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Live Event

Institute for City and County Attorneys


CLE Hours: 12 including 12 General, 1 Ethics, 1 Professionalism, 3 Trial Practice

Categories:
Ethics |  Professionalism |  Trial Practice
Location:
University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education & Hotel - Athens, Georgia

Dates
Schedule at a glance


Tags: institute


Description

 

  • Speakers, session times and credit hours are subject to change.
  • Ethics | Professionalism | Trial Practice

 

  • WEDNESDAY,
    DECEMBER 13, 2023


  • PRESIDING:
  • Jessica W. O'Connor, Program Co-Chair; City Manager, City of Griffin, Griffin, GA

  • 7:30
  • REGISTRATION AND BREAKFAST

  • 8:00
  • Introduction
  • Damon E. Elmore, Executive Director, State Bar of Georgia, Atlanta, GA

  • 8:05
  • Welcome and Program Overview
  • Jessica W. O'Connor

  • 8:10
  • Legislative Update
  • Ryan R. Bowersox, Assistant General Counsel, Georgia Municipal Association, Atlanta, GA
  • Larry W. Ramsey, Jr., General Counsel, Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Atlanta, GA

  • 9:10
  • Judicial Update
  • James E. “Jim” Elliott, Jr., Of Counsel, Butler Snow LLP, Macon, GA

  • 10:10
  • BREAK

  • 10:25
  • Petition/Referendum Process for Cities and Counties – Camden County and Kemp Cases
  • Pearson K. Cunningham, Hall Booth Smith PC, Atlanta, GA
  • Rusi C. Patel, General Counsel, Georgia Municipal Association, Atlanta, GA

  • 11:10
  • Planning Commission – Board of Zoning Appeals – HB 1405 Update Trial Practice CLE Hour
  • Kirk R. Fjelstul, Counsel, Smith Gambrell & Russell LLP, Atlanta, GA

  • 12:10
  • Lunch

  • 1:10
  • Business Meeting of the Local Government Law Section

  • 1:30
  • Debate and Decorum During Meetings
  • Viviane H. Ernstes, Deputy County Attorney, DeKalb County Law Department, Decatur, GA
  • Matthew C. Welch, Deputy County Attorney, DeKalb County Law Department, Decatur, GA

  • 2:00
  • Affirmative Action for Local Government and Employment Issues in Light of Harvard Decision
  • Sasha N. Greenberg, Partner, Smith Gambrell & Russell LLP, Atlanta, GA
  • Hon. Leah Ward Sears, Partner, Smith Gambrell & Russell LLP; Former Justice, Supreme Court of Georgia, Atlanta, GA

  • 2:30
  • Break

  • 2:45
  • Professional Responsibility in Using AI Professionalism CLE Hour
  • Sarah Hannah Phillips, Senior Managing Associate, Dentons US LLP, Atlanta, GA
  • Mark Silver, Partner, Dentons US LLP, Atlanta, GA

  • 3:45
    Sharing Economy for Housing Becoming Multi-Family – Update (PadSplit)
    Jim Thornton, Director of Governmental Relations, Georgia Municipal Association, LaGrange, GA
    Hon. L’Erin B. Wiggins, Chief Judge, Cities of Pine Lake and Stone Mountain; Attorney, L F Barnes Law, LLC, Atlanta, GA

  • 4:15
  • Recess

  • THURSDAY,
    DECEMBER 14, 2023


  • PRESIDING:
  • Christopher J. “Chris” Hamilton, Program Co-Chair; Jarrard & Davis LLP, Cumming, GA
  • Hon. L’Erin B. Wiggins, Program Co-Chair; Chief Judge, Cities of Pine Lake and Stone Mountain; Attorney, L F Barnes Law, LLC, Atlanta, GA

  • 7:30
  • REGISTRATION AND BREAKFAST

  • 8:00
  • Greeting
  • Christopher J. “Chris” Hamilton
  • Hon L’Erin B. Wiggins

  • 8:05
  • Regulatory Fees – Alcohol License Fees
  • John M. Hawkins, Athens-Clarke County Attorney's Office, Athens, GA

  • 8:35
  • Elections Issues – Ballots; Under Seal; Preparing for 2024
  • Hon. Jonathan R. Fordham, Judge, Bleckley County Probate Court, Cochran, GA
  • Karen Pachuta, Associate, Jarrard & Davis, LLP, Cumming, GA

  • 9:35
  • Rivian – Impact on Bond Transactions and Economic Development
  • Thomas P. “Tom” Lauth, Partner, Kutak Rock LLP, Atlanta, GA

