Decatur Lawyers

Jay received his law degree in 1988 from Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. After practicing as a trial attorney with both private firms and a major insurer’s staff counsel program for 13 years, he became Managing Trial Attorney to establish a commercial carrier’s Atlanta staff counsel office. In 2003, Jay decided to apply his skills and experience as an insurance defense attorney in the representation of individuals suffering from personal injuries. Jay has tried more than 145 personal injury cases to verdict before Georgia juries as both a plaintiff's and defendant's attorney, and also has tried several hundred bench...

Mr. Cameron D. Hawkins is a trial lawyer who specializes in civil litigation with an emphasis on wrongful death, catastrophic injury, premises liability, transportation, and trucking law. Mr. Hawkins is passionate about the law and fervently advocates for each of his clients. A Des Moines, Iowa native, Mr. Hawkins has established deep roots in Georgia. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Morehouse College and later earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Georgia School of Law. While in law school, Mr. Hawkins was on the UGA Mock Trial Board and the UGA Moot Court Board. Mr. Hawkins...

Jeff Bekiares is an attorney with over ten years of experience in general corporate, capital raising and securities laws practice. He began his career at a great Atlanta law firm, practicing there for over six years before leaving large firm life to become the Co-founder, COO and General Counsel of SparkMarket, a Georgia based crowdfunding platform. He has worked with clients at a variety of stages: from start-ups, to emerging growth to exchange listed public companies. He specializes in entity formation, governance, operating and shareholders agreement, commercial contract drafting, mergers & acquisitions, capital raising and all manner of transactional...

Attorney Emanuel Dressie is a long-time resident of Atlanta, GA and is passionate about helping his fellow Georgians, which is why he decided to attend law school after a successful career in accounting and finance. While attending Georgia State University College of Law, Emanuel clerked for the Honorable Judge Kimberly M. Esmond Adams of the Superior Court of Fulton County and interned at the DeKalb County Public Defender’s Office and with the Georgia Justice Project. He graduated law school with distinction for his dedication to community service. Since graduating law school, Emanuel has quickly become known as one of the most...

Attorney Ryan A. Rucker is an Atlanta native. He graduated from Georgia State University’s College of Law and earned his Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Clark Atlanta University, where he studied on a full academic scholarship. Focused on litigation and advocacy, Ryan began his legal career during law school as an intern prosecutor with the Fulton County Solicitor’s Office. There he conducted numerous hearings and discovered his intense love for the courtroom. Upon graduating, Ryan was immediately offered a position with the Fulton County Solicitor’s Office, where he worked tirelessly with a passion for justice, successfully litigating countless cases while obtaining...

Attorney George Johnson founded his firm's client-centered approach over a quarter century ago, and has been fighting on behalf of federal employees nationwide ever since. He has vigorously defended clients all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, and has developed a reputation internationally as adept in all aspects of MSPB and Federal Employment Law.

As a leading advocate for his clients, Mr. Johnson is a sought-after delegate and speaker. He has appeared at legal forums worldwide to address issues surrounding international employment law, including appearances at the Oxford Roundtable in England and the International Employment Law Conference in Austria. Additionally,...

Katelyn became a member of The Brown Firm in 2019 and is proud to be part of a firm that truly puts clients first. Katelyn comes to The Brown Firm with experience in personal injury law in both Georgia and Florida. Katelyn graduated from Piedmont College in 2010 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Psychology. She then attended Florida Coastal School of Law in Jacksonville, Florida, where she graduated with her Juris Doctorate in December 2012. She was sworn into the Florida Bar Association in April 2013. Katelyn was born and raised in...

Howard D. Rothbloom began practicing bankruptcy law in 1986. His practice areas include counseling individual and business clients in debt related matters and the representation of clients in cases filed under chapters 7, 13 and 11 of the Bankruptcy Code. Mr. Rothbloom earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Georgia in 1981 and a Law degree from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1984. Mr. Rothbloom is a leading authority on consumer bankruptcy law in Georgia and frequently speaks at lawyer seminars. In 2014, he was selected by his...

Jeff’s practice is limited to serious personal injury cases of all types. For over a decade before co-founding Shiver Hamilton, Jeff trained under some of the state’s best trial attorneys. From the moment he decided to become a lawyer, Jeff knew he wanted to become a personal injury specialist and carefully tailored his education and professional experience to learn how to effectively represent plaintiffs.

