Mr. Jeremy Jamal Abernathy Related Seminars and Products

Abernathy Ditzel Hendrick, LLC.

Jeremy grew up in the west Cobb county area, and graduated from John McEachern High School in 1997.  He then graduated from Morehouse College (Bachelor of Arts, 2001), and Loyola University of New Orleans College of Law (Juris Doctorate, 2005).

Jeremy practices family law at the law firm, Abernathy, Ditzel, Hendrick, LLC. in Marietta, Georgia.  Jeremy has been named a Super Lawyer and Georgia Trend Legal Elite Attorney.  Jeremy is the vice chair Family Law Section for the State Bar of Georgia.  Jeremy also is a municipal court judge in Woodstock, Georgia.

Mr. Jonathan Victor Dunn Related Seminars and Products

Jonathan V Dunn PC

Jonathan Dunn has managed the firm of Jonathan V. Dunn, P.C., since its inception in late 2018.  His principal practice areas include Family Law and Criminal Defense.  Jonathan currently serves as Chair to the Executive Committee of the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Georgia and is a former editor of the Family Law Review.

Jonathan was previously a founding partner in the firm of Johnson, Kraeuter & Dunn, from 2012-2018, an associate at McCorkle & Johnson, from 2008-2012, and an Assistant District Attorney with the Eastern Judicial Circuit from 2003-2008.  Before moving to Savannah in 2003, Jonathan was an associate at the firm of Thompson & Sweeny, in Lawrenceville.

Jonathan was admitted to the practice of law in 2002 after graduating from the University of Georgia School of Law.  He received a Bachelor of Arts in English and Latin at Mercer University, and is privileged to have taught English and coached Wrestling at Landmark Christian School in Fairburn for two years between his undergraduate studies and law school.

Jonathan is pleased to call Savannah his home, where he and his wife, Sharnette, have raised their two sons, Hunter and Stewart, and he enjoys availing himself of volunteer and sponsorship opportunities at Benedictine Military School, America's Second Harvest, the 1804 Club, and the  Central Savannah River Area Heart Ball.

Ms. Kathleen Burt Connell Related Seminars and Products

Connell Cummings LLC

Katie Connell has been practicing family law exclusively since graduating Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University in 2005. 

Ms. Connell is a fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and currently serves as the Georgia Chapter Secretary, as well as a member of the national Board of Governors. She has been a member of the Georgia Commission on Child Support for since her appointment by Governor Nathan Deal in 2013 where she currently co-chairs the Statute Review Committee. Ms. Connell is also on the Executive Committee for the Family Law Section for the State Bar of Georgia.

Ms. Connell has served numerous other committees in a variety of roles including as the past president of the Charles L. Weltner Family Law Inn of Court, past Chair for the Young Lawyers Division, Family Law Section. 

She is consistently recognized as a Georgia Super Lawyer by her peers, including Top 100 Super Lawyers, and Top 50 Women Lawyers. She has also been named one of Georgia Trend’s “Legal Elite, Georgia’s Most Effective Lawyers.”

Ms. Connell graduated with a B.S.B.A. in Accounting (2001) and Master’s in Accounting (2002) from Auburn University. A native of Savannah, Ga., Katie now lives in Atlanta with her husband and sons.

Ms. Elizabeth Green Lindsey Related Seminars and Products

Harrison LLP

Elizabeth Green Lindsey is a partner in Harrison LLP and practices exclusively in the area of family law.  Ms. Lindsey is a Fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) and is a Past President of AAML, a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers, a Past President of the Georgia Chapter of the AAML, a Fellow in the International Academy of Family Lawyers, a Diplomate in The American College of Family Trial Lawyers, a former Chair of the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Georgia, served on the Rules Committee for the Family Division of the Superior Court of Fulton County and the Task Force for the Family Division, and is a Master in the Charles Longstreet Weltner Family Law Inn of Court.   She now serves as President of the National Board of Trial Advocacy and is board certified by the NBTA in family law trial advocacy.

Ms. Lindsey was named the “2022 Lawyer of the Year in Family Law in Atlanta” by Best Lawyers in America. She received the AAML Fellow of the Year in 2018.  Ms. Lindsey is listed in the 2025 Chambers High New Worth Guide: High New Worth in Georgia,  2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Family Lawyers, Best Lawyers in America, in Atlanta Magazine’s “Georgia Super Lawyers” Top 50 Women Lawyers, Georgia’s Best Lawyers, and in Georgia’s Top Rated Lawyers.  In addition, she is a frequent lecturer on family law matters.

Ms. Lindsey attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree with Honors in Religion in 1982.  She double majored in Religion and Psychology.  In 1985, she received her Juris Doctorate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Ms. Lindsey was admitted to the North Carolina Bar in 1985 and to the Georgia Bar in 1989.

Ms. Kim Christine Martin Related Seminars and Products

Harrison LLP

Kim Martin is a trusts and estates attorney in Atlanta. Her practice focuses on estate planning for families with a disabled family member. Her areas of expertise also include guardianship/ conservatorship and divorce settlement agreements in cases that involve a child with special needs.
As the mother of two beautiful children, one of whom has Autism, Kim brings to her practice an appreciation for the unique challenges and joys of parenting a special needs child.
Kim was admitted to the practice of law in Georgia in 1999. She earned her law degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1999). She has a bachelor’s degree in English Literature from the University of Virginia (1990). 
Kim's publications include articles in Trusts and Estates Magazine and Family Lawyer Magazine. She is a frequent speaker on subjects related to special needs issues. Her appearances as a speaker include numerous workshops hosted by Families of Children Under Stress (FOCUS); the annual Special Needs Conference at Stetson University (October 2021 and 2022); the Chattanooga Estate Planning Council (October 2021); and the Estate Planning and Probate Section of the Atlanta Bar Association (December 2019). 

Mr. William Craig King Related Seminars and Products

The Manely Firm PC

Bill King is a Partner Managing Attorney for The Manely Firm, P.C. in Marietta and Columbus offices. Bill works directly on litigation matters, counseling and representing men, women, and children in state, interstate, and international family law matters. His practice includes divorce, marital property, custody, child support, alimony, and adoptions. Bill is also a key member of the Firm’s estate planning and probate law branch.

Bill has served as a student intern, runner secretary, receptionist, office clerk, paralegal, and law clerk for The Manely Firm, P.C. As a law clerk, he assisted on a number of complex international custody cases including cases in Costa Rica, France, Germany, Mexico, Scotland, and England. Bill also assisted Michael Manely as a law clerk on his United State Supreme Court Appeal.

Bill is a proud graduate of Georgia State University College of Law and completed his undergraduate studies at Reinhardt University where he played on the university's baseball team. Bill is active in his community and serves as a Georgia State University College of Law Alumni Board Member as well as a presenter for the Cobb Bar Association's CLE series on International Family Law views. He is active with the Kiwanis Club of Marietta and was recognized by Cobb Life Magazine as one of 2021, 2022, and 2023's Best of Cobb's "Best Individual Attorney" and 2022 and 2023's "Best Tax and Estate Planning Attorney." Bill was honored by Forsyth County News as 2022's Best of Forsyth's "Best Estate Planning Attorney" and again by Gwinnett Magazine as 2022-2024's Best of Gwinnett's "Best Estate Planning Attorney." Bill has also been selected as a Super Lawyers 'Rising Star' for 2020-2025. Finally, Bill was awarded by Savannah Morning News and SavannahNow.com as Best of the Coastal Empire's 2022-23 "Best Estate Planning Attorney" as well as leading the team to be recognized as a top-three finalists for Best of the Coastal Empire's "Best Law Firm."

Bill lives in Marietta with his wife Allison and their two children. Bill enjoys cooking, traveling, playing golf, and donating his time to pro bono efforts and non-profits.

Mr. Michael Eric Manely Related Seminars and Products

The Manely Firm PC

Michael has practiced divorce and family law for more than 30 years and has prevailed in thousands of family law cases. He is admitted to practice law in the Supreme Court of The United States of America, the Supreme Court of Georgia, the Georgia Court of Appeals, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia, the United States District Court District of South Carolina, the United States District Court Eastern District of Tennessee, the United States District Court Northern District of Alabama, the United States District Court Northern District of Iowa, the United States District Court Northern District of Florida, the United States District Court for the District of Montana, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.

On December 5, 2012 he delivered oral argument before the Supreme Court of the United States in Chafin v. Chafin, 133 S. Ct. 1017, 568 US 165, 185 L. Ed. 2d 1 - Supreme Court, 2013, securing a unanimous victory and establishing that parents who have a child removed from the United States have standing regarding their custodial interests. The decision has been cited over 950 times. Michael is the only all family law attorney to win unanimous decisions from both the U.S. Supreme Court and the Supreme Court of Georgia! Michael has built a reputation for winning difficult, controversial and high-profile cases. He has successfully represented thousands of mothers and fathers in state, federal and international divorce, custody and child support cases and serves as lead counsel on complex cases or at his clients' request, while lending his strategic guidance and legal insight to the casework of his team.

Michael has become one of the most sought-after international family law attorneys in Georgia, representing clients in federal court throughout the United States and in select foreign jurisdictions. Michael has successfully resolved cases from every continent in the world, except Antarctica and served as an expert witness on international child abduction in court proceedings in the United States and Scotland. Michael coordinates with the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Consuls General, foreign counsel and court systems in jurisdictions throughout the world in the resolution of his client’s cases. A list of published and notable cases are referenced herein.

Michael is also sought after to present on family law, international family law and family law appeals having delivered remarks to The State Bar of Georgia, The State Bar of Georgia’s Family Law Section, The State Bar of Georgia’s Access to Justice Committee, The State Bar of Georgia’s Appellate Section, The Cobb Bar’s Young Professionals Section, The Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, and Global Atlanta’s Consular Conversations. He was recognized by American University with the Mary Beth Tinker Award in 2005 and the University of Denver’s Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System as a thought leader in the delivery of family law services in 2016, participating in the publication of The Family Law Bar Stewards of the System, Leaders of Change.

Michael's professional affiliations include the International Society of Family Law, the American Bar Association Family Law Section and International Section, the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, the State of Georgia Bar Association Family Law Section and the Cobb County Bar Association. He is an active member of Cobb Chamber of Commerce, Cobb Select’s International Business Council, sponsoring the Council’s 2021-24 events and activities. He is an active partner with Global Atlanta in service and support of Georgia’s consulate community. Michael has been selected as one of the 2022-2025 Super Lawyers and was recognized by the National Academy of Family Law Attorneys with the 2022 Nationally Ranked Top 10 Attorney Award for excellence in the field of Family Law. Michael also often speaks to various legal communities on topics of interest, recently serving as a featured speaker in Family Law to the Latinx and Caribbean Law Student Association. He has also had the pleasure of being a guest on Forsyth County RadioX podcast and a featured Keynote speaker for the AIB Network original series individually titled Soulful Divorce.

Michael was recognized by Cobb Life Magazine as one of 2021-24’s Best of Cobb’s “Best Family Law Divorce Attorney” and “Best Overall Attorney.”

Mrs. Roslyn Grant Holcomb Related Seminars and Products

The Grant Group

Attorney Holcomb is a native of Atlanta, Georgia. Born to loving parents, Larry and Linda Grant, also of Atlanta.  Attorney Holcomb is a proud “Double Dawg.” She received both her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and her Juris Doctorate in law from the University of Georgia.        Attorney Holcomb secured her license to practice in May of 2006.