  • 10:05
  • Break

  • 10:20
  • Ethics: Who is Your Client? Ethics CLE Hour
  • William D. “Bill” NeSmith, III, Deputy General Counsel, State Bar of Georgia, Atlanta, GA

  • 11:20
  • Homelessness – Legal Issues (with virtual appearances)
  • Hon. Lisa G. Colbert, Judge, Chatham County Superior Court, Savannah, GA
  • Kelly Russo, Director of the Commission on Homelessness and Poverty, American Bar Association, Washington, D.C.
  • Matt Wechter, Supervising Attorney, San Diego Public Defender, San Diego, CA

  • 12:05
  • Lunch

  • 1:05
  • Appellate Practice after the Superior and State Court Appellate Practice Act Trial Practice CLE Hour
  • Hon. Darron J. Enns, Assistant General Counsel, Judicial Council of Georgia / Administrative Office of the Courts, Atlanta, GA
  • Hon. Gary E. Jackson, Judge, City of Atlanta Municipal Court, Atlanta, GA
  • Hon. Christopher J. McFadden, Judge, Georgia Court of Appeals, Atlanta, GA

  • 2:05
  • Break

  • 2:20
  • TIPS AND STRATEGIES FOR LITIGATING PUBLIC SAFETY CASES Trial Practice CLE Hour
  • Rebecca J. “Becky” Dobras, Staff Attorney, DeKalb County Law Department, Decatur, GA
  • Nikisha L. “Niki” McDonald, Staff Attorney, DeKalb County Law Department, Decatur, GA
  • Hon. R. David Ware, Partner, Hall Booth Smith PC, Atlanta, GA

  • 3:20
  • Adjourn

 

Version 6

 

Handouts

Speaker


Mr. Ryan Robert Bowersox's Profile

Mr. Ryan Robert Bowersox Related Seminars and Products

Georgia Municipal Association


Ryan Bowersox is the Assistant General Counsel for the Georgia Municipal Association working on behalf of GMA and Georgia’s 536 cities. Ryan previously served as a Governmental Relations Associate for GMA where he advocated in the interest of Georgia’s cities at the state level. Prior to joining the GMA, Ryan worked for the Georgia State Senate Research Office as a Senior Policy Analyst where he assisted and advised in the passage of legislation relating to taxation, economic development, and banking law.

 

Ryan holds a J.D. from Wake Forest University School of Law where he served on Moot Court and as an editor of the Journal of Business and Intellectual Property Law. Ryan holds degrees in both Political Science and Advertising from the University of Georgia. He has lived in Georgia since 2000 and currently resides in Chamblee, Georgia with his wife, Erica and dog, Riley.


Mr. Larry Wayne Ramsey Jr.'s Profile

Mr. Larry Wayne Ramsey Jr. Related Seminars and Products

Association County Commissioners of Georgia


Larry Ramsey is a local government attorney with extensive legal experience in areas including litigation, zoning, taxation and finance, legislation, intergovernmental relations, elections, constitutional issues, ethics, public procurement, and public works.


Mr. James E. Elliott Jr.'s Profile

Mr. James E. Elliott Jr. Related Seminars and Products

Butler Snow LLP


Jim is a member of Butler Snow’s Public Finance, Tax Incentives and Credit Markets group. 


Mr. Pearson Kern Cunningham's Profile

Mr. Pearson Kern Cunningham Related Seminars and Products

Hall Booth Smith PC


Pearson Cunningham is an Associate in Hall Booth Smith's Atlanta office, practicing primarily in our appellate and governmental liability groups.

Through his work in HBS’s governmental liability group, Pearson has gained valuable experience defending local governments and their employees in a wide variety of claims under federal and state law. Stemming from this experience and the effective motion practice entailed, Pearson has honed his appellate advocacy skills. He has worked on numerous cases before state and federal appellate courts and has argued before the Supreme Court of Georgia and the Court of Appeals of Georgia.

A native of Covington, Georgia, Pearson received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Georgia. After serving as a legislative aide for State Representative Barry Fleming, Pearson went on to earn his Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from the Georgia State University College of Law. During law school, he served as the Legislation Editor for the Georgia State University Law Review in which he supervised and edited the Law Review’s annual publication of the “Peach Sheets,” which detailed the legislative history for important pieces of legislation from the Georgia General Assembly. Pearson was also an active member of the College of Law’s Moot Court Board and gained valuable experience clerking for then-Judge Ellington on the Court of Appeals of Georgia.


