Decatur Criminal Lawyers

Reid Thompson started his own criminal defense law firm in May of 2009 with an emphasis on serious felony offenses. Since March 2010, he has tried ten felony jury trials winning not guilty verdicts in Murder trials in Fulton and Dekalb Counties. Previous experience includes work as an Assistant District Attorney for the Fulton County District Attorney's Office in the Complex Trial Division and at the Douglas County District Attorney's Office. During and after law school, Reid also worked at the Prosecuting Attorney's Council of Georgia, at the FultonCounty Solicitor's Office, and at the Georgia Justice Project....

Tom started The Church Law Firm in 2022 after graduating with honors from the University of Georgia School of Law and becoming a partner at an elite law firm in Atlanta. Since becoming an attorney, Tom has been handling cases involving high profile federal crimes, serious felonies under Georgia law, and civil claims against overreaching government officials, including small businesses that have been unlawfully targeted by law enforcement based on their sale of legal cannabis products (hemp). During the COVID-19 pandemic, Tom also secured the release of over a dozen federal inmates based on their age, medical conditions, or excessively...

Joshua Sabert Lowther, Esq., is a native of coastal South Carolina. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from the University of South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina, and a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree, magna cum laude, from the John Marshall Law School in Atlanta, Georgia. Since he became an attorney, Mr. Lowther has practiced law exclusively in the areas of Healthcare Fraud, Federal Crimes, and Criminal Defense. He began his career defending clients in federal and state courts in the Atlanta, Georgia, metropolitan area, and he has since expanded that practice to include federal trial, appellate,...

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...

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...

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...

David A. Stevens is an attorney at the Atlanta veterans disability legal office, McElreath & Stevens, LLC. He has been practicing law since 2002, and is a member of the Atlanta Bar Association, the Dekalb Bar Association, the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, and the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives. At the firm, Mr. Stevens is committed to helping veterans obtain the benefits they deserve. To find out about retaining the representation of Attorney Stevens, contact the firm today!

Musa M. Ghanayem, attended Law School at Michigan State University College of Law, where he was a Dean's List member every semester, and a Cum Laude graduate. Musa is licensed to practice in Georgia and New York and has been involved in a variety of areas of Legal Practice. As a 1st year associate Musa was a senior associate in a complex commercial litigation and Qui Tam boutique law firm. After two years as an associate, he realized his passion as an advocate for civil rights, human rights, and the protection of the Constitution. In 2002 Musa joined...

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

The Brody Law Firm is a boutique criminal defense firm with a special focus on the defense of sex offense allegations. Bernard has been recognized by Georgia Trend Magazine, Atlanta Magazine’s Super Lawyers, the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 and the National Academy of Criminal Defense Attorneys, for his work in the courtroom and his tireless work ethic that has led to countless dismissals of cases prior to trial.

Bernard is a frequent speaker at Georgia trial lawyers seminars on topics involving Sex Offense Allegations, Computer Forensics, Appellate Advocacy and Federal Asset Forfeiture. He has handled a number of high profile...

Growing up in a multicultural household, I was shaped by my Japanese, Chinese, and African American heritage, which instilled in me the values of hard work, perseverance, and respect. Atlanta is my first home, but my time abroad also shaped my worldview and continues to influence how I approach my work and relationships. I earned my Bachelor’s in Japanese Language and Literature at the University of Georgia and my Juris Doctorate at the University of Alabama School of Law. While in law school, I discovered my passion for service, working in Family and Elder Law Clinics, clerking for a federal judge,...

Jess Johnson is one of the best young lawyers in Georgia. He has been recognized as a “Rising Star” in criminal defense and civil litigation by Super Lawyers Magazine for the past several years. While only 2.5% of lawyers in Georgia under the age of 40 receive such an honor, Jess was first named to this list after only 3 years of practice.

Jess has been instrumental in our firm’s success in both trials and appeals. In his very first trial, Jess was awarded an Acquittal Award from the Federal Defender Program for helping our firm win a “not guilty” verdict...

Ashley McCartney, LLC is a law firm in Atlanta, GA focusing on family law, business and civil litigation.

Our firm handles cases in the areas of criminal defense, personal injury, wrongful death, and contracts.

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...

Results-driven and client-oriented, Attorney Brandon Dixon is committed to seeing his clients succeed. Focusing on criminal defense and traffic tickets in Atlanta, Attorney Dixon is exhaustive in his research of each and every case he takes on. His successes have resulted in reduced punishments and dismissed cases for numerous clients who were facing serious penalties for criminal charges. Zealous and aggressive tactics enable him to effectively represent his clients in the courtroom. Attorney Dixon is part of the Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and a member of the State Bar of Georgia. Available 24/7 for a free thirty-minute case...