Attorney Holcomb began her legal career as a Legal Advocate for the Flint Circuit Counsel Against Family Violence.  As Legal Advocate she helped victims of domestic violence obtain protective orders against their abusers.

In 2008, Attorney Holcomb hung out her own shingle, The Grant Group.  Over the past seventeen years, The Grant Group has continued as a boutique family law practice whereby Attorney Holcomb practices family law exclusively, litigating issues related to divorce, child custody, child support, legitimations, and domestic violence.  Between November 2016 and August 2020, Attorney Holcomb had the privilege to serve as Judicial Officer in Fulton County Superior Court's, Family Division.

In addition to practicing and presiding, Attorney Holcomb has continued her early custom of participating in various civic and social organizations.  Attorney Holcomb served for two years as Mock Trial Coach at her alma mater Stockbridge High School. She has volunteered for such non-profit parent advocate organizations as the Single Parent Coalition and The Fatherless Generation.  She has also routinely volunteered as speaker for pro se Family Law Workshops in both Henry and Fulton counties as well as for World Changers Church's Annual Law Day.  Attorney Holcomb is a member of the Magnum Opus Honor Society comprised of University of Georgia School of Law alum.  Additionally, Attorney Holcomb currently serves as Member-at-Large of the Family Law Section’s Executive Committee. 

Attorney Holcomb has had the privilege of speaking at multiple Continuing Legal Education Conferences and Seminars, most notably, the 2015 & 2022 Family Law Institutes and at the 2016 Superior Court Judges Conference in Athens, Georgia.

When she is not working, Attorney Holcomb enjoys spending quality time with the loves of her life, her husband of 6 years, Allan Holcomb, and her 5-year-old daughter, Allyson Holcomb, as well as other close family and friends.  She also enjoys listening to music, taking in the sites of the city, and both interstate and travel abroad. 

For over 15 years, Attorney Holcomb was an active member of New Life Church in Decatur, Georgia. There she was a part of the Usher Ministry and the Student Education Support Ministry, where she helped prepare students for the SAT.  Last year, Attorney Holcomb joined One Church, in Fayetteville, Georgia where she now serves with the Children's Ministry, One Kids.

Hon. Shawn Ellen LaGrua Related Seminars and Products

Supreme Court of Georgia

Shawn Ellen LaGrua has been a Justice on the Supreme Court of Georgia since January 7, 2021. Prior to joining the Supreme Court, Justice LaGrua was appointed to the Superior Court of the Atlanta Judicial Circuit by then-Governor Sonny Perdue and was sworn in on June 29, 2010. She served on the bench in the Superior Court of the Atlanta Judicial Circuit until January 2021, having been elected in 2012 and reelected in 2016 and 2020. Before serving on the Fulton County bench, Justice LaGrua served as Inspector General for the Georgia Secretary of State and has over 20 years of trial experience, serving as Chief Senior Assistant District Attorney in DeKalb and Fulton Counties, and Chief Assistant District Attorney in the Tallapoosa Circuit. Additionally, she served as the Solicitor General for DeKalb County. 

While on the bench in Fulton County, Justice LaGrua initiated and presided over “My Journey Matters,” a pilot accountability program designed to divert young offenders from a lifetime of incarceration, and presided over the Court’s first Re-Entry Court, which worked to integrate prior offenders back into the community using close supervision, substance abuse counseling, job-training, and advancing education. In 2016, Justice LaGrua received the St. Thomas Moore Award from the St. Thomas Moore Society in recognition of “specific actions manifesting a commitment to justice and humanity, especially in difficult circumstances” related in part to her formation of and continued commitment to the My Journey Matters Program.

In May 2020, Justice LaGrua was appointed by then-Chief Justice Harold D. Melton as the Chair of the Supreme Court’s COVID-19 Task Force. In January 2019, she was appointed by Governor Brian Kemp to be a member of the Judicial Nominating Commission. She was appointed by Governor Nathan Deal and re-appointed by Governor Kemp to the Georgia Child Support Commission and served as Chair of the Judicial Council’s Process Servers Committee. Justice LaGrua also served as the President of the Council of Superior Court Judges in 2019-2020. She served on the Legislative Support Team, as vice-chair for the Access to Fairness and Justice Committee, and as a member of the Accountability Court and Bench and Bar Committees. She is a former member of the Criminal Justice Reform Sub-Committee, and she has served as the Chair of the Judicial Section of the State Bar of Georgia.

Justice LaGrua was recently awarded the 2024 Kathleen Kessler Award by the Georgia Association of Women Lawyers. In 2022, she was inducted into the Georgia State University College of Law Order of the Barristers. She is a founding member and past Chair of the Georgia Association of Women Lawyers, Judicial Application Review Committee.

She is currently serving as President of the Georgia State College of Law Logan E. Bleckley Inn of Court, Chair of the Judicial Council Standing Committee on Judicial Security, co-chair of the Judicial Council Standing Committee on Technology, liaison to the Judicial Workload Assessment Committee, advisor to the Ad Hoc Committee on Judicial Emergency Preparedness, and co-chair of the Judicial Nominating Commission. After graduating from the University of Georgia, Justice LaGrua received her Juris Doctorate from the Georgia State University College of Law. She is the daughter of Brooks and Anne LaGrua, career military parents. She is married to husband Chris and has two step-sons and two Bernese Mountain dog rescues. 

Hon. Benjamin Arthur Land Related Seminars and Products

Georgia Court of Appeals

2022 – Present

Benjamin A. Land was appointed as a judge of the Court of Appeals on July 20, 2022.

A lifelong resident of Columbus, Judge Land graduated with Highest Honors as a First Honor Graduate, Summa Cum Laude, from the University of Georgia in 1989, finishing with a 4.0 grade point average.  He also graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1992, finishing second in his class of 202 students.  While in Law School, he received numerous academic awards, served on the Editorial Board of the Georgia Law Review, clerked for the Georgia Supreme Court, and was elected to the Order of the Coif.

Following Law School, Judge Land had a private law practice in Columbus, focusing on civil litigation and trial practice. During his nearly 26 year career as a private practice attorney, he represented plaintiffs and defendants in a wide variety of cases, obtained several record setting verdicts, and played a key role in the defense of numerous nationwide class action lawsuits. During those years, Judge Land engaged in significant complex litigation, tried cases to jury verdicts, earned the respect of his colleagues, and thoroughly enjoyed being in the courtroom.

Judge Land left the private practice of law on February 7, 2018 when Governor Nathan Deal appointed him to serve as a Superior Court judge for the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit. Judge Land was elected to continue in that position on June 9, 2020 and continued to serve as a trial judge until his appointment to the Court of Appeals. During his time on the Superior Court bench, Judge Land was known for his fairness and impartiality, his efficiency and work ethic, his courage and compassion, and his unquestioned integrity. While a trial judge, Judge Land served on the Council of Superior Court Judges Budget Committee and Pattern Jury Instructions Committee, and he was asked to speak to his fellow judges at their judicial training conference.

Judge Land has been active in his profession and his community. He has served on numerous community and law-related boards, has spoken on the topic of trial advocacy at statewide continuing legal education seminars, and has spoken to numerous civic groups, bar associations, and legal and judicial conferences. During his law practice, Judge Land was presented with the William B. Spann, Jr. Award for Pro Bono Advocacy for his efforts on behalf of a pro bono client whose case he handled from the trial court level until its successful conclusion in the Georgia Supreme Court. Judge Land is a graduate of Leadership Columbus and has served as the President of the Columbus Bar Association, President of the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit Bar Association, President of the Columbus Inn of Court, District Representative for the State Bar of Georgia’s Younger Lawyers Division, member of the Clarke-Carley Inn of Court, member of the Bleckley Inn of Court, and member of the Lawyers Club of Atlanta. He currently serves by appointment of the Governor on the Georgia Child Support Commission and served for four years on the Judicial Nominating Commission, the statewide body responsible for providing recommendations to the Governor concerning judicial appointments. At the Court of Appeals, he chairs the Rules Committee and serves on the Legislative Committee.

In addition to his law-related activities, Judge Land has served as a board member for the Columbus Area Habitat for Humanity, a volunteer and board member for the Pine Mountain Trail Association, and a youth sports coach. Judge Land, his wife, and their three children are members of St. Paul Church of Columbus, where Judge Land has served on the Administrative Board, the Finance Committee, and the Staff Parish Relations Committee.

Hon. Carla Wong McMillian Related Seminars and Products

Supreme Court of Georgia

Justice Carla Wong McMillian was appointed to the Supreme Court of Georgia by Governor Brian Kemp, taking office on April 10, 2020. Born and raised in Augusta, Georgia, she is the first Asian Pacific American to serve on a state’s highest court in the Southern United States.

Prior to joining the Supreme Court, Justice McMillian served on the Court of Appeals, where she was appointed by Governor Nathan Deal and took office in 2013. With her election the following year to that court, Justice McMillian became the first Asian Pacific American to be elected to a statewide office in Georgia.

Justice McMillian has also served as the State Court Judge for Fayette County, a position to which she was appointed by Governor Sonny Perdue in 2010.

Before her appointment to the bench, Justice McMillian was a partner in the litigation group of Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP. Justice McMillian also had the privilege of starting her legal career as a federal law clerk for the Honorable William C. O’Kelley of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.

Justice McMillian attended law school as a Woodruff Scholar at the University of Georgia School of Law. She also graduated with high honors from Duke University. Justice McMillian has been married since 1997 to her husband Lance, a professor at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School. They have two children and live in Fayette County where they have been long-time members of Dogwood Church.

Dan Branch Related Seminars and Products

IAG Forensics & Valuation

IAG Forensics & Valuation

Dan Branch (CPA/ABV, ASA, MBA) is a partner with IAG Forensics & Valuation with over twenty years experience.  He specializes in and has provided testimony for all aspects of forensic accounting for family law matters, including business valuations.  Prior to his work in forensic accounting (aka “sexy accounting”), Dan was an officer in the U.S. Navy and served aboard the guided missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) and nuclear aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65 – yes, the U.S. Navy’s first nuclear aircraft carrier, and no, he does not glow in the dark; usually).  He is also a happy father of three kids (2 in college, 1 in HS) -- diapers seem like just a few years ago -- time sure does fly!

Judge Kimberly A. Childs Related Seminars and Products

Cobb County Superior Court

Judge Kimberly A. Childs was elected in May 2016, winning a contested three-way race for an open seat on the Cobb County Judicial Circuit Superior Court bench.  She was re-elected again in 2020 and qualified in 2024 with no opposition.

Before her election, Judge Childs represented businesses and their owners in a variety of commercial disputes. She routinely litigated complex matters in courtrooms across metro-Atlanta.

Between her undergraduate studies and law school, Judge Childs worked as a guard at the DeKalb County Jail and later as a paralegal at a small law firm in Cobb County.  These experiences inspired her to further her education and provided a “real world” foundation for her commitment to our justice system.

Judge Childs has been active in the local bar for many years. She served as President of the Cobb County Bar Association in 2017-20018. Before that, she was the President-Elect, Treasurer,Secretary, Trustee, Business Law & Litigation Section President, Solo/Small Firm Section Secretary, Women of the Bar Section President.  In 2015, she received the President’s Award from the Cobb Bar.

