Avera Lawyers

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...

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

Areas of Practice Criminal & Bankruptcy Law Bar Admissions Georgia U.S. District Court Northern District of Georgia Georgia Court of Appeals Supreme Court of Georgia Education University of Mississippi School of Law, University, Mississippi - 2000 Law Journal: Journal of National Security Law, Editor in Chief Honors and Awards Voted by his peers as among the Legal Elite in Georgia in Bankruptcy Law. (Georgia Trend Magazine) Professional Associations and Memberships Georgia Bar Association Cherokee County Bar Association NACBA

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...

Partner, Grisham & Poole, P.C. Serving Cherokke County, Pickens County, North Georgia and Metro Atlanta Criminal Defense Attorney Former Assistant District Attorney Former Assistant Solicitor General

James K. Murphy is a Martindale Hubbell BV rated attorney who was admitted to the Georgia Bar in 1991; the U.S. District Court, North District of Georgia. He was employed with the Georgia Legal Services Program for seven years where he worked as a Supervising Attorney. He then entered private practice where he has focused on injury cases. He is a member of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America and Georgia Trial Lawyers. He has also authored two reports on the insurance industry, How to Buy Car Insurance in Georgia and Mistakes to Avoid if...

Ms. Hughes is a Partner in the Firm’s General and Business Litigation practice groups. Prior to joining Evins Oliver Hughes, LLC, Ms. Hughes worked for several Atlanta-area law firms where she specialized in representing both plaintiffs and defendants in business disputes and professional liability claims. Ms. Hughes also has experience representing clients in probate, intellectual property, real estate and commercial litigation.

In addition to her courtroom experience, Ms. Hughes frequently serves as a presiding judge in undergraduate mock trial competitions.

Ms. Hughes received her Juris Doctor from Mercer University’s Walter F. George School of Law, where she served as President...

George Rosenzweig is one of Newnan's most accomplished attorneys, providing experienced representation in transactions, negotiations, litigation, in state and federal courts, and before governmental bodies. He is a trusted legal advocate focused on complex civil litigation both at the trial level and on appeal, in addition to assisting clients with alternate dispute resolution through mediation and arbitration.

As the West Georgia area has grown, George has also successfully assisted clients in numerous land use, zoning, and variance proceedings in front of local governments.

George's significant trial victories include civil RICO defense, defense of two substantial environmental cases, defense of elected official...

MEDICAL MALPRACTICE, PERSONAL INJURY (car wrecks and semi-truck wrecks), FAMILY LAW, CRIMINAL DEFENSE LITIGATION Laura Austin is an AV Preeminent-rated litigator with over 44 years of experience. She is and continues to be a Professional Registered Nurse, certified in correctional healthcare, with multistate licensure, and has combined her 48 years of medical training and 44 years of law in the representation of those who are injured by the negligence and carelessness of others, lending a voice to those who aren't heard. Her best verdict for her clients was $12,000,000.00. Ms. Austin is also certified by the American Arbitration...

David provides high quality, experienced, professional and personal legal services to individuals and small business. In order to devote the utmost attention to each clients, David accepts a limited number of cases focusing on individual serious personal injury, negligence, contract disputes, covenants not to compete, insurance claims, alternative dispute resolution and civil appeals.

My name is Stefanie Drake Burford, and I am an experienced and knowledgeable personal injury and workers' compensation attorney, with 26 years experience fighting for the rights of injured Georgians. I offer competent and aggressive legal representation all over Georgia for those injured in auto, car, trucking, motorcycle, and workplace accidents. I also represent individuals who have lost a loved one to wrongful death following an accident. I am also a motorcycle rider and understand the uniqueness of a motorcycle injury case. I have office locations in both Marietta, Georgia and Cedartown, Georgia, and represent clients...

Nick Booth joined O’Dell, O’Neal, Hungerford, & Blanchard in 2017, and works in a variety of different civil practice areas, including business and civil litigation disputes, construction law, personal injury, property law, estate planning, and small business formation and consultation. Nick is a native of Cobb County, a Double Dawg, and a proud member of the Gridiron Club. When Nick is not practicing law, he is an avid fly fisher, gardener, musician, golfer, and outdoorsman.

