Upatoi Lawyers

Mr. Coppedge's practice is devoted to business, tax and personal planning, particularly in the areas of entity selection/formation/operation, estate planning and probate, and tax matters and controversies. With his educational background and LL.M. in Taxation, Mr. Coppedge represents a significant number of small businesses, helps clients create new start-up business (LLCs, c-corporations, s-corporations and partnerships) and also represents a number of physician groups. He advises these clients on the best form of entity from a tax, liability, and operational standpoint, entity formation or incorporation, and continued representation on matters such as employment agreements, buy-sell agreements, contracts, leases, retirement plans...

Brandon L. Peak is a partner at Peak Wooten McDaniel & Colwell LLP, where he has successfully litigated trucking, personal injury, product liability, and class action cases in courts throughout the nation. In 2019, he was lead counsel in a $280 million wrongful death trucking verdict, the largest verdict in a trucking case in American history. Brandon has personally been involved in cases with verdicts and settlements exceeding $1 billion. He enjoys helping clients get their lives back together and, if necessary, trying cases to juries. After graduating summa cum laude from The Citadel and magna...

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,...

Robert L. Hendrix, III (Rob), is an accomplished trial lawyer based out of Morgan & Morgan’s Atlanta office. In the 16 years that he has dedicated towards fighting workers’ compensation cases, he has recovered over $35 million in benefits for his clients. In addition to Mr. Hendix's trial accomplishments, he is also an experienced appellate advocate. As an active member of the legal community at local, state, and national levels, Mr. Hendrix serves on the Executive Board as President Elect of the Workers’ Compensation Claimant’s Lawyers (WCCL) arm of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association. He has previously held the Chair of...

Jay Sadd is a founding partner of Slappey & Sadd LLC in Atlanta, Georgia. Mr. Sadd has over 30 years of professional legal experience and is dedicated to representing individuals who have been seriously injured and families of those who have lost loved ones due to the negligence or wrongdoing of others. Mr. Sadd has been lead counsel on cases in which his client was awarded or recovered $22,000,000; $18,000,000; $17,000,000, and $10,250,000, along with many other confidential settlements. These high-damage cases are often the result of car accidents, truck accidents, medical malpractice, unsafe premises and the like.

Mr....

Amber N. Crawford is an Associate at Hall Booth Smith in Columbus, Georgia, and she focuses her practice on estate planning, probates, guardianships and conservatorships, business transactions, and fiduciary litigation. She also represents clients in commercial real estate matters.

Before joining Hall Booth Smith, Amber spent several years at a firm in Newnan, Georgia, where she specialized in probates and estate planning. She also represented creditors’ rights in Chapter 13 bankruptcy cases, handled contract negotiations, closed commercial and residential real estate transactions, and litigated civil and transactional matters. She served as a guardian ad litem and court appointed attorney in Probate,...

Mark Casto stands as a seasoned trial attorney and the visionary founder behind Mark Casto Personal Injury Law Firm. He has carved a niche in the legal arena by specializing in personal injury cases, medical malpractice, and related matters. Mark's stellar reputation has earned him accolades, including recognition as one of Georgia's distinguished Elite Lawyers and the Reader's Choice Award in the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. Mark's journey into the legal world commenced as a prosecutor, where he amassed an impressive track record of successfully leading over 50 jury trials. His legal acumen then extended to his tenure as a sole practitioner attorney,...

Mariel Smith’s primary practice is Labor & Employment Law. She has years of experience defending companies in lawsuits and prelitigation investigations involving the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, U.S. Department of Labor, Georgia Department of Labor, and the U.S. International Trade Commission. Her litigation experience in Employment and Labor Law include defending employers in wage and hour, discrimination and harassment claims. She also has experience in representing clients in mediation. She assists clients in workplace internal investigations and workforce reductions.

Mrs. Smith originally joined the Columbus office of HBS in 2011 after she worked for several years as...

Persuasive and creative team player with nearly 6 years legal experience, 12 years total work experience, and solid interpersonal, communication, and negotiation skills that move others beyond positions to results. Works well unsupervised while maintaining client goals and adhering to rigid deadlines. Quick, resourceful, and enjoys new challenges. My practice areas: as required by the rules of the Georgia State Bar and other state bars, I do not claim "specialization" in any area. However, I have practiced extensively in the following areas: Insurance representation/defense in the areas workers' compensation, litigation and tort cases, longshore cases, and premises/commercial liability matters....