Judge Childs is a member of Lawyers Club of Atlanta.  She serves on the State Bar of Georgia’s Bench & Bar Committee, Court Technology Justice Committee, and the Uniform Superior Court Rules Committee of the Council of Superior Court Judges.  She currently represents the Cobb Judicial Circuit on the State Bar Board of Governors.  

Judge Childs presides over the Cobb County Drug Treatment Court. DTC is an accountability court designed to manage individuals with substance addiction by providing an alternative to the traditional justice system. DTC is designed to improve the health of our participants, not only by addressing the immediate symptoms of their addiction but also orienting participants to a new way of healthier living that can be continued for the rest of their life.

Judge Childs graduated magna cum laude from Georgia State University College of Law. At Georgia State, she was on the editorial board of Law Review and received numerous academic honors.  She obtained her undergraduate degree in criminal justice from North Georgia College. 

Before serving on the bench, her skills in and out of the courtroom earned her top honors, including being recognized as a Georgia Super Lawyer, a Georgia Super Lawyer Rising Star, and one of the Business Law Legal Elite.  In 2016, Judge Childs was named to the Top 100 Georgia Super Lawyers list, as well as one of the Top 50 Women Super Lawyers in both 2015 & 2016. 

On a personal note, Judge Childs is a steadfast and passionate fan of the Atlanta Falcons. She also enjoys watching Atlanta United, the Hawks, and the Braves.  

Mr. Sean Michael Ditzel Related Seminars and Products

Abernathy Ditzel Hendrick, LLC

Sean M. Ditzel is a partner with Abernathy Ditzel Hendrick, LLC, a boutique family law firm located in Marietta, Georgia. On top of his metro-Atlanta law practice, Sean is extremely active in leadership positions in various local and statewide organizations, having recently completed Leadership Cobb 2025 through the Cobb County Chamber of Commerce. 

Sean and his wife, Robin, make their home in Marietta with their children Xavier and Alexandra, as well as a dog (Max) and cat (Coco). 

Mrs. Jessica Reece Fagan Related Seminars and Products

Fagan Law Group LLC

Jessica Reece Fagan is a family law attorney and founder of Fagan Law Group, a boutique law firm located in Atlanta, Georgia.

Jessica is a results-driven litigator who represents clients in all areas of family law. In 2025, Jessica was named to “The Top 50: 2025 Women Georgia Super Lawyers”. While she personally specializes in complex custody litigation, high-net-worth divorce and out-of-court resolution, her Firm offers expertise in all areas of family law, including flat-rate uncontested services.

Jessica and her team offer empathetic and realistic advice on varying topics, including divorce/separation, spousal support/alimony, child custody and child support, division of property and prenuptial/postnuptial agreements. She also works with clients to assist in private out-of-court resolution, including mediation and arbitration.

Jessica is also a member of Lawyers Club of Atlanta and a graduate of the YLD Leadership Academy. In addition to practicing family law full-time, Jessica is currently the Development Chair of the Leadership Council of the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation, and on the Leaders Council for the Southern Environmental Law Center. She is also an active supporter of several community organizations, including ZOO Atlanta, Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Charities, and the Atlanta Botanical Gardens.  

Jessica lives in Atlanta with her husband, Will, and their two daughters and is an active member of First Presbyterian Church. In her spare time, Jessica is an avid foodie and enjoys travel, reading, and yoga.

Mr. Louis Jensen Tesser Related Seminars and Products

Tesser Mediation LLC

Louis Tesser is a seasoned family law litigator and mediator who has spent nearly three decades helping families navigate some of life’s most difficult transitions. Over the years, Louis has tried numerous jury and bench trials involving every aspect of family law — from complex financial disputes to high-conflict custody battles. He’s also participated in hundreds of mediations, both as an advocate and as a mediator, and believes deeply in the value of resolving disputes with empathy and clarity.

Louis has been honored to serve as Chair of both the Atlanta Bar Association Family Law Section and the DeKalb County Bar Association Family Law Section — roles that allowed him to work alongside and learn from many of the colleagues he admires most.

He holds a Phi Beta Kappa, Magna Cum Laude degree in Government from Clark University in Massachusetts, a Master’s in Political Science from the University of Georgia, and a Juris Doctor from the College of William and Mary. After practicing exclusively in family law with what is now Kessler & Solomiany from 2001 to 2017, including nine years as a partner, Louis shifted his focus to mediation, founding Tesser Mediation in 2018.

A registered member of the Georgia Commission on Dispute Resolution and certified for all domestic cases — including those involving family violence — Louis also teaches and speaks regularly about mediation. Beyond the courtroom and mediation table, Louis brings personal perspective to his work as someone who has divorced, remarried, and is now part of a blended family. He understands, both professionally and personally, the challenges families face and the importance of navigating them with care.

Mr. Martin S. Varon Related Seminars and Products

IAG Forensics & Valuation

A CPA for over 45 years. Practicing accounting and taxes for 49 years come this summer.  Married to the same person (who used to practice family law) for 49 years come this summer. A full-time professor of accounting, taxes and business valuation at Kennesaw State University.  Has two children and five grandchildren (four granddaughters).  Also an inactive member of the State Bar of Georgia for 45 years.  Has been a partner at IAG Forensics & Valuation for over the last twelve years.

Mr. Alexander Roberts Cutler Related Seminars and Products

Eittreim Martin Cutler LLC

Alex Cutler specializes in the areas of divorce and family law, including high net worth divorce litigation, child custody litigation, alimony and child support matters, actions for modification of custody and support, and contempt actions.  Before joining the firm as a partner, he was previously a partner with the family law firm of Lawler Green Prinz, LLC.  Prior to that, he spent seven years as a litigator with a mid-sized Atlanta firm where, in addition to practicing family law, he specialized in the areas of commercial litigation, real estate litigation, and lender/debtor workouts and litigation.  Alex puts his diverse legal background to use assisting clients whose cases may involve complex business interests and extensive property holdings.

Alex has been recognized by Super Lawyers in the area of family law every year since 2014 and by Best Lawyers in America since 2021.  Alex has been a member of the Georgia Bar since 2004, and is currently a member of the State Bar of Georgia, the Georgia Court of Appeals, the Georgia Supreme Court, and the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.  Alex is very active in the Atlanta Bar Association, where he is the Vice Chair of the Family Law Section.  Alex is also a member of the Cobb County Bar Association.

Ms. Ikemesit Amajak Eyo Related Seminars and Products

Reese-Beisbier & Associates, PC

Ikemesit “Kem” A. Eyo is a Senior Associate Attorney at Reese-Beisbier & Associates PC and works exclusively in the area of family law.

Kem has obtained a Bachelor of Science in Mathematical Science from Clemson University, a Master’s in Health Administration from Tulane University, and a dual Juris Doctor (JD) and Master’s in Public Administration from Georgia State University.

In the nearly one-and-a-half decades since tailoring her career to domestic law, Kem has successfully assisted clients in over thirty counties throughout Georgia in reaching amicable and informed resolutions to their disputes. A hallmark of Kem’s career in family law is her unparalleled engagement and active participation at every level. Regardless of the setting, Kem brings to the practice of family law a unique and valued balance between compassion, professionalism, and zealous advocacy.

Mr. Jordan Jacob Hendrick Related Seminars and Products

Abernathy Ditzel Hendrick LLC

Jordan J. Hendrick grew up in Cobb County and has been practicing law in the State of Georgia since 2004.  Jordan began devoting 100% of his practice to family law in 2009 and became a partner in a multi-practice firm in Atlanta in 2011.  Jordan left that Atlanta firm amicably in 2019 to come home to Marietta and help create the family law firm now known as Abernathy Ditzel Hendrick, LLC.

Jordan’s preference in every case is to help his clients find a sensible and practical resolution to their problems that allows them to maintain control of their personal lives.  As that is not always possible, Jordan is an experienced litigator who has tried divorce and child custody cases before numerous judges across the State of Georgia and successfully argued a case before the Supreme Court of Georgia.  Through this experience Jordan has earned the respect of his clients and peers and has been recognized by Super Lawyers Magazine and Georgia Trend’s Legal Elite on numerous occasions.    

Jordan is an avid Georgia Bulldog supporter whose life became much more fulfilled after January 10, 2022, when the Bulldogs finally broke the dreaded Alabama Crimson Tide Curse and won a National Championship (2023 was just gravy) after 41 years of struggle.  Jordan resides in East Cobb with his wife Cynthia, daughter Ashely, and son Evan. 

Hon. Alice Elizabeth Benton Related Seminars and Products

Fulton County Superior Court

Alice Benton was admitted to the practice of law in the summer of 1994 after graduating cum laude from the University of Georgia School of Law. She received her undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University. Prior to be appointed to the bench by Governor Brian P. Kemp in December 2023 and sworn in on January 10, 2024 as the newest Fulton County Superior Court Judge, Judge Benton practiced  family law from 2010 until 2024. Judge Benton is also a former Senior Assistant District Attorney in the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office and former civil litigator.

In addition to litigating family law cases, Judge Benton served as a Guardian Ad Litem for both paying clients and pro bono through A.V.L.F. She has been recognized by her peers as an AV rated lawyer by Martindale Hubbell, as a Super Lawyer,  as a Top 10 Attorney (Nationally), and Top 10 Attorney in Georgia Family Law on numerous occasions.

Judge Benton started a two year term as President of the Weltner Family Inn of Court in May of this year and is involved in many volunteer, civic and bar organizations. Currently, Judge Benton volunteers in Atlanta though the National Charity League and volunteers through her church, the Cathedral of St. Philip. She is a sustaining member of the Junior League of Atlanta, Inc.

Judge Benton has called the City of Atlanta home since 1994 where she has reared her three children, Mary Eliza, Wells and Ella.

Ms. Julie Adams Jacobs Related Seminars and Products

Cobb Circuit Superior Court

Judge Julie Adams Jacobs was appointed to serve as a Superior Court Judge in Cobb County on August 15, 2022. 

Prior to being appointed to this position, Judge Jacobs served in the Georgia Attorney General’s Office for almost 20 years.  She began her legal career in the Criminal Division where she conducted more than 200 bench trials in superior courts across Georgia and personally handled more than 40 criminal appeals in the Georgia Supreme Court, including habeas corpus and murder appeals.

Judge Jacobs subsequently transferred to the Business and Finance Section where she represented the State of Georgia in numerous civil litigation matters in state and federal courts, including trial and appellate litigation. She also provided general representation to state agencies and authorities in the areas of contract disputes, procurement, banking, lottery operations, bankruptcy, securities, hospital acquisitions, and general business litigation matters. As part of her practice, she also assisted the Attorney General with the regulation of charitable and nonprofit entities. In addition, she served as the hearing officer in more than a dozen hospital acquisitions involving the Attorney General’s review under the Georgia Hospital Acquisition Act.

Judge Jacobs became the Section Chief of the Business and Finance Section in 2014, and the Deputy Attorney General of the Commercial Transactions and Litigation Division in 2020. As Deputy Attorney General, Judge Jacobs managed more than 40 attorneys and support staff, and her responsibilities included the management of the financial and property interests of state government in the areas of business and finance, tax, real property, construction, and transportation.

