Crawford Appeals & Appellate Lawyers

Tom is a former federal prosecutor who represents businesses and individuals in government investigations, False Claims Act litigation, complex civil litigation, and white collar criminal defense. Before founding Griffin Durham Tanner and Clarkson, Tom led a nationally recognized Department of Justice unit responsible for prosecuting complex civil and criminal fraud out of the Southern District of Georgia. In addition to his supervisory responsibilities, he led some of the office’s most complex and significant criminal cases in the office. During his tenure with the Department of Justice, he tried cases involving public corruption, health care fraud, pill mills, wire/mail fraud, and violent...

Julian A. Fortuna is a at Partner Greenspoon Marder LLP where he practices business and tax law with a focus on tax planning and representing clients before the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") and various other tax authorities. He also handles estate and trust tax matters. Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Fortuna was Vice President and General Tax Counsel for InterContinental Hotels Group ("IHG"). During his eleven year tenure at IHG, Mr. Fortuna managed a team of tax professionals responsible for structuring the domestic and international tax impacts of numerous mergers, acquisitions, dispositions and other corporate transactions, as...

After defending insurance companies for over ten years, Laura ("Laurie") Vickery Benesh formed Vickery Benesh Law, P.C. to assist victims and their families who have experienced personal injury or wrongful death as a result of automobile accidents, slip and fall, and premises liability. She also assists businesses in disputes resulting from breach of agreements and other matters. Laurie earned her undergraduate and law degrees from Emory University and is AV-rated by Martindale Hubbell. She has successfully argued before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and throughout Georgia’s state courts. She serves on the Board...

Travis is devoted to criminal defense and proud to stand beside his clients in court.

Born and raised in Macon, I am a lifelong member of the Middle Georgia community where I live with my wife and family. After attending Mckibben Lane Elementary School, I graduated as valedictorian from Tattnall Square Academy. I then attended Furman University and graduated in 1983 with a double major in History and Political Science. In 1986, I graduated from The University of Georgia School of Law and was admitted to the State Bar of Georgia that same year. To the practice of law, I bring the values of hard work, fair play and respect for others that I learned...

Attorney Akil Kenneth Secret is a licensed attorney in the States of Georgia and Nebraska. His practice focuses on Serious Personal Injury Litigation, Wrongful Death Litigation and Major Criminal Defense. Mr. Secret has represented defendants in numerous high profile state and federal cases. He has tried hundreds of cases with extraordinary success. Mr. Secret has represented Lawyers, Doctors, Accountants, Real Estate Brokers and Agents and Corporate Executives. Attorney Akil Secret attended University of Nebraska and transferred to attend Morehouse College where he pursued his undergraduate studies until 1973 with a major in Political Science. He attended Atlanta Law School and earned...

Tom started The Church Law Firm in 2022 after graduating with honors from the University of Georgia School of Law and becoming a partner at an elite law firm in Atlanta. Since becoming an attorney, Tom has been handling cases involving high profile federal crimes, serious felonies under Georgia law, and civil claims against overreaching government officials, including small businesses that have been unlawfully targeted by law enforcement based on their sale of legal cannabis products (hemp). During the COVID-19 pandemic, Tom also secured the release of over a dozen federal inmates based on their age, medical conditions, or excessively...

I enjoy practicing law at The Goolsby Law Firm, LLC with my oldest son in Augusta and Martinez, Georgia. We deal with divorce cases, personal injury, criminal defense and other litigation on a daily basis. As a former federal prosecutor in Augusta, Georgia for over 20 years, I have tried some of the largest fraud and public corruption cases in Georgia and U.S. history.

Nathaniel M. Smith is a born again Christian and a member of Salem Baptist Church in McDonough, Georgia. Nathaniel is admitted to practice before the Georgia Supreme Court, the Georgia Court of Appeals, and the Superior, State, Juvenile, Probate and Magistrate courts of Georgia. Nathaniel became a member of the Georgia Bar Association in 2009. He became a member of the Henry County Bar Association in 2010. He became a member of CLS (Christian Legal Society, www.clsnet.org) and Christianlawyers.com in 2009. Nathaniel graduated in 2009 from Washington and Lee University School of Law. While pursuing his law degree, he...

Since starting Rachel Kaufman Law in June of 2015, Rachel has provided top-notch legal representation to hundreds of clients throughout the State of Georgia. In that short time, Rachel has gained a reputation for being a highly passionate and highly effective courtroom advocate. Amongst her colleagues, judges and courtroom personnel, Rachel is known for being a smart fighter, who can see through the tumbleweeds and intuitively zero-in on which strategic routes need to be taken to get to the best outcome possible. No matter the charge (DUI, Murder, Drug Offense, etc.), Rachel approaches each client’s situation with family-like loyalty and...

Mr. Fuller is the managing partner of the firm and oversees the litigation practice. He has been involved in hundreds of large cases and appeals. He ensures that the business-like and hands-on approach used in the business practice is continued in the litigation practice. Mr. Fuller has extensive trial experience with tremendous results in jury verdicts and substantial settlements for both Plaintiffs and Defendants. He has attended numerous hands on seminars conducted by the best trial attorneys in the country.

Historical: Managing Partner at Fuller Sloan LLC from 2019-Present, Local Managing Partner at CKR Law L.L.P. from 2014-2019, Davidson, Fuller...

In 2011, Jim McKenzie was honored by Martindale Hubbell/Lawyers.com for having maintained an “AV” rating for highest or “pre-eminent” legal skills and ethical standards for thirty consecutive years (1980-2010). He continues to achieve that consistent “AV” rating. The significance of the “AV” Rating by Martindale.com and Lawyers.com is described as follows: “The AV preeminent [rating] is a significant rating accomplishment- a testament to the fact that a lawyer’s peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence.” www.martindale.com/products-services-peer-review-rating. (Martindale-Hubbell and Lawyers.com are the national legal locator and ranking service). Atlanta native and a Gwinnett...