Mrs. Cross has been practicing law since 2000. Mrs. Cross handles the Georgia and Alabama bankruptcies for our firm. She also has a vast knowledge in Real Estate and Wills and Probates. Having admittance to practice law in both Alabama and Georgia, Mrs. Cross has been a member of the State Bar of Georgia since 2000 and the Alabama State Bar since 2002. Mrs. Cross is a proud alumna of Auburn University where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and received her Doctorate in Jurisprudence from Walter F. George Mercer University School of Law in 2000.

Valerie grew up in a military family, moving around to various duty stations until her father retired to Augusta GA. She graduated high school from The Academy of Richmond County in Augusta GA then attended Radiography School at University Hospital in Augusta. She worked 40 hour weekends as an x-ray tech while attending Augusta College and graduated with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration in 1989. She has lived in Columbus GA since 1990 and commuted to Atlanta for law school where she obtained her Juris Doctor from John Marshall Law School in 1994. Valerie has been in private practice...

Zachary joined Mallory, Trice, & Davis in 2013 and has since became a Partner of the firm. In 2014, he was elected President of the Thomaston Bar Association and currently sits as the President today. Zachary attended the University of Georgia and Valdosta State University, and graduated in 2008 with a Bachelor's in History. He later obtained his Juris Doctorate in 2013 from John Marshall Law School. He is admitted to practice law in all Georgia courts. His primary areas of practice are Personal Injury, Social Security Disability, Wrongful Death, Workers' Compensation, Estate Planning, Probate, Real...

Tanner Pittman has practiced law serving both individuals and large organizational clients. Presently, his practice concentrates on estate services, civil litigation, and legal transactions. His varied background, ranging from retail banking to international business, to the legal field, helps Tanner bring a rich array of experience to bear upon his clients' legal issues. Education and background Tanner graduated with honors from the University of Georgia School of Law, a top-tier institution, recently ranked 12th in the nation among public law schools by U.S. News and World Report. His coursework concentrated on business law and included such subjects as corporations, corporate...

Brian D Lockerbie, Attorney and Counselor at Law, has been practicing law for over 30 years. His practice consists primarily of Criminal Defense, Personal Injury, and Workers' Compensation cases. He handles Wrongful Death Claims, Auto Accidents, and Insurance Settlements, along with job related injuries as well. Mr. Lockerbie is licensed to practice law in Georgia and Alabama. He was appointed Chief Magistrate of Troup County, Georgia in 1986. He is a Vice President of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and a contributing member of the Georgia...

Catherine Jenkins believes that each client needs time to tell their story and she designed her practice so she could take the time with her clients to do that. Catherine believes that the key to finding the best solution involves fully understanding the problem. And Catherine enjoys the process of meeting and talking with clients. Catherine developed a knack for problem solving while serving over a decade in the U.S. Army. She brings that outside-the-box thinking into facilitating simple solutions such as a sending a request or email on behalf of a client so that issues can be...

EDUCATION: Mercer University - Walter F. George School of Law (2017) - 1st Place - Widener University (Delaware) Moot Court Competition - Student Bar Association Mercer University - College of Liberal Arts (2007) - Major: Biology - Minor: Chemistry LICENSURES: - Georgia - Superior, State, and all lower courts (2017) - Georgia - Court of Appeals (2018) - Georgia - Supreme Court (2018) PRIOR EMPLOYMENT: Bibb County Public Schools (2007-2014) - High School Science Teacher & Coach

Robert Katz received his B.B.A. and Juris Doctor (Cum Laude) from the University of Georgia. He completed judicial clerkships in the Georgia Court of Appeals and the Superior Court of DeKalb County prior to entering private practice, and founding Katz Personal Injury Lawyers in 1994, where he is focuses on representing individuals in personal injury cases.

Mr. Morrison leads an award winning team of injury and accident attorneys, serving the greater Atlanta area. He is rated AV Preeminent by Martindale Hubbell and has been described as one of the best accident attorneys in Georgia. Mr. Morrison's team handles trucking accidents, car, motorcycle, and pedestrian accidents, wrongful death claims, work accidents / workers' compensation, personal injury, social security disability claims, traumatic brain injuries, and other catastrophic accident lawsuits.

