Demorest Lawyers

A native of the Atlanta metro area, Arman Deganian is a “double dawg” with both undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Georgia. His first 8 years as a lawyer were spent doing defense work for the big insurance companies, an advantage that sets him apart from most personal injury attorneys. “I know how insurance companies work, so I can stay one step ahead of them,” Arman commented. “Many of the defense attorneys know me, and know I’m not afraid to take my cases to trial in front of a jury.”
Arman started working for a large personal injury law...

Attorney Steve Litner moved to Atlanta after graduating law school. He started his legal career in securities litigation, and quickly learned that he enjoyed working with people much more than corporations. “Personal injury law gives me a chance to help clients receive fair treatment in some very traumatic situations where the deck is often stacked against them,” Steve commented. “That’s not possible when you’re only focused on corporate law and business profits.”
Steve has large personal injury firm experience, but wanted more flexibility and control than the big firms offered. He started his own successful firm, and then joined forces with...

Personal injury law has always been a calling for Litner + Deganian attorney Shea Schulman since he tried his first case years ago. After the trial, his clients hugged him and a juror asked him for a business card. Shea knew at that moment he chose the right practice area. Shea is a great personal injury attorney who has generated millions of dollars in compensation for his clients.
Shea joined the Litner + Deganian team in late 2016 after working for a larger, high volume personal injury law firm where he co-managed the in-house litigation team. Some of that firm’s cases...

My name is Kairi Smith Gure, and I hold a J.D. from Georgia State University College of Law and a B.A. in Women’s Studies for Georgia State University. I have been practicing Law for a number of years in both Georgia and Kentucky. During my tenure at Georgia State University College of Law I clerked for Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation and Georgia Justice Project, I was also a member of the award winning Black Law Student Association’s mock trial team. I am admitted to practice law in all Georgia Courts, the Northern District Court of Georgia and...

Frank W. Hicks III, Esq., after graduating from Mercer Law School in 2002, began working as a prosecutor where he oversaw the traffic division. He then moved over to the Public Defender’s office where he worked for over a decade. He has resolved thousands of criminal cases, ranging from traffic tickets to murder and has over 100 jury trials. Frank draws upon his past experience as a deputy sheriff to assist his clients. Frank is admitted to practice in state and federal trial and appellate courts, including the Georgia Supreme Court.

J. Michael Bishop is a partner in the Atlanta firm of Smiley Bishop & Porter LLP. For over 25 years, Mike has practiced extensively in the areas of securities arbitration and litigation, representing investors with securities claims of all types and sizes. Mike and his firm have obtained numerous seven-figure arbitration awards which have included punitive damages, attorneys’ fees and costs. Many of Mr. Bishop’s clients are elderly investors who have been victims of investment and financial fraud. Mike has successfully represented clients with claims against virtually every major Wall Street firm, including: Bank of America/Merrill Lynch, UBS/PaineWebber, Morgan Stanley/Dean Witter,...

Bryan Henderson is not just a tenacious litigator and appellate attorney, but a dedicated advocate for justice and a committed partner in his clients’ success. With over a decade of experience handling complex fraud and civil RICO cases, he brings a unique perspective and wealth of experience into every legal battle, ensuring his clients’ interests are always at the forefront. Having served as an Assistant United States Attorney, State Prosecutor, and Public Defender, Bryan has tried hundreds of cases in federal and state courts. He has argued before the Georgia Supreme Court, securing decisions that have altered the state’s evidence...

As a named partner in Ney Hoffecker Peacock & Hayle, William Ney has nearly twenty years of experience handling major professional liability, business, family law and injury cases. Mr. Ney's practice focuses on each of these areas with an emphasis on legal malpractice matters. Mr. Ney is widely recognized as one of the foremost attorneys in the Atlanta, Georgia legal market in the handling of legal malp0ractice cases for plaintiffs. These cases include matters involving missed statutes of limitation, conflicts of interests, mis-drafted wills and other documents, and a variety of other cases.

