East Ellijay Lawyers

Welcome. At Riley Law Firm, I work with clients in the areas of wills, trusts, estate planning, real estate closings, and general business matters. With offices in Buford (Hamilton Mill) and Johns Creek, I offer my experience and dedication to build lasting client relationships in order to better serve my clients and help them make informed legal and financial decisions.

After spending seven years working for herself, Marlys A. Bergstrom decided to transition back into law firm life. Stearns-Montgomery & Proctor was the perfect fit. The focus on their clients and their strong ethical philosophy resonated with Marlys.

My name is Shelley Elder and I have been practicing law for over 20 years. I am admitted in the state of Georgia and Virginia to practice law. I specialize in estate planning to include wills, trusts, probate, and guardianship. I ensure all of my clients' needs are identified and met in the most beneficial way possible.

If you are looking for a knowledgeable and friendly attorney to handle your legal matters, then please call Elder Law Firm for a free consultation.

My intellectual property practice specializes in trademark brand protection, patent drafting, prosecution, and portfolio development, and business launch and organization. My practice further includes trade secret development and management, and copyright protection for Fortune 100 companies, small businesses, and emerging enterprises. If you are an emerging enterprise seeking brand development and protection of your core technologies, take advantage of my free consultation. I have drafted hundreds of patent applications covering emerging technologies in electromechanical systems, automotive, computer hardware, and cloud-based software and content delivery. I have expertise in autonomous robotics, machine learning, mobile telecommunications, medical devices, and automotive...

Paula McGill provides personal service to a variety of clients. She is comfortable representing individuals and small to medium sized businesses. Moreover, Attorney McGill is not afraid to go after large corporations to force them to take personal responsibility for damages they cause. Her confidence in pursuing these companies comes from her 20+ years of experience. Furthermore, she is skilled in efficiently and effectively representing clients of most budgets. Many clients return for additional services or recommend her to family and friends. Her experience spans small claims matters, contract disputes, consumer...

David C. Smith is an estate planning and elder law attorney in Rome, Georgia. David began practicing law in 1998 after receiving his law degree from the University of Georgia.

I obtained a Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology and a Masters in business administration at the Florida Institute of Technology. I studied law at New England Law in Boston, graduating in 1989.

Previously I have been employed by top Fortune 500 companies (Raytheon Company, Scientific-Atlanta (Currently Cisco), Intel Corporation, and RealNetworks) as an in-house corporate patent and trademark attorney and represented other major companies (Microsoft, IBM, GE, Lenovo, Amazon, HP, Infineon and Boeing) as an outside patent counsel. In April of 2006, I opened my own private practice with a focus on intellectual property services.

I...

When you need an advocate in the family law system, give Sarah a call for caring, no-nonsense legal advice and representation. Sarah understands that each case is unique and deserves thoughtful attention and an individualized approach. Sarah provides solution focused representation, whether in the courtroom or settlement, working with each client to attain results that work for them. Whether the case is straightforward or complex, Sarah guides her clients through the options available to them so they can feel comfortable making informed decisions. Sarah Richardson Trahan is an associate attorney with Coleman, Chambers & Rogers, LLP in Gainesville, Georgia. Sarah...

Mike has helped clients across Georgia recover more than $31 Million, including a $6 Million policy-limits settlement, $2 Million policy-limits settlement, $1.7 Million jury verdict, and a number of other multi-million-dollar settlements. His philosophy is simple and effective: focus on a small number of cases and fight to get the largest recoveries possible. Mike represents families in wrongful death cases, people injured in tractor-trailer, commercial motor vehicle, and automobile accidents, crime victims in negligent security cases, and others who are seriously injured.

One of my clients described me as “a no-nonsense direct and to the point kind of guy.” I couldn’t agree more. My clients get frank and useful advice because I evaluate each case that I handle meticulously, turning over every stone and confronting each potential issue head-on.

Over the last decade I have worked tirelessly to successfully settle, mediate, arbitrate, and litigate more than 1,000 personal injury cases, and I have recovered millions of dollars for my clients. Typical cases that I handle include: car crashes, trucking accidents, Federal Tort Claims Act Cases (FTCA), premises liability...

NANCY J. MARTIN ESQ. was born in Syracuse, New York. She earned a BA in Education with emphasis on English as a Second Language at the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana (The Javeriana University), She moved to Georgia four (4) decades ago. Since that time, she has dedicated herself to the assistance of others. As a former paralegal, she provided legal assistance through Georgia Legal Services Migrant Farmworkers Division in Tifton, Georgia where she was trained in Administrative and Immigration Law. While in their employ, she was elected the National Co-Chairperson of WIC, the Special Supplemental...