Mr. Rusi Chandrashkhar Patel's Profile

Mr. Rusi Chandrashkhar Patel Related Seminars and Products

Georgia Municipal Association


Rusi Patel is General Counsel with the Georgia Municipal Association where, in addition to providing legal advice to the Association, he conducts trainings and prepares publications on various topics important to cities, helps Georgia city officials and city attorneys navigate Georgia laws, and provides legal support to the Association’s lobbying staff at the Georgia State Capitol every legislative session. Through his work at the Georgia Legislature he has worked extensively with legislators, state agencies, and non-profit groups in Georgia.

In 2012 he was awarded the Daniel J. Curtin Young Public Lawyer Award by the International Municipal Lawyers Association (IMLA) and in 2019 he was awarded the Outstanding State League Counsel Award from IMLA. He was appointed as the GMA General Counsel in 2019 after previously serving as the Senior Associate General Counsel. Prior to working with the Georgia Municipal Association, he was the Assistant City Attorney and City Solicitor in Brunswick, Georgia.

He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia with honors in English and History and his law degree from the University of Georgia School of Law. He currently resides with his wife Monisa Chakraborty and sons Rali and Kainoa Patel in Atlanta.

 



Ms. Viviane H. Ernstes's Profile

Ms. Viviane H. Ernstes Related Seminars and Products

DeKalb County Law Department


Viviane H. Ernstes (she/her) is the Chief Legal Officer for DeKalb County. She represents and provides legal advice to County departments and elected officials, including the Chief Executive Officer, Board of Commissioners, Sheriff, and Tax Commissioner. She is responsible for the operation of the County's Law Department comprised of over 30 staff members and she supervises and manages all civil litigation handled by the law department and its outside counsel. 

Ms. Ernstes has practiced law for 30 years and has served DeKalb County for the last 20 years. Prior to joining the County's Law Department, she supervised all litigation for the Fulton County Law Department and served as a part-time municipal court judge for the City of Decatur, where she also served as President of the State of Georgia Counseil of Municipal Court Judges. Ms. Ernstes earned her bachelor's degree from Agnes Scott College, having been accepted to the early admissions program at the age of sixteen, and earned her law degree from the University of Georgia School of Law, where she received the American Jurisprudence Award for Constitutional Litigation. Ms. Ernstes has also received the AV Preeminent Rating from Martindale-Hubbell®.


Mr. Matthew Christopher Welch's Profile

Mr. Matthew Christopher Welch Related Seminars and Products

DeKalb County Law Department


Matthew C. Welch (he/him) has served as Deputy County Attorney with the DeKalb County Law Department since 2018. Mr. Welch came to the DeKalb County Law Department in 2014 as a member of our infrastructure team, primarily assigned to the County’s ongoing Consent Decree related to the County’s sanitary sewer infrastructure. In his role as Deputy County Attorney, Mr. Welch serves as the County’s lead negotiator in the proposed modification of the Consent Decree. Mr. Welch also oversees litigation related to the assessment of real property by the County’s Board of Tax Assessors and manages the legal aspects of transactional matters arising from the County’s infrastructure departments.

Mr. Welch earned his J.D. from the University of Georgia School of Law, where he graduated cum laude and served as a member of the Georgia Journal of International and Comparative Law.  Prior to law school, he earned his undergraduate degree from Mississippi State University.  Mr. Welch has dedicated the majority of his career to local government law, having worked in the Fulton County Attorney’s Office for several years before joining the DeKalb County Law Department.  Mr. Welch lives in Atlanta with his family, where he is an active runner and serves as a volunteer in his neighborhood and at his son’s school.


Ms. Sasha Nina Greenberg's Profile

Ms. Sasha Nina Greenberg Related Seminars and Products

Smith Gambrell & Russell LLP


Ms. Greenberg’s practice focuses on serving the diverse needs of clients in commercial litigation and employment-related matters. Ms. Greenberg provides guidance on compliance issues and dispute avoidance and represents clients in state and federal courts when litigation becomes necessary, as well as through alternative dispute resolution procedures such as arbitration and mediation.

A native of Savannah, Georgia, Ms. Greenberg received her B.B.A., magna cum laude, in Economics with a minor in Philosophy and a Certificate in Personal and Organizational Leadership from the University of Georgia. She earned her J.D. from Duke University School of Law where she served as Lead Editor for the Duke Forum for Law and Social Change and for the Duke Journal of Gender Law and Policy.


Hon. Leah Ward Sears's Profile

Hon. Leah Ward Sears Related Seminars and Products

Smith Gambrell & Russell LLP


With decades of experience as an attorney, a jurist and an elected official, Ms. Sears brings a powerful combination of strategy, analytical thinking and tactical action that gives her clients a compelling edge in complex litigation, appeal, and arbitration and mediation.

