he participated in the defense of indigent individuals charged with major felonies and drug crimes.

Attorney Chanco is certified by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as an instructor for standardized field sobriety testing.  This training, which is identical to the education police officers receive, allows him to identify improperly administered field sobriety tests in your Georgia DUI case.  Furthermore, Attorney Chanco has training as a drug recognition expert.  He is one of only a few attorneys in the area that knows how to defend cases dealing with prescription drugs and illegal drugs, including marijuana.

Attorney Chanco is the author of the text, “Defense of Your Georgia DUI Case: What to Know, What to Do.”

Attorney Chanco graduated from The Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida, with a Bachelors of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice in merely two and a half years time. He received his Juris Doctor from Florida Coastal School of Law, in Jacksonville, Florida, and was selected as a Dean’s Scholar twice.

Attorney Chanco has been an active member of his community both as a mock trial team coach for the Georgia Bar Association’s High School Mock Trial program and also achieving the rank of Eagle Scout while a member of the Boy Scouts of America.

Attorney Chanco and his wife hail from Central Florida and proudly call North Georgia home.  In his spare time, Attorney Chanco is an avid outdoorsman and enjoys the many art, cultural, and recreational opportunities available in North Georgia.

Areas of Practice:

• Criminal Law
• DUI/DWI
• Civil Litigation

Litigation Percentage:

90% of Practice Devoted to Litigation

Bar Admissions:

• Georgia, 2006
• New York, 2012
• Georgia Court of Appeals
• Supreme Court of Georgia
• U.S. District Court Northern District of Georgia

Education:

Florida Coastal School of Law, Jacksonville, Florida

J.D.

Honors: Dean’s Scholar

The Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida

B.S.

Major: Criminology and Criminal Justice

Professional Associations and Memberships:

National College of DUI Defense Attorneys

Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Association of Trial Lawyers of America

Association for Justice

Georgia Trial Lawyers Association

Forsyth County Criminal Defense Bar- Past President

Publications:

Defense of Your Georgia DUI Case: What to Know, What to Do.

To reach ChancoSchiffer call 404-842-0909 today!

Elizabeth “Dalia” Racine/Assistant District Attorney

I am running for District Attorney because I believe that “Douglas Deserves Better.” I dedicated my entire legal career to prosecution. I handled homicide, rape, child abuse, human trafficking, animal abuse, robbery, and many other types of cases during my tenure. Throughout my career, I learned what it takes to have an effective and efficient District Attorney’s Office. That’s why I believe Douglas Deserves Better!

Better Approach to Crime Prevention– As District Attorney, I will be SMART on crime. I will implement effective programs that work. By having tough alternative sentencing options we will work to break the recidivism cycle. In addition, by using programs that are effective we decrease our costs within the criminal justice system and become fiscally responsible to our citizens.

Better Integrity– We need to restore the trust of Douglas County in the District Attorney’s office. We deserve a District Attorney that will be ethical and honest for ALL of Douglas County.

Better Staffing– I will have prosecutors that are specially trained in vital areas such as Crimes against Women and Children, Elder Abuse, Animal Cruelty and Public Integrity. I will establish a presence in the Juvenile Court System, the most integral court to intervene and divert children from becoming a part of the adult criminal justice system.

It is for all these reasons and more that “Elizabeth Dalia Racine is the Right Choice for Douglas County!”

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Julia Latimer/Ashenden & Associates, P.C.

Julia Latimer attended Mercer University as a Tift Scholar where she graduated and obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Spanish. She received her Juris Doctor from Florida Coastal School of Law where she received the Dean’s Pro Bono Graduation Certificate for her volunteer work.  She also received the Dean’s Certificate of Achievement while attending the University of Miami School of Law as a visiting student.

During law school, she studied international law at the Universidad de Sevilla in Sevilla, Spain. She has a working knowledge of the Spanish language.  After law school she worked for Katz, Stepp, Wright & Fleming LLC in Atlanta before joining Ashenden & Associates, P.C. as an associate lawyer. Julia primarily handles personal injury, auto accident, wrongful death, slip and fall and workers’ compensation cases.  Julia enjoys volunteering with the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation’s Saturday Lawyers Program and working with children.  She is also a member of the DeKalb Lawyers Association.   Julia is an active member of the State Bar of Georgia and the Florida Bar.

