Our Expert Guests Today Participate in a Round-table Discussion on the Topic: “Transitioning From a Large Firm to a Small/Solo Practice.”
Maya Simmons Rogers w/ Simmons Rogers, LLC.
Maya Simmons Rogers is the Managing Partner of Simmons Rogers, LLC. Mrs. Rogers attended Florida A&M University and interned with several Fortune 500 companies including Southern Company – Georgia Power, Procter & Gamble, and Ernst and Young during her tenure. After graduating from Florida A&M with both her undergraduate and graduate degrees, Mrs. Rogers moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan to attend law school. During law school, Mrs. Rogers was very active on campus and served in several elected and appointed leadership positions. While attending the University of Michigan Law School, Mrs. Rogers also had the opportunity to extern with the South African Human Rights Commission in Cape Town.
Following her externship, Mrs. Rogers went to work in the ERISA Litigation group at Alston & Bird, LLP. During her time at Alston & Bird, Mrs. Rogers gained extensive experience representing numerous Fortune 500 employers and defending large national insurance companies against claims for denied health, disability (short and long term), and life insurance benefits.
After leaving Alston & Bird, but prior to founding Simmons Rogers, LLC, Mrs. Rogers was able to gain extensive experience serving as outside general counsel to a number of businesses in varying stages from startups to mid-sized multi-million dollar companies. In this capacity, Mrs. Rogers had the opportunity to represent entrepreneurs and business executives in a wide variety of transactions and industries. From selecting the most appropriate business entity, negotiating the purchase of a new business, to contract review and negotiation, patent prosecution, and copyright and trademark registration and licensing. Mrs. Rogers has also had the opportunity to assist clients with developing various employment agreements, creating company policies and handbooks, hiring and terminating employees, and negotiating severance packages for employees and high level executives. Moreover, Mrs. Rogers has also represented her clients in numerous litigation matters, mediations, and arbitrations.
Additionally, Mrs. Rogers had the opportunity to assist her business clients and others with more personal matters. Mrs. Rogers has helped entrepreneurs and other clients plan for the end of life as well as possible incapacitation. Mrs. Rogers has also helped her clients navigate life-changing events ranging from adoption, pre-nuptial agreements, to child support, divorce, and tragic accidents.
While practicing law is time consuming, Mrs. Rogers has always found time to give back. She has served on the executive board of the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys, a bar association of more than 600 judges, lawyers, and law students; participated with Everybody Wins Power Lunch Reading Program, Project SALUTE, Georgia Appleseed’s Heir Property Project, and completed countless hours of pro bono legal services throughout her career. Mrs. Rogers served on the Board of Directors for the Refugee Women’s Network for four years and was also the Board Treasurer. She currently teaches Business Law and Ethics courses at a national university in the metro-Atlanta area.
Mrs. Rogers is a native of Albany, Georgia who relocated to Atlanta, Georgia to practice law. Mrs. Rogers believes deeply that practicing law is a way for her to help people and to help make the world a better place.
Contact Information:
Direct Dial: 404-445-8260
Fax: 404-445-8226
Education:
J.D., University of Michigan Law School
M.B.A., Florida A&M University,summa cum laude
B.S. Business Administration with concentration in Accounting, Florida A&M University, summa cum laude
Admitted to Practice:
Georgia
- 11th Circuit Court of Appeals
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia
- Georgia Supreme Court
- Georgia Court of Appeals
- All Georgia Trial Courts
Professional Memberships:
Georgia State Bar
Georgia Association Black Women Attorneys – 2011 Membership Chair
Community Involvement:
New Leaders Council
Refugee Women’s Network – Board Member and Board Treasurer – 2010-2014
Michael S. Wilensky, Partner w/ Slater & Wilensky, LLC
With over 40 years of combined legal experience, Michael Wilensky of Slater & Wilensky using thier knowledge, skill and work ethic have helped thousands of injury victims and injury victim’s family’s obtain settlements and verdicts. Michael Wilensky is recognized as an experienced and committed advocate and litigator by insurance companies, defense attorneys, and judges. He has been continuously recognized by Georgia Trend Magazine as a Georgia Legal Elite.
Email: mwilensky@ga-legalteam.com
Practice Areas
- Wrongful Death Claims
- Injuries to Children
- Personal & Serious Injury
- Serious Auto Collisions
- Motorcycle Collisions
- Tractor-Trailer Collisions
- Boat Collisions
- Bicycle/Pedestrian v. Car Collisions
- Slip & Fall / Premises Wrongful Death
- Medical Negligence
- Nursing Home Negligence
- Wrongful Prescriptions
Education
- University of Maryland School of Law, J.D.
- University of Georgia, B.A.