Her first-hand knowledge as a retired Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice gives her extraordinary insight into the thinking and mindset of both trial and appellate courts in state and federal jurisdictions across the United States.

Known for her talent for breaking down complex matters to find the most elegant and straightforward solution that may not be apparent to others, Ms. Sears is also a gifted oral advocate, trial strategist and thought leader who can play devil’s advocate to reveal potential weaknesses and holes in both trial and appellate strategy. She is often called upon to serve as a neutral in arbitration proceedings and mediations, and has the ability to meet people where they are and bring them along toward a mutually agreeable solution.

Her efficiency, pragmatism and realistic approach to every legal matter create considerable value for her clients at every stage of litigation and appeal, whether it’s writing briefs that capture the attention with wit and authoritative command of the law or delivering convincing arguments before a jury or the bench.

Recognized as one of Georgia’s leading legal luminaries and role models, Ms. Sears broke numerous barriers in her swift rise to the highest court in Georgia. When she was elected to the Superior Court of Fulton County, she became the first woman to ever serve on that court. Later she was appointed, and then elected, to serve as a Justice on the Supreme Court of Georgia — again, the first woman as well as the youngest jurist ever on that court.

She rose to Presiding Justice and in 2005 her colleagues elevated her to Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court, where she served until retiring from the bench in 2009. During her tenure at the Georgia Supreme Court, Ms. Sears spearheaded an effort to establish the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution, which is a policy-making body under the auspices of the Georgia Supreme Court that oversees the development of court-connected alternative dispute resolution (ADR) programs in Georgia. She also chaired the Judicial Council of Georgia, and was a member of the Board of Directors of the National Conference of Chief Justices.

Since returning to private practice, Ms. Sears has concentrated on prosecuting appeals in both the state and federal courts in many jurisdictions across the United States. This often means embedding with the trial team to develop and execute pretrial and trial strategy, build credible evidence, and begin positioning for an appeal while the trial is underway by preserving evidence and proactively looking for narrowly focused issues at trial that will help protect a hard-fought victory or overturn an unfavorable outcome.

She often consults with other lawyers on trial and appellate briefs, and presides over mock arguments to probe for weaknesses in their strategy or their application of the law and offer piercing yet pivotal insights on how appellate jurists will react.

Ms. Sears is also a trusted advisor to executives and institutions that face misconduct allegations including sexual harassment and other claims of bias, where she works with them to prepare and respond to claims, develop strategies to minimize legal exposure, and move swiftly to protect their reputations. She also defends businesses in a wide range of product liability, business torts, medical malpractice, employment, contract and other commercial disputes.

Twice shortlisted by the President for appointment to the United States Supreme Court, Ms. Sears has been consistently ranked among Georgia Super Lawyers, a distinction for Georgia’s preeminent attorneys who are highly respected by peers for their professional achievements. She was also named in The Best Lawyers in America®, and she was recognized as “Lawyer of the Year” for Appellate Practice for Atlanta.

Ms. Sears is a Fellow and a Board Member of the prestigious American Academy of Appellate Lawyers, an invitation-only organization limited to 500 lawyers who achieve distinction in their field. In 2019 and 2020, she was featured in an exhibit at the Atlanta History Center that commemorates the centennial anniversary of women winning the right to vote. The exhibit featured her judicial robe and gavel, and documented how women have gained and wielded political power over the past 100 years. Ms. Sears was the subject of a biography called “Seizing Serendipity” by author and Georgia Southern University associate professor Rebecca Shriver Davis, which recounts her career and advancement to Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court, as well as her upbringing that shaped her mindset of determination, grit and a relentless drive to prevail.

Beyond her work as a litigator, Ms. Sears is a passionate change agent who cares deeply about giving back to her local community and strengthening the social fabric that binds us together.

In 2021, Ms. Sears began serving a full term as Outside General Counsel to the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA). And in 2019, Ms. Sears was appointed by Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms to serve as Chair of the Task Force for the Promotion of Public Trust. The 13-member committee was created by the mayor and the Atlanta City Council to explore ways to improve integrity, accountability and transparency in city government amid an ongoing federal investigation of corruption that resulted in indictments of former city officials from a previous administration.

