Columbia County Lawyers

Matt has been a litigator for 15 years. He started his career as an Assistant District Attorney in Athens, Georgia, where he spent several years prosecuting felony crimes. He then moved to Atlanta and spent the next five years at two of Georgia's most respected defense firms, where he handled workers' compensation, trucking, premises liability, and general liability litigation.

In 2012, Matt chose to focus his law practice exclusively on the representation of injured workers in Georgia. In this capacity, he has helped hundreds of Georgia workers navigate the complicated and confusing workers' compensation system. In addition to his law practice,...

I am a knowledgeable and skilled attorney with over 25 years of experience. My practice areas include Family Law, Divorce, Estate Planning, Personal Injury, Motor Vehicle Accidents, and Traffic and CDL Violations. I represent people from every walk of life who find themselves facing complex legal problems. I am dedicated to clearly communicating and educating my clients throughout the legal process. I pride myself on personalized legal services and outstanding advocacy for residents of Franklin County, Hart County, Madison County and Elbert County as well as all of Northeast Georgia.

I received my B.A. from Stetson University and my J.D....

I have over 35 years of experience with Tax, Business and Estate law, transactional work, and wealth management. Working in many areas such as tax-exempt organizations, estate planning, tax controversies, corporate law, mergers, acquisitions, real estate transactions, partnerships, and limited liability companies, individual and corporate taxation. My legal team has a well-deserved reputation of excellence in providing smart, sensible, and cost-effective legal and business solutions for our clients. We offer high-quality legal work and exceptional, personal client service. I serve a wide range of clientele, and every client relationship is valued greatly. Each engagement benefits from the depth...

Jeremy Akin is a Litigation Associate at Johnson Marlowe, LLP in Athens, Georgia. He represents clients in construction, zoning, and land use matters related to development projects.

Jeremy graduated cum laude from the University of Georgia School of Law, where he founded the school’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Society. During law school, he served as Conference Editor for the Georgia Journal of International & Comparative Law, a Student Ambassador of the Rusk International Law Center, and externes with the Athens-Clarke County Superior Court and Public Defender’s Office, as well as the Georgia River Basin Center. Jeremy is recipient of the Atlanta Bar...

Sean has been a trial attorney in middle Georgia for over 17 years. During the course of his 17 years as a trial attorney, he has handled a variety of different types of cases. Notably, he has handled over 3,500 criminal cases. These cases ranged from serious violent felonies such as murder, to drug cases such as trafficking and distribution, to DUIs. No case is too big, no case is too small. This is especially true when it involves his clients' freedom and liberties. Sean takes pride in helping people when they need him the most. In addition to criminal...

Originally from Peru, South America, Catherine Trelles Casto grew up in Athens, Georgia. Catherine graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from the University of Georgia. She earned her law degree from John Marshall Law School and studied International Family Law and Environmental Law as part of a summer abroad program at the University of Florence, Italy. During law school, Catherine worked for the District Attorney's Office for the Western Judicial Circuit and clerked for the DUI Atlanta law firm Head, Thomas, Webb & Willis. She also worked as an Enforcement Attorney for Ralph Hudgens at the Office of...

James S. Green, Attorney at Law is on your side. If you are looking for an attorney you need someone who will treat your legal matter as if you were family. We are a new kind of law practice for a changing world. Our primary focus is working closely with you, the client, to resolve your legal issues.

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...

As a former prosecutor for 6 years, I have a ton of courtroom experience and legal knowledge. When I first passed the Bar, I opened my own practice concentrating on family law and personal injury. As my knowledge base grew, I decided I wanted to get back to family law but now I had additional information and experience in criminal work.

Attorney Seekie is a compassionate and assertive attorney, whose office is located in Middle GA. She is the founding owner of The Seekie Law Firm, LLC.

Nyonnohweah has always had a heart for helping people and guiding individuals through difficult situations. Prior to her legal pursuits, Ms. Seekie worked with children of domestic violence abuse. Her compassion led to her work with AmeriCorp, the national service program which aims to improve lives and foster civic engagement by addressing critical community needs like increasing academic achievement, mentoring youth, and fighting poverty. She went on to become a counselor working at...

Before law school, I witnessed the guilt and stress my family endured when caring for loved ones. There was no plan, and important conversations happened too late. It is my mission to protect other families from facing the same situation. I studied at the University of Georgia and graduated Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, and minor in Anthropology. Understanding people, families, and their unique needs is the heart of my career. I continued my studies at the University of Georgia School of Law and graduated at...

Mark has practiced as a criminal lawyer in Northeast Georgia since 1985. After receiving his JD from the University of Georgia School of Law, he associated with Cook, Noell, Tolley and Aldridge, where he became a partner in 1987. In 1997, Mark opened a solo practice in downtown Athens and then relocated to his current office at Resource Valley in 1998. From the beginning of his practice, Mark has concentrated his trial practice almost exclusively as a criminal lawyer and managing personal injury cases. His past and present associations include Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers ("GACDL") (vice president); the...