The Fulton County Daily Report recognized Judge Jacobs with its 2016 “On The Rise” award as one of the top 25 attorneys in Georgia under the age of 40. Judge Jacobs was also recognized by Livesafe Resources as a honoree at the 2024 Tribute to Women in Achievement. She is a member of the 2019 class of Leadership Cobb and the 2020 class of Honorary Commanders. She is a member of the Cobb Bar Association and the Atlanta Lawyers Club.

Judge Jacobs is a 2003 graduate of Emory University School of Law, and she received her B.A. in political science from Georgia State University. Judge Jacobs is a longtime resident of Cobb County where she lives with her husband Chad and two children.

Ms. Shannon Glover Wallace Related Seminars and Products

Blue Ridge Circuit Superior Court

Judge Shannon Wallace was appointed to the Superior Court bench by Governor Brian Kemp and was sworn in as the 4^th Superior Court Judge in Cherokee County on January 30, 2023. Prior to becoming a Superior Court Judge, she was the District Attorney of the Blue Ridge Judicial District, Cherokee County, serving from January 1, 2013, until January 29, 2023.

As the District Attorney, she held numerous statewide leadership roles. She served as the Secretary-Treasurer (2018-19), President-Elect (2019-20), President (2020-21), and Immediate Past President (2021-22) of the District Attorneys’ Association of Georgia and served as the Secretary (2019-2021) and Chairperson (2021-2023) of the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia. She was also a co-chair of Governor Kemp’s Judicial Nominating Commission of Georgia from 2018 until October 2022.

Judge Wallace has received numerous awards and recognitions during her career, including: 2022 Friend of U.S. Attorney’s Award, 2021 District Attorneys’ Association District Attorney of the Year, 2020 Robert S. Stubbs II “Guardian of Ethics” Award by the Rotary Club of Canton, 2020 Academy of Women Leaders Honoree by LiveSAFE Resources, 2019 Outstanding Women in Leadership award by Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, 2015-2016 W. Lee Arrendale Vocational Excellence Award by the Rotary Club of Canton, 2014 Top 10 in 10 Young Professionals by the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce, 2014 Cristal Stancil Leadership Award by the Leadership Cherokee Class of 2014, 2014 Forty under Forty by the University of Georgia Alumni Association, 2013 Rising Star by the Fulton Daily Report, and 2013 Georgia’s Top 40 under Forty by Georgia Trend.

Prior to being sworn-in as a judge, Judge Wallace served as board member of the Cherokee Multi-Agency Narcotics Squad (2013-2023), the Malon D. Mimms Boys & Girls Club (2013-2023), and Cherokee FOCUS (2013-2023). She is a member of the Rotary Club of Canton (2013-2023).

She graduated cum laude from the University of Georgia in 1999 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Criminal Justice. She earned her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Georgia School of Law in 2002, graduating cum laude. After graduation, she served as an Assistant District Attorney for the Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit before coming to Cherokee County in 2008. She is married to Kyle Wallace and has two children.

Ms. Cherese Chantell Clark-Wilson Related Seminars and Products

Clark Lowery & Lumpkin LLC

Cherese Clark-Wilson, is known for her formidable litigation skills, commitment to justice, and enduring service to families as a family law practitioner and guardian ad litem. She received her Juris Doctorate from Georgia State College of Law where she is now a family law adjunct professor. A proud alumna of Spelman College, Ms. Clark-Wilson earned her Bachelor of Science in Political Science with a Pre-Law Concentration.

Her legal career began as a mitigation specialist with the Capital Defenders Office and criminal investigator with the State of Georgia. During her third year of law school, she transitioned from a criminal investigator to public defender at the Clayton County Public Defenders Office. With extensive trial and litigation experience, Ms. Clark-Wilson has become a zealous advocate in complex custody matters, high-conflict divorce, and child advocacy. She serves as a guardian ad litem throughout the Atlanta Metro.

Her leadership and legal acumen have earned her numerous accolades, including recognition as a “Rising Star of Georgia” by Super Lawyers (2015–2022) and a Georgia Super Lawyer (2023–2025). She has also been named a National Top 100 Black Lawyers in Matrimonial and Family Law, a Top 40 Under 40 Honoree for outstanding leadership in family law—where she serves as an Executive Board Member—and a Top 10 Family Law Attorney by the American Jurist Institute.  She also received the Essence Magazine “Boss Lady Moves” Award in recognition of her journey to excellence and influence within the legal profession.

Ms. Clark-Wilson is actively involved in both the legal and broader community. She holds memberships with the Kentucky Bar Association, Atlanta Bar Association, Cobb County Bar Association, Charles Weltner Inn of Court, Lawyers Club of Atlanta, and the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts. She also serves on the Board of Directors for A.I.M. ("Acts Inspired by Mookie"), a non-profit organization created by World Series champion Mookie Betts, dedicated to empowering underserved youth and families through education, health, and opportunity initiatives.

With an unwavering dedication to advocacy, education, and service, Cherese Clark-Wilson continues to elevate the practice of family law while inspiring others through her leadership and legacy.

Hon. LaTisha Dear Jackson Related Seminars and Products

DeKalb County Superior Court

The Honorable LaTisha Dear Jackson was elected Superior Judge of the Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit in 2018. In both 2021 and 2022, Judge Jackson was selected to serve by designation as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia on two separate cases.  Her service in 2022 was historic in that it was the first time the Supreme Court had an all-woman bench preside over oral arguments.  After just nine months in office, Judge Jackson began serving as a Presiding Judge over Track 1 of the Circuit’s Drug Court.  After a year of service, Judge Jackson was unanimously elected to serve as the Presiding Judge for the Circuit’s four Accountability Courts. In 2022, Judge Jackson was elected to serve as the Chief Judge of the Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit as well as the Administrative Judge for the Fourth Judicial Administrative District which is comprised of DeKalb and Rockdale Circuits.

Immediately before her election, Judge Jackson was a Senior Associate at Thomas Kennedy Sampson & Tompkins, LLP (“TKST”). There, she defended corporate and governmental clients in medical malpractice, wrongful death, premises liability, and insurance matters. She also represented individuals in personal injury and wrongful death matters.

Prior to joining TKST, Judge Jackson served as a full-time judge in the DeKalb County Recorders Court and sat by designation in both the Superior and State Courts of DeKalb County. In 2008, she made history by becoming both the first female and youngest judge to ever serve as a Municipal Court Judge in the City of Stone Mountain. In 2012, she again made history by becoming the first female Chief Municipal Court Judge in the City of Lithonia.

Prior to becoming a member of the judiciary, Judge Jackson was a solo practitioner handling juvenile and family law matters as well as criminal defense. Judge Jackson also served as an Assistant Solicitor General in DeKalb County.

Judge Jackson earned her Juris Doctorate from Georgia State University and her undergraduate degree from the prestigious Spelman College.

A native of Los Angeles, California, Judge Jackson is active in numerous professional organizations. She is a current member of both GAWL and GABWA’s Judicial Applicant Review Committees. In 2014, Judge Jackson was appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia to serve on its Access to Justice Committee, where she continually works to ensure that there is unfettered access to the courts by litigants and the public as they navigate the judicial system. She is a member of several bar associations which include the Atlanta, DeKalb and Gate City Bar Associations and DeKalb Lawyers Association where she served an unprecedented two-year term as President and currently serves as the Judicial Section and Review Committee Chair.  Judge Jackson is the Immediate Past Chair of the State Bar of Georgia’s Judicial Section after serving as Chair for three years. She is also a Past President of the Georgia Council of Municipal Court Judges and a current member of the State’s Judicial Council.

In her community, Judge Jackson has served on the Board of Directors for the Georgia Center for Children and is a 2006 graduate of Leadership DeKalb, where she currently serves as a Board of Director and on the Selection Committee, a committee she’s chaired for over a decade. Judge Jackson currently serves as a DeKalb County Board Member for Boys and Girls Club Metro Atlanta and is a proud twenty-six-year active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Judge Jackson has traveled throughout the Southeastern United States and the State of Georgia presenting on various judicial and legal issues with a passion for professionalism and access to justice. She also speaks at various schools throughout the metro-Atlanta area. As a continued investment to the youth, Judge Jackson created a three-year program in the DeKalb County Public School System entitled I. L.E.A.D. (Interactive Law and Education Development) Program, a program that focused on educating high school students on the law while strengthening their comprehension and writing skills.

Judge Jackson not only works and serves DeKalb County, but she also resides there calling it home with her husband Gari Jackson. She is a member of Ray of Hope Christian Church and served for several years as the co-coordinator for the youth, young adult, and college student ministries.

As a testament to her accomplishments, she has received several honors, been featured in several newspapers and magazines as well as her sorority’s international magazine. She has also been honored by her sorority, several county and city associations and elected leaders including receiving the Council for Municipal Court Judges President’s Award for her commitment to access and fairness in Georgia courts. In all that she does and has accomplished thus far, Judge Jackson remains humbled, inspired, and motivated to continue to seek justice because there are still so many lives left to be touched.

Hon. Kellie Stevens Hill Related Seminars and Products

Superior Court of Cobb County

Judge Kellie Hill was elected to serve on the Superior Court of Cobb County, Georgia in June 2020.

Prior to her election to Superior Court, Judge Hill served four years as a full-time Magistrate and Assisting Superior Court Judge in the Cobb Magistrate Court. As a trial attorney in both the public and private sectors, she established “The Kellie Hill Legal Group”, served as the managing attorney for a personal injury practice, an adjunct professor at the John Marshall School of Law, and served as a lead prosecutor on many complex and notable cases in Fulton and DeKalb Counties.

Judge Hill’s work has been featured on national media outlets. She has appeared as a legal expert on nationally and locally aired programs. Judge Hil was recognized by the Georgia House of Representatives for her work as a trial attorney and has been the recipient of numerous other awards and distinctions.

Judge Hill is a member of The State Bar of Georgia, The Council of Superior Court Judges, The Supreme Court's Committee on Interpreters, The Association of Black Women Attorneys, The Gate City Bar Association, The National Bar Association, The Weltner Inn of Court, The Lawyers’ Club of Atlanta, Leadership Cobb Alumni and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Howard A. Drutman Related Seminars and Products

Atlanta Behavioral Consultants

Dr. Howard Drutman, Ph.D.

Atlanta Behavioral Consultants

Dr. Drutman is a psychologist who exclusively practices forensic psychology in family law cases. He provides child custody and parent fitness evaluations, psychological and substance use disorder evaluations, co-parenting counseling, parent coordination, collaborative divorce coaching, parenting plan mediation, expert testimony on issues related to the best interest of children in family law cases, review of mental health professionals' work product, assisting attorneys with understanding the special needs of their clients, assisting Guardians with understanding psychological issues in their cases.

He has testified throughout the State of Georgia and Alabama. He is the author of numerous articles in The Family Law Review and other professional publications. He is the author of the book, “Divorce: The Art of Screwing Up Your Children."