Mia Ilene-Beth Frieder is the author of two books which have been the subject of accredited seminars in Georgia and throughout the southeast including Alabama and Tennessee. Mia has been a featured speaker at Bridge the Gap, a required seminar for all new members of the Georgia Bar for over a decade, and spoken at the national level at the annual convention for the American Association for Justice on the topic of Failure to Diagnose Breast Cancer. In addition to her books, Mia has authored numerous articles which have been published nationally.

Ron is a native of Atlanta and graduated from Emory University and Emory University School of Law. He has practiced for over 30 years in all areas of personal injury including workers' compensation, premises liability, and medical negligence. Ron is one of only handful of attorneys who represent physicians and other professionals to recover Long Term Disability Benefits from Insurance Carriers including Provident, Paul Revere, AIG, MetLife, Liberty Mutual, The Standard Plan, Jefferson Pilot and others. Ron has been lead counsel in trials and appeared in the Georgia Supreme Court, Georgia Court of Appeals, United States Court of Appeals for...

Michael is an award winning attorney with a broad set of skills to assist clients in need of aggressive and effective representation. With an expert level of computer knowledge, he often obtains the strong digital evidence necessary to pressure large insurance companies to meet his demands. When necessary, he will present his case to the jury in order to obtain the maximum award possible for his clients.

Prior to founding The Gumprecht Law Firm, Michael first represented a broad spectrum of clients at a small general practice firm outside Atlanta. From small conflicts to emergency court hearings, Michael fought for the...

A native of Thomasville, Georgia, Jesse grew up watching his father and grandfather run a small business on the family farm. Jesse learned at a young age that exceptional quality and a friendly, "service first" approach are the keys to making clients happy; that's why client satisfaction is always the top priority at The Law Office of Jesse Adams.

Jesse earned his law degree from Florida State University in 2010. While in law school, he served in student government, worked in the Florida House of Representatives, interned with the Innocence Project of Florida, clerked for a prominent Tampa attorney, and studied...

I'm Maha, a Georgia native born to immigrant parents from Egypt. I went to the University of Georgia where I obtained my B.A. in International Affairs and then Georgia State University for law school. I love cooking, international travel, watching the Dawgs play football, and my dog Janet.

Courtney joined The Brown Firm in the spring of 2019 as a case manager and began practicing as an attorney after being sworn into the South Carolina Bar later that year. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree from The University of Mount Union in 2014. After moving to Savannah, she attended Savannah Law School where she was a part of the Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity. With experience in both family law and personal injury, Courtney brings invaluable knowledge to The Brown Firm as an attorney. When not at work, Courtney enjoys golfing and spending time with her husband, daughter, and...

Former Medical Association of Georgia Counsel Trish focuses on representing physicians, medical practices and healthcare businesses. She is a graduate from the University of Georgia with a BA in political science and Emory University School of Law. While at Emory Law, Trish focused her degree in health law, authoring several essays on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). She interned with the Medical Association of Georgia (MAG) throughout law school and transitioned into the role of Legal Counsel upon graduation.

The granddaughter of two physicians, Trish always has the physician's best interests at heart and has represented over 7,800...

"Business owners are hard-working, innovative, optimistic, and inspiring people. I take pride in helping business owners resolve the legal disputes that stand between them and their success.”

Michael watched a childhood friend’s four-person start-up grow into a multi-million dollar success story, and has been inspired by the power of small business ever since. Unlike most attorneys, Michael listens more than he talks. He understands that every business is different, and he achieves better results for his clients by taking the time to analyze their unique objectives.

Michael won his first breach of contract case a month after he was admitted to the...

With a wealth of experience in criminal defense, family law, and mediation, Kristal brings a unique perspective to her practice. She graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in Political Science from Spelman College and later earned her Doctor of Law from Emory University. Kristal's passion for understanding legal systems across borders led her to Sydney, Australia, where she studied comparative international health and environmental law while in law school. Following her graduation, Kristal served as a law clerk for The Honorable Lenwood A. Jackson and worked as a prosecuting attorney before establishing her own successful practice. With a deep...

Practicing law requires constant focus, resilience, and detailed planning. I have spent years dedicating my career to guiding businesses through critical moments of litigation, providing strategic solutions with a practical, straightforward approach. My experience, both inside and outside the courtroom, allows me to manage client expectations effectively while developing successful legal strategies. As an experienced business litigator, I handle complex disputes that often involve issues related to contracts or business torts—ranging from breach of fiduciary duty and fraud to misappropriation and trade secrets. These cases often overlap with matters concerning property, corporate governance, employment, construction, and securities law. My diverse client...