Logan Butler is a founding partner of the firm Patterson Moore Butler, LLC. Mr. Butler’s practice focuses primarily on criminal defense, employment law and a highly specialized local government practice assisting Sheriffs and other law enforcement agencies with their legal needs. He has extensive experience defending all major felonies, drug crimes, DUI, sex crimes, family violence, juvenile offenses and all other misdemeanor and felony offenses. Mr. Butler has previously served as an Assistant District Attorney in the Piedmont Judicial Circuit (Barrow, Jackson and Banks counties) and the Bell-Forsyth Judicial Circuit (Forsyth County). As a prosecutor, Mr. Butler...

Nancy brings more than 25 years of litigation experience to SG&G clients. She has won cases for injured workers at the trial and all appellate levels through the Georgia Court of Appeals. Nancy is also an experienced mediator of workers’ compensation claims where her experience as a defense lawyer and a claimant’s lawyer proves invaluable to obtaining settlements in difficult claims.

After graduating summa cum laude from the University of Georgia and the top 10% of her class at Emory Law, she began her career at Alston & Bird of Atlanta. At A&B, Nancy worked in a variety of areas, including:...

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...

Jessica graduated from law school and passed the bar in 2010 and served as the staff attorney for the State Court Judges of Cherokee County until she opened up her own practice in Canton, Georgia in 2012. Jessica was an active law student, serving as a student bar representative, Moot Court Board member, and President as well as national competitor, her passion for the law and helping others shown in all that she did. As a practitioner, her passion for helping individuals and families remains and behind all of her work is her genuine concern for...

David S. Crawford, Esq. is on a mission – always seeking justice for his clients. Since 2001, we have focused on litigation and jury trials.

ATTORNEY CHRIS YORK focuses exclusively on worker’s compensation and personal injury claims, representing injured workers and accident victims throughout Georgia. A substantial part of his practice involves assisting other lawyers with litigation and settlement of workers’ compensation cases when the insurance company has denied payment of income benefits or medical treatment. Mr. York received a BA degree in Economics from California State University and an MBA in Accounting from the University of California, Berkeley. He graduated from Emory University School of Law in 1993, where he was Associate Editor of the Emory Law Journal. Following law school, he served...

My name is Adam Cathey. I have practiced law since 2006, when I began my legal career as an Assistant District Attorney for the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit. In 2009, I opened my private law practice in Ringgold, Georgia. Since then, I have assisted clients in all types of legal matters including criminal matters, divorce and custody actions, and administrative proceedings.

I am a lifelong Georgian, having been born in Atlanta, and growing up in the north metro suburbs. I attended John McEachern High School in Powder Springs, Georgia. I enlisted in the U.S. Navy after graduating high school, serving...

At Hodges Law Firm, we handle a wide range of legal issues for clients throughout the Atlanta area, including elder law, estate planning, probate, Medicaid planning and protection, asset protection, litigation, and business law and services. We are knowledgeable in the law and understand the real life implications of legal actions. I have devoted more than thirty years of practice to: -Helping people protect their assets and those of their elderly parents and loved ones; -Creating legal structures where they can grow those assets, safely; -Providing vehicles to pass those assets along, safely and securely to...

Mr. Jeremy C. Penland is a life-long resident of north Georgia, growing up in Walker and Catoosa counties. After graduating Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School, Mr. Penland enlisted in the United States Marine Corps where he spent four years on active duty service. After being honorably discharged, Mr. Penland attended college in southern California, and received a bachelor’s degree in Economics.
Mr. Penland worked in the banking and finance industry for several years until the complication of the financial markets, at which time he elected to pursue his desire to practice law.
Mr. Penland attended Liberty University School of Law on full scholarship...

Juris Doctor Walter F. George School of Law, Mercer University, Macon, GA. 1989 Experienced prosecution of municipal and county ordinances local government procedures. Enjoy Traffic defense throughout the state but generally not inside the perimeter of ATL. Defense of claims. Debt collection defense and assistance. No bankruptcy. Significant victories achieved for clients in plaintiff aviation accidents and related cases, wrongful death. Victories no less important in daily traffic defense, debt defense and help where I am able throughout the state.

Alex Hait has an extensive amount of knowledge in personal injury, consumer bankruptcy, and family law matters. Mr. Hait is admitted to the Georgia, New York and New Jersey bar and handles cases relating to domestic violence, divorce, child custody and child support. He has a reputation for being an aggressive attorney in the courtroom and sympathetic listener to his clients. The attorneys at North Metro Litigators make it their goal to put you at ease about your legal issue so that they can work with you to explore your legal options and prepare the best legal strategy for your...