Hon. Robert Dale Leonard II Related Seminars and Products

Cobb County Superior Court

Judge Rob Leonard is the longest-serving active judge on the Cobb Superior Court bench. He has served as the circuit's Chief Judge and helped the entire judicial branch navigate the COVID pandemic through his teaching virtual court to both the bench and bar. He proudly presides over the Cobb County Veterans Accountability and Treatment Court, which has been recognized as a model court by the State of Georgia. He has been appointed by two different Governors and subsequently elected four times. He received his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Kentucky. He is married to a family law attorney, Katie Leonard.

Erica McCurdy Related Seminars and Products

Atlanta Divorce & Parent, LLC

About Erica McCurdy, PCC, CMC, YPF, PC

https://www.atldiv.com/erica-mccurdy

Erica McCurdy is absolutely passionate about the potential of people. An Atlanta native, she started her career as an executive in technology but found her passion in helping children and veterans learn to communicate better, develop healthy relationships, and manage conflict.

Erica’s methodology integrates the best coaching, goal-setting, and accountability practices to help her clients better understand how to think about their situations, their words, and their actions. Together, they build new habits, co-create effective action plans, make strong decisions, and take significant steps towards lowering conflict. She is known for being quick, direct, and sometimes a bit untraditional.

Throughout the years, Erica has earned a reputation for being one of the best coaches in the Metropolitan Atlanta area. The best interests of the children are always her top priority, and she consistently goes above and beyond to make sure they get the results they need. Her expertise has made her a recognized international expert with insights appearing in over 200 major publications, such as US News, Forbes, Entrepreneur.com, AARP, Recruiter.com, Business News Daily, and more. She has been a guest speaker at numerous corporate events, including the SunTrust Thought Leaders' Summit, Kettering, Vesta's Women Empowerment Day, and the Georgia Association of Paralegals Annual Leadership Event.

?Experience Matters

In 2006, she began volunteering at the Foster Care Support Foundation, a state-wide nonprofit committed to helping foster children find a kind and nurturing experience while in foster care. Her business background and commitment to the organization led her to a board position and then to the role of Director of  Development and CFO. Erica continued serving families as a staff member in the North Point Community Church Care Department, where she led Oasis Divorced and Separated Groups.

Believing that her gifts were best used in the outside community coaching others through transition, Coach McCurdy began her private practice, where she quickly earned her ICF Credential and several specialty coaching certifications, including the unique niche credential of Youth, Parent, and Family Coach. She teaches the ICF Core Competencies and mentors aspiring coaches seeking to attain their credentials through the ICF. She is also a multi-year member of the Forbes Coaches Council.

Erica received her Parenting Coordination training through the Cooperative Parenting Institute and the Center for Navigating Family Change. This training allows her to integrate her coaching, business, mediation, and family skills to help minimize conflict and shield children during challenging parental dynamics. Atlanta Divorce and Parent is also a member of the American Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC). She has over 4,000 hours of client-facing experience spanning 13 years of practice.

Coach McCurdy has her own divorce and co-parenting stories. She understands the difficulties inherent in communicating during times of extreme emotional stress and uses her coaching and business management expertise to provide her clients with a positive set of steps to move forward, set goals, and think about the future.  

Erica attended the Westminster Schools, University of Georgia, Mercer University, and Columbia Southern University, where she earned a BBA and MBA with concentrations in technology and operational management. She is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Organizational Performance. In addition, Erica has over 4,000 hours of executive coaching experience and holds an ICF-PCC certification, CMC (Master Coach), CBC (Business Coach), and YPF (Youth Parent and Family Coach). She occasionally teaches coaching core competencies to new coaches looking to build their practice.

Deeply Committed to her Community

Erica is wholeheartedly committed to the community. She gives at least 100 hours of service annually to support underserved communities. For 30 years, Erica has held board positions on local, regional, and national boards, including serving as the Chairwoman of the Gwinnett Library Foundation board, Rotary President, and the National Nominating Committee for National Charity League, Inc., our nation's oldest mother-daughter service organization.

Her husband, Phil, is an attorney who has been practicing in the area for over 30 years. They have three wonderful children: a doctor doing residency at Harvard Beth Israel Hospital, an attorney with Swift Currie, and a third who is a pilot for American Airlines. All of them have a rich history of community service and mentorship. When not working or playing tennis, Erica is working on her goal of reading the entire list of Pulitzer Prize-winning novels – She is about halfway through.

Ms. Amanda Nichole Moulthrop Related Seminars and Products

Moulthrop Law LLC

Amanda Moulthrop spent the majority of her career as a civil and family law litigator with Legal Aid of Cobb County, serving as the director of their pro bono project, the Cobb Justice Foundation.   Amanda also spent time in private practice, providing legal representation and strategic advice to clients in a wide variety of civil matters, including employment, estate planning and probate litigation.   She is the founder of Moulthrop Law & Moulthrop Mediation,  where she focuses exclusively on guardian ad litem work in Cobb County, as well as domestic, general civil and probate mediations and arbitrations all over the metro area. 

Amanda’s background includes a B.S. in Social Science Education (cum laude) from the University of Georgia, where she studied to become a high school history teacher.   Amanda later attended the University of Georgia School of Law, where she graduated with honors.     

In addition to being a member of both the State Bar of Georgia and the Cobb Bar Association, where she has held key leadership positions, Amanda is a certified neutral and is registered with the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution, with a specialized certification in domestic mediation and domestic violence mediation.    She is also a Georgia certified arbitrator.  She served for several years as a Member at Large for the Board of Trustees of the Cobb Bar Association and is a founding member and past president of the Guardian ad Litem Section of the Cobb Bar Association.  She continues to serve on the executive board of the section in an advisory role.

Mr. Richard Allen Sanders Jr. Related Seminars and Products

Andrews & Sanders Law Offices

Richard Sanders is an attorney with Johnson Kraeuter, LLC, whose practice is primarily dedicated to domestic relations and family law. He has been licensed to practice law in Georgia since 2008. He is also a registered general civil, domestic, and domestic violence mediator, and a registered Arbitrator. Presently, he volunteers as a mediator at the Mediation Center in Savannah.

A successful litigator, Richard has handled numerous cases through trial and appeal during his career, including successfully arguing in person at the Georgia Supreme Court and the Georgia Court of Appeals. The expertise he developed as a litigator supported his work in co-authoring the book Divorce in Georgia and delivering a number of lectures on various topics related to family law, personal injury, criminal 
defense, ethics, professionalism, general litigation, evidence, and mediation.

Richard is also a renowned leader in Savannah and throughout the state of Georgia. He has served on numerous committees with the State Bar of Georgia and currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Savannah Bar Association and the Executive Committee for the Council of Municipal Court Judges. Richard is also the most senior First District Representative.

Richard has been named as a Rising Star with Georgia Super Lawyers every year since 2016 and recognized as a Top 100 Trial Lawyer in Georgia by the National Trial Lawyers organization. His peer rating on Martindale Hubbell is “Preeminent.” In addition to these accolades, Richard is well-known for his tireless volunteer efforts at Savannah Arts Academy High School where he coached the Mock Trial Team 
for 10 years.

Born at Ft. Benning, Richard grew up as a Navy brat. He earned his B.S. Degree in Justice Studies from Georgia Southern University, where he also served as the Vice President of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity. After completing his undergraduate
degree, Richard earned his juris doctorate, cum laude, from Thomas M. Cooley Law School, in Lansing Michigan. While in law school, Richard served as a Senior Managing Editor of the Law Review and as a Magistrate on the grade appeals board.

Mr. Mark Alan Hendrix Related Seminars and Products

Mark A. Hendrix PC

Mark A. Hendrix is a superior court judge in the Atlantic Judicial Circuit and serves the counties of Liberty, Long, Tattnall, Evans, Bryan and McIntosh. 

After graduating from the University of Florida with honors and the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University, Mark began his legal career as an assistant district attorney for the Atlantic Judicial Circuit, which includes Liberty, Long, Bryan, McIntosh, Tattnall and Evans counties.  During his tenure at the District Attorney’s office, Mark became the trial team supervisor for Liberty and Long counties and served as lead counsel in over 70 jury trials, including several capital murder cases.  Mark also appeared before Georgia’s Supreme Court and Court of Appeals to successfully argue numerous cases on behalf of the State of Georgia. As a mentor, Mark served as a faculty member for the Prosecuting Attorney’s Council (PAC) for classes and curriculum designed to train new prosecutors in the State of Georgia.  While serving as an assistant district attorney, Mark was appointed as the first municipal court solicitor for the City of Richmond Hill, Georgia. 

After serving as an assistant district attorney for over a decade, Mark entered into private practice with a firm located in Richmond Hill and represented various individuals and businesses, to include Bryan County, with a focus in the areas of criminal law, domestic relations, personal injury and business litigation.  During this time, Mark was also appointed by Governor Sonny Perdue to represent the citizens of Long County, Georgia, as the Solicitor-General.  In 2015, Mark opened a solo practice in Richmond Hill and was later appointed by Governor Nathan Deal as the Solicitor-General of Liberty County, Georgia.  In 2020, Mark ran unopposed in Liberty County and was elected as the Solicitor-General.  In January of 2024, Mark was appointed by Governor Brian Kemp to a newly created superior court judgeship in the Atlantic Judicial Circuit.  

Mark has been married to Paula (Jernigan) Hendrix for 24 years and has 2 sons, Aidan (a rising junior at the University of Florida) and Jake (a rising junior at Savannah Christian Preparatory School).  When not working or watching Jake’s soccer games, Mark enjoys attending Compassion Christian Church, hunting, fishing and spending time with family.

Mr. Benjamin Wagger Karpf Related Seminars and Products

Eastern Circuit Superior Court

A native of Savannah, Benjamin Karpf is a Superior Court Judge of the Eastern Judicial Circuit of Georgia. He received his law degree from Georgetown University and his undergraduate degree from George Washington University.

Following his graduation from law school, Ben worked at a large firm in Washington, DC for several years before moving home to Savannah. In Savannah, Ben was an associate and then a partner at Bouhan Falligant (formerly Bouhan Williams & Levy).  He was appointed as a part-time Chatham County Magistrate Court judge in 2015. He was elected to Superior Court in 2018 and reelected in 2022. 

Ben is active in the Savannah community, currently or formerly serving on the boards of several local institutions, including the Jewish Educational Alliance community center, the Mediation Center of Savannah, Park Place Outreach youth emergency shelter, The Creative Coast (now Start-Up Savannah), the Shalom School, and the Savannah Jewish Federation. 

He is married with two children -- boys in 8th and 10th grade. The boys play in a rock band together, which they named "The Violation." When Ben asked them to pick a name that sounded less like a court proceeding, they countered with "The Contempt," and he decided to cut his losses.

Hon. Thomas David Lyles Related Seminars and Products

Paulding County Superior Court

Originally from Clinton, Mississippi, Judge David Lyles holds a degree in Accounting from Mississippi College and a Juris Doctorate from Emory Law School. He served from 1998 until 2016 as an Assistant District Attorney in the Atlanta, Bell-Forsyth, and Paulding Judicial Circuits. 

Judge Lyles volunteers as a faculty instructor at Emory Law School in their nationally recognized Kessler-Eidson Trial Techniques Program and has spoken statewide at numerous civil, family and criminal law conferences. 

