Scottdale Appeals & Appellate Lawyers

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...

Jonathan Marcus Woods is a board certified Attorney with years of experience in trial and appellate law. He is a native of New York City, graduated from Princeton University and the Florida State University College of Law. Before entering law school, Jon enjoyed a successful first career as a local government official in South Florida and then as a political consultant. After law school, Jon served as an electronic discovery consultant to Fortune 500 companies. Before joining Hunker Appeals, Jon distinguished himself as a trial attorney in the state courts of Georgia with a focus on business litigation, residential and commercial...

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...

Jon Schwartz has environmental litigation experience in state and federal courts. He has represented clients on matters involving the Clean Water Act, storm water runoff, protection of wildlife and habitat, land use, historic preservation, and injuries caused by exposure to toxic substances. Jon was selected to the Georgia Super Lawyers list and Atlanta Magazine recognized him as a “rising star” in environmental litigation.

Charles R. Beans is a partner in the Atlanta office of Goodman McGuffey Lindsey & Johnson, LLP who defends corporations in general, product liability, toxic tort and appellate litigation. He also speaks on, and has published in these areas. Charles has been named to "Georgia Super Lawyers" by Atlanta Magazine(2004-present). Charles became a member of the State Bar of Georgia in 1988. He is also a member of the American Bar Association (has co-chaired: Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices, Warnings, and Membership Subcommittees), the Defense Research Institute, the Georgia Defense Lawyers Association, ...

Michael is the only all family law attorney to win unanimous decisions before both The Supreme Court of Georgia and The Supreme Court of Georgia. In addition, Michael has won before The Supreme Court of Costa Rica. He is admitted to practice in all Georgia courts and federal courts in the Northern and Middle District of Georgia, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. With over 25 years of experience, he has successfully represented thousands of family members in state, federal and international family law cases including divorce, custody, parental kidnapping, paternity, legitimation,...

Attorney Jacob Rhein represents people who have been harmed by the negligence, dishonesty, or incompetence of lawyers and other fiduciaries. He also represents individuals who have suffered serious personal injuries, including in slip and fall and auto accident cases. Rhein has a reputation among his peers for novel legal argument and fierce loyalty to his clients. These abilities are best demonstrated in his results as a “second lawyer.” Rhein frequently spots issues in the law that other lawyers have missed, and is able to craft these issues into effective advocacy at trial, in post-judgment proceedings, and on appeal. Rhein's main...

Morris earned his Juris Doctorate at Georgia State University's College of Law in 2013 and his Bachelor of Science in International Affairs from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 2006. After completing his undergraduate degree, Morris considered a career in academic philosophy. This plan changed after Morris completed the "Philosophy of Law" course at Georgia State University, when he realized that while philosophers typically end their discussions with journal entries, jurists end theirs with court orders backed by the power of the state. Morris has wide-ranging litigation experience, including family law, criminal defense, and personal injury casework, with an overwhelmingly successful...

Jessica King represents individuals and their family members who have been injured or killed by the negligence of others, as well as individuals who have been injured in work accidents.

Jessica grew up in Marietta, Georgia. She attended Georgia Institute of Technology for her undergraduate degree and earned a B.S. in Management in 2008. After graduating from Georgia Tech, Jessica attended Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham, Alabama, where she graduated with a J.D. in 2011.

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Attorney Sierra Luckey is a graduate of Rollins College where she received a Bachelor’s of Arts & Science in International Relations with a minor in Political Science. Attorney Luckey later went on to receive her Juris Doctor from Thomas M. Cooley Law School and after graduating, Attorney Luckey worked at a general practice law firm where she discovered her true passion and desire to help people facing criminal charges. After gaining a wealth of knowledge and trial experience she then decided to branch out on her own and open S. Luckey Law Office, which focuses on criminal defense...

I have years of experience writing appellate briefs. I have written over 40 briefs and litigated over 200 habeas cases. I also have tried many cases including jury and bench trials. I appply this experience when representing my clients. I have an understanding of the justice system from both sides. I will aagressively fight to get my clients' wrongful convictions overturned.

With more than 20 years experience as one of metro Atlanta's premier criminal defense lawyers, David S. West has been recognized throughout Georgia and the southeast for his success defending difficult and high-profile criminal cases. Awarded America's coveted Top 100 Trial Lawyers in America award in 2013 and featured on CNN, FoxNews, 48 Hours and numerous other media outlets, Mr. West is now widely recognized as a leading criminal defense lawyer in his field. Mr. West is a Life Member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, as well as the National Organization for the Reform of...

Tyler Carey grew up in Athens, Ohio and moved to Augusta, Georgia for college where he attended and graduated from Augusta University. During his undergraduate studies, Tyler was a member of the Student Conduct Board, as well as awarded the Who’s Who Among American College Students from Universities. After Augusta University, Tyler moved to Loganville to attend Emory University’s School of Law.

During Tyler's first year of law school, he interned for Bryan Frost which sparked his desire to help those overwhelmed by the legal system.

During his time at Emory, Tyler helped write am amicus curie brief to the United States...

As a partner in one of the largest law firms in North Georgia, Rustin defended insurance companies and large businesses before co-founding Smith Hulsey. He has handled cases in both federal and state courts, appearing in U.S. District Courts and counties throughout Georgia. He has argued before the Supreme Court of Georgia, and litigated appeals in the Georgia Court of Appeals and U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit. Rustin graduate magna cum laude from the University of Georgia before attending Emory University School of Law, where he was selected for the Dean’s List, received the Dean’s Award, and was recommended...

State Bar of Georgia, 1980 Member: State Bar of Georgia (Family Law, Fiduciary Law sections) Gwinnett County Bar Association (Family Law and Elder Law sections) Education: University of Georgia School of Law (J.D., 1980) University of Georgia (B.A., magna cum laude, 1976); Phi Beta Kappa Publications: Domestic Relations, Annual Survey of Georgia Law, 1979-1980, 32 Mercer Law Review 51 (1980). Domestic Relations, Annual Survey of Georgia Law, 1980-1981, 33 Mercer Law Review 109 (1981).