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Eric Coleman/Winter Capriola Zenner, LLC.

Eric is rated “AV” by Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, which is its highest professional rating. Eric was named among the Georgia Rising Stars list by Super Lawyers as one of the top up-and-coming attorneys in Georgia for 2013 and 2014. Each year, no more than 2.5% of the lawyers in the state receive this honor.  Eric Coleman is a member of Winter Capriola Zenner LLC’s litigation team, focusing his practice on all aspects of litigation in both Georgia and Federal Courts, concentrating on commercial litigation, construction litigation, business torts, and other business disputes.  During his career, Eric has gained experience in jury trials, bench trials, hearings, mediations, arbitrations, and appellate practice in both Georgia and surrounding states. Eric has taken numerous depositions solo, including depositions of industry experts such as engineers, physicians, and accountants. Eric has argued dispositive and discovery motions solo. And Eric has performed the direct examination of witnesses before a jury.

Among Eric’s legal accomplishments are several appellate victories before the Georgia Court of Appeals resulting in at least two reported decisions. Eric received his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the University of Georgia School of Law in 2009 where he was a Vice Justice in Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity. Eric received his Bachelor of Science from the University of Mississippi in 2004.  From 2001-2007, Eric served in the Mississippi Army National Guard as an M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank Gunner. Eric was deployed to Iraq for all of 2005 where, at the rank of Sergeant, he served as a vehicle commander and dismounted team leader, utilizing the Humvee instead of a tank, and participating in over 250 combat missions. For his service in Operation Iraqi Freedom III, Eric was twice awarded the Army Commendation Medal and the Combat Action Badge among other individual and unit distinctions.

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CoHost Alexander Brown appeared as a guest previously.  His blog can be found here.

Sarah Crossman Sullivan

Sarah Crossman Sullivan is a corporate consultant, attorney and entrepreneur with a growing national presence. Featured on NBC, Fox News Network, The Laymen’s Lawyer, Entrepreneur, and The Wall Street Journal, Sarah’s ease in courtrooms and boardrooms resonates. She brings eighteen years of experience as a CEO, labor and employment law attorney, prosecutor and healthcare advocate to her current role as Co-Founder and co-CEO of SeeItFit.com. As a frequent national speaker and writer on leadership, innovation and inspiration, Sarah contributes to Entrepreneur.com, Success magazine, YourWholeLife, Better You Network, BizBuzz Radio, BeyondMotherhood and Smart Business. She is a mother of four children and provides engaging, practical insights on work, life, faith and family.

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Diane Weinberg 

Diane Weinberg specializes in assisting families with the medical, financial and housing-related legal challenges that often accompany aging and disability. Diane brings a unique, informed and empathetic perspective to her clients. She offers compassionate and meaningful solutions to clients in the elder law area including Medicaid & disability planning, veterans’ benefits counseling, guardianships & conservatorships, and special needs trusts.

Currently, Diane serves as Of Counsel with the law firm Morgan & DiSalvo, P.C.  She earned a B.A. at the University of Pennsylvania and her J.D. from the Emory University School of Law. After graduating law school, Diane served as an employee benefits associate for Kilpatrick Stockton LLC before becoming a senior litigation associate for Casey Gilson Leibel P.C.  A member of the State Bar of Georgia, Diane served on the Editorial Board of the Georgia Bar Journal from 1999-2001, and as editor of ElderCare Matters from 2005-2006. She is a member of the Academy of Special Needs Planner, the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, ElderCounsel and the Atlanta Bar Association.   She is a VA accredited attorney, as well as AV rated attorney an Martindale-Hubbell and rated a Superb attorney on Avvo.com.  Morgan & DiSalvo is ranked by U.S. News and World Report as a top law firm in the country in the area of trust and estates law.

Outside of her law practice, Diane lives in Sandy Springs with her husband Mike, their three sons, and a lab-pittie mix dog.  In any remaining free time, Diane enjoys knitting and is a past treasurer of the Atlanta Knitting Guild.  She also enjoys walking and has walked two half-marathons for Team in Training for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

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