I represent injured clients: automobile accidents-truck & tractor-trailer accidents-pedestrian claims-slip and fall injuries-animal attacks-head and brain injuries-certain products liability claims-premises injury claims-legal malpractice claims involving dishonesty and failure to communicate-claims against third-party debt collectorâs under the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. My domestic practice is limited to uncontested divorce. I am a former insurance defense attorney; University of Georgia Law School (1984); State Bar of Georgia (1984); Certified Georgia Mediator. My office has been located in Athens since 2000. I regularly represent clients throughout north and middle Georgia including the Athens/Atlanta area. Personal attention to each client...

Tiffany Jones Ellenberg was born in Atlanta and raised in Morgan County. After graduating with Honors from Rutledge Academy, Ms. Ellenberg attended Georgia College and State University on a scholarship; she graduated with Honors, receiving a Bachelor of Arts Degree and Master of Public Administration Degree. She attended John Marshall Law School in Atlanta, Georgia, and in November of 1998, Ms. Ellenberg was admitted to the practice of Law in Georgia. Ms. Ellenberg is licensed and experienced to practice in State and Federal Court at pretrial, trial and appellate level. She handles Probate, Magistrate and Municipal Court cases, as well....

Attorney George W. “Chip” Brown III is an Athens residential and commercial real estate transactions lawyer at Blasingame, Burch, Garrard and Ashley, P.C. At the firm, Chip handles a wide variety of complex legal matters. He lives by the philosophy that, while real estate purchases are often the largest investments people will make, they don’t need to be overwhelming and frightening. Instead, Chip makes it his mission to help clients understand the process of purchasing or selling real estate while making the legal side of the process both fun and enjoyable. He believes that a client who is confident that...

Athens personal injury attorney Drew Hill is committed to helping his clients fight for the justice and recovery they deserve after someone else’s negligence leaves them facing serious, long-lasting injuries. While his practice focuses on many different types of personal injury cases, including medical negligence and products liability, Drew also handles complex mass torts and truck accident cases. Over the course of his years in practice, he has successfully fought for and won multimillion dollar settlements and jury verdicts on behalf of his clients. He has worked tirelessly to hold hospitals and doctors, trucking companies and motor vehicle operators, nursing...

I am a business and family immigration attorney. Areas of concentration include consular processing, adjustment of status, H1b, PERM, spousal visas, fiancee visas, I-601 waivers, I-212 waivers, J-1 waivers, and similar areas. I am also a registered neutral with the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution.

My brother needed a bone marrow transplant. But, he made about $25 too much from Social Security disability benefits, his only source of income, to qualify for Medicaid. That was 1989. I was successful in helping him and have gone on to represent many, many people succesfully before the Social Security Administration.

We used to hear stories of alcoholics and drug addicts getting monthly checks just because of their alcoholism or drug addiction. We still see ridiculous stories of people getting benefits that seem unworthy, but the rules have changed. It's tougher to get benefits now. Today,...

Alisha Esselstein, founder of Esselstein Law, graduated Magna Cum Laude in International Relations from Augsburg University and thereafter had the diverse experience of living and studying in global locations like Kenya, and Mexico. She went on to earn her Juris Doctorate and International Law Certificate from the University of Wisconsin Law School. In her family law practice, Alisha advocates for gender-based violence and domestic violence victims, offering both legal and emotional support. She has earned numerous accolades for her dedication to justice. With her international background, she is prepared to apply her intercultural competence and legal expertise to your family...

Blair Dorminey is a graduate of Yale Law School and has been a member of the State Bar of Georgia since 1984. As a principal of Dorminey & Cox, LLC, he has practiced immigration and nationality law exclusively since 2001. He has extensive legal and international experience gained in the U.S. Department of Justice, the White House, and the National Security Council. In government, he took an active role in immigration policy, especially with respect to refugee and asylum issues. He is admitted to practice in all U.S. immigration courts, in all Georgia courts, in the U.S. District Courts of...

Gabriel Bradford, a former member of the Sarasota County Fire Department, is a graduate of the University of Georgia School of Law and a magna cum laude graduate of the University of Georgia. While in law school, Gabe served on the School of Law’s Honor Court. Prior to joining the firm as a partner, Mr. Bradford served as an assistant district attorney in the Piedmont Judicial Circuit, which includes Banks, Barrow, and Jackson Counties. As an assistant district attorney, Gabe received trial training from the Prosecuting Attorney’s Council of Georgia and developed an expertise in domestic violence. Today,...

Blaine graduated from Carrollton High School and then attended Vanderbilt University ('90 to '92), before transferring to The University of Georgia, where he received a BA in history, magna cum laude, in 1994. At UGA he was Phi Beta Kappa and a Presidential Scholar (maintaining a 4.0 GPA while at UGA). He received his JD from The University of Georgia School of Law, magna cum laude in 1997. In law school, he was a member of the mock trial board and won four first place trial awards, including the national championship (ATLA) in Denver, CO. He was Order of the...