James Imbriale has handled hundreds of personal injury cases over the past 25 years. A zealous yet compassionate advocate, he is focused on serving the needs of his clients without allowing “attorney ego” to get in the way. James is a graduate of Emory Law School. After graduation, he had the opportunity to work with some of Atlanta’s top injury attorneys. Today, he defends the rights of clients against large insurance companies and corporations. He is well versed in all areas of personal injury law ranging from medical negligence to product liability. He has been a speaker for The...

Kourtney Bernard-Rance was born and raised in East Brunswick, New Jersey. Although originally intending to study child psychology, Kourtney ultimately received her B.A. in family and child Studies from Montclair State University. Between her newly-recognized passion for working with families and children, and an internship with a nonprofit child advocacy organization as an assistant policy analyst, Kourtney decided her true career aspirations resided in the practice of law. Kourtney attended the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York. Believing that family law was destined to be her specialty, Kourtney took advantage of...

Over 20 years of legal experience, working with Fortune 50 corporations, private companies and small businesses, helping them to resolve business issues. Expert contract draftsman with extensive depth reviewing, negotiating, and completing agreements, including global agreements for multi-million dollar purchases, licensing agreements for talent, technology and intellectual property, and a wide variety of contracts that every business now seems to be asked to sign each day just to do business. Clients have included Mohawk Industries, Coca-Cola Bottlers Sales & Services, Premiere Global Services, and Printpack, Inc., and Siegel Communications, Inc.

Diane Baker is an AV-Rated Estate Planning and Business Law attorney. She has over 30 years experience practicing law in Atlanta.

She enjoys working with families to develop personalized Wills, Trusts and estate plans, based on each individual's personal goals. She also helps clients through the complexities of Probate, and the challenges of Will Contests and Estate Disputes. Her goal is to address each client’s personal objectives, while making the legal process understandable.

Diane's other major area of practice is business law, which she has practiced for over 30 years. Her work in this area includes general corporate law, limited liability...

Founding Partners, Adam Slipakoff and Howard “Howie” Slomka have both worked in large and small law firms and with high-end clients as well as small. Quickly, they both came to realize that working with smaller clients gave them a sense of connected purpose and satisfaction that goes with helping people on a personal level. Using their experience to simplify needlessly complex processes, they found a love for guarding clients, from further trepidation and strife.
There will always be a place in the world for traditional “by the book”, black and white, logic-driven law firms. Adam and Howie simply believe their clients...

Georgia litigation, contracts and consumer Attorney With The DiGiulio Law Firm, LLC. based in Atlanta GA, Marietta GA, Lawrenceville GA

Business litigation attorney with over 23 years of experience providing goal oriented and cost effective represenation in state and federal courts for small and large sized businesses. Practice areas include business litigation, insurance coverage, employment, construction, real estate, landlord/tenant, debtor/creditor, and shareholder/partnership disputes. Practicing in Alpharetta, Roswell, Milton, Johns Creek, Cumming, Canton and throughout the metro Atlanta area, including Fulton, Forsyth, Cherokee, Gwinnett, Cobb and DeKalb Counties. LinkedIn information at http://www.linkedin.com/in/georgialawyer.

The Law Offices of Sean R. Whitworth was founded by Sean R. Whitworth, and focuses exclusively on domestic family law issues and criminal law throughout the metro Atlanta area to include all surrounding counties. Sean has a diverse background that gives him a unique perspective when dealing with the complexities of litigation. His clients find he is able to explain the issues they will face with clarity and empathy. He is able to listen and understand what a client’s particular situation is and advise them as to the most productive and economical way to achieve that goal. After litigating...

Matthew P. “Matt” Collins has spent over 25 years helping individual and small businesses that face varied legal challenges.

As an undergraduate from the University of Georgia, Mr. Collins graduated with a business degree and thus understood early the importance of sound business decisions.

Law school was the next challenge where Mr. Collins hoped to use his business experience to help clients with legal needs. Mr. Collins attended law school at the Atlanta Law School where he graduated with honors and immediately went to work helping small businesses and individuals with their legal needs. Twenty-five years later, Matt is still working to...

Bar Admissions - State Bar of Georgia - State Court of Georgia - Federal U.S. District Court Northern District of Georgia - Federal U.S. District Court Middle District of Georgia Areas of Practice - Divorce and Family Law - Bankruptcy: Personal and Business - Business Law - Immigration

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...