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Josh Schiffer, Joe Neal, Lee Biola, Barbara Moon, Lee Ann Bellon, & Emily Rowell

Joseph R Neal w/ Neal Law

AV Pre-eminent rating by Martindale-Hubbell.  Mr. Neal is a Lifetime Charter Member of Rue Ratings’ BEST ATTORNEYS OF AMERICA and was among the “Top Lawyers of Georgia” featured in Atlanta Magazine in 2014.  Mr. Neal has been nominated for the 2014 Litigator Awards by the Trial Lawyer Board of Regents and is a highly skilled and experienced Trial Lawyer licensed to practice law in Georgia for 21 years, representing victims and families of Personal Injuries and Wrongful Death.

In 2012, NEAL LAW obtained the biggest wrongful death settlement and recovery in history against the uninsured government of Augusta-Richmond County, Georgia for the wrongful deaths of a young couple and a substantial confidential settlement against Georgia Power. These tragic deaths resulted from a double fatality trailer fire in which high school sweethearts were burned alive and choked to death on super-heated soot and smoke inhalation. The case lasted four years, including victories for the Plaintiff’s on sovereign and official immunity in the trial Court, the Georgia Court of Appeals, and the Georgia Supreme Court.v See Vann v. Finley, 313 Ga. App. 153, 721 S.E.2d 156 (2011), certiorari denied 2012 Ga. Lexis 387.

January 2007 obtained a $3,000,000 federal jury verdict in Hill v. USA Truck, Inc., 2007 WL 1574545 (D.S.C.), a case where a tractor trailer ran off the road and struck a mildly mentally retarded laborer on his friend’s bicycle. Confidentially settled wrongful death suits involving gas and electrical fires for substantial monetary sums against large utility companies in Georgia on novel theories.  Mr. Neal has also successfully handled medical malpractice cases over the past fifteen years, including a wrongful death EMTALA action in federal court. Reversed a malice murder verdict in the Georgia Supreme Court, and later retried the case before a jury, obtaining an acquittal of his client on all counts in 2000. Lindsey v. State, 271 Ga. App. 657 (1999).

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Lee Biola w/ Law Office of D. Lee Biola, LLC

Lee Biola represents workers who have been injured on the job before the State Board of Workers’ Compensation. Lee is a former insurance company attorney who now declines offers to represent insurance companies. After graduation from law school, Lee worked for another law firm where he primarily represented insurance companies in workers’ compensation cases. Upon opening his own law practice in 2001, Lee changed his focus from representing insurance companies to representing injured workers.

Lee is a graduate of the Georgia State University College of Law where he served as Co-editor of the legislative history section of the Georgia State University Law Review.

Lee personally handles all of his workers’ compensation cases. Clients do not deal with paralegals or legal secretaries, but receive individualized attention directly from an attorney.

Website       AVVO      LinkedIn       Google+

Attorney Barbara Moon

“I obtained my law degree from Georgia State University College of Law in 1988. Subsequently, in 1989, I was admitted to the District of Columbia, the U. S. District Court, the Northern and Middle Districts of Georgia, the U. S. Court of Appeals, the Eleventh Circuit, the Georgia Court of Appeals and the Georgia Supreme Court. On motion by former Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court, Charles Longstreet Weltner, I was admitted to the Supreme Court of the United States of America on July 17, 1992.

I was a former part-time Magistrate Judge in Clayton County. I have also served on the faculty of the William Daniels Trial Advocacy Program and lectured at various seminars and trial lawyers’ workshops at the University of Georgia Trial Lawyers Association.

I have been featured on CourtTV, Forensic Files and other local media channels.
High Profile Cases include:
U.S. vs. Sheriff Richard Lankford, Atlanta, GA; Co-Counsel; Reverse on Appeal
U.S. vs. The Gold Club, Jana Pelnis, etc., Atlanta, GA; Counsel; Nolle Prosequi
State vs. Lewis Joyner, Atlanta, GA; Co-Counsel with Steve Sadow
State vs. Billy Moclaire, Atlanta, GA; Co-Counsel with Steve Sadow; (Bad Cops Case)
State vs. Candace Overstreet, Jonesboro, GA; Co-Counsel with Drew Findling; (Homicide of Police Officer)
State vs. Freeman Salahuddin, Atlanta, GA; Co-Counsel with Bruce Harvey and Walt Britt; Order for Directed Verdict (Quadruple Homicide)
State vs. Jim Watson, Atlanta, GA; Co-Counsel with Lee Sexton, Ricky Morris, and Scott Key; (Homicide)
State vs. Jean Long, Jackson, GA; Co-Counsel with Wade Crumbley; Acquittal (Homicide)
State vs. Gerald Hall, Jonesboro, GA; Co-Counsel with Steve Sadow; Nolle Prosequi (Homicide)
State vs. Marcus Shaw, Atlanta, GA; Co-Counsel with Bruce Harvey; Nolle Prosequi (Homicide)”.