Many months of rigorous meetings with local stakeholders, leading legal scholars, inspector generals in other cities, and independent and oversight leaders culminated in an October 2019 report from the Task Force that recommended creating a new Inspector General’s Office to identify and investigate any allegations of misconduct, corruption, ethical violations, waste, fraud and abuse in the City of Atlanta. The proposed independent office would have direct subpoena power, budgetary protection and a fixed term of appointment to minimize the potential for conflict and political pressure. Mayor Bottoms praised the “diligent and thoughtful work” by the Task Force. “The end result of their efforts has laid the groundwork for the Administration and City Council to come together and work toward the shared goal of delivering the transparent and accountable government the people of Atlanta deserve,” Mayor Bottoms said.

In 2021, Ms. Sears was selected to Chair of the Federal Nominations Advisory Commission (the Commission reviews candidates for federal judges, United States Attorneys, and U.S. Marshalls in all three of Georgia’s federal districts).

Ms. Sears also serves on the Board of Trustees for Emory University and The Carter Center. She is also on the Campaign Committee for Oakland Cemetery, Atlanta’s oldest public park and the final resting place for many of the city’s most noted citizens including former Atlanta mayors Maynard Jackson and Ivan Allen, Jr.; golf legend Bobby Jones; Selena Sloan Butler, the co-founder of the National PTA; and Dr. Joseph Jacobs, whose downtown Atlanta drug store sold the very first drink of Coca-Cola in 1886.

Ms. Sears previously served as a Curator for the Georgia Historical Society, and on the Board of Directors for organizations including the Woodruff Arts Center, the Alliance Theatre, the Sadie G. Mays Nursing Home, and the Georgia Chapter of the National Council of Christians and Jews. She also served on the Advisory Board for the Georgia Institute of Technology, the Cornell University Council, the Board of Visitors of Mercer University Law School and the Emory University Law School Council.

Ms. Sears has taught courses on pretrial litigation and legal writing as an adjunct professor at Emory Law School, as well as a course on family law at the University of Georgia Law School.

Ms. Sears earned an advanced degree (LLM) in Appellate Judicial Studies from the University of Virginia Law School, and she completed a Juris Doctorate (JD) at Emory University School of Law. She also holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University.

Honorary degrees have been conferred on Ms. Sears by Spelman College, Clark Atlanta University, Piedmont College, LaGrange College, Morehouse College, Savannah State University, and John Marshall Law School. Ms. Sears is the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Anti-Defamation League, the Emory Medal, the American Bar Association’s Margaret Brent Award, and the Daily Report’s Lifetime Achievement Award. She was named, in 2020, one of ten Georgia women of the Century by USA Today, and was one of the “Fastcase 50” Award Winners in 2012, which recognizes the most courageous innovators, visionaries, disruptors and leaders in the law.


Ms. Sarah Hannah Phillips's Profile

Ms. Sarah Hannah Phillips Related Seminars and Products

Dentons US LLP


Sarah Hannah is a senior managing associate in Dentons’ Litigation and Dispute Resolution practice who focuses on complex business disputes for both plaintiffs and defendants, construction disputes, and consumer disputes with financial institutions and businesses (including those arising under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and related state laws). In addition to her experience in these practice areas, Sarah Hannah has experience in contract disputes, Constitutional litigation, class action disputes, real estate litigation, civil rights litigation, employment disputes, fraudulent transfer litigation, complex insurance coverage, and bad faith and professional liability litigation.

Sarah Hannah has tried cases for plaintiffs and defendants in both state and federal courts. In addition, she has represented claimants and respondents in arbitration before JAMS and the American Arbitration Association.



Ms. Angela C. Couch's Profile

Ms. Angela C. Couch Related Seminars and Products

Carothers & Mitchell LLC


Angela C. Couch, born in Atlanta, Georgia, 1972; admitted to Bar, 1996, Georgia; U. S. Supreme Court; U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit; U.S. District Court, Northern and Middle Districts of Georgia, Georgia Supreme Court, Georgia Court of Appeals.

Education: Emory University (B.A., 1993, Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa); Emory University School of Law (J.D., 1996).  Managing Editor, Emory Law Review; President’s Council on Status of Women Graduate Writing Award; American Jurisprudence Award in Research, Writing and Advocacy. 

Biography: Summer Staff Attorney for Chief Judge Dorothy Beasley, Georgia Court of Appeals, 1996.  Staff Attorney for Chief Judge K. Dawson Jackson and Senior Judge Homer M. Stark, Gwinnett Superior Court, 1996-2006. Judge, Gwinnett County Magistrate Court, 2005-2006. Assistant Solicitor for Gwinnett County, 2006-2007.  Associate, Carothers & Mitchell, LLC, 2007-2015. Partner, Carothers & Mitchell, LLC, April 2015 - present.  Assistant City Attorney, City of Lilburn, 2008-present.  Assistant City Solicitor, City of Lilburn, 2013-present.  Assistant City Solicitor, City of Johns Creek, 2015-present.  City Solicitor, City of Berkeley Lake, 2015-present. City Solicitor, City of Stone Mountain, 2022-present.  Gwinnett Superior Court Appointed Adoption Investigator, 1998-present.
 


