Thomas County Appeals & Appellate Lawyers

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...

I enjoy practicing law at The Goolsby Law Firm, LLC with my oldest son in Augusta and Martinez, Georgia. We deal with divorce cases, personal injury, criminal defense and other litigation on a daily basis. As a former federal prosecutor in Augusta, Georgia for over 20 years, I have tried some of the largest fraud and public corruption cases in Georgia and U.S. history.

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...

From the day I started working in the field until today, I have learned the practice of criminal and appellate law from some of the finest attorneys in the country. I respect my clients and their families above all else and am keenly sympathetic to the fact that, when most of them come to me, they have already been through the difficult and emotionally wrenching process that is a criminal trial, only to lose and find themselves or somone they love very much subject to a long term in prison. I never promise anything to my clients other than the...

Stewart Bratcher is a trial attorney with over a decade of experience in Georgia courtrooms. Upon graduation from law school in 2005 he accepted a position as an Assistant District Attorney in the Cherokee Judicial Circuit (Bartow and Gordon Counties) where he remained employed until founding The Bratcher Firm. While employed as a prosecutor, Stewart handled thousands of criminal cases ranging from traffic violations to capital murder and tried over 100 cases to verdict before a jury or judge in Superior Court. As the office appellate specialist, Stewart served as appellate counsel in more than 20 cases and orally argued...

Lisa’s client-centered law practice includes advice, counseling, and litigation in all aspects of labor and employment law as well as general business law advice, document drafting and litigation of business disputes. She also utilizes her expertise in legal research and writing and knowledge of the appellate process to provide top-notch representation in civil appeals in both state and federal courts. Most recently, Lisa became registered through the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution as a mediator and arbitrator, and she brings her wide range of legal experience and her ability to see and understand all sides of a dispute to assist...

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...

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 unwavering determination to every legal battle, ensuring his clients' interests are always at the forefront. Having served as both a Federal and State Prosecutor and Public Defender, Bryan comprehensively understands the legal system. He approaches each case with the same level of intensity and strategic thinking that he honed during his time prosecuting gang and cartel cases. What...

Special Master, State of Georgia, 1987-1995 by annual appointment of Governor. Recipient, Younger Federal Lawyer Award, Atlanta Chapter, Federal Bar Association, 1972. President, Walter F. George School of Law Alumni Association, Mercer University, Macon, Georgia, 1976-1977. Assistant U.S. Attorney, Northern District of Georgia, 1966-1974. Legal counsel of record in over 100 state, federal, and military cases reported by legal publishers. Admitted to practice in U. S. Supreme Court, 1965; U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia, 1966; United District Court of the Northern District of Georgia, 1966; U. S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, 1981; U. S....

Tom is a former federal prosecutor who represents businesses and individuals in government investigations, False Claims Act litigation, complex civil litigation, and white collar criminal defense. Before founding Griffin Durham Tanner and Clarkson, Tom led a nationally recognized Department of Justice unit responsible for prosecuting complex civil and criminal fraud out of the Southern District of Georgia. In addition to his supervisory responsibilities, he led some of the office’s most complex and significant criminal cases in the office. During his tenure with the Department of Justice, he tried cases involving public corruption, health care fraud, pill mills, wire/mail fraud, and violent...

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...

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!

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...

Born and raised in Macon, I am a lifelong member of the Middle Georgia community where I live with my wife and family. After attending Mckibben Lane Elementary School, I graduated as valedictorian from Tattnall Square Academy. I then attended Furman University and graduated in 1983 with a double major in History and Political Science. In 1986, I graduated from The University of Georgia School of Law and was admitted to the State Bar of Georgia that same year. To the practice of law, I bring the values of hard work, fair play and respect for others that I learned...

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...

Founding Partner of Walker Hulbert Gray & Moore, LLP, born Macon, Georgia, 1942; admitted to bar, 1965, Georgia. Education: University of Georgia (J.D., 1965). Phi Delta Phi (Magister of Wilson Inn, 1965). Associate Justice, University of Georgia Honor Court, 1963-1965. Judge, Perry Municipal Court, 1966-1972. Deputy Assistant Attorney General, State of Georgia, 1969-1976. Attorney for City of Perry, 1972-1986. State Representative, Georgia General Assembly, 1973-2004. Majority Leader, House of Representatives, 1986-2004. 1984 International Business Fellow. Chairman, State Legislative Leaders Foundation, 1998-2001. Member, Georgia Department of Transportation Board, January 2007 – June 2009, representing Georgia s Eighth Congressional District. ...

