Justia Legal Services & Lawyers Directory

Robert Speer, The Magic Lawyer®, was born in Atlanta GA, and has been a resident of Georgia all of his life. He has lived in Cherokee County GA for almost 19 years, and has been a trial lawyer for almost 20 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 extremely good legal representation!

Prior to attending law school, I served in the United States Army as an Infantry Officer. I served as a Rifle Platoon Leader, Mortar Platoon Leader, Instructor, Battalion Staff Officer and an Infantry Rifle Company Commander.

I began practicing law in Canton, Georgia in 1993. After obtaining a Master of Laws concentrating in litigation, I logged several thousand hours in the courtroom developing a practice in domestic relations, criminal law and commercial litigation. In 2007 I was certified as a mediator, using my years of courtroom experience coupled with alternative dispute resolution training to help people resolve complex issues without excessive unnecessary costs of litigation. Conversely, I am able to apply the tactics and techniques I learn as a mediator as a tool to more effectively advocate for my clients.

Practice Areas

Since 2000, Mr. Meriwether has focused seventy percent (70%) of his practice on family law and thirty percent (30%) on business law. Through time, he has found that family and business law complement each other well in practice, as his skills from one area transfer easily to the other. Business litigation cases tend to require fewer Court appearances, but the family law cases of Mr. Meriwether's practice has afforded him the opportunity to appear in Court more often and hone skills necessary both for family law and business litigation. Mr. Meriwether's business litigation and transactional work provide the experience and ability to examine and tirelessly move through financial documents, both for business cases, including personal and small businesses, as well as family law cases involving large marital estates in need of equitable division.

Mr. Meriwether utilizes the latest computer software to maintain detailed and comprehensive records of his complex cases. This software allows Mr. Meriwether and his clients to quickly access case information and ensures that no details of the case are overlooked.

Family Law

Mr. Meriwether handles a broad range of family law cases, including divorce, adoption, child custody and support modification, adoption, domestic violence, and premarital agreements. He regularly deals with marital assets ranging from those of little or even negative value to those worth millions of dollars, and competently calculates spousal and child support when applicable.

Mr. Meriwether has said, "In the Courtroom, we zealously represent our clients. But often, fierce litigation is not the best way to resolve a divorce, and we work to settle cases through active negotiation. A divorce can be the most life altering and stressful event anyone can go through, but it does not have to be." To help alleviate the stress often involved in family law cases, Mr. Meriwether takes a collaborative approach to family law. This approach involves utilizing negotiation and mediation to help maintain an amicable relationship between the parties. In cases with children, collaborative law protects the children above all else, creates a win/win situation for the parties, and the parties walk away as satisfied as possible.

In some family law cases, collaborative law will not work, or is inappropriate. Mr. Meriwether evaluates every case on an individual basis to determine how aggressive to approach the case based on the facts, the Court in which the case will be heard, and the Judge who will hear the case. The goal is to achieve the best possible outcome for an individual client. In Mr. Meriwether's experience, compared to a more subtle approach, a "take no prisoners" attitude often results in higher lawyer's fees without a corresponding increase in the achieved result. As such, Mr. Meriwether aims to provide the correct level of aggressiveness to each case for the best result possible.

Business Law

Mr. Meriwether handles a variety of business law cases including simple and complicated business formations, and business divorces. He routinely forms Limited Liability Companies and Corporations. In so doing, he often is asked to draft complex contracts to assist the new business entity with its operations. He also assists clients with the buying and selling of businesses (including the due diligence associated with this process).

Mr. Meriwether views business formations involving a group of friends or acquaintances as marriages, albeit financial ones, and he excels in spotting potential pitfalls when parties are entering into a business relationship. He works hard to ensure that his clients enter into their business ventures well-informed and protected from whatever business complications they may encounter.