The Shpigler Law Firm LLC assists individuals, companies, and non-profit organizations with a wide variety of immigration law matters. Our clients include organizations that wish to hire or transfer foreign workers on a temporary or permanent basis, foreign individuals who would like to live or work in the United States, and foreign entrepreneurs who would like to invest in the United States. We work with CEOs, department heads, human resource directors of international and domestic corporations, healthcare and scientific organizations, academic and financial institutions, and everyday individuals. We work hard to help our clients obtain immigrant visas ("green cards"), nonimmigrant...

Mr. Haskin was selected as Rising Star by Super Lawyers in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016, is a member of the National Trial Lawyers Association top 100 and has been named an AV Preeminent Lawyer through Martindale-Hubbell's peer review rating system. Haskin's practice focuses on a select number of business client matters including advising on and litigating various contract and employment matters. He also maintains an active civil litigation practice which includes personal injury matters. For example, they recently obtained a seven figure settlement in a serious automobile accident. Mr. Haskin is licensed to Practice Law in the State...

Employment Law and Estate Planning expert Nancy Sprattlin focuses her practice to helping business owners and professionals with their employment law and legacy planning matters. As the founder and managing member of Castor Sprattlin Law Group, LLC, Ms. Sprattlin leads a powerful team of professionals who all share a passionate dedication to providing clients with the highest levels of legal care. Their experience as employment law litigators and business counselors has enabled them to approach employment law matters creatively and cost-effectively. As an estate planning attorney, what distinguishes Ms. Sprattlin from many other estate planning attorneys is her pragmatic...

A graduate of the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University, Macon, Georgia, Frank E. Martinez, Esq. is a bilingual Spanish / English speaker. El abogado habla español. A member of the State Bar of Georgia, he is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, Federal District Courts for the Northern and Middle Districts of Georgia, the Bankruptcy Courts of the Northern District and Middle District of Georgia, and all Georgia State and Superior Courts, as well as the Immigration Court (EOIR), and Board of Immigration Appeals.

Whether counseling business owners on everyday management issues or litigating complex cases, Michelle is passionate about representing employers and employees in Georgia. She has extensive experience assisting individuals and businesses with issues unique to the employment law field, including litigating wage and hour disputes, wrongful termination, retaliation, non-compete agreements, and violations of the ADA, FMLA, ADEA, and Title VII in state, federal, and administrative forums. Additionally, Michelle has helped businesses navigate the legal landscape of these complex employment laws via management training and counseling on HR best practices. Having represented both employees and employers, Michelle has unique insight with respect...

Justin W. Chaney is a native of Atlanta. Prior to becoming an attorney Mr. Chaney was a Border Patrol Agent on the US-Mexico border in California and Texas. He was an Adjudications Officer with the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) at the New Orleans District Office. While with the INS Mr. Chaney conducted interviews and adjudicated thousands of various petitions and applications. After graduating from Whittier Law School in 2002, Mr. Chaney’s practice has focused on immigration law and criminal defense for non-citizens. He is a member...

I am a workers' compensation specialist based in Decatur, Georgia. I handle cases all over Atlanta and the entire State of Georgia. Workers' compensation has been the focus of my practice for my entire legal career. In ten years, I have handled hundreds of cases, taking many to trial, and bringing many more to settlement. If you have been injured on the job, the right lawyer can make the difference. Call me anytime, direct at 678-386-5060.

Carolina Antonini received her law degree from the Georgia State University College of Law, where she is currently an adjunct professor of immigration law. She is a co-founding member of the Georgia Hispanic Bar Association, serves on the Board of Georgia Law Related Education and has served on the board of AILA’s Atlanta Chapter. Ms. Antonini has appeared in a variety of media programs, hosts a weekly radio show and co-authored a high school textbook used to teach youth and continuing education adults about the law. In 2001, Ms. Antonini was named Judge Pro Hac Vice for the City Court...

Judson C. Hill has spent his entire career guiding clients through tough financial times by handling their bankruptcy and personal debt cases. He has filed thousands of bankruptcy cases in federal courts in Georgia.

Steve Lowry is a talented litigator with broad experience across multiple areas of practice. A passionate advocate for parties who have been harmed by the actions of others, Steve has secured numerous top 10 verdicts in Georgia, including the state’s largest judgment on record against a nursing home facility for medical malpractice.