Education:
Pace Academy 1979
Duke University 1983 (with junior year at University of Freiburg im Breisgau, West Germany)
University of Georgia School of Law 1986

Career:
Ferrier & Associates 1986 to 1996
Law Office of Vincent D. Sowerby, P.C. since 1996.

General civil trial practice. All types of civil litigation.

Tom joined Pate & Johnson in 2017 after graduating with honors from the University of Georgia School of Law.

While in law school, Tom honed his trial advocacy skills competing as a member of the moot court and mock trial teams. He also earned awards for achieving the highest marks in his Torts and Constitutional Law classes.

In his last year of school, Tom served as a research assistant to Professors Dan T. Coenen and Michael Wells, where his work focused on constitutional law, the early history of the U.S. Constitution, and civil rights litigation. Tom was also one of a few...

Nathaniel M. Smith is a born again Christian and a member of Salem Baptist Church in McDonough, Georgia. Nathaniel is admitted to practice before the Georgia Supreme Court, the Georgia Court of Appeals, and the Superior, State, Juvenile, Probate and Magistrate courts of Georgia. Nathaniel became a member of the Georgia Bar Association in 2009. He became a member of the Henry County Bar Association in 2010. He became a member of CLS (Christian Legal Society, www.clsnet.org) and Christianlawyers.com in 2009. Nathaniel graduated in 2009 from Washington and Lee University School of Law. While pursuing his law degree, he...

Joann Brown Williams has been litigating for well over a decade. Joann’s “bread-and-butter” is business litigation, including breach of contract, corporate governance, trade secret, non-compete and non-solicit covenants, employment related disputes in the areas of discrimination, harassment and retaliation. Her “chocolate,” however, are claims dealing with First Amendment and defamation. Joann has tried cases throughout Northeast Georgia in both State and Federal Courts and has practiced in State and Federal Courts throughout the country. Joann has been involved in several high profile cases that have been written about in The Los Angeles Times, The National Law...

Sydney received her law degree from the University of Alabama after completing her undergraduate studies at Ole Miss. While at the University of Alabama School of Law, Sydney studied criminal law and criminal defense under the current Executive Director and Attorney-in-Chief of the Federal Defenders of New York, and earned top honors for her work in Alabama’s criminal defense clinic. She also served as the Ethics Opinions Editor for Volume 35 of the Journal of the Legal Profession. After graduating from law school, Sydney worked as a Staff Attorney at the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Sydney...

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...

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...

Attorney Akil Kenneth Secret is a licensed attorney in the States of Georgia and Nebraska. His practice focuses on Serious Personal Injury Litigation, Wrongful Death Litigation and Major Criminal Defense. Mr. Secret has represented defendants in numerous high profile state and federal cases. He has tried hundreds of cases with extraordinary success. Mr. Secret has represented Lawyers, Doctors, Accountants, Real Estate Brokers and Agents and Corporate Executives. Attorney Akil Secret attended University of Nebraska and transferred to attend Morehouse College where he pursued his undergraduate studies until 1973 with a major in Political Science. He attended Atlanta Law School and earned...

Albert Wan is an attorney based in Atlanta, Georgia, specializing in criminal defense and civil rights litigation. He is admitted to practice in Georgia and New York courts. To learn more about Mr. Wan and his law practice please visit his website at: http://www.albertwanlaw.com

I'm a graduate of the University of Georgia School of Law. I practice real estate and probate law in Tennessee and Georgia. My focus is on resolving title issues for developers, investors and lenders. Prior to that, I worked in the nuclear and custom machinery field for two years after graduating from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a degree of electrical engineering. I regularly teach continuing education classes and I am an adjunct professor of business law at Belhaven University. Please see my website for other publications. I reside in Chattanooga, Tennessee with my wife and children. I attend Mission Chattanooga...