Hon. Charles Michael Johnson Related Seminars and Products

Oconee Circuit Superior Court

Mr. William V. Custer IV Related Seminars and Products

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP

Bill represents corporate clients in a wide range of complex commercial litigation including disputes involving banking, insurance, and a variety of corporate transactions. He serves as co-leader of the firm's Toxic Tort Class Action and Mass Tort Team. Bill, whose practice includes first chair trial experience, has been ranked by his peers in one widely published poll as one of the top 100 lawyers in Georgia.

Commercial and Fiduciary Litigation

As a result of the firm's considerable base of banking clients, Bill represents regional, national and international banks in cases involving such matters as lender liability, RICO, Truth in Lending, the False Claims Act, the Fair Housing Act, participation agreements, and fiduciary liability. In particular, Bill has extensive experience litigating trusts and estates. He represents both fiduciaries and beneficiaries in many different and complex litigation matters including will caveats, petitions for equitable direction, disputes over the appointment of fiduciaries, disputes over the interpretation of instruments, and the defense of suits alleging breach of fiduciary duty.

Product Liability and National Litigation Management

Bill’s practice has also involved the management and coordination of multi-district litigation (MDL) and national product liability litigation. By way of example, he has acted as national class action counsel for one corporate client, national discovery counsel for one of the country's largest retail companies, national coordinating counsel (NCC) for product liability claims against a Fortune 500 manufacturing company, national Daubert counsel for another Fortune 500 manufacturing corporation.

Appeals

Bill routinely appears in the appellate courts and is called upon frequently to express the views of the business and banking communities on important legal issues pending in the appellate courts through amicus curiae briefs. The cases in which Bill has authored briefs on behalf of either the Georgia Chamber of Commerce or the Georgia Banking Association in recent years are as follows:

• Cavalier Convenience, Inc. v. Sarvis, 305 Ga. App. 141 (2010);
• Smith v. Baptiste, 287 Ga. 23 (2010);
• State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. v. Hernandez Auto Painting and Body Work, Inc., 312 Ga. App. 756 (2011);
• Nat'l Federation of Indep. Bus. v. Sebelius, 132 S. Ct. 2566, 183 L. Ed. 2d 450 (2012);
• Synovus Bank v. Griner, 321 Ga. App. 359 (2013);
• Scapa Dryer Fabrics, Inc., v. Roy Knight, 299 GA. 286 (2016);
• Certainteed Corporation v. Marcella Fletcher, S15G1903 (2016);
• Amusement Martin v. Six Flags Over Georgia II, L.P., 301 Ga. 323, 801 S.E.2d 24 (2017); and,
• First Acceptance Ins. Co. of Georgia, Inc. v. Hughes, 305 Ga. 489, 489, 826 S.E.2d 71, 73 (2019).

Professional Activities

Throughout his career, Bill has been active in the State Bar of Georgia.   He served as a director of and member of the Executive Council of the Younger Lawyers Section in the early years of his practice, then as a member of the Board of Governors from 1998 through 2016. In addition to his membership of various other committees within the State Bar of Georgia, Bill most recently chaired the Products Liability Law Section and served as a special master in lawyer disciplinary proceedings.

Bill is a frequent speaker on legal issues and has given seminars on an array of topics as developments in Georgia evidence law, cybersecurity, social media evidence, the attorney-client privilege, e-discovery, and the art of negotiation.

Bill is also a consulting author of the LexisNexis Guide: Georgia Personal Injury (2015).

Pro Bono Activities

Pro bono teams led by Bill have received awards from the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights and the Stonewall Bar Association for their outstanding service.

Bill has participated as counsel in a number of high-profile pro bono matters before the Georgia and federal courts. His recent pro bono work includes:

• Garner v. Jones, 529 U.S. 244, 120 S. Ct. 1362, 146 L. Ed. 2d 236 (2000), which challenged changes in state parole procedures as a violation of the ex post facto clause;
• Henderson v. Hames, 287 Ga. 534, 697 S.E.2d 798, 800 (2010), a successful habeas corpus action overturning murder conviction;
• Inniss v. Aderhold, 80 F. Supp. 3d 1335 (N.D. Ga. 2015), a successful challenge of state prohibition on same sex marriages; and, 
• Georgia State Conference of NAACP v. Hancock Cty. Bd. of Elections & Registration, No. 5:15-CV-00414 (CAR), 2018 WL 1583160 (M.D. Ga. Mar. 30, 2018), a successful challenge to voter purge.   