S. Lamar Gardner, our Firm’s founding and managing partner, was born and raised in Corinth, MS. Lamar obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science in Political Science in 2009. In 2012, Lamar obtained a Master of Public Administration with a concentration in Public Policy from Clark Atlanta University. Upon graduating from Clark Atlanta, Lamar began working in the non-profit sector. In 2014, however, he was offered admission to Southern University Law Center (SULC) in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he obtained his Juris Doctor (Cum Laude)in 2017. While at SULC, Lamar served as the 2016-2017 Editor-in-Chief of the Southern University...

Kalpin’s entire career has been carefully designed to provide you the best representation possible.

As an Assistant Solicitor for over two years, Kalpin handled misdemeanor cases at every stage. While learning the internal techniques of a prosecution process, Kalpin continued earning the respect and building relations with such Judges, other prosecutors, and court administrators.

For his very first client of his career, he obtained a dismissal on all charges. Click here for a narrative from that case. As an indigent defense counsel for Clayton County, he passionately fought for each and every...

Attorney Cherise Challenger always knew that she wanted to be a business owner, but at first, she wasn’t sure she wanted to work in law. Her path to opening her own law firm, the Challenger Law Group, developed the diverse professional experience she employs with her clients today. As a young girl growing up in Chicago, Attorney Challenger remembers finding joy in arguing her perspective — but she didn’t know any attorneys to serve as role models. So, while attending undergraduate studies at Chicago State University, she considered becoming a teacher or a nurse. Eventually, she decided on law and graduated...

A native of Atlanta, Ron Smith earned his J.D. Degree from Nova Southeastern University in 1981 and first practiced law as a state prosecutor in central Florida. Mr. Smith's service to others includes his background as a Certified K-12 Teacher and Undergraduate through Graduate Instructor in several subject areas. Since 1965 he continues to work as a lay minister for various Christian and charitable ministries. His private law practice since 1984 has been an extension of these ministries so as to help people deal with a variety of legal matters. For several years Mr. Smith owned and managed a...

I was born in Hartford, Connecticut, but spent most of my first 18 years overseas. As a young adult, I returned to the United States, completed my undergraduate degree at Rice University in Houston, Texas, and earned my law degree from Emory University School of Law in Atlanta, Georgia. While in law school, I distinguished myself by serving on the editorial boards of the Journal of International Dispute Resolution and the Bankruptcy Developments Journal.

After law school, I continued my studies and received a Master's Degree in International and Comparative Law from the University of Brussels. Prior to entering private practice,...

Kathryn Boortz is a trial attorney with nearly 10 years of litigation experience in courtrooms across the state of Georgia. She began her legal career in the public sector with the Metro Conflict Defender’s Office in Fulton County and then became an associate attorney at the boutique litigation firm of Conaway and Strickler. In June 2013, Kathryn founded Boortz Law, LLC. Boortz Law was founded so that Kathryn could focus on the areas of law that resonate with her gifts of compassion and creativity as a counselor to her clients. These areas include Estate Planning, White Collar and Juvenile...

David is a luminary in representing small business owners. He has been counseling and assisting small business owners for over 20 years. He has found that his clients truly appreciate the time and effort he puts into every aspect of their business. Over his professional career, David has gained extensive experience, knowledge and expertise in every aspect of the functioning of corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies, trade associations and joint ventures. David primarily focuses on business law and personal injury matters. David’s commitment to the C-Store industry has earned him national recognition and respect among his peers in the legal...

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...

Brian Tevis graduated from the University of Georgia in 2002 and Wake Forest University School of Law in 2007. He has aggressively and successfully defended the criminal accused since 2008. He is an experienced trial lawyer and handles every kind of criminal charges including, but not limited to, complex felony cases including Drug Trafficking, RICO and Gang cases, Aggravated Assault, Armed Robbery, Sex Crimes, and Murder. He is also admitted to all U.S. District Courts in Georgia (Southern, Middle, and Northern, ) and the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, and has defended federal clients in drug trafficking, bank...

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...

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...

Allen Yates is a partner at Giannini & Yates Attorneys who previously represented large corporations. After a few years of work experience, he decided to change his focus and help individuals who have been charged with crimes. This transition has proven to be a success for Allen Yates as he uses his skills and knowledge to defend citizens who have incurred a loss of constitutional rights or face criminal charges. Mr. Yates is an experienced attorney who understands the court system, judges and prosecution. Allen Yates is an experienced attorney who holds many membership responsibilities, Allen is a member of...

Experienced criminal trial and appellate attorney and former judge. Over 27 years in practice.