Ms. L'Erin Barnes Wiggins's Profile

Ms. L'Erin Barnes Wiggins Related Seminars and Products


With almost two decades of experience representing local governments on both the city and county levels, Judge Wiggins has focused my practice on helping governmental entities make sound decisions as they return value to their constituents.



Hon. Jonathan Randall Fordham's Profile

Hon. Jonathan Randall Fordham Related Seminars and Products

Bleckley County Probate Court


Presides over the administration of wills and estates, appoint and oversee guardians and conservators, issue marriage and weapons carry licenses, adjudicate traffic offenses, hear certain misdemeanor cases, and serve as the county's Supervisor of Elections.


Ms. Karen Pachuta's Profile

Ms. Karen Pachuta Related Seminars and Products

Jarrard & Davis, LLP


Karen Pachuta’s practice area encompasses various aspects of local government law, with a focus on compliance with Georgia’s Open Records Act and Election related matters.  Ms. Pachuta also represents our clients in the areas of Code Enforcement, Animal Services, and serves as the Forsyth County Magistrate Court Prosecutor for County ordinance violations. Ms. Pachuta received her Juris Doctor from Emory University School of Law and her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from North Carolina State University. She served four years as an elected Councilmember to the City of Doraville where she gained valuable insight into the numerous issues affecting local government.  Prior to joining Jarrard &Davis, Ms. Pachuta worked on discovery and pre-trial matters for complex international litigation and class-action cases as part of Alston & Bird’s Special Resources Group.  Additionally, she practiced general civil litigation for several years with a firm in Gwinnett County. Ms. Pachuta is a member of the State Bar of Georgia and is admitted to practice in all state and superior courts in Georgia and in the Northern District of Georgia.


Mr. Thomas Patrick Lauth's Profile

Mr. Thomas Patrick Lauth Related Seminars and Products

Kutak Rock LLP


Tom has represented states, counties, cities, public authorities, hospitals, non-profit and for-profit corporations and limited liability companies, investment banking firms and other financial institutions in a variety of public finance matters as bond counsel, underwriter's counsel, disclosure counsel, borrower's counsel, trustee's counsel and issuer's counsel. These public finance matters have financed and refinanced the cost of acquiring, constructing and equipping hundreds of projects, including student housing, dining facilities, research facilities and other university facilities, hospitals and health care facilities, senior living facilities, mass transit facilities, public schools, private schools and charter schools, sports stadiums and arenas, convention centers, water and sewer projects, renewable energy projects, parks and greenspace, manufacturing facilities, P3 projects, courthouse facilities and other public projects.

The structures of these financings have ranged from the issuance of general obligation bonds, revenue bonds and certificates of participation to the structuring of tax increment financings and leveraged lease/lease-back financings and have utilized a vast array of financial structures and derivative products, including commercial paper, variable rate demand bonds, floating rate notes, liquidity facility secured debt, interest rate swaps, caps and collars and forward purchase agreements.

Tom has served as a moderator, panelist and speaker addressing numerous public finance topics at events and classes sponsored by the National Association of Bond Lawyers, the Georgia Charter Schools Association, the Council of Development Finance Agencies, The University of Georgia and Georgia State University.

 

https://www.kutakrock.com/people/l/lauth-thomas-p


Mr. William Dallas NeSmith III's Profile

Mr. William Dallas NeSmith III Related Seminars and Products

State Bar of Georgia


Deputy General Counsel for the State Bar of Georgia since 2014.
 
•Originally from Macon.
 
•Graduate of Mercer University with a Juris Doctor Degree from the Walter F.George School of Law at Mercer University.
 
•Served on the Investigative Panel for the State Disciplinary Board for the State Bar of Georgia (now the State Disciplinary Board)and was a member for seven years. Served as Chair.
 
•Formerly a county attorney in two counties,city attorney in three cities, and represented several other governmental authorities.
 
•He was formerly a municipal court judge in eight cities and is currently the judge in Ideal Georgia. District 3 representative for the Georgia Council of Municipal Court Judges.
 
