Fortson Appeals & Appellate Lawyers

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).

As a trusted attorney and business advisor, I have helped clients with their business transactions, litigation, banking, corporate law, and real estate needs since 2009. Today, I am a Partner with Conger & Smith, Attorneys at Law, where our practice focuses on agriculture, estate planning and probate, real estate, civil litigation, municipal law, business law, bankruptcy, and appellate practice services. I’m also the President of Owen Title Company, a Tallahassee-based title agency that is prepared to handle all of your title and settlement needs in North Florida.

Jess Lill is an attorney with The Manely Firm, P.C. in Savannah, Georgia. Jess attended law school at Mercer University School of Law. There, Jess became a member of the law review and mock trial teams, as well as working closely with faculty to write and publish various academic works. While in law school, Jess worked with various organizations and law firms to hone her legal research and advocacy skills. She was fortunate enough to start trying her first cases within her second year of law school, and hasn't left the courtroom since. Jess graduated law school and decided to...

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...

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.

David S. Klein has thirty years of experience in a broad swath of complex legal issues. After obtaining his law degree in 1994, he was a practicing Family and Business Law attorney in Massachusetts for 8 years. Upon retiring from the Army with 27 years of service and relocating to Augusta in 2002, he worked at the premier law firm in Augusta, continuing to hone his skills under the mentorship of some of the most talented attorneys in Georgia. He worked on a wide variety of complex practice areas in Federal and State cases, in the defense of automobile and...

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...

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...

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...

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.

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...

Trial attorney handling civil and criminal matters in Georgia and South Carolina with close to 20 years experience. Practice focused on catastrophic injury, wrongful death, civil rights, logging truck, 18-wheeler, whistleblower, and product liability civil cases. And serious criminal matters in state or federal court. Call anytime to discuss your case. We are the "results matter" law firm.

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...

Trial Lawyer fo injured workers & victims seriously injured from another’s negligence

I completed my high school education at Pace Academy in 1979 and then attended Duke University, graduating in 1983. During my time at Duke, I spent my junior year studying abroad at the University of Freiburg im Breisgau in West Germany. I continued my education at the University of Georgia School of Law, earning my degree in 1986. After law school, I began my legal career at Ferrier & Associates, where I worked from 1986 until 1996. In 1996, I established my own practice, the Law Office of Vincent D. Sowerby, P.C., where I have been serving and continue to serve...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Brian is the supervising partner for HMT's criminal law practice. Brian has significant experience in all aspects of criminal law.

Brian is one of a handful of attorneys in the Nation to hold a Masters of Law (LLM) in Federal Criminal Practice and Procedure.

Brian has experience from every angle in the courtroom. A few of the positions he has held throughout his career include:

Judicial Law Clerk to Five Superior Court Judges (serving eight counties in Georgia)
Special Assistant United States Attorney
Senior Prosecutor for Parris Island and Marine Corps Eastern Recruiting Region
Deputy Director of Marine Corps Trial Counsel Assistance Program
Appellate Defense Attorney
Additionally, Brian...

Se habla español. Martindale Hubbell Peer-Reviewed - Highest possible rating AV-Preeminent 1997- 2022 Celebrating 40 Years of Service B.S. Political Science, Georgia Southern University, 1979 J.D. Mercer University, Walter F. George School of Law, 1982 Taggart & Drake, Associate 1982-1983 Taggart Mixson Granoff & Chestnut, Partner 1983 Jones Boykin & Associates, Associate 1983 -1989 Herndon Chestnut Rosenblum & Ashby. Partner 1989 -1991 Chestnut & Ashby, Partner 1992-1995 Herbert Chestnut & Associates, Senior & Managing Partner 1995-present. At Herbert Chestnut & Associates, we have a combined 78 years of experience in helping clients successfully navigate through the complex legal process. We primarily assist injured workers from the State of Georgia, longshoremen,...

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...

Matt was the oldest of five boys raised in rural West Virginia. He attended college at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia, before starting a family and enlisting in the United States Army. He served for ten years on active duty in the 101st Airborne Division and deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he was awarded a Bronze Star in recognition of his meritorious service in combat. Before attending law school, he served as a Drill Sergeant for 15 months before being selected to serve as an instructor at the United States Army Drill Sergeant Academy at...