David Guldenschuh is an attorney and native of Rome, Georgia. He is a 1981 cum laude graduate of the University of Notre Dame Law School. After serving a federal appeals court clerkship, he began practicing law in Atlanta at the firm of King & Spalding. Due to the serious illness of his daughter, David returned to Rome in 1990 where he joined the firm then known as Smith Shaw & Maddox. He started his current solo practice in 2004. His practice includes business law and litigation, personal injury and automobile accidents, trusts, will and estates, employment discrimination law, election...

State prosecutor for over 11 years; have tried over 100 felony cases, including 2 death penalty cases. As a defense attorney since then, I have specialized in appeals of criminal convictions, achieving a very high reversal rate. Currently actively engaged in a death penalty appeal, awaiting the docketing notice from the Georgia Supreme Court. Criminal law is all that I have done in my career, and I have a passion for the work I do. I also have a deep commitment to my clients. As I tell all of my clients and potential...

Kate fiercely believes that everyone has the right to a fair trial and an excellent lawyer. She brings an unmatched passion for justice and a discerning academic eye to every case she works on. Beginning her career as a public defender, Kate gained significant experience representing the poor in the State and Superior Courts of Clarke and DeKalb County, Georgia. During her time in public defense, she handled hundreds of cases and spent thousands of hours in the courtroom fighting for her clients. She has argued dozens of pre-trial motions and successfully kept the prosecution from being able to introduce illegally-collected...

Deborah H. Harris is an experienced litigator who has practiced law in Atlanta, Georgia for over thirty-eight years. Ms. Harris has represented hundreds of employers and their insurance companies all over the state. Ms. Harris earned her law degree from Emory University in May 1985, and was admitted to the State Bar of Georgia in June 1985. During her first twenty-two years of practice she was an insurance-defense attorney, first in a downtown Atlanta law firm and later as in-house litigation counsel for a group of insurance companies. Harris opened her private law practice in...

Attorney J. Stephen Mixon, Esq. concentrates his practice in the areas of employment law. Mr. Mixon is best known as one of Georgia 's most successful advocates of women in sexual harassment cases. Additionally, Mr. Mixon represents both employers and employees in race discrimination cases, non-compete agreements, and other contract disputes.

Attorney J. Stephen Mixon, Esq. is a graduate from Oxford College and Emory University (1989), in Atlanta, GA, and the University of Georgia School of Law (1992) in Athens, GA. Upon graduation, Mr. Mixon served as a staff attorney for the Honorable Senator Strom Thurmond in the United States...

Jon Schwartz has environmental litigation experience in state and federal courts. He has represented clients on matters involving the Clean Water Act, storm water runoff, protection of wildlife and habitat, land use, historic preservation, and injuries caused by exposure to toxic substances. Jon was selected to the Georgia Super Lawyers list and Atlanta Magazine recognized him as a “rising star” in environmental litigation.

28 years experience in full range of civil litigation; 70% Plaintiff and 30% defense. Originally PI, consumer law, divorce and real estae law; Currently representing business and partnership owners and real estate investors. Handling full range of real estate matters including title disputes, partnership dissolutions, negotiations, land trusts, construction issues and litigation and legal malpractice as well as general business law and PI cases.

Chris has over 20 years of experience in the computer industry and holds a BS Computer Science from Rhodes University. Chris additionally holds a JD degree from Concord Law School and is admitted to the California Bar. Chris has held Director positions at publicly listed software companies and is also the founder of a consulting company. Chris has intimate experience with immigration matters. Most importantly, Chris is himself an immigrant and understands first-hand the range of emotions applicants go through on their path to making the United States home. Residing in Atlanta, GA, Chris serves clients in both Atlanta and...

As an independent fee appraiser, Jon has appraised $1.5 billion of commercial real estate in a wide variety of property types from Texas to Florida to Upstate New York, and just about every state in between. Jon has worked with accountants, attorneys, business brokers, real estate brokers, CFOs, dentists, medical doctors, veterinarians, developers, lenders, buyers, owner-occupants, and investors (including prominent multi-generational family businesses). His appraisal work has been in the areas of lending, investments, mergers, acquisitions, partnership and corporate buy-ins and buy-outs, estate planning, trusts and estates, charitable gifting, property tax (ad valorem taxation), divorce (property settlement), collateral...