Website     LinkedIn     AVVO

Lee Ann Bellon w/ The Bellon Firm

Lee Ann Bellon has devoted her entire career to working with attorneys. She has in depth experience with first year associates as well as partners with millions of dollars in business.

An article entitled “Dialing for Dollars” published in 1983 in The American Lawyer changed her life. It was about the emergence of recruiters working solely with attorneys. There were only thirteen legal recruiters scattered throughout the United States. No legal recruiters were in Atlanta and there were virtually none in the southeast.

Few southern law firms had used recruiters and every one of the managing partners she met told her that her business concept would never work. It took 6 months to make the first placement, but then the phone started ringing with clients interested in the company’s services.

Lee Ann has had a number of articles published in local and national publications.
She is now in the final stages of writing her first book. She is knowledgeable, and her approach is authentic, straight forward and fun. She is an entertaining speaker who clearly makes her points while keeping her audience’s attention.’

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Co-Host Josh Schiffer w/ Chanco Schiffer PC appeared previously on the show.  His bio can be found here.

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Special Veteran’s Day Episode of Atlanta Legal Experts Radio

Lane Dennard, Drew Early, Emily Rowell, Ryan McPherson, Fred Burkey, Kelly Hundley

Fred Burkey w/ The Burkey Law Firm

What if you took a taxi one night to celebrate with friends and you ended up seriously injured when a car hit the taxi, then took off?  And when you tried to get help to pay for injuries and loss of income, your insurance company denied your claim because no one could find the at-fault driver?  That is what happened to Melissa.  What if you were stopped by police on a misdemeanor and incarcerated but while detained you fell seriously ill and denied proper medical treatment?  Would you risk death?  That is what happened to James.  When faced with an unforeseen crisis, people should choose the best legal representation that has the knowhow and commitment to take on aggressive insurance adjustors and mounting healthcare bills.  Fred Burkey of the Burkey Law Firm successfully litigated the cases of Melissa and James.  Since 1994, the Burkey Law Firm has obtained verdicts and settlements valued over millions of dollars for individuals and families who have been seriously harmed by the actions of dangerous drivers or harmed due to no fault of their own.  The practice focuses on trucking accidents, car accidents and accidents caused by drunk and reckless drivers often exceeding client expectations.  The Burkey Law Firm is dedicated to legal excellence and integrity while providing a voice that gives clients a fair shot at justice.

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Kelly Michael Hundley w/ Kelly Michael Hundley, LLC.

For more than 25 years, Kelly Michael Hundley has been a trusted legal adviser to businesses and executives in all manor of industry across the Metro-Atlanta region. Having spent time in the board room and shop floor, Kelly understands that legal issues don’t arise in a vacuum. Whether its a lawsuit, helping a client chart a path to avoid a lawsuit, or helping a new business figure out what laws impact what it wants to do, the focus and philosophy is the same–providing practical effective advice and solutions tailored to each clients unique circumstances.

Kelly Michael Hundley graduated with High Honors from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1987. Outside the office, Kelly enjoys reading, cooking, and spending time with his wife, Pam, and friends … and his dogs, Ellie and Scooter. His passion for education led him to sit on the board of the Georgia Perimeter College Foundation.

Website      LinkedIn      Blog

H. Lane Dennard, Jr. w/ Emory Law Volunteer Clinic for Veterans

Lane Dennard was born in Macon, Georgia, and graduated from Mercer University in Macon with an A.B. degree in 1966. He served in the Army as a Captain and Company Commander in Vietnam. His decorations include the Silver Star, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, and Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster. After his military service, Mr. Dennard attended the University of Georgia School of Law where he received the J.D. degree in 1973.

After graduation from law school, he was associated with the firm of Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak, and Stewart and served as managing partner of the Atlanta office. He joined King & Spalding as a partner in January of 1991 and served as a senior partner on the Labor and Employment Law Team.  Prior to his retirement from King & Spalding in 2003, Mr. Dennard represented both unionized and union-free employers in the field of labor and employment law for over 30 years, litigating the full range of cases in state and federal courts.