Beverly Cohen has been representing clients in divorce and family law matters for over 20 years. She has a reputation for providing her clients with the highest level of representation in the most cost-effective manner. Beverly is dedicated to creating an environment of trust and confidence between her clients and herself. She prides herself on maintaining communication with her clients, promptly returning phone calls, responding to emails, and reasonable billing practices. Her knowledge, experience, and dedication to her clients has resulted in a high level of client satisfaction. At the time she began practicing law, Beverly...

Amanda Gaddis Speights represents clients in divorce or family law matters, criminal matters, appeals, and other civil litigation. In family law matters, Amanda has guided and counseled clients in settling uncontested divorces, fought for clients' rights in contested divorces and child custody or child support proceedings, and ensured that clients resolved their family disputes with the best resolution possible for their family given the situation. In addition to her work on family law cases, Amanda has represented clients arrested for various crimes, including DUI, felony and misdemeanor drug offenses, theft crimes, assault or battery charges. Amanda is very...

Jess Johnson is one of the best young lawyers in Georgia. He has been recognized as a “Rising Star” in criminal defense and civil litigation by Super Lawyers Magazine for the past several years. While only 2.5% of lawyers in Georgia under the age of 40 receive such an honor, Jess was first named to this list after only 3 years of practice.

Jess has been instrumental in our firm’s success in both trials and appeals. In his very first trial, Jess was awarded an Acquittal Award from the Federal Defender Program for helping our firm win a “not guilty” verdict...

Nathan Heber is a highly awarded lawyer with an exceptional background in high-stakes litigation. As a Founding Partner of Heber Han PC, he represents average, everyday people in their fight for justice and fairness—a calling that often involves battling the largest corporations and governmental agencies. Nathan handles federal court appeals for those who have received unfavorable SSA ALJ decisions. He draws from his 11 years of experience as an attorney with SSA, including eight years in the Office of General Counsel, where he played a key role in the development and implementation of programs designed to increase the...

In 2023, David was part of the trial team that obtained a $38.6 million verdict in a complex medical malpractice case. In 2022, he was lead counsel in two medical malpractice jury trials and obtained jury verdicts for his clients in each. In addition to trial work, David is routinely retained to represent clients in complex appellate matters with outstanding results. David has argued, and won, cases at the Georgia Supreme Court, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Georgia Court of Appeals. Before forming starting his own firm, David practiced for a decade at the premier medical malpractice...

Albert Wan is an attorney based in Atlanta, Georgia, specializing in criminal defense and civil rights litigation. He is admitted to practice in Georgia and New York courts. To learn more about Mr. Wan and his law practice please visit his website at: http://www.albertwanlaw.com

The Brody Law Firm is a boutique criminal defense firm with a special focus on the defense of sex offense allegations. Bernard has been recognized by Georgia Trend Magazine, Atlanta Magazine’s Super Lawyers, the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 and the National Academy of Criminal Defense Attorneys, for his work in the courtroom and his tireless work ethic that has led to countless dismissals of cases prior to trial.

Bernard is a frequent speaker at Georgia trial lawyers seminars on topics involving Sex Offense Allegations, Computer Forensics, Appellate Advocacy and Federal Asset Forfeiture. He has handled a number of high profile...

Partner David Messer brings a dynamic courtroom presence and significant trial experience to the firm, which he joined in 2007. As a trial lawyer in Oklahoma for six years, David achieved both legally and socially significant appeals and courtroom victories. His current trial practice focuses on a full spectrum of business law, with an emphasis on all phases of business litigation and dispute resolution, including trials, appeals, mediation, and arbitration. David has been successful in oil and gas litigation, construction and engineering disputes, homeowners' association disputes, election disputes, and business disputes of all kinds, including high net-worth matters involving family-owned...

You-Jin Han is a highly awarded lawyer with an exceptional background in high-stakes litigation. As a Founding Partner of Heber Han PC, she represents average, everyday people in their fight for justice and fairness—a calling that often involves battling the largest corporations and governmental agencies. You-Jin handles federal court appeals for those who have received unfavorable SSA ALJ decisions. She draws from her near decade of experience in SSA's Office of General Counsel, where she played a key role in the development and implementation of programs designed to increase the office’s efficiency and in SSA disability cases.

Sydney received her law degree from the University of Alabama after completing her undergraduate studies at Ole Miss. While at the University of Alabama School of Law, Sydney studied criminal law and criminal defense under the current Executive Director and Attorney-in-Chief of the Federal Defenders of New York, and earned top honors for her work in Alabama’s criminal defense clinic. She also served as the Ethics Opinions Editor for Volume 35 of the Journal of the Legal Profession. After graduating from law school, Sydney worked as a Staff Attorney at the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Sydney...

Alex Susor is the founder of the Law Offices of Alex Susor in Decatur, Georgia. His practice consists of state and federal criminal defense, post-conviction criminal appeals, petitions for habeas corpus relief, plaintiff’s personal injury claims, and representation of K-12 public school teachers in Georgia Teacher Fair Dismissal Act and Professional Standards Commission administrative hearings. Alex was a co-recipient of the 2009 Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers "Case of the Year" Award for his successful appeal to the Georgia Supreme Court of the state’s kidnapping statute and has been invited to testify as an expert before the Georgia Senate and...

I have been specializing in criminal law for 20 years, the first 7 years as a prosecutor. For the last 13 years, I have been defending individuals charged with crimes ranging from misdemeanors and traffic offenses to serious violent felonies.