Bartlett started Benton & Benton after years of working as a defense attorney representing insurance companies and corporations in personal injury lawsuits. Bartlett always wanted to one day represent people injured in accidents, so early in his career he decided to work as a defense attorney to learn how insurance companies and corporations defend and evaluate cases. With this inside knowledge, he now knows what insurance companies and corporations fear and what makes them settle cases.

Tripp is a skilled commercial real estate attorney and shareholder at Blasingame, Burch, Garrard & Ashley, P.C. Tripp represents purchasers, sellers, and lenders in all aspects of commercial real estate transactions. His practice encompasses everything from contract drafting and negotiation to title examination, drafting of conveyance documents, and drafting and negotiation of loan documents. Tripp regularly assists clients in the acquisition of retail shopping centers and multi-family properties, including obtaining recourse and non-recourse financing. He also represents lenders in all aspects of commercial loan closings, commercial and residential foreclosure sales, loan restructuring and loan work outs, and in the sale...

Thomas is a respected advocate for injured clients and their families. His practice focuses on product liability cases, but he also handles a variety of mass torts. Thomas works with his clients from their first contact with the firm through the ultimate resolution of their legal claims. Thomas worked with clients in the recovery of more than $500 million and the resolution of clients’ bankruptcies, probate estates, and health related liens associated with their product liability claims.

Prior to joining Blasingame, Burch, Garrard & Ashley, P.C. in 2004, Thomas worked in the Business Recovery Services group of PriceWaterhouseCoopers, LLP, where he...

Jason Ramsland is an attorney of counsel at Johnson Marlowe LLP. He focuses on business and corporate transactions and litigation, employment related matters, and business development.

Over the years Jason has helped clients both big and small, from large corporations with global footprints to the minimum-wage earning employee. He approaches legal disputes with problem-solving philosophy, seeking to help clients through their legal matters with a broad perspective.

Before joining Johnson Marlowe LLP, Jason was a partner with the firm Ball Eggleston in Lafayette, Indiana, where he litigated business disputes and employment related cases. He has taken on huge retailers like Target and...

Spence is a business attorney who specializes in the representation of small to mid-sized companies in complex disputes, litigation, and transactions. Whether he is helping a closely-held business bring in investors, or litigating contentious partnership breakups, his focus is pragmatic resolution of client issues. When voluntary resolution efforts don't work out, he has a long track record of winning cases for his client in court and arbitration across the U.S. In construction cases, Spence represents owners, contractors, and subcontractors at all phases of the construction process from negotiation of contracts to litigating defect disputes. He also represents clients in disputes...

Dustin Marlowe practices at Johnson Marlowe LLP in Athens, Georgia. Before starting Johnson Marlowe with his law partner, Spence Johnson, Dustin was a partner at Orr Brown Johnson LLP in Gainesville, Georgia, and also served two years as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable William C. O’Kelley, Senior United States District Court Judge for the Northern District of Georgia. Through his service as a federal law clerk, Dustin developed an extensive understanding of federal practice and procedure and acquired an expertise in commercial litigation, including contract disputes, business torts, and collections, as well as catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death,...

J.V. Dell, Jr. (“Jay”): J.D., cum laude, Walter F. George School of Law, Mercer University, Macon, Georgia, 1994. B.S., cooperative plan, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, 1990. Member of: State Bar of Georgia; Court of Appeals of Georgia; Supreme Court of Georgia; U.S. District Court of Georgia (Northern and Middle Districts); Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit Bar Association; and Real Property Law Section of the State Bar of Georgia. Board Member of Executive Committee of Real Property Law Section of the State of Georgia (2006 – 2012). President of Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit Bar Association (2008 –...

As an Athens attorney at Blasingame, Burch, Garrard & Ashley, P.C., David Alan Dismuke assists clients with a broad range of legal matters, including tax law, corporate transactions, estate planning, estate administration, and trust administration. An attentive person, David always takes a great interest in the concerns of his clients. He strives to treat people in the way that he would like to be treated. Many of the issues that David handles can be incredibly complex, which is why he takes the time to explain everything in a way that is easy to understand. He believes that the more informed...

Born in Toccoa, I have been a Georgian all of my life. I received a Debate Scholarship to the University of Georgia. I was an active participant on the University of Georgia Debate Team throughout my undergrad years, and I became the Captain of the debate team my Junior and Senior years. I received my B.A. from the University of Georgia graduating with honors in 1970. After receiving my bachelor's degree, I enrolled in the University of Georgia School of Law and received my J.D. in 1973. While in law school, I...

Hello, my name is Drake Corbin. I attended Dartmouth College for my undergraduate degree in History and subsequently attended the University of Georgia School of Law. I graduated from law school and was admitted to the Georgia Bar in 2020. As a Jackson County native, I am thrilled to be back home and helping people in our community. My mission is to translate your goals into the legal instruments necessary to achieve those goals. I am especially interested in helping my clients with their transactional needs because I understand the challenges of properly organizing a small business and planning for...