•He is currently teaching Business Law and the Legal Environment of Business at Georgia Southwestern for the School of Business and Computing. He has been teaching at the college level since 1999.
 
•Bill regularly teaches continuing legal education courses in ethics and professionalism for the State Bar of Georgia and continuing education courses for the Institute for Continuing Judicial Education.
 
•Parliamentarian for the State Bar of Georgia.


Ms. Lisa Goldwire Colbert's Profile

Ms. Lisa Goldwire Colbert Related Seminars and Products

Chatham County Superior Court


Judge Lisa Goldwire Colbert is a Chatham County Superior Court Judge.  She was elected to succeed the Honorable James Bass, Jr. in 2020.  Judge Colbert is a graduate of Groves High School, Savannah State University, and the University of Georgia School of Law.  She also served six years in the Georgia Air National Guard. 

Judge Colbert previously served as judge of the Chatham County Juvenile Court for 8 years.   She has also worked as an Associate for Alston & Bird, LLP in Atlanta; an Associate for the Law Office of Charles W. Bell & Associates, P.C.; Senior Staff Attorney for the Office of the Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Trustee; Staff Attorney for Chatham County Superior Court Judge Louisa Abbot; and Assistant County Attorney for Chatham County, Georgia.   She has served on the boards of the Savannah CASA, Inc. and Parent and Child Development Services, Inc. She currently serves on the boards of Goodwill Southeast Georgia; Step Up Savannah, Inc., Elevate Savannah, Inc. and on the Board of the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice by appointment of the Governor.

Judge Colbert has been deeply involved in activities associated with the legal profession.  She is the former president of the Port City Bar Association. She is also a member and committee co-chair of both the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ) and the Georgia Council of Superior Court Judges.  Judge Colbert is a graduate of Leadership Georgia and Leadership Savannah.  She was recognized by the Younger Lawyers Section of the Savannah Bar Association for her professional service and protection of the rights of others with the Robbie Robinson Award in 2006.  She was also recognized by The Georgia Legal Services Program as the 2018 Champion of Justice for her commitment to justice for all.

Judge Colbert has been married to Eldries (EJ) Colbert for 27 years and they have three daughters.


Kelly Russo Related Seminars and Products

Director of the Commission on Homelesness and Poverty, ABA


Matthew Wechter Related Seminars and Products

Supervising Attorney, San Diego Public Defender


Mr. Darron Jacob Enns's Profile

Mr. Darron Jacob Enns Related Seminars and Products

Georgia Power Company


Darron J. Enns is a Georgia-licensed attorney and currently serves as assistant general counsel for the Judicial Council’s Administrative Office of the Courts, where he has been on staff since January 2019. Darron received his Juris Doctor degree from Regent University; a Master of Arts in National Security Studies from California State University-San Bernardino; a Bachelor of Arts in International Security and Conflict Resolution from San Diego State University; and studied international relations abroad at Oxford University. He previously served as a magistrate in Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Virginia Beach, Virginia; a legislative policy analyst for the chief executive officer of Los Angeles County; a legislative assistant to a member of Congress in Washington, DC; and on active and reserve duty as military police in the US Marine Corps.



Hon. Christopher J. McFadden's Profile

Hon. Christopher J. McFadden Related Seminars and Products

Georgia Court of Appeals


Presiding Judge Christopher J. McFadden was elected in November 2010 for a term beginning January 1, 2011 and reelected in 2016 and 2022. He is a son of the late Isabel McFadden and the late Judge Donald B. McFadden, who served for twenty years as a trial court judge in Akron, Ohio.

Judge McFadden graduated from Oglethorpe University in 1980 and from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1985. He opened his own law office in 1988 and remained a sole practitioner until he joined the Court of Appeals. For most of that time, he practiced in Decatur and focused on appellate litigation. Before joining the Court of Appeals as its 74th judge, he appeared as appellate counsel before 26 of the judges who preceded him.
 
In 1996, along with the late Professor Edward C. Brewer and attorney Charles R. Sheppard, he published Georgia Appellate Practice through the Harrison Company of Norcross, Georgia. With Mr. Sheppard and attorneys Charles M. Cork, III, David A. Webster, Kelly A Weathers, and formerly with the late attorney George W.K. Snyder, Jr., Judge McFadden continues to update it for West, which now publishes it in annual editions.

With attorney Laurie Webb Daniel, he is a founding past Chair of the Appellate Practice Section of the State Bar of Georgia. For twelve years, Judge McFadden served as an officer or director of the Atlanta Bar Association. He is a past chair of its Sole Practitioner/Small Firm and Judicial Sections and is a recipient of the its Distinguished Service and Charles E. Watkins, Jr. Awards, as well as its Judicial Section’s Romae Turner Powell Judicial Service Award.

