Mrs. Laura Akins Smith Related Seminars and Products

Nadler Biernath LLC

Laura Akins Smith practices in the areas of special needs planning, estate planning, elder law and probate with Nadler Biernath. Laura assists her clients in planning for family emergencies, finding solutions for complicated mixed family circumstances and for the end of life. After a loved one has experienced a catastrophe or passed away, Laura helps clients navigate through the probate procedure and legalities.

As a native Atlantan, Laura appreciates the opportunity to serve her hometown community. With patience and empathy, she guides her clients through the often overwhelming estate planning or probate processes. Laura finds it incredibly rewarding to connect with her clients and make difficult circumstances easier.

Laura serves on the board for Threshold Community Program and the Atlanta Autism Consortium.

In her free time, Laura loves finding new running routes and hiking trails to explore. She keeps up with new restaurant openings and enjoys trying different cuisines. She also enjoys travel—her favorite destination so far has been Japan!

Ms. Lauren Albanese Bryant Related Seminars and Products

The Law Office of Lauren A. Bryant

Lauren Bryant graduated Magna cum laude from the University of Georgia in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice. She attended Florida State University College of Law for the 2005-2006 school year, where she was a member of the Moot Court Team, the Journal of Transnational Law and Policy, and the Journal of Land Use and Environmental Law. Lauren transferred to Georgia State University College of Law in 2006 and received her Juris Doctor in 2008. After nearly 15 years with a small general practice law firm (which ultimately transitioned into an almost exclusively probate-focused firm), Lauren opened her own practice in late 2021 and continues to focus her work and advocacy on probate and estate planning matters.

Prior to law school, Lauren was a social worker and advocated for adults with developmental disabilities, while further solidifying her passion for advocacy and compassionate representation. In law school, Lauren worked as an intern for the Metro-Atlanta Task Force for the Homeless, and the Georgia Advocacy Office, a non-profit specializing in assisting and advocating for individuals who are labeled as disabled or mentally ill. Her passion for advocacy led her to become a Guardian ad litem for numerous probate courts throughout the state (Gwinnett, Cobb, Fulton, Rockdale, Dekalb, White, and recently in federal court for the Northern District of Georgia), where she represents the interests of children and adults with special needs in varying litigation, guardianship and conservatorship, and probate matters. As of 2022, Lauren began work as a part-time judge for the Fulton County Probate Court, working to assist the Court with the backlog of cases resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic. As a judge, Lauren is tasked with adjudicating both emergency and permanent guardianship/conservatorship cases.

Lauren received recognition from the Georgia Pro Bono Project in 2009 and 2010 for providing legal services for low-income Georgians. In 2014, Lauren was nominated by her peers and selected for inclusion in Georgia Trend’s annual publication, “Legal Elite”. In 2022, Lauren was selected as a Super Lawyers "Rising Star". Lauren has been a speaker and presenter at numerous CLE’s, covering topics pertinent to probate work and service as a Guardian ad litem. 

Since beginning her career, Lauren has represented Georgia clients in countless probate matters, including emergency and permanent guardianships and conservatorships, compromise claims for minors and incapacitated adults, probate and estate administration, year’s support petitions, petitions to determine heirs, and numerous unusual probate matters. Lauren also has extensive experience drafting complex estate plans, and has a special passion for preparing special needs trusts.

Lauren is very tall, but she has never played basketball. She lives in Suwanee with her husband, three children, a cat, and a dog. In her free time, which is rare, she enjoys listening to true-crime podcasts, watching Unsolved Mysteries and British crime dramas, and scouting the local thrift stores.

Ms. Heather Durham Nadler Related Seminars and Products

Nadler Biernath LLC

Heather Durham Nadler is one of just 11 attorneys in Georgia to be certified as an Elder Law Attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation, as accredited by the American Bar Association. Her practice is concentrated in the areas of special needs law, elder law and estate planning. Prior to establishing her own law firm, Heather was a senior associate with the Law Office of Ruthann P. Lacey, P.C.