John Alexander has been a member of the Georgia Bar since 2001. He has been a civil litigator for over 20 years. John is active in all areas of the firm’s practice and appears in all trial and appellate courts throughout the State, focusing on surety and construction litigation. John is also proficient in corporate formation, lien law, probate matters and estate planning, including wills, trusts, healthcare directives, guardianships, and all types of power of attorney. John has extensive experience in meeting his clients’ needs. John received his undergraduate degree from Georgia State University in...

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

Norm Sawyer’s early career was spent representing the clients of large insurance companies, so he offers a unique perspective to his clients and the Litner + Deganian team. Norm knows how the insurance companies think and act, which can be a big advantage in a personal injury case. He also has a substantial amount of experience working with mediators as well as in state and federal courts.
“Insurance companies have so many clients that there’s very little interaction and a lot of rigid processes,” Norm commented. “I wanted to impact people’s lives, not just their insurance rates.” Norm met Arman Deganian...

Five years ago, Lindy Moody started her law practice as an Assistant District Attorney for the Chatham County District Attorney’s Office. After years of dedication and hard work, all while moving up the ladder, Lindy made the difficult decision to branch out into another focus of the law.

Lindy left her position as the Elder Abuse Prosecutor and began practicing in the private sector. Her new focus and caseload involved worker’s compensation and personal injury litigation. Eventually her hard work was recognized and she was offered yet another position at a new law firm. This new opportunity expanded her skillset to...

I founded Johnston Law Firm, LLC (Jonathan@YourWorkCompLawyer.com; 2 East Bryan St, Savannah, GA 31401; 404-693-2895) to provide the best legal representation possible to those injured at work in Georgia. Although I represent injured workers throughout the entire state, my focus is in the Savannah area, Macon area, Augusta area, and every town in-between. For the last 10+ years, my practice has exclusively been in the workers' compensation arena, and helping those injured at work is something I truly enjoy. As a seasoned trial attorney, I am confident and comfortable in the courtroom, having obtained many favorable hearing and appellate awards...

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...

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...

Daniela McCalla brings over 10 years of experience in the legal field. She received her Juris Doctor (JD) from Florida A & M University, College of Law in 2011. Prior to that, she earned her Bachelor of Arts (BA) in History from GA Southern University. Upon graduation from law school, she was admitted to the State Bar of Georgia in 2011. Throughout her career, she has distinguished herself as a knowledgeable and dedicated attorney, representing clients in a variety of legal matters. Her areas of expertise include personal injury and business law. She is passionate about advocating for her clients' rights...

Since starting Rachel Kaufman Law in June of 2015, Rachel has provided top-notch legal representation to hundreds of clients throughout the State of Georgia. In that short time, Rachel has gained a reputation for being a highly passionate and highly effective courtroom advocate. Amongst her colleagues, judges and courtroom personnel, Rachel is known for being a smart fighter, who can see through the tumbleweeds and intuitively zero-in on which strategic routes need to be taken to get to the best outcome possible. No matter the charge (DUI, Murder, Drug Offense, etc.), Rachel approaches each client’s situation with family-like loyalty and...

Prior to launching his private practice, James practiced for a number of years with the firm of Parks, Chesin and Walbert, P.C., one of Georgia’s most prestigious civil rights law firms. James also served as a staff attorney for the Eleventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, where he advised the Court on a wide array of federal cases. James received his undergraduate degree from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, where he graduated magna cum laude. He received his law degree from the University of Georgia, where he graduated cum laude. James served on the Editorial Board for the Georgia...

DANIEL S. WRIGHT provides general business legal services in the fields of commercial real estate, entity formation and governance, joint venture/equity structure arrangements, intellectual property, and various other transactional practice areas. Dan has experience working with organizations both large and small to achieve their goals and understands their different organizational and business needs. Because he started his career in litigation, Dan also appreciates the pragmatic aspects of agreement enforceability and cost-driven decisions. Dan keeps the focus on the client's business rather than legal minutiae. Dan's other primary field of practice is estate planning, particularly focusing on trust establishment...

I joined Parker MacIntyre as an associate attorney in 2025. In my role, I represent investment advisers and broker-dealers in compliance, regulatory matters, investigations, mergers and acquisitions, and general business. I also provide guidance to issuers in private placements and securities offerings, including hedge fund formation, regulation, and compliance. I graduated from the University of Georgia School of Law in 2022. Since then, I have worked exclusively in private practice, representing clients in tax controversy matters, covering every stage from IRS examination to final resolution in Tax Court. Additionally, I have drafted and reviewed a wide range of contracts related to...