Since his retirement, Mr. Dennards legal practice has focused on veterans advocacy and the pro bono representation of veterans before the VA. In 2011 Mr, Dennard received the Georgia Bar’s Marshall-Tuttle Award as the top lawyer in the state providing pro bono services to veterans. He has played a role in the start-up and operation of the Emory Law Volunteer Clinic for Veterans and currently serves as co-director with Professor Charles Sanor.

Website

Cary King w/ Jacobs & King, LLC

I am an Atlanta native and am married to an Atlanta native, Sherry King. We have 5 children and 6 grandchildren and reside in Dekalb County, Georgia near Murphy Candler park and have lived there since 1993. My wife and I both are 1959 graduates of Henry Grady High School. I graduated from Georgia State University in 1963 with a Bachelor of Arts degree and received a law degree from John Marshal Law School in 1983. I also attended Graduate School at Georgia State University and the University of Alabama at Huntsville in Finance and Economics.

As an attorney, I currently practice as the Senior Attorney in the firm of Jacobs & King, LLC along with my son Scott, Greg Jacobs and 4 other attorneys. I was the senior partner of Slater & King for 17 years and a partner with Shuster, King & King for 11 years prior to that.  I was one of the lead defense counsel for Tonya Craft, in the case of the State of Georgia vs. Tonya Craft, a jury trial in Catoosa County which lasted over 6 weeks and has garnered national media attention. I have appeared on Good Morning America, Inside Edition and several local television and radio shows regarding various cases in which we were involved. I also have been involved in numerous high profile civil litigation matters in state and federal courts.

In January 2013, I was awarded the Marshall-Tuttle Award as the Outstanding Lawyer of 2013 by the Military and Veterans Affairs Section of the State Bar of Georgia for services rendered to veterans for the last 16 years and received a Certificate of Appreciation from the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs in Washington, D.C. for co-founding and operating the free legal clinic at the VA Medical Center on Clairmont Road in Decatur. In March 2013, I received the Public Service Law Section from John Marshall Law School for community and public services rendered throughout the last 30 years. In March and April 2013, I began serving on the Fulton Count Mentoring sub-committee to establish Veteran Mentors for a special Veteran’s Court in Fulton County along with Judge T. Jackson Bedford, also a Vietnam Veteran, Judge Todd Markle and other lawyer veterans. The Court began operation in April 2013 and is now a little over  18 months of operation and recently received an award from the Congressional Black Caucus of the United States House of Representatives.

I remain involved in a wide range of litigation scenarios. I practice in both state and federal courts, am a member of the Georgia Bar, the Federal Bar for the Northern District of Georgia, the 11^th United States Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court Bar.

By way of other general background, after graduation from college, I entered the United States Army and was commissioned through the ROTC program. I served on Active Duty as Regular Army officer until January 31, 1970. I retired from the Army Reserve/Army National Guard in 1987 after 24 years total service. In Vietnam, I served in the Infantry with 2nd Battalion, 28^th Infantry, 2nd Brigade of the 1st Infantry Division supervising and conducting search and seal operations, and Commanded both C Battery, 1^st Battalion, 7^th Artillery and HHB, 1^st Infantry Division Artillery. Additionally while with 2nd Brigade, I served as an Aerial observer. I was there during the 1968 Tet Offensive and the Spring and Fall Counter Offensives of 1968. While on active duty I was assigned to various military installations and served oversea tours in Germany and South Vietnam. My Vietnam service began in early 1967 and continued through November 4,1968 with the U.S. Army First Infantry Division. I received the following decorations for my service:

Five Bronze Stars ( With “V” Device for Valor)

Purple Heart

2 Air Medals

The Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry w/ Palm

Two Army Commendations Medal (one with V Device for Valor)

The Vietnamese Campaign Medal & The Vietnam Service Ribbons

The Vietnamese Honor Medal 1^st Class

Combat Infantryman’s Badge & Air Crewman’s Wing

The National Defense Service Medal

3 Meritorious Unit Citations

I was a member of the Dekalb County Veteran’s Advisory Committee for several years, and a Past President and Chairman of the Board of the Atlanta Vietnam Veteran’s Business Association, where I have been a member since the mid 80’s. I currently serve on the board of directors. For the last 16 years, I have provided Pro Bono legal services to the VA Medical Center in Atlanta and was one of the organizing and founding members of the clinic. As part of the Georgia State Bar Military Legal Assistance Program (MLAP), since January 2013, I have also assisted in opening 4 new pro bono clinics throughout the state, at Ft MacPherson, Carrollton and Augusta. I have served on the Board of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation as a Vice president as well as other civic and charitable organizations in the past, to include the Atlanta and National Humane Societies. I also do volunteer work at the USO at the Atlanta Airport and assist with Oral History Interviews for the Legacy Project.