Born and raised in Atlanta, Heather attended undergrad at Auburn and received her J.D. from Tulane University School of Law, where she was on the editorial board of the Tulane Journal of International and Comparative Law. While in law school, she also clerked at the Supreme Court of the State of Georgia for the Honorable Justice Hugh P. Thompson.

Heather enjoys volunteer work, serving as a member of the board of directors for Special Needs Schools of Gwinnett. She was recognized by the DeKalb Volunteer Lawyers Foundation for her service with the 2020 Leading the Change Award. She also helps with Backpack Buddies, an organization that provides food for the weekend to economically disadvantaged kids in Dekalb County.

When she’s not working, Heather spends time with her husband and two children, keeping up with a busy slate of kids’ sports events, Auburn football and season tickets to the Fox Theatre. As a lifelong Atlantan, she looks forward to eventually retiring out of state—preferably someplace with water!

Ms. Cherish Anne Dela Cruz Related Seminars and Products

MANELY FIRM PC

Cherish De la Cruz loves getting to know her clients and learning about their families, their businesses, and their lives. She designed her practice to include both estate planning, probate and small business law because she understands how much overlap there is in these areas —especially for first- and second-generation American families.

Cherish was born and raised in the culturally diverse city of Toronto. Her parents had immigrated to Canada from the Philippines, and growing up, Cherish saw firsthand how difficult it was for them to establish themselves in their new country. She was frustrated by how her parents were treated and realized that they could have avoided much of the hardships they faced if they’d only had good information and proper legal structures in place. That’s what got her interested in becoming a lawyer and ultimately focusing her mission of helping other families.

After earning her law degree, Cherish began her career as Public Defender in Florida. These formative years shaped her ability to proactively navigate the probate system. It also taught her that she would much rather help clients prevent problems and avoid the expense and stress of going to court over routine estate matters. In 2006, she moved to Atlanta and took the position of Senior Counsel and Anti-Money Laundering Officer for Primerica, a publicly traded investment and insurance company. During her seven years there, she gained an expertise in supporting both small businesses and individuals and working collaboratively with financial advisors and cpas for the benefit of her clients.

In 2010, Cherish’s Aunt Luzbella was diagnosed with a rare form of Appendix cancer. Since she had no children of her own, she asked Cherish to help her in handling her affairs. At that time, Cherish specialized in Securities and Compliance law. She knew her Tita Luzbella needed a will, but she didn’t understand the full value of having a comprehensive custom tailored estate plan. A friend referred her to a general practitioner who drew up a will in less than half an hour. Unfortunately, Tita Luzbella’s quick and inexpensive will ended up costing everyone quite a lot in both money and heartache. Because the document wasn’t well thought out, it didn’t include many important details. This left the door open for family conflicts; assets going to creditors when they shouldn’t have; and a lengthy, complicated, and expensive probate process. It was a horrible experience—especially coming on top of the loss of her beloved aunt—but it motivated Cherish to leave her job in corporate law.

She experienced the importance of planning first hand when she was diagnosed with kidney cancer and experienced what she had preached (need another) to her clients all these years.  The reality and the  importance of “planning” in practice as a business owner, mother of three young children and daughter of aging parents. Through her extensive and wonderful network, she was able to see Dr. Viraj Masters at Emory Winship who helped her through her cancer journey.

 As a cancer survivor, and because of her own personal experiences, she can understand the emotional challenges and difficulties that each client faces when planning for death and the possibility of disability. She takes her own personal experiences and legal expertise to carefully and thoughtfully plan for the “what if’s” in life with all of her clients. Cherish came to the Manely Firm P.C. because their mission and values matched her own and she knew each of  her clients would be cared for.  

Mrs. Hillary Bowlick Cranford Related Seminars and Products

Georgia Fiduciary Group, LLC

Hillary is a professional fiduciary, serving across the State of Georgia as a court appointed and privately nominated Administrator, Executor, Conservator, and Trustee.  In these roles, Hillary serves on over 400 active cases and currently serves as County Administrator for Gwinnett, Cobb, Fulton, Henry, Newton, Rockdale, Athens-Clarke, and Sumter counties.  Hillary also serves as the current editor of the Probate Judge’s Handbook and Benchbook, published through the Council of Probate Court Judges of Georgia and available at www.gaprobate.gov. 