Membership

State Bar of Georgia (Member of the Family Law and Business Law Sections)
The Florida Bar
American Bar Association (Member of the Family Law and Business Law Sections)

Admissions
1996, Georgia
1996, Florida

Speaking Engagements
LLC Trends and Developments by National Business Institute. Continuing Legal Education for fellow attorneys.

Arbitration
In 2007, Mr. Meriwether obtained his certification for arbitration. He is ready to arbitrate any Family Law issues and most Business Law matters.

Professional Experience - Mr. Meriwether was admitted to practice law in Florida and Georgia in 1996. In 1998, Patrick L. Meriwether left the Atlanta office of Arthur Anderson and joined Robert Tharp to establish Meriwether & Tharp. His position at Arthur Anderson involved providing tax advice to a variety of large corporations. Mr. Meriwether; however, missed the personal satisfaction that comes with running his own practice and assisting small businesses and individuals with their legal needs. This is where he felt that he could really make the biggest difference.

Community Experience - Mr. Meriwether volunteers time to teach Judo to both children and adults. He holds a Black Belt in Judo and, when he competed in law school, he was the Florida State Champion in his weight division two years in a row. At the 2007 Georgia State Games, he won the gold in his division.

Harvard trained advocate providing dedicated, experienced and aggresive representation. Call today for free initial evaluation 770-753-9995.

DUSTIN W. HIGHTOWER grew up in Carroll County, Georgia where he graduated from Central High School (“CHS”) in 2000. While attending CHS, Dusty lettered in football, wrestling, and baseball. During Dusty’s senior year he served as captain of CHS’s football team along with his cousin Brian Maxwell (now a mechanical engineer at Southwire), and fellow classmate Josh Hubbard. Dusty also received the honor of representing his class as Homecoming King and Mr. CHS his senior year.

Upon graduating from CHS, Dusty attended the University of West Georgia (“UWG”) where he graduated cum laude. During Dusty’s time at UWG he was a member of the Chi Phi Fraternity, Beta Gamma Sigma Business Honors Society, Order of Omega Honors Society, University Ambassadors, Student Activities Council, Student Government Association, and the Inter Fraternity Council. Dusty particularly enjoyed the time that he served as President of Recruitment for the Inter Fraternity Council because he was allowed to plan the Greek recruitment process for UWG, and speak at orientation sessions on the importance of networking and how fraternities can assist members in establishing a solid networking foundation. Aside from his multiple on campus commitments Dusty managed to continuously make his grades a top priority. Dusty regularly made the National Deans List, was named an Ingram Scholar, and received the Spark’s Memorial medal (Chi Phi’s highest GPA award) three out of the four years he was in school. Dusty continues to be dedicated to UWG by currently serving on UWG’s National Alumni Association.

Shortly after graduating from UWG Dusty decided to attended law school. Dusty received his Doctor of Jurisprudence from John Marshall Law School of Atlanta. While in law school, Dusty was selected to serve as Notes and Comments Editor on John Marshall’s inaugural law review journal, John Marshall Law Journal. Dusty was honored by having his comment, Student Searches and Seizures: Georgia’s Current Approach and Recommended Change, chosen as one out of only four student pieces to be published. While in law school, Dusty was also a member of the American Constitutional Society and the Phi Alpha Delta Legal Fraternity.

Dusty did not only study the law while in law school, he also found ways to practice the law in his community. Under the Third Year Practice Act and the Graduate Act, Dusty returned to Carrollton and practiced law as a prosecutor beside Carroll County Solicitor Mr. Jimmy Tuggle. During his time in the Carroll County Solicitor’s Office, Dusty prosecuted DUI, theft, simple battery, and a variety of other criminal cases.

Dusty also became a certified mediator while in law school. Dusty put his mediation skills to work through an internship with the Fulton County Landlord/Tenant Program. During his time in this program, Dusty was able to mediate over 75 landlord/tenant disputes.

Dusty has now returned to his hometown area to practice law. Dusty is a hardworking, honest, dedicated, and driven individual that will work endlessly to provide you with the legal representation that you deserve. Dusty focuses most of his work on criminal defense where he is able to apply what he learned in the prosecutor’s office in a manner that is beneficial to his clients.

