Lumpkin County Appeals & Appellate Lawyers

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).

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...

Samantha represents individuals and families in a wide range of domestic relations legal issues including divorces, custody and child support issues, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, legitimations and adoptions. She devotes time to understanding her clients' individual and family needs. She then develops strategic solutions to protect your rights and best interests. Samantha is committed to developing a close-working relationship with her clients and providing high quality, caring, and efficient legal services for individuals and families.

Samantha graduated from Vanderbilt University with a Bachelor of Arts in English and History and a minor in Corporate Strategy. She earned her law degree,...

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...

Sean A. Black is a trial lawyer focusing on criminal, DUI and traffic defense. He accepts a small number of serious personal injury and wrongful death claims. He is a 1992 graduate of the Emory University School of Law in Atlanta, Georgia.

He lives in Toccoa, Georgia, with his wife and two children.

He is a member of the Toccoa Elks Lodge.

Prior to moving to Blairsville, Daniel was a partner in one of the largest law firms in the State of Florida, with over 400 attorneys. Through his work, Daniel was awarded the AV Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, its highest ranking for ethics and legal ability.

Daniel earned his Bachelor of Arts from Emory University where he had the honor of interning with a U.S. Representative. Mr. Duello received his Juris Doctor from the Georgia State University School of Law.

Daniel and his wife Katherine moved to Blairsville to raise their children in a supportive, moral, and beautiful environment. Daniel...

Arturo Corso is the founder of The Corso Law Center with offices in Atlanta and Gainesville. He is also the founder of The International Law Center in Washington, D.C. His focus is criminal law with an international focus, serving clients in Georgia, Washington, New York, Mexico, and South America whether State or Federal prosecution. He also defends those targeted by the Office of Foreign Asset Control (O.F.A.C.). Focusing his practice primarily on criminal defense matters, he provides representation to clients who have been charged with all manner of felonies, misdemeanors, and other matters. Mr. Corso...

We understand that being accused of a crime can be stressful and you have important questions. We can provide easily understandable answers at this critical time.

Through years of experience handling complex and demanding criminal cases, Vic Wiegand has gained a reputation for getting results.

We stand shoulder to shoulder with our clients and fight for their rights. A tough minded and determined litigator.

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...

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...

Robert Speer, The Magic Lawyer®, was born in Atlanta GA, and has been a resident of Georgia all of his life. He has been a trial lawyer for almost 22 years. He handles cases in the areas of DUI/DWI, Criminal Law, Juvenile Law, Divorce, and Injury cases. His office is in Woodstock GA, but he also handles cases in Canton GA, Atlanta GA, Marietta GA, Cumming GA, Lawrenceviille GA, Decatur GA, Sandy Springs GA, Roswell GA, Alpharetta GA, and all over Georgia. Call (770) 517-0017 today for fantastic legal representation!

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...

On the morning of July 3, 2003, I was driving to cover Court for another attorney during a tropical storm, when I was blown off the road by the intense rain and high winds. I was informed by a third party whose judgment and observation I trust that my estimation of time during that period was very wrong. I spent a short time in a medically-induced coma, followed by about three weeks of being unconscious. The accident left me paralyzed on my right side, and I spent approximately four to five months after I awoke re-learning...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Yasha Heidari is a founding member of Heidari Power Law Group LLC (H&P). He is well known both for his litigation focus and for his versatility. Yasha has given lectures and presided over seminars in many areas of the law, including ethics law, administrative and regulatory law, best business practices, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, and the role of Intellectual Property in the age of digital media. Moreover, Yasha has presented numerous papers with topics ranging from modern day questions concerning technology to complex game-theory models at the London School of Economics. Yasha holds a juris doctor...

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...

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.

Saraliene is a criminal defense attorney with over 15 years of experience fighting for her clients in state and federal court. She has argued many times before the federal and state appellate courts. She has appeared on Court TV as a criminal defense expert to discuss high profile cases. Let her use her expertise to help you win your case.

I am a litigation expert in Georgia estates and trusts, and I represent business clients in corporate, contract and commercial matters. I represent clients all across Georgia in estate and trust disputes such as will contests and breaches of fiduciary duty. I also help clients with standard Georgia probate and administration matters. I am an experienced advocate in Georgia guardianship and conservatorship proceedings, and other Georgia elder law matters. I also represent closely-held companies in business-to-business relations, partner and shareholder issues, and contract and Georgia commercial disputes. In all of these matters, I am an experienced negotiator focused on helping...

I provide legal counsel to small businesses, focusing on their employment matters. Our firm specializes in wage and hour litigation, and I have served as defense counsel in both individual and collective overtime actions, but we also have a strong record defending against discrimination suits and representing corporate interests before administrative agencies and tribunals. I also represent employees in individual and collective actions for minimum wage violations, unpaid overtime, unpaid commissions, and other claims arising under federal wage and hour law. I handle the majority of my firm's misclassification cases involving salaried workers and independent contractors.

Mr. Huffman’s hallmark is aggressive and effective representation. He excels in the most contentious of cases with proven results in trial. Mr. Huffman practices in the areas of real estate disputes, business disputes, fraud, construction disputes, technology litigation, trade secrets and restrictive covenant litigation. He also does other cases that demand zealous and forceful representation.

Mr. Huffman treats every case like it will go to trial and normally conducts several trials and arbitrations per year. Often, he takes over for other attorneys when it becomes clear that a case will need to be tried.

Recently, after an 8-day jury...

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 Sirianni, Jr. is Managing Partner at Brownstone Law Firm, focusing on Federal appeals nationwide. The attorneys at Brownstone provide aggressive strategies in your industry or business, and exceptional resources and representation to best serve your needs. https://www.brownstonelaw.com

Rebecca Kozycki was admitted to the Georgia Bar in 2001 and is a member of the United States Supreme Court, the Georgia Court of Appeals, and the Georgia Supreme Court. Experience Ms. Kozycki is a founding partner at Kozycki Law, LLC. Previously, she was a Senior Associate at Chestney & Sullivan Law Firm (formerly the Chestney Law Firm). She has devoted 100% of her practice to the vigorous defense of DUI and related traffic charges. She was distinguished as a Georgia Super Lawyer by Atlanta Magazine each year from 2013 to 2017 and as a Georgia Top Woman Attorney...