Judge McFadden is an elected member of The American Law Institute. He presently serves as Chair-elect of  the Appellate Judges Conference of the American Bar Association and chaired its 2018 Appellate Judges Education Institute, which was held in Atlanta. He has served as a volunteer attorney for the Innocence Project and the Election Protection Project. In addition to the Atlanta Bar Association and American Bar Association, he is a member of the DeKalb Bar Association, Lawyers Club of Atlanta, Gate City Bar Association, Federalist Society, American Constitution Society, Saint Thomas More Society and of Oglethorpe University’s Stormy Petrel Bar Association. He served for more than six years on the State Bar of Georgia’s Committee on the Judiciary. He chaired a committee of the Judicial Council of Georgia that drafted the Superior and State Court Appellate Practice Act.

He is a parishioner at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Decatur, Georgia and has served as a lector since 1988. Judge McFadden is married to Dr. Linda Hyde, Professor of Biology at Gordon State College in Barnesville, Georgia. They have a son.




Mr. Robert David Ware's Profile

Mr. Robert David Ware Related Seminars and Products

Hall Booth Smith PC


David Ware earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Georgia where he excelled in national Moot Court competition, a precursor to his work as a trial lawyer. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of West Georgia (formerly West Georgia College) and attended on academic and athletic scholarships. While there, he was elected to the Blue Key National Honor society and Phi Eta Sigma (the small school counterpart of Phi Beta Kappa), served as a student government leader, and was both a nationally ranked NCAA Division II track and field athlete (he set the school record for the high jump) and on the basketball team.

David is admitted to practice in all Georgia state and federal courts along with the United States Supreme Court. During his multi-faceted, 40-year career, David has represented clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies, cities and counties, as well as high-profile professional athletes and other high net worth individuals in complex litigation matters and multimillion-dollar negotiations and transactions. He has extensive executive management experience and has played an active and prominent role in numerous professional organizations, civic groups, and legal advisory panels. He also is an ordained minister.

Prior to Hall Booth Smith, David chose to work in public service for 11 years — 7 as the Fulton County Attorney, Georgia’s largest county. In that role, he led a team of 25 staff attorneys and managed numerous outside counsel who provided legal advice to the Fulton County Board of Commissioners and 40 departments and agencies on a range of complex matters including labor and employment actions, catastrophic personal injury suits, wrongful death claims, government contract disputes, taxation controversies, zoning law interpretations, environmental issues, construction litigation, constitutional challenges, First Amendment questions, and Section 1983 cases. David’s most noteworthy achievements included defeating a 2014 suit of first impression brought by a group of state legislators to prevent the County from raising property taxes; he successfully convinced a Federal District Court to end nine years of federal oversight of the County jail and represented the County in the protracted series of cases arising from the 2005 Atlanta courthouse shootings that killed four people. But his greatest asset is his ability to try cases of all complexities. David’s trial skills have earned him numerous accolades.

David’s litigation work in private practice for corporate clients, insurers, municipalities, and counties has covered matters ranging from alleged employment discrimination under Title VII and the ADA to general business disputes and complex personal injury litigation, as well as issues facing cities and counties. He is a former Magistrate Court judge who sat by designation in Superior and State Court. David is particularly adept at helping clients resolve complex disputes and provides clients with advice to avoid protracted litigation, but he is also a skilled trial attorney who has tried numerous cases to verdict.

He is also widely known for his pioneering work as a sports attorney, where David has advised and represented professional athletes in negotiations that resulted in record-setting salaries and lucrative rights agreements for his clients. Notably, David became the first African American to represent a Heisman Trophy winner when then Oklahoma State running back and eventual NFL Hall of Fame player, Barry Sanders, hired him and he successfully challenged the National Football League’s prohibition against drafting college juniors. He has named Agent of the Year and has been featured in and interviewed by numerous national and local print and broadcast media outlets, including Sports Illustrated, The Wall Street Journal, The Sporting News, Jet Magazine, Black Enterprise Magazine, and Ebony, among others. Additionally, David has provided legal advice and counsel to entertainers and those involved in intellectual property endeavors, including serving as the legal advisor on the award winning movie, Sunday Morning Rapture.

David also has executive management experience: he was appointed to serve as the County Manager for Fulton County where he successfully balanced a billion dollar budget and saved the county $24 million.



Mr. John Matthew Hawkins Related Seminars and Products

Athens-Clarke County Attorney's Office


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