John R. Coleman, Jr. (Bob) has established himself as a leader in the North Georgia area both in and out of Court. Bob handles a wide variety of Domestic, Personal Injury and Business matters. He is a frequent lecturer at Family, Juvenile and Business law seminars. His experience has also assisted him in his role as a registered mediator. His memberships include the Northeastern Bar Association, State Bar of Georgia, American Bar Association and ATLA. He graduated from Walter F. George, Mercer University in 1989 and has made Gainesville, Hall County his home.

Teresa Garcia’s practice concentrates in the field of Family Law, Adoptions and Wills. She handles contested and uncontested divorces, child custody, child support, alimony, visitation, paternity/legitimation, amendment of birth certificates, name changes, enforcement of judicial orders, post-judgment agreements, family violence protective orders and prenuptial agreements.

Ms. Garcia handles contested and uncontested adoptions for relative adoptions, step-parent adoptions, independent adoptions (where adoptive parents are not related to the child), agency adoptions, adult adoptions, domestication of foreign adoptions, and re-adoptions.

Ms. Garcia also handles wills, estate planning, powers of attorney and guardianships.

She represents clients in all metro-Atlanta counties including the outer counties of Georgia. She is fluent in Spanish.

Amanda has Fought for the Best Interest of Children Involved in Hall County Juvenile Court and also as a Guardian ad Litem through out Georgia and Gainesville.

Gainesville, Georgia lawyer Amanda Dean has devoted much of her time to the practice of law for and on behalf of children. Attorney Dean has been selected by the Georgia Attorney General to be a Special Assistant Attorney General and represents the Hall County Department of Family and Children Services in Hall County Juvenile Court. Attorney Dean handles deprivation cases arising from allegations of abuse or neglect of children. As a lawyer, Attorney Dean is actively involved in all aspects of the court process from the initial removal of the child from a parentsâ home until either reunification of the child with the parent or termination of pa rental rights and adoption. Attorney Dean assists our clients in evaluating what is in the best interest of the child and then works to achieve the desired outcome, whether it is placement of the child with a relative or in the custody of the parents pursuant to a protective order.

Likewise, Attorney Dean in is a trained Guardian ad Litem charged with conducting an independent investigation in the Superior Courts of Georgia including divorce and child custody cases and then presenting a report and recommendation to the Judge regarding what is in the childâs best interest.

Additionally, Amanda assists our law firm clients in various areas including, but not limitedto Business Formation, Contracts, Collections, drafting of Wills and Estates, and assisting clients in Probate.

Please visit our website to learn more: www.GainesvilleGeorgiaLawyers.com

Candace Williams was born and raised in Gainesville, Georgia. She is the daughter of Paulette Cain. Ms. Williams is a graduate of North Hall High School Class of 1993. She then attended Brenau Women's College and earned her degree in Political Science in 1997, cum laude. Ms. Williams was very active while attending Brenau. She served as her sorority Vice President, Alpha Chi Omega, for two years, Vice President of the Student Body, the college Senate Board, and many other groups. Ms. Williams graduated from Brenau with distinction from the Political Science/History Department. Ms. Williams then moved to Washington D.C. and worked for Congressman Bob Barr, then was offered a position as a lobbyist for a civil liberties organization. She left D.C. after four years to attend law school with her brother, Adam Cain. Ms. Williams attended law school at Mississippi College School of Law and earned her degree in only two years. She competed in the school wide Moot Court competition and became the honored overall Winner after being selected following oral argument before the Mississippi Supreme Court and Court of Appeals. She later was selected to compete nationally at the American Bar Association National Moot Court Competition against the best law schools in the Country. Ms. Williams was named a semi-finalist after arguing before the Supreme Court of Texas. After early graduation from law school, Ms. Williams returned to her hometown to practice law. She was blessed to find Coleman & Chambers, LLP and immediately began clerking after taking the State Bar Exam. After successfully passing the Georgia Bar Exam, Ms. Williams became an Associate Attorney for Coleman & Chambers, LLP. She is now a law firm Partner, the first female partner of her esteemed group. Ms. Williams practices solely in the area of Family Law. This involves complex divorce cases, contempts, modifications, adoptions, legitimations, paternity actions, and reviewing various legal documents for domestic clients. Ms. Williams is extremely hands on with her clients, and is supported by a wonderful team in the Family Law Department.