A 2016 recipient of the Justice Robert Benham Award for Community Service, Judge Lyles currently serves on the Board of Directors for CAYA Ministries and as an officer in the Paulding County Rotary Club. He was elected to the bench as a Superior Court Judge in the Paulding Judicial Circuit in May 2016. In addition to his civil and criminal dockets, Judge Lyles started and presides over both the Paulding County Mental Health Court and the Paulding County Parental Accountability Court.

Mr. Erik Brooks Chambers Related Seminars and Products

Stern Edlin Graham Family Law PC

Erik B. Chambers is a partner with Stern Edlin Graham Family Law, P.C. and has practiced exclusively in the area of family law for more than 13 years, having extensive experience in high asset divorce and complex child custody cases. He also has an active Guardian ad Litem practice and is a trained parent coordinator. Erik serves as the Legislative Liaison for the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Georgia, as the Program Coordinator for the Charles Longstreet Weltner Family Law American Inn of Court, and as President of the Cobb County Guardian ad Litem Section. He is also on the Board of Directors for Georgia Guardians ad Litem, Inc. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology summa cum laude from Georgia College & State University in 2008 and his Juris Doctor cum laude from the University of Georgia School of Law in 2011.

Hon. Angela Z. Brown Related Seminars and Products

Cobb County Superior Court

Judge Angela Brown, a native of Philadelphia, is the proud daughter of a public-school teacher and a Tuskegee Airman. She graduated from the Philadelphia High School for Girls in 1985 and from Brown University in 1989. After being awarded the Dean's Outstanding Scholar Full Academic Scholarship, Attorney Brown attended the University of San Diego Law School where she received her J.D. in 1993.  At graduation, she was honored with the Thurgood Marshall Graduation Service Award.
 
Judge Brown began her professional career as a litigation associate in the prestigious law firm of Davis Wright Tremaine in Seattle, Washington. She has also prosecuted criminals as an Assistant District Attorney in several Prosecutor's Offices located in Washington, New Jersey, and Georgia. Judge Brown was the first female African American District Attorney to serve in Cobb County, Georgia. She has also served as In-House Counsel for ASARCO, Inc. and was responsible for the environmental legal management from Mississippi to the West Coast. She was the first African American lawyer in that company since 1812. Before her appointment to the bench, Attorney Brown successfully ran her own litigation firm, specializing in criminal, family, personal injury, and guardian ad litem law. She has conducted hundreds of trials on all sides of the bench and has taught others how to be an effective, knowledgeable attorney of integrity. Her Mentees can be found in the government sector, the private sector, and even on the bench.
 
Judge Brown has been honored to serve as a Judge by Designation for several county State and Superior Courts in both DeKalb and Cobb County. Judge Brown is actively involved in legal and community organizations, including the Georgia Association of Women Lawyers, the Georgia Association of Black Women Lawyers, the Cobb County Bar Association, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

Hon. Sheryl B. Jolly Related Seminars and Products

Columbia County Justice Center

Judge Sheryl B. Jolly  serves as the Presiding Judge of Superior Court, Columbia Judicial Circuit. Judge Jolly was elected Superior Court Judge for the Augusta Judicial Circuit in 2004 and served in that capacity until the Columbia Judicial Circuit was created in 2021. 

Other current appointments include:  Administrative Judge for 10th Judicial District, Executive Committee of Council of Superior Court Judges, and a member of the Judicial Council of Georgia.

Judge Jolly's public service began in 1986 in the Office of the District Attorney, Augusta Judicial Circuit where she served as  Assistant District Attorney until 1989. She continued her public service as a prosecutor in the State Court of Richmond County, Georgia as Assistant Solicitor General (1989-1993) and subsequently as Chief Assistant Solicitor General (1993-1994). In 1996, Judge Jolly was elected to the Office of Solicitor General of the State Court of Richmond County, Georgia. She served two terms as Solicitor General before seeking election as Superior Court Judge.  In addition to her public service as a prosecutor, she served as an Adjunct Faculty Member for Brenau Professional College for over 20 years and taught courses in Criminal Justice, Constitutional Law, and Public Administration for both undergraduate and graduate level courses.  She is a member of the State Bar of Georgia and the Augusta Bar Association.  Judge Jolly has been actively involved in community activities and service boards, including leadership positions in Leadership Augusta, the Greater Augusta Arts Council, Augusta Junior Woman's Club, Columbia Judicial Circuit Domestic Violence Task Force,  Augusta Child Advocacy Center, Rape Crisis/Sexual Assault Services, The Augusta Partnership for Children and many other local boards.  

Judge Jolly has been a frequent lecturer at judicial conferences for Pre-Trial Issues in Death Penalty cases and presentations in the area of family law.

Mr. Victor Paul Valmus Related Seminars and Products

Victor Valmus was a partner at Moore, Ingram, Johnson & Steele for 17 years before leaving in February 2017 to start his own practice (which consisted of a primary focus on domestic relation matters. He graduated from Kennesaw State University, sum cum laude in 1998 with a degree in Political Science, and graduated from the University of Georgia School of law, cum laude in 2001.  He was also the Cobb Family Law Bar President from 2017-2018.  He currently is an instructor at Kennesaw State University Teaching Civil Litigation.  Prior to attending law school, he was a musician for several years and toured with .38 Special for a short time in the 90s. He continues to play music in a 80s tribute band Shyanne.

Ms. Bette Lauren Wallace Related Seminars and Products

Douglas County District Attorney's Office

Judge Wallace was elected to the Douglas County Superior Court bench in a contested race in June 2024, winning over 65% of the vote.  She presides over an extensive case load involving felony crimes, domestic relations, land disputes, and various civil matters.  She also has the privilege of presiding over Veteran’s Court, Opioid Court, and the Daily Reporting Center to improve the lives of people suffering from addiction. 

Judge Wallace has been a lifelong public servant and spent her career as an attorney prosecuting felony and misdemeanor crimes to give a voice to crime victims. She is very active in professional and civic organizations such as Georgia Association for Women Lawyers where she sits on the executive board of the West Georgia Chapter, Douglas County Bar Association, Junior League of Douglas County, Leadership Douglas, and West Georgia Technical College Criminal Justice Advisory Board.

She grew up in Paducah, Kentucky and graduated from Murray State University and Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School.

Mr. Robert C. Port Related Seminars and Products

Gaslowitz Frankel LLC

Robert C. Port is a partner with Gaslowitz Frankel LLC, Atlanta, Georgia. The firm focuses on fiduciary litigation arising from disputes related to trusts, wills, estates, guardianships, conservatorships, partnerships, closely held corporations, and securities and investment fraud. 

Robert is a member of the Georgia and Tennessee Bars. He is admitted in the Northern, Middle, and Southern Federal Districts of Georgia, the U.S. Courts of Appeal for the Eleventh and Third Circuits, and the U.S. Supreme Court. He is a member of the Georgia Bar, the Atlanta Bar Association, and the American Bar Association (ABA).

Robert is the Editor of “Georgia Business Litigation,” a one-volume, comprehensive guide to many of the issues business litigators often encounter, including officer, director, shareholder, partnership and LLC disputes; securities litigation; non-compete and trade secret issues; RICO; intellectual property issues; business torts; insurance liability; fraudulent transfers; employment litigation; bankruptcy, and the ever-increasing use of arbitration.  https://www.lawcatalog.com/georgia-business-litigation.html

Robert has litigated cases in federal and state courts in Georgia and throughout the country, as well as arbitrated before the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), and the American Arbitration Association (AAA). He also serves as a FINRA chair-qualified arbitrator, an arbitrator for both the Consumer and Commercial Panels of the AAA, and serves as an arbitrator for the Georgia State Bar’s Fee Arbitration Program.

Robert is a frequent speaker on estate and trust litigation, securities litigation, and securities arbitration before a variety of audiences, including the Georgia Institute of Continuing Legal Education (ICLE), the Atlanta Bar Association, The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA), the Georgia Society of CPAs, the National Business Institute (NBI), and the Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association (PIABA). He has also published numerous articles on fiduciary litigation, securities law, and other legal topics in the Georgia Bar Journal and other publications.

Robert attended the University of North Carolina, where he obtained a B.A., with Honors, in 1979, and a J.D., with Honors, in 1983. Following law school, he was a Law Clerk for Hon. Eugene N. Gordon, Senior United States District Court Judge for the Middle District of North Carolina.

Mr. William Arthur Alexander Related Seminars and Products

Rubin Family Law, LLC

For more than a decade, William A. Alexander has helped clients navigate their family law issues with as little disruption to their lives as possible. He brings to Rubin Family Law a stellar reputation for protecting client interests in cases ranging from contentious custody disputes to high-asset divorces involving complex financial concerns.

Since his admission to the bar, William has successfully represented clients in a wide range of family law matters, including those involving:

• Divorce, alimony, separation, and annulment;
• Child custody and child support;
• Contempt and judgment enforcement;
• Paternity and legitimation;
• Modification of existing orders;
• Prenuptial agreements;
• Mediation and arbitration;
• Appeals;
• Collaborative law;
• Property division; and
• Third-party custody.

William also serves as a Guardian ad litem, certified by the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation, and is a Member-at-Large on the Executive Committee of the State Bar of Georgia Family Law Section. He has been admitted into the Georgia State Bar, the Supreme Court of Georgia, the Georgia Court of Appeals, and the Northern District of Georgia.

A second-generation family law attorney, William is an Atlanta native and graduated cum laude from the University of Georgia in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. He continued his education at the Georgia State University College of Law, earning his law degree in 2012. While still in law school, William served as President of the Executive Board of the GSU College of Law’s moot court.

In addition to being named a Legal Elite by Georgia Trend Magazine in 2017 and 2019, William was selected for inclusion as a Rising Star Georgia Super Lawyer every year since 2020.

William and his family live in Cobb County, and are actively involved in their community.

Jennifer Brown Related Seminars and Products

Jennifer Brown, CDLP, CADP Neighborhood Mortgage, Inc.

Jennifer Brown, an Alabama native, started her mortgage career in Georgia in 1997 after graduating Magna Cum Laude from Auburn University at Montgomery with a B.S. in Business Administration majoring in Finance.  She is a Mortgage Consultant, Certified Divorce Lending Professional (CDLP®), Certified Amicable Divorce Professional and a Certified VA Lending Specialist, licensed in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and South Carolina.  Also, a condominium lending expert, Jennifer partnered with several of metro-Atlanta’s most prestigious developers during the 2002-2008 condo boom, serving as the preferred lender for more than 30 ground up and conversion projects. 

In 2019 Jennifer became a partner and co-owner of Neighborhood Mortgage, Inc., founded in 2001 and located in Alpharetta, GA.  She takes great pride in her role as Vice President of her organization as well as serving her community and business partners as a trusted mortgage expert. 

As a Divorce Mortgage Planning Specialist, Jennifer collaborates with divorce professionals and serves as a financial neutral to help their clients make more informed decisions regarding their financial future.  She is a member of the Divorce Lending Association, a board member of the Amicable Divorce Network, Cobb County Bar Family Law Section CLE, OTP CLE and CADP presenter. Jennifer has also been featured on such podcasts as WTF Divorce, Divorce Doesn’t Suck, Divorced Girl Smiling, The Gray Divorce and Crazy Sh??t in Real Estate discussing divorce lending strategies. 

Jennifer and her husband Big Ryan of over 20 years reside in Alpharetta, GA with their daughter Little Ryan and Labrador retriever Bear, Jr.  In their spare time you can find them hosting or attending a tailgate, at the beach, on the golf course or at the softball fields.  