Hillary graduated from the University of Georgia in 2004 with degrees in English and Advertising and earned her J.D. from the University of Georgia in 2007.  Prior to starting her fiduciary practice, Hillary served as staff attorney for the Gwinnett County and Cobb County Probate Courts from 2007 to 2014 and as Associate Judge from 2014 to 2019.  Hillary’s background in the courts allows for a unique expertise in navigating the conservatorship and estate processes.  As a result, Hillary works closely with the Plaintiff’s bar to serve as Administrator, Conservator, and Trustee for litigation and settlement purposes.  Hillary also accepts private appointments to serve as Executor and Trustee through the Wills and estate plans of private individuals.        

Hillary and her team at Georgia Fiduciary Group provide boutique fiduciary services, including drafting and filing initial probate pleadings and settlement protection trusts; administering estates, conservatorships, and trusts; asset management through partnerships with carefully selected and trusted financial advisors; real and personal property management; tax matters; and successfully discharging and closing estates, conservatorships, and trusts. 

Mr. Drew Norman Early Related Seminars and Products

Shewmaker & Lewis LLC

Drew N. Early was born in Harrisonburg VA.  Attended US Military Academy, West Point NY, graduating in 1979.  Served in US Army, to include service with XVIII ABN Corps, Second Infantry Division, Tenth Mountain Division, and Third Army.  Multiple deployments, including Haiti and several to the Middle East (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Yemen, and the Emirates).

Graduate, with honors, US Army Command and General Staff College and follow-on attendance at US Army School of Advanced Military Studies, with an advanced degree in Strategic Planning.  Then multiple planning assignments in the Army, to include Third Army, focusing on the Middle East.  Received separate Master’s Degree in Management while on active duty. 

Graduate JD, cum laude, from Georgia State University and currently of counsel with Shewmaker and Shewmaker for probate and related matters, focused on veterans’ assistance and elder law.  Practicing veterans’ law since 2008.

- Adjunct Professor at Emory University's College of Law

- Executive Director of Emory School of Law’s Volunteer Clinic for Veterans 

Accreditations and Admissions

US Supreme Court
US Northern and Middle Districts of Georgia
US Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
Supreme Court and Court of Appeals for State of Georgia
Accredited to practice before the VA
Serving on DeKalb County Probate Court Court-Appointed list
Registered Mediator
 

Published

The Elder Law Journal, Volume 18, Number 1, 2010
Proceedings, US Naval Institute, November 1997
GA Bar Journal
Frequent CLE contributor within GA and to national veterans advocacy groups—CLEs to National Organization of Veterans Advocates conferences in Washington DC, Chicago IL, Las Vegas NV, San Antonio TX, Portland OR, Providence RI, and others.  Separate CLEs in GA and VA.    
 

Awards

2010 Marshall-Tuttle Award from State Bar of Georgia as outstanding lawyer for his service to military and veterans
Numerous US and foreign military awards and decorations
 

Professional Associations

Past Chair, Military and Veterans Section of the State Bar of Georgia
National Organization of Veterans Advocates
National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
Veterans Benefits Practice and Development Council
 

Expertise

VA cases in multiple US states and possessions, to include Guam and PR.
Expert witness, Georgia Office of State Administrative Hearings, 2009.
Nominee, US House of Representatives Veterans Affairs advisory sub-committee, Disability Compensation and Small Business Opportunities

Mr. Blake Neisler Melton Related Seminars and Products

The Family Office at Synovus

Blake Melton is a Senior Wealth Strategist with The Family Office at Synovus and a fellow in The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. He is a past Chairperson of the Fiduciary Law Section of the State Bar of Georgia and currently serves on its Code Revision and Legislative Committees. He is also active in his local community and is the founder and chair of Standing Boy, Inc., a nonprofit that has constructed nearly 35 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails on the Standing Boy property in north Columbus.

Blake met his wife Jensen while both were attending the University of Georgia School of Law. They have two daughters, Finley and Asher.