I help people achieve the best possible results working through the challenges of litigation in family law, personal injury, and workers compensation cases. I'm a 1981 Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Virginia's Economics Honors Program and a 1986 graduate of the University of Georgia Law School. I was born and raised in Atlanta, and I've practiced law in the metro Atlanta area since 1986 and in Marietta since 1990. I served as President of the Cobb County Bar Association in 2001-2002, and I've practiced in front of almost every Judge in the northwest metro Atlanta area (Cobb, Cherokee, and Paulding Counties among others).

Michelle R. Clark, the firm owner, is a trial lawyer whose practice focuses on criminal and domestic litigation. She has successfully litigated civil and criminal matters. She is a skilled and seasoned litigator.


Member of Henry County Bar Association; Association of Trial Lawyers, Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, and American Bar Association

Appointed as State of Georgia , Special Assistant Attorney General representing Henry County DFACS in 2004;

Selected as the first Davis-Wright Tremaine Scholar (1990-1993);

Member of Puget Sound Inn of Courts, Moot Court Board, National Moot Court Quarterfinalist for Frederick Douglas Moot Court Team; Western Regional Best Petitioner's Brief.

Welcome to Jones Law, LLC. We are a full-service law firm located in Dawson County, Georgia. We specialize in civil & criminal litigation. Clients from the greater Atlanta and North Georgia areas are welcome! Please feel free to contact us with any questions. You may reach us by telephone at (678) 947-4687 or by e-mail at info@JonesLawLLC.com.

The following is a listing of the firm's typical areas of practice and may not necessarily include every type of law we handle. Please contact us with any inquiries or for additional information.

Personal Injury Claims: Automobile Accidents; Premise Liability; Product Liability; Medical Malpractice; Wrongful Death

Family Law / Domestic Matters: Prenuptial Agreements; Separation Agreements; Divorce Actions; Child Custody & Support Actions; Temporary Protective Orders; Modifications of Prior Decrees

Criminal Defense: Misdemeanor and Felony Charges; Probation/Parole/Pretrial Bond Violations; State, Superior, and Federal Court Cases

Probate & Estate Matters: Probate Litigation; Trust & Estate Planning; Powers of Attorney & Living Wills

Corporate Formation & Joint Ventures, Corporate Counsel

Commercial Collections

Business Litigation & Contractual Disputes

Employment-Related Litigation

Real Estate Litigation

Beverly has been practicing divorce and family law in Cobb and the surrounding counties since 1992. Although she represents clients in all situations, a significant portion of her practice involves representing victims of domestic abuse in divorce actions. Beverly understands the dynamics of domestic abuse and that the primary concern of victims is ending the abuse. With her knowledge, experience, and creativity, Beverly has successfully reduced and, in many instances, eliminated the opportunities for further abuse.

Since 1992, Beverly has also taught a popular pre-divorce seminar that she designed, "What You Need to Know Before You File for Divorce"TM. This comprehensive seminar is designed for anyone who is contemplating divorce but does not know what to expect. In one 2-1/2 hour seminar, Beverly covers over 20 topics related to divorce including alimony, child support, custody, property division, contempt, and modification. She also covers both legal and practical ways to protect yourself, your children, and your property. Nowhere else can anyone obtain so much information all in one place. For more information, email GaDivorceSeminar@aol.com or to register for the seminar jtucker@marietta-city.k12.ga.us

Next seminar Tuesday, November 17, 2009