Wendy Gravlin Chambers Related Seminars and Products

Chambers Select Realty

Jill Heineck Related Seminars and Products

Certified Divorce Real Estate Expert

With over 20 years in Atlanta real estate spanning multiple disciplines, Jill is one of only six Master Certified Divorce Real Estate Experts (CDREs®) in the state of Georgia. Specializing in real estate matters in family law cases, Jill is the unbiased, third-party expert deferred to by the family law community to help protect the home equity of the parties, and offers her objective and neutral expert opinion in low and high-conflict divorce matters involving real property. 

Jill's deep knowledge and experience in these complex areas through her ongoing training with the Ilumni Institute enables her to provide professional and impartial insights that help her clients navigate the often challenging and emotionally charged terrain of divorce proceedings.

As an accomplished Realtor® who maintains ongoing recognition at national, state, and local levels for her achievements in the real estate industry, Jill draws upon her expertise in listing management, with specific skill sets in pricing and negotiation, to successfully support conflict resolution in divorce situations. 

Ms. Nilufar Abdi-Tabari Related Seminars and Products

Atlanta Legal Aid Society

Nilufar Abdi-Tabari
Managing Attorney Domestic Relations Unit | Atlanta Legal Aid Society

Nilufar Abdi-Tabari is a dedicated and accomplished Managing Attorney with over a decade of experience specializing in family law, domestic violence advocacy, and legal program development. She currently serves at the Atlanta Legal Aid Society, where she leads training initiatives, supervises new attorneys and interns, and manages complex litigation in family law matters ranging from divorce and legitimation to custody modifications and contempt actions.

Known for her strategic approach to legal advocacy, Nilufar has been instrumental in identifying and addressing systemic issues within family law through impact litigation and program innovation. She plays a pivotal role in developing new staff training programs and spearheading attorney development across the organization, while also providing direct representation to clients and overseeing clinic operations in the Justice Resource Center.

Prior to her current role, Nilufar served as a Staff Attorney in the Family Law Program at the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation, where she established and expanded legal services for survivors of domestic violence. Her leadership included managing pro bono attorney networks, training legal professionals, and coordinating efforts to ensure robust representation for victims at critical hearings. She also has experience as a Legal Advocate with the Partnership Against Domestic Violence, working directly with survivors to provide both legal and emotional support.

Nilufar is an active member of the Georgia Bar Family Law Section Executive Committee and currently chairs its Inclusion Committee. Her commitment to equity and access to justice underpins her professional work and volunteerism, including her contributions to clinics like the Legitimation Clinic with Fatherhood Inc. and long-term service at the Safe Families Office.

Fluent in English with basic proficiency in Farsi, Nilufar brings a culturally responsive approach to her advocacy. She holds a deep passion for mentoring young attorneys, advancing legal training, and building systems that empower vulnerable communities through legal representation.

Mr. Joel Aaron Correa Delgadillo Related Seminars and Products

Rubin Family Law LLC

Since 2012, Joel has successfully helped clients navigate family law matters in cases ranging from uncontested divorces to highly contested custody cases. Whether through agreement, trial, or, if possible, on appeal, Joel is committed to helping clients reach a favorable outcome in their cases with professionalism, integrity, efficiency, and compassion.

Before joining Rubin Family Law, Joel represented clients and led teams of lawyers dedicated to bringing justice to the public interest in a wide range of civil matters. Joel began his legal career at the Georgia Law Center for the Homeless and then the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation. He spent eleven years litigating on behalf of survivors of intimate partner abuse in family law matters, children and elderly individuals experiencing abuse, disabled veterans facing homelessness, and low-income residents in Atlanta facing deplorable housing conditions. Joel has successfully represented hundreds of survivors of intimate partner abuse in family law matters and temporary protective order cases.

In 2022, the Daily Report awarded Joel the Distinguished Leaders Award in its Georgia Legal Awards of Professional Excellence. In 2018, Joel received the John Mayoue Memorial Scholarship at the 36th Annual Family Law Institute for his dedication and commitment to public service and exhibiting the highest standards of professionalism in his work in family law. Throughout his legal career, Joel has trained lawyers and presented at local, state, and national conferences on a variety of topics.

Joel currently serves as Treasurer of the Atlanta Bar Association’s Family Law Section. He is a member of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, the Georgia State Bar Family Law, and the Georgia Hispanic Bar Association. In addition, Joel was formerly a member of the Fulton County Family Violence Task Force and Georgia Temporary Protective Order Forum, and formerly served on the Board of the Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

Joel graduated from Berry College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies and French. While in college, Joel attended the Catholic University of Paris’ French Language and Culture Institute. After college, Joel received his J.D. from Florida Coastal School of Law, where he received a Pro Bono award for dedicating over 150 hours of pro bono service to the Jacksonville area community.

Mr. Kevin Jeffrey Rubin Related Seminars and Products

Rubin Family Law LLC

Kevin Rubin graduated from Emory University School of Law in 2008. Kevin received a Master’s of Science in Information Systems Technology (MSIST) and a Bachelor’s of Business Administration (BBA) from George Washington University in 2001.

Kevin is a Fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) and International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL). Kevin has been recognized by Super Lawyers, The Best Lawyers in America, and Georgia Trend Legal Elite.

Kevin serves on the Executive Committee of the State Bar of Georgia’s Family Law Section, the Board of the Atlanta Bar Association’s Family Law Section, and the Board of the Georgia Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML).

Ms. Annie Marie Jordan Related Seminars and Products

DeKalb Pro Bono

Annie Jordan is a leader in the legal community and champion for equality in access to justice. As Executive Director, Annie oversees the operations of DeKalb Pro Bono, a non-profit organization that provides free legal assistance to marginalized and low-income populations in DeKalb County.  She works to develop new programs to match volunteer attorneys with low-income residents who need representation in civil matters such as domestic relations, bankruptcy, landlord tenant disputes, probate issues, consumer debt and representation for victims of domestic violence seeking civil temporary protective orders.

Prior to her current role, Annie had been with DeKalb Pro Bono as a Staff Attorney since 2019 where she ran the Domestic Violence Project.  She served the people of DeKalb County by providing representation to low-income persons seeking civil temporary protective orders. In that role, she also worked with the legal community to facilitate volunteer attorneys in providing pro bono legal services to survivors of domestic violence seeking civil protective orders. In addition, she provided advice and assistance to clients in family law matters. As an expert in domestic violence civil litigation, Annie regularly presents at workshops and trainings to educate lawyers and the community about working with survivors of domestic violence.

Before joining DeKalb Pro Bono, Annie worked in private practice at Knight Family Law and Senterfitt & Knight.  Her practice focused exclusively on family law and included a full range of family law matters including divorce, custody, support, family violence and stalking, contempt, and modification cases.

Annie is active in the legal community. She is the President of the Georgia Association for Women Lawyers and has served as a Vice President on its Board of Directors since 2015. She has also served on the Family Law Committee of the State Bar of Georgia, Young Lawyers Division and the DeKalb Bar Association, Family Law Section Board of Directors. She is a Barrister in the Cooper Inn of Court and a member of the DeKalb Lawyers Association.

She received a Bachelor of Science degree from Georgia Institute of Technology in 2010 with highest honors and a J.D. from Georgia State University College of Law in 2013.

Ms. Brianna Leigh Hagood Related Seminars and Products

Rubin Family Law LLC

Brianna L. Hagood graduated from Georgia State College of Law in 2022 and is licensed to practice law in Georgia with admissions to the Georgia Supreme Court, Georgia Court of Appeals, and all Georgia State Trial Courts. Brianna received a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Criminology from Kennesaw State University in 2016.

In law school, Brianna was a member of the Family Law Society and the Society for Immigration Law. Brianna’s passion for law comes from her desire to advocate for others. 

Ms. Royce LeeAnn Bluitt Related Seminars and Products

The Bluitt Law Firm LLC

Royce Sago, Esq.

Founder & Managing Attorney, The Bluitt Law Firm, LLC

Royce Sago is a seasoned family law attorney based in Atlanta, Georgia, with over 17 years of legal experience. As the founder and managing attorney of The Bluitt Law Firm, LLC, she has dedicated her career to advocating for families and children navigating complex legal challenges.

Attorney Sago began her legal journey as a Child Attorney, representing children who had been neglected and abused. She later served as a Special Assistant Attorney General (SAAG) Associate, representing the Department of Family and Children Services in dependency actions. This foundation has provided her with profound insight into the intersection of law and family dynamics.

Her practice encompasses a wide range of family law matters, including custody disputes, child support, paternity/legitimation, divorce, alimony, domestic adoptions, and dependency proceedings. In addition to her litigation work, Attorney Sago serves as a Guardian Ad Litem in private custody cases, leveraging her extensive background to determine the best interests of the child in custody disputes.

Attorney Sago’s commitment to excellence has been recognized by her peers; she has been selected to the Super Lawyers list from 2023 to 2025, following her inclusion in the Rising Stars list from 2017 to 2021. She is an active member of the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys (GABWA) and was selected for the 2017 class of the Charles Weltner Family Law Inn of Court.

Attorney Sago earned her Juris Doctor from Stetson University College of Law and has been licensed to practice in Georgia since 2007.  When she isn’t advocating for her clients, she is chasing after her two toddlers or watching HGTV.

Andy Flink Related Seminars and Products

Flink ADR

Andy Flink is a highly regarded professional in the field of alternative dispute resolution, specializing in family law mediation. As the founder of Flink ADR, based in Alpharetta, Georgia, Andy has dedicated his career to helping individuals and families resolve conflicts amicably through mediation and arbitration services.

Flink ADR was founded with the vision of creating a comprehensive resource for family law ADR in Georgia. The firm is composed of a professional team of skilled neutrals who recognize the unique dynamics of each family. By emphasizing the reduction of emotional and financial strain, Flink ADR offers services such as mediation, arbitration, and hybrid mediation/arbitration, tailored to meet the diverse needs of its clients.

Business Experience

Before transitioning to ADR, Andy enjoyed a successful career in the retail industry, spanning nearly three decades as an entrepreneur, executive, and board member. His extensive business background honed his skills in strategic thinking, effective communication, and results-oriented problem-solving—qualities he now applies to the cases he conducts.

Entrepreneurial Ventures

• Founded and operated retail businesses, gaining hands-on experience in building and managing companies from the ground up.

• Developed expertise in negotiation, decision-making, and communication skills integral to his work in ADR.

Executive Roles

• Held leadership positions in established retail organizations, contributing to business strategy, operations, and profitability.

• Collaborated with diverse teams, solved complex challenges, and thrived under pressure.

• Led the Board of Directors in a 25+ location retail chain, offering insights into governance, strategic oversight, and growth planning.

ADR Practice

As a registered mediator and arbitrator, Andy focuses primarily on family law, with a particular emphasis on custody matters. His personal and professional experiences enable him to offer empathetic, practical solutions for families facing complex legal challenges. Andy is committed to providing a collaborative and amicable alternative to traditional litigation, prioritizing the well-being of families and empowering them to make informed decisions during difficult times.

Educational Initiatives

Andy actively shares his expertise in mediation and family law through educational programs such as the Family Law Institute. He contributes to discussions on effective mediation strategies and the benefits of ADR in family law cases.