Admissions
- Georgia State Courts
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia
- U.S. District Court, Middle District of Georgia
- Pro Hac Vice Admission in Florida
Awards
- Legal Elite, Georgia Trend Magazine, 2013, 2014
Pro Bono Work
- Georgia Legal Services
Professional Memberships/Activities
- State Bar of Georgia
- Georgia Trial Lawyers Association
- Georgia Trial Lawyers Association Legislative Committee
- American Association for Justice
- Georgia Personal Injury Attorney Group
- Atlanta Bar Association
- Anti-Defamation League Glass Leadership Institute
- Physicians’ Care Clinic Past Board Member (www.physicianscareclinic.org)
Website LinkedIn Facebook Twitter AVVO
Tiffany M. Simmons, Simmons Law
Tiffany M. Simmons is an attorney and media personality dedicated to being a relentless advocate for her community. She is managing partner at Simmons Law, a law firm in Atlanta, Georgia, which focuses on criminal defense, business law, and entertainment. She represents celebrities, businesses, and the everyday citizen. Most recently, she successfully secured acquittals in the trial (and multiple re-trials) of Lula Smart and the Quitman 12, a group of minority political activists unfairly accused of voter fraud in the Brooks County, Georgia election in late 2013. Tiffany was also a part of the litigation team for a case that appeared on CNBCs American Greed, a weekly, true crime television documentary series. Simmons has been honored with the Client Distinction Award in both 2013 and 2014 from Martindale-Hubbell for being in the top one percent of her profession.
A distinguished leader in the community, Simmons has served on the board of several organizations with a mission to provide greater access to healthcare and provide resources for the welfare and education of children. In July 2014, Tiffany instituted the “Simmons Law Memorial Scholarship”, an academic scholarship in honor of her grandparents, for the benefit of Michigan high school seniors. Simmons’ likable personality and passionate advocacy has landed her on TV, radio, and in print. She has appeared on media programs, including CNN’s HLN After Dark, as well as talk and radio shows. Simmons is a published author writing for the American Bar Association and other publications. She is also a
speaker, pushing her series, “More Than Just A Pretty Face”, to empower women – young and old – to be freed from labels and perspectives that keep them from realizing their dreams. She appeared on Atlanta Legal Experts Radio last year. You can view her interview here: Tiffany Simmons
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Anne Tyler Hamby w/ Hamby Benefits Law, LLC
Prior to forming Hamby Benefits Law, LLC, Anne Tyler Hamby (“Anne Tyler”) practiced employee benefits law with Alston & Bird LLP and King & Spalding LLP, two of Atlanta’s largest law firms. She earned a Master of Laws in Taxation, with distinction, from Georgetown University Law Center and her Juris Doctor from the University of Alabama School of Law. Anne Tyler earned a Master of Science in International Development from the University of Bath. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Economics, magna cum laude, from Birmingham-Southern College.
Representative Case/Client
- Multinational telecommunications company with Atlanta subsidiary
Led negotiation of a reduction of more than 80 percent of the original 401(k) retirement plan penalty assessment by the Department of Labor.
- Staffing company, Atlanta, GA and Alpharetta, GA
Prepared templates, policies and procedures for determination of full-time employee and variable hour employee status under the Affordable Care Act (to assist with defense in the event of a DOL audit).
- Community bank, Manchester, GA
Advised on Code Section 409A issues related to a supplemental executive retirement plan (SERP), which prevented a compliance error that would have cost the client more than $100,000.
- Multinational company with San Diego, CA subsidiary
Reviewed purchase agreement and advised parent company of its ERISA obligations with respect to provision of long-term disability benefits to a legacy employee of a recently acquired subsidiary.
- Closely held concrete company, Alpharetta, GA
Drafted Section 162 executive bonus plan agreements; prepared DOL top hat plan filing.
- Vision clinic with offices throughout Atlanta
Advised on design and legal requirements for cash-out option alternative under its Section 125 cafeteria plan.
- Marketing company in Roswell, GA
Prepared and filed IRS 401(k) plan correction for plan loan errors.
Anne Tyler was the featured speaker at a fiduciary training seminar in November 2014. She was the moderator for “Fiduciary Bootcamp: Department of Labor Update” at the Southern Employee Benefits Conference in September 2014 with speaker Robert Lewis, Regional Counsel for ERISA and Employee Benefits at the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Solicitor. She also spoke to a group of small business owners on “Retirement Plans: Washington Update” in September 2014. Anne Tyler spoke to the Community Bankers Association of Georgia on same sex spousal benefits and compliance issues in August 2014. Anne Tyler spoke to the Kettering Executive Network (KEN) Banking, Finance & Investment Group in June 2014 on employee benefit plan legal compliance issues. Anne Tyler spoke to the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce CEO Roundtable in April 2014 on health care reform legal updates. She spoke to the Accounting and Financial Women’s Alliance in March 2014 on employee benefits legal updates. In February 2014, Anne Tyler spoke to the Cetera Financial Advisors on retirement plan legal updates. Anne Tyler spoke to a group of employee benefits consultants and brokers in December 2013 on health care reform and risk mitigation.
Anne Tyler regularly speaks at employer “Lunch and Learns” on various employee benefit topics. Please contact Anne Tyler if you are interested in a speaker to discuss an employee benefits or executive compensation issue.
In her spare time, Anne Tyler enjoys running and biking. She completed her first marathon in 2010 and completed her first triathlon in fall 2013.
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Georgia State Bar, Employee Benefits Section
- Farrah Law Society, Board of Trustees
- Worldwide Employee Benefits, Atlanta Chapter, Steering Committee
- OnBoard, Membership Committee
- Southern Employee Benefits Conference
- Society for Human Resource Management, Atlanta Chapter
- Living Tree Charities, Board of Directors
- Georgia Association for Women Lawyers
- Association for Corporate Growth
Practice Areas Include:
Alumni News