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Drew Early w/ Shewmaker & Shewmaker

Drew is an elder law attorney practicing in the greater Atlanta area.  He is experienced in probate and estate matters, adult guardianships and conservatorships, and trust work.  His elder law work led him into adult disability matters.  That, coupled with his career military experience, serves him well in assisting veterans and their families in matters before the VA.  He is published and a frequent CLE presenter on elder law and VA issues.  He is the immediate past Chair of the Military and Veteran Section of the GA State Bar and also serves on the Executive Committee of the GA State Bar’s Military and Legal Assistance Program.  He is a registered mediator and serves on the DeKalb County Probate Court’s Court-appointed list as a guardian ad litem.  He is admitted to a variety of courts, including the Supreme Court of the United States, the US Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, both Middle and Northern Districts of the US Courts for Georgia, and all State of Georgia courts.  He further serves as an adjunct professor at Emory University’s School of Law.

Education:  JD, Georgia State College of Law (cum laude), Atlanta GA; MA, US Army Command and General Staff College (with honors), FT Leavenworth KS; BS, US Military Academy, West Point NY.

Website       LinkedIn       AVVO 

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Josh Schiffer, Brad Parcells, Vera Starks, Rachel Lazarus, & Charlotte Merritt (Host)

Vera June Starks w/ Law Offices of Vera L. June, PA

Attorney Vera June Starks has excellent academic and professional credentials, outstanding communication skills and a relentless work ethic. Prior to attending Stetson University College of Law where she earned her Juris Doctor, Vera June gained invaluable experience as a legislative fellow for long-standing U.S. Representative Sheila Jackson Lee and later experience as a judicial intern with the Pinellas County courts.  She served as an associate in another prominent law firm prior to founding her own firm focused on practice areas that include civil litigation, business law and more.

Ms. June is licensed to practice in both Georgia and Florida, and she maintains offices in Dunwoody and the Orlando metro area. She is active in numerous professional organizations including the Atlanta Bar Association, the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys and the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association.

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Rachel Lazarus w/ Gwinett Legal Aid

Rachel Lazarus is a Staff Attorney for Atlanta Legal Aid Society’s Gwinnett County office and the Director of the Gwinnett Pro Bono Project. As Project Director with the Atlanta Legal Aid Society, Rachel works with local private attorneys to expand pro bono services to residents in Georgia’s fastest growing county. In 2012, Rachel successfully appealed a long-standing court practice of requiring recent violence before granting protective orders.  In Lewis v Lewis, the Court of Appeals agreed with Rachel’s argument that since the Family Violence Act does not contain time limits, the court abused its discretion by requiring recent violence. This appellate case greatly expanded the access of TPOs to long-time victims of domestic violence.

Rachel obtained her J.D. in 2001 from the University of Southern California School Of Law, where she participated in the school’s first Family Violence Clinic.  While there she studied with legal greats including Constitutional scholar Erwin Chemerinsky.

A Fulton County Daily Report “Rising Star,” Rachel is a member in good standing of the State Bars of Georgia and California, and is also licensed to practice before the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia and the Southern District of California, the Georgia Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Courts of Georgia and California. She is an active member of the Gwinnett County Bar Association, and teaches religious school at Congregation Beth Shalom.  Rachel lives in Dunwoody with her husband and two daughters.

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Brad Parcells w/ Aperio Coaching and Consulting

Aperio Coaching & Consulting is a professional coaching practice focusing on highly motivated men and women executives and leaders, age 35+ in corporate & non-profit service organizations, who believe they have more to offer themselves and their organization, who have a strong sense of their objectives and recognizes the need to measure their progress and success.

Coaching is a powerful process that enables the client to reveal and illuminate their authentic leadership style via a sharp focus on who they are at their core. Coaching is a highly confidential, trusting and open process that empowers a client to:

1. Increase their Self-Awareness.
2. Which facilitates greater Conscious Decision-Making.
3. Then forwards their decisions into focused and organized Action.
4. And ties in the key component of Accountability to measure progress.

Our coaching assists executives and leaders to improve their effectiveness, which drives both individual and organization results, greater team dynamics, goal achievement, and a stronger, more productive environment.

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Co-Host Josh Schiffer appeared previously on the show.  His bio can be found here.