Thought Leadership

Through blogs, speaking engagements, and other platforms, Andy provides valuable insights into the mediation process. His thought leadership educates individuals and legal professionals on the advantages and challenges of resolving disputes efficiently and amicably through mediation.

Andy's deep understanding of conflict resolution, negotiation, and balancing competing interests made his transition to ADR a natural progression. His personal experiences with family law matters further influenced his decision to focus on family law mediation, giving him a unique perspective and empathy for clients navigating similar challenges.

By combining his business acumen and personal insights, Andy has built Flink ADR into a highly respected mediation and arbitration practice, His dedication to fostering understanding and resolution has solidified his reputation as a leader in helping families navigate difficult processes in a constructive and supportive environment.

Hon. James G. Bodiford Related Seminars and Products

Cobb Circuit Superior Court

TITLE: SENIOR JUDGE, SUPERIOR COURTS OF GEORGIA

JOHN MARSHALL SCHOOL OF LAW: Graduated 1979; DISTINUISHED ALUMNI HONOREE: 2010

In his thirty (30) years active on the bench, Judge Bodiford presided over several of Georgia’s highest profile cases. These cases include the death-penalty trial of Attorney Fred Tokars, the Lynn Turner “Antifreeze Case,” and the internationally covered Tri-State crematory case, where over 300 bodies were found discarded outside a local crematory.

Both the Tokars case and the Turner case were covered gavel to gavel on Court TV. In 2008, Judge Bodiford was recruited and successfully completed the trial of State of Georgia v. Brian Nichols, who is known as the “Atlanta Courthouse Killer.”

During his time as a sitting Superior Court Judge, and during his ongoing tenure as a Senior Judge, Judge Bodiford has presided over hundreds of custody cases.  In his last ten years as a mediator in and around the metro-Atlanta area, Judge Bodiford has worked closely with the local domestic bars in bringing much-needed resolution to some of the most hotly contested divorces, legitimations, modifications and contempts.

Judge Bodiford has been a frequent lecturer to lay people, attorneys and other Judges.  On behalf of the United States, he traveled to Estonia, Bosnia, and the Republic of Georgia on twelve occasions to teach the American Justice System to European judges in those countries.

Among other accolades, in 2020 Judge Bodiford was the first P. Harris Hines Jurist in Resident at the UGA School of Law and in the fall of 2018, he received the prestigious Charles L. Weltner Freedom of Information Award from the Georgia First Amendment Foundation.

Hon. Christopher Samuel Brasher Related Seminars and Products

Fulton County Superior Court

Former Chief Judge of the Superior Court of Fulton County when he retired from the bench in late 2022, Chris Brasher served on Georgia’s busiest trial court for nearly seventeen years. During his time on the Superior Court bench, Judge Brasher presided over more than 20,000 cases, ranging from commercial disputes involving hundreds of millions of dollars, to catastrophic injury cases, to professional negligence and malpractice cases, to high-asset divorce cases, to complex and vexing custody matters, to capital murder and other violent felony cases. As a lawyer prior to his service on the bench, Judge Brasher tried cases in more than 130 counties in Georgia, as well as in all of Georgia’s Federal District Courts. As an appellate advocate, Judge Brasher argued more than forty cases in appellate courts, including before Georgia’s Court of Appeals and Supreme Court, as well as in the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals and in the United States Supreme Court. Judge Brasher has more than 70 reported decisions as lead appellate counsel.

On the bench, Judge Brasher earned a reputation as a hard-working, efficient, and effective jurist who was always prepared, patient, and fair. Judge Brasher’s court was known to be a place where disputes were resolved in an efficient way, where parties and counsel would be heard, and where professionalism and respect were expected and practiced.

As a colleague and in the community, Judge Brasher has served in leadership roles in local, county, and statewide organizations. Teaching and mentoring have always been a part of Judge Brasher’s efforts to equip others in their professional, academic, and personal lives. As a veteran trial judge with over two hundred jury trials, Judge Brasher knows what works and what does not before a jury. As a trained and certified mediator, Judge Brasher has honed the skills needed to assist in resolving disputes.

Hon. J. Stephen Schuster Related Seminars and Products

Cobb Circuit Superior Court

J. Stephen (Steve) Schuster is a Senior Judge of the Superior Courts of Georgia.

Judge Schuster was appointed a Senior Judge by Governor Kemp on January 1, 2021 after serving four terms as a Superior Court Judge. In addition to sitting on the bench Judge Schuster serves as a registered neutral. Judge Schuster focuses on complex civil and domestic mediation, arbitration, and private trials.

Judge Schuster is the Chair Emeritus of the Uniform Rules Committee of the Council of Superior Court Judges. He worked with the Supreme Court on rewriting the Uniform Rules on virtual proceedings, training and media access to the courts.

Judge Schuster has served in numerous positions in the Business Law Section of the ABA. He is a past chair of the Judicial Initiative and a past chair of the Dispute Resolution subsection. Judge Schuster is a former president of the American College of Business Court Judges. He has also served as a president of the Cobb County Bar Association and seven terms on the State Bar of Georgia Board of Governors.

Judge Schuster may be reached at the following addressed: stephen.schuster@cobbcounty.org or judgeschuster@gmail.com.

Sam Hubbard Related Seminars and Products

Coastal Divorce Advisors, LLC

Sam Hubbard established Coastal Divorce Advisors, LLC to provide clients with the support and guidance they need to make smart, unemotional financial decisions as they navigate the often-overwhelming divorce process. Prior to founding the firm, Sam was a financial advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in New York City, where he developed financial plans, asset allocation models, and appropriate investment strategies for high-net-worth international and domestic clients.

Mr. David Isaac Schachter Related Seminars and Products

The Schachter Law Firm, LLC

David I. Schachter is the Founding Member of The Schachter Law Firm, LLC. He works extensively in all facets of Family Law. Mr. Schachter is regularly retained to represent clients in high-asset divorce cases and complex and highly contested custody and parenting time disputes. He has litigated cases involving high profile individuals and involving cutting edge issues, such as cryptocurrency assets in divorce cases. Mr. Schachter has also testified as an expert witness on legal fees in domestic relations cases. He has been a featured divorce expert on the Buzzcast podcast "Life is Short, Get Divorced," and a featured legal expert in Newsweek Magazine's "What Should I Do?" on multiple occasions.

Mr. Schachter has been named to Georgia Super Lawyers every year since 2018. He is rated “AV – Preeminent” by Martindale-Hubbell, and recognized as one of Georgia’s “Legal Elite” by Georgia Trend Magazine. AVVO has awarded David the Client’s Choice Award for Family Law every year from 2012 to 2024. He has also been featured in the best attorney issues of various publications. Mr. Schachter has successfully prevailed in cases before the Georgia Court of Appeals, and established precedent in Leone v. Griffin, 342 Ga. App. 474, 803 S.E.2d 617 (2017).

Prior to founding The Schachter Law Firm, LLC, Mr. Schachter both built and managed the Savannah offices of two other family law firms. David’s extensive background in various legal practice areas prior to focusing on family law gives him a unique understanding of an array of unexpected issues that often arise incidental to divorce cases.

Mr. Schachter attended law school at Case Western Reserve University School of Law. While in law school, David clerked for the Honorable Ann Aldridge, Judge, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio, who President Jimmy Carter appointed as the first female ever to the Ohio federal bench. Mr. Schachter was also a member of the Executive Editorial Board of the Case Western Reserve Journal of International Law. Case Western Reserve University School of Law awarded Mr. Schachter multiple CALI Excellence Awards, including in Family Law.

During law school, Mr. Schachter focused much of his studies on family law under the tutelage of his mentor, renowned Ohio family law attorney Andrew Zashin of Zashin Law, an expert who has handled two of the few family law cases ever to come before the United States Supreme Court regarding The Hague Convention. Mr. Schachter also worked on one of the few other family law cases ever to come before the United States Supreme Court. As acknowledged by Mr. Zashin in the Journal of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Mr. Schachter served as a Major Contributor to his published international family law article “Bus Bombings and a Baby’s Custody: Insidious Victories for Terrorism in the Context of International Custody Disputes.”

Mr. Jeffrey Lamar Williamson Related Seminars and Products

J. L. Williamson Law Group LLC

Jeffrey Williamson is the founder of J. L. Williamson Law Group, LLC. The firm specializes in elder law, asset protection, tax planning, and tax controversy. Prior to starting his own firm, Jeffrey served as an Internal Revenue Agent, and he is an expert in the audit policies and procedures of the IRS.
A frequent lecturer, Jeffrey has presented many seminars on taxation and estate planning issues to various civic groups, investment professionals, attorneys, and certified public accountants. Jeffrey received his Bachelor of Business Administration from Mercer University and both his Juris Doctor and Master of Accountancy from the University of Georgia.

Ms. Jennifer Kay Brown Related Seminars and Products

Brown Dutton & Crider Law Firm

Jenni is the Founding Partner of Brown Dutton & Crider Law Firm and a dedicated mediator and arbitrator specializing in family law cases, with a focus on divorce, modifications, custody disputes, and various related matters. Since 2011, she has exclusively practiced family law. Jenni has consistently been recognized as a Georgia Super Lawyer from 2017 to 2024, an honor bestowed upon fewer than 2.5 percent of lawyers in the state. Furthermore, she has been nominated by Georgia’s Trend Legal Elite each year since 2018.

Known for her natural leadership qualities, Jenni is described by her clients as compassionate, confident, and assertive when necessary. She excels in open communication, ensuring her clients understand the complexities of their situations and what to expect throughout the litigation process. Her realistic approach means she provides honest assessments, preparing clients for what lies ahead in court.

Active in her professional community, Jenni is a member of the Cobb Bar Association and the State Bar of Georgia. She serves on several boards, demonstrating her commitment to local initiatives through her involvement with the Kennesaw Business Association and the Kennesaw Public Safety Foundation. Since her marriage in 2013, Jenni has been a devoted mother of two. In her spare time, she enjoys family activities, volunteering at her church, exercising, and engaging in outdoor pursuits.

Mr. Lance Drury Dutton Related Seminars and Products

Brown Dutton & Crider Law Firm

Lance has been a dedicated attorney since 2008. During his time in law school, he served as Class Vice President, excelled in an opening statement competition that earned him a spot on the prestigious Trial Team, and contributed to Law Review, where he was honored for producing the most outstanding article.

Lance began his legal career as a public defender, gaining significant trial experience by successfully managing over 20 jury trials, achieving a remarkable win rate of approximately 75%. 

Known for his tenacity, compassion, and unwavering honesty, Lance prioritizes transparency in client communication, ensuring they hear what they need rather than just what they want. He thrives on tackling complex and unique challenges in family and criminal law, relishing the opportunities for legal research, innovative problem-solving, and the intricacies of calculating marital balance sheets in divorce cases.

Outside of his legal practice, Lance remains an avid tennis player, having competed at the collegiate level and ranked as a top junior player in North Carolina and Georgia. He has recently taken up golf lessons, aiming to break 85 in his first round. In his downtime, Lance cherishes moments with his two rescue dogs, Lucky and Foxy, whom he rescued as puppies from the middle of the road. Visitors to the office may occasionally spot these playful pups roaming around.