Justia Legal Services & Lawyers Directory

John has Spent His Legal Career Fighting for His Clients Throughout Georgia and Gainesville, Hall County (whether it be an auto accident, criminal charge or general litigation). Additionally, John is a Registered Court Mediator and Helps Parties Resolve Their Disputes via Mediation.

Plaintiff's Personal Injury:
Gainesville, Hall County, Georgia attorney John Breakfield represents those that need a lawyer because of an auto accident, car wreck, trucking accident, tractor trailer wreck (18 wheeler), property damage, a DUI driver, negligence, intentional torts, slip and fall or helping the family of a wrongful death victim.

John, as a lawyer in our Hall County law firm, knows the process and has assisted clients by dealing with insurance companies, insurance adjusters and insurance defense lawyers on important issues like: lost wages, pain and suffering, fair compensation for injuries and damages, accident reports, photos, witnesses, police reports, medical bills, medical records and trial or settlement.

Criminal Defense:
Additionally, John Breakfield, as a criminal defense lawyer has represented numerous clients through out all of Georgia, Hall County and Gainesville.

John, as a criminal defense attorney in our Gainesville, Hall County, Georgia office informs clients of the options in their case, whether it be a jury trial, bench trial, a negotiated plea, a motion to attack the case on legal grounds or alternative sentencing options (such as drug and alcohol counseling), First Offender Act, Nolo Plea, conditional discharge or pretrial diversion.

If you need a lawyer anywhere in Georgia and have been charges with possession of marijuana, cocaine, meth, underage possession of alcohol, consumption of alcohol by a minor, shoplifting, burglary, possession with intent, manufacturing, DUI/ D.U.I. (Driving Under the Influence), assault, battery, Family Violence Act (FVA), or any other crime, please understand that you have rights and the presumption of innocence.

Mediator/Mediation:
After seeing the large number of cases being fairly and efficiently resolved in mediation, attorney John Breakfield decided to take the training to become a registered mediator with the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution and the local office of the 9th District.

As a mediator, based in Gainesville, Georgia, John understands that his job is not to simply pass dollar amounts back and forth, but to listen to each party and to engage the parties in a meaningful discussion about the strengths and weakness of both sides of the case. If both parties can agree upon a reasonable resolution, then a formal written agreement can be reached in order to resolve the matter without the need for further court or trial.

Likewise, attorney Breakfield can also assist our clients through out Georgia that have Business Litigation, Real Estate Litigation or Eminent Domain/ Condemnation/ Government Taking cases.

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

Samuel J. Siemon is the founding partner of The Siemon Law Firm, P.C. Sam, an experienced litigator, practices in the areas of family law and criminal defense. Sam received his Business Degree from Flagler College in Florida and his Juris Doctorate from Nova Southeastern University. Sam is a member of the Georgia State Bar, the Atlanta Bar Association Family Division, Lanier Forsyth Rotary, Lanier Jaycees, was recently elected as the President of the Forsyth County Bar Association, served as the Vice President of the Forsyth County Bar Association (2007-2008) and as the Secretary/Treasurer (2006-2007). In addition, Sam volunteers his time as an attorney coach for the Forsyth Central High School's Mock Trial Team (2008-2009). When Sam, also a licensed private pilot, is not tirelessly advocating for his clients, he enjoys flying with his wife and daughter.

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.

I’m attorney Rhonda Siler from North Georgia Legal Services your North Georgia mountain area low cost legal services provider. I provide affordable and quality legal services in all areas of family law with a primary focus on uncontested or no-fault divorces. You are not alone and you do not have to try and do it yourself. Affordable help is just a phone call or email away.

Nora Polk, a native Texan, received her B.A. in Political Science from Texas A&M University and her Juris Doctor from the University of Cincinnati College of Law. During her law school career, she attended the University of Cape Town in South Africa to study comparative justice through a Study Abroad program.

Ms. Polk worked for Atlanta Legal Aid Society for over eight years in the Downtown and Gwinnett County offices. She handled an active caseload of domestic relations, family violence, housing, consumer, public benefits, and disability cases. She was the supervising attorney of the Gwinnett office, managing student interns, paralegals, and new lawyers.

In July 2007, Nora Polk partnered with fellow Atlanta Legal Aid supervising attorney, Adrienne Ashby. Ashby & Polk, LLC, is located in downtown Atlanta. It is a law firm specializing in wills, trusts, estate planning, powers of attorney, guardianship, probate, elder law, divorce, custody, legitimation, and child support.


She has been featured in local publications, including the Atlanta Bar Magazine. She has also appeared on television as a legal expert for the local news and as a guest speaker on Layman’s Lawyer.


Ms. Polk is a member of the State Bar of Georgia, the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys, and the Gwinnett County Bar Association. She is a member of the Founding Class of the State Bar of Georgia Young Lawyers Division’s Leadership Academy.


Ms. Polk is married to Philip Polk. They have two sons, Kobie Alexander Polk and Nile Christopher Polk.

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.

My mission is to empower and advise clients on matters of family, home, and business.

Mr. Villanueva graduated from Emory University, Magna Cum Laude in 2000 majoring in Political Science and minoring in Economics. Mr. Villanueva attended Syracuse University College of Law and obtained his juris doctor and masters in Economics from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University in 2003. While at Syracuse Law, Mr. Villanueva had worked as an assistant to the Commercial Real Estate Practice Group at Pyramid Managment Group, Inc. in Syracuse, New York. Mr. Villanueva was an Associate Editor of the Syracuse Law and Technology Journal and member of the Corporate Counsel Certificate Program as well as the Law and Market Economy Program.

Mr. Villanueva is former judicial law clerk to the Honorable Diane J. Larsen of the Cook County Circuit Court in Chicago, Illinois.

Mr. Villanueva practiced residential and commercial real estate, corporate law and bankruptcy and was previously employed by Krevolin & Horst, LLC, The Moss Law Firm, LLC and The Johnson Law Group ALG (Of Counsel) prior to opening his practice in 2007.

Mr. Villaneuva resides in Atlanta, Georgia and is a legal instructor at Gwinnett College where he continues to teach bankruptcy and family law. Mr. Villanueva is a probono volunteer Attorney with the Georgia Legal Services Program Piedmont Division in Atlanta as well as a member of the Gwinnett County Bar Association and the Syracuse Alumni Association of Atlanta.

Mr. Villanueva was born in 1977 in Agana, Guam (U.S. Territory) and is proud son of Chief Petty Officer Ricardo P. Villanueva United State Navy (deceased) and Nelly C. Villanueva, US Veterans Administration Registered Nurse and proud brother of Gigi Lynn Estrada Registered Nurse.

Mr. Villanueva enjoys playing guitar, singing, reading, volunteering, running and painting.

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.

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

See Web Sit at "www.claydavislaw.com"

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

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.