Scott understands that businesses approach the legal world from a different perspective than most people do. Having worked for a mutual fund company before attending law school, Scott was able to learn how businesses approach their legal obligations. While in law school, Scott learned the importance of conveying complex ideas in an understandable manner. During law school Scott learned how to speak to diverse audiences. He competed as a member of the Emory Moot Court Society arguing before judges and attorneys from all over Georgia and completed coursework trying cases before real juries. The combination of Scott’s background in business...

Hello! I'm Angie, the founder of Edmonds Law Office, and your go-to Atlanta healthcare compliance lawyer. My journey into law began at a young age, inspired by my own family's challenges with the criminal justice system. Watching courtroom dramas like *Matlock* sparked my passion, and from that moment, I knew I wanted to be a lawyer. After building a strong foundation in law, I opened my own practice. My experience spans working at a nonprofit, advocating for individuals facing housing insecurity and domestic violence. I also served as a clerk for the Chief Judge in Federal Bankruptcy Court and honed my...

Austin Merck Smith is a personal injury attorney with Merck Law, LLC. He is licensed in Georgia and South Carolina.

John W. Chambers, Jr. is a graduate of Emory University and Emory University School of Law. He graduated with distinction from the Emory University School of Law in 1979 with a Doctor of Law degree and was a member of the Order of the Coif. John W. Chambers, Jr. has an AV (R) Martindale-Hubbell Lawyer Rating. ("CV, BV and AV are registered certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies."

Sandy has been practicing criminal defense throughout the metro Atlanta area for over 20 years. He has experience handling offenses including murder, armed robbery, aggravated assault, white-collar crime, sexual offenses, commercial gambling, drug offenses and RICO actions. Sandy has experience and handles cases at both the trial and appellate level in state and federal court. In addition to his court work, Sandy regularly speaks with groups and organizations on a variety of criminal defense topics. To learn more and to invite Sandy to speak at your next event, click here. Licensed by the Georgia State Bar since 1994, Sandy has...

Jonathan R. Brockman is a Georgia attorney whose practice is dedicated exclusively to representing individuals injured or killed by the negligence of others. He has practiced as an injury lawyer for over 20 years. Mr. Brockman has earned a reputation as a skilled trial attorney. He has successfully tried injury cases in many counties in metro Atlanta and throughout the state of Georgia.

Teresa Garcia's practice concentrates in the field of Family Law and Adoptions. She handles contested and uncontested divorces, child custody, child support, alimony, visitation, paternity/legitimation, amendment of birth certificates, name changes, enforcement of judicial orders, post-judgment agreements, family violence protective orders and prenuptial agreements. Ms. Garcia handles contested and uncontested adoptions for relative adoptions, step-parent adoptions, independent adoptions (where adoptive parents are not related to the child), agency adoptions, adult adoptions, domestication of foreign adoptions, and re-adoptions. She represents clients in all metro-Atlanta counties including the outer counties of Georgia. She is fluent in Spanish.

Sarah Siedentopf is an estate and probate attorney who helps clients with wills, trusts, end of life planning, probate, and strategies for avoiding probate. She is particularly passionate about helping individuals and families navigate complicated, emotional issues and making the process as easy and stress-free as possible.

Sarah understands how important it is to maintain communication with her clients. They are entrusting her with a very significant part of their lives, and accordingly, they should stay involved with the process. Sarah ensures that clients will always be informed about what is happening in their cases.

Sarah earned her law degree from the...

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...

M. Brandon Smith is a partner with Childers, Schlueter & Smith, LLC where his practice focuses on the rights and interests of individuals seriously injured through the negligence and omissions of others. Brandon’s practice is devoted to pharmaceutical litigation, mass torts, products liability, and serious personal injury. Following law school, Brandon was an assistant district attorney in the Alcovy Circuit, where he gained valuable trial experience and a desire to help individuals harmed by the careless actions of others. Today Brandon utilizes his skills to help injured victims nationwide, and he is a frequent guest speaker at legal seminars all...

Matt has been a litigator for 15 years. He started his career as an Assistant District Attorney in Athens, Georgia, where he spent several years prosecuting felony crimes. He then moved to Atlanta and spent the next five years at two of Georgia's most respected defense firms, where he handled workers' compensation, trucking, premises liability, and general liability litigation.

In 2012, Matt chose to focus his law practice exclusively on the representation of injured workers in Georgia. In this capacity, he has helped hundreds of Georgia workers navigate the complicated and confusing workers' compensation system. In addition to his law practice,...