Born in Beirut, Lebanon. Attended the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, where he received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. He then went on to receive his J.D. from John Marshall Law School, and an LL.M. in Dispute Resolution from the University of Missouri – Columbia Law School. Additionally, Mr. Elkhalil is a member of the American Bar Association and the American Immigration Lawyers Association. Fluent in Arabic, Mr. Elkhalil is extremely active in his community and participates in a variety of community, cultural, and civil rights organizations.

Ryan Locke represents people who have been injured and people who have been unfairly convicted from his office in Atlanta. Formerly a public defender, Ryan uses the same passion and relentless advocacy for his clients today. Ryan is also an adjunct professor at Emory University School of Law; hosts a podcast about appellate practice called Georgia Appellate Review; and maintains comprehensive legal resources on his website for lawyers and the public, such as his guide for using the HITECH Act to get cheap medical records and his guide for people to change their name and gender in Georgia government documents.

Charles R. Lipcon has represented victims of cruise ship personal injury and cruise line sexual assault and claims for more than 50 years. His firm, Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A., has successfully handled more than 3,000 cases and recovered well over $300 million on behalf of their clients. Mr. Lipcon was named "Lawyer of the Year" in Admiralty & Maritime by US News & World Report (Miami) in 2020 and his firm is named to "Best Law Firms" by US News & World Report. Mr. Lipcon and his firm can assist with the following types of accidents and injuries: - Cruise...

Jon Barash offers his clients over twenty years of experience practicing a broad range of commercial litigation issues, including business litigation, construction litigation, contract disputes, real estate disputes, restrictive covenants, and covenants not to compete litigation, shareholder and partnership disputes, business torts, business divorces, and commercial collections. He has considerable experience assisting businesses, state and local governments, and individual clients in litigation, mediations, and arbitrations in both state and federal courts, and pre-suit when possible. Jon has achieved an AV® Preeminent Peer Review Rating, the highest rating awarded for legal ability and ethical standards, from Martindale-Hubbell. He is also among a...

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...

Attorney Hank Barnett graduated in 1983 from Emory Law School in Atlanta, Georgia, and has devoted his entire legal career to helping workers who have suffered on-the-job injuries obtain medical care and money benefits. Mr. Barnett gives clients the legal service they need and the respect that they deserve. We know the stress and frustration that can be involved in the workers’ compensation claims process. We provide experienced legal advocacy to injured workers in Georgia. Learn more about workers’ comp lawyer Hank Barnett by clicking on the link below.

Ellaretha Coleman is an accomplished litigation attorney with experience defending the rights and best interests of individuals throughout the Atlanta-metropolitan area, as well as the state of Florida.

Ms. Coleman has substantial experience in the areas of Family Law, Divorce Law, and Custody.

Ms. Coleman has been widely applauded by both clients and peers for her written and oral advocacy skills, but it is her genuine and personable approach towards client relationships which has most distinguished her. A talented and business-savvy entrepreneur, Ms. Coleman continues to diversify her practice to ensure the fulfillment of every client's needs. Ms. Coleman...

Ken Shigley is: - The first Georgia lawyer to earn three national board certification in his practice area (Truck Accident Law, Civil Trial Advocacy & Civil Pretrial Advocacy) from the National Board of Trial Advocacy - Recipient of Traditions of Excellence Award for lifetime achievement - Past President, State Bar of Georgia - Author of 11 editions of a book on trial preparation in injury cases He has been an attorney in cases racking up total recoveries of $22 million in 2019 alone.

ROBIN FRAZER CLARK

Robin Frazer Clark is the owner and founder of the law firm of Robin Frazer Clark, P.C., and has practiced law in Georgia for 31 years. Ms. Clark devotes her practice exclusively to plaintiff’s personal injury. Her motto is “A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats.”

Ms. Clark was sworn in as the Fiftieth President of the State Bar of Georgia on June 2, 2012, only the second woman ever to serve as President of the State Bar of Georgia and served as President of the 45,000-member association in 2012-2013. One of Ms. Clark’s initiatives she created...