Representative Experience

• Represented contractor in dispute with nuclear power facility over $40 million contract
• Represented a large building products conglomerate in litigation with former shareholders involving claims in excess of $100 million
• Represented a national bank in the defense of claims brought under the False Claims Act alleging tens of millions of dollars in damages stemming from fees charged in connection with mortgage originations
• Represented a major league baseball team in litigation with its landlord over a change in the team’s name in which the landlord sought over $300 million in damages
• Represented over fifty banks in a loan participation in their claims against a developer involving an $89 million revolving line of credit and subsequent fraudulent transfer litigation
• Represented national credit card processor in the defense of tortious interference with contract claim arising out of acquisition of competing company and alleging over $100 million in damages
• Represented national outdoor advertising company in defending a multi-million dollar verdict on appeal to the Georgia Court of Appeals and Georgia Supreme Court
• Represented seller of national security company in multi-million dollar purchase price dispute with purchaser
• Represented over sixty individual bottlers and an associated trade group in claims against a national beverage concern alleging violations of a national beverage distribution agreement
• Represented a national big box retailer in dispute with contractor over the construction of multiple stores in the southeast
• Represented a national military contractor in its defense of claims brought under the False Claims Act alleging tens of millions of dollars in damages arising from a contract to maintain military vehicles
• Represented a bankruptcy trustee in fraudulent transfer claim against sellers of stock in a leveraged buyout transaction
• Represented a national insurance company in multiple cases alleging bad faith failure to settle underlying claims
• Represented multiple banks in class actions alleging violations of the Electronic Funds Transfer Act
• Represented both originating banks and participant banks in numerous disputes over participation agreements relating to real estate loans
• Represented the Chambers of Commerce for the States of Georgia, Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin as an amicus curiae in proceedings before the United States Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”)
• Represented the Georgia Chamber of Commerce as an amicus curiae in various proceedings before the Georgia Supreme Court, the Georgia Court of Appeals and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit involving tort reform issues
• Represented the Georgia Bankers Association as an amicus curiae in various proceedings before the Georgia Supreme Court and the Georgia Court of Appeals involving disputes over fees and foreclosure requirements
• Represented the beneficiaries in various disputes involving a complex estate of an internationally known recording artist
• Represented a trust company in disputes involving the distribution of assets from a trust established for the benefit of descendants of Asa Candler, the founder of the Coca-Cola Company
• Represented a trust department in a suit alleging breach of fiduciary duty involving the investment choices made in a large common trust fund
• Represented beneficiaries in dispute over distribution of assets involving the estate of the former Governor of Ohio
• Represented corporate trust department accused of breaching fiduciary duty imposed under trust indenture by disposing of certain trust property

Publications

• "Lessons Learned in Recent Participation Agreement Litigation," The Banking Law Journal, co-authored with Jennifer Dempsey, November/December 2014
• "The Development of Judicial Policy on the Phenomenon of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity in the Post-Daubert Era," 15 Journal of Toxicology and Industrial Health 428, co-authored with E. Kertscher, 1999
• "Tainted Imports Require Refresher On CPSC Reporting Requirements; Companies Must Report a Product if a Defect Constitutes a Substantial Product Hazard," Industry Week, co-authored with Adwoa Ghartey-Tahoe Seymour, August 2007
• "Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome: The Wavering Influence of the Courts on Public Policy," 24 Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology S182, 1996

Speaking Engagements

• Speaker, "A Look at  the Current Civil Justice Crisis in Georgia and the Need for Premises Liability Reform," Georgia Chamber of Commerce, Georgia Screen Entertainment Coalition Meeting, December 9, 2021
• Speaker, "A Look at  the Current Civil Justice Crisis in Georgia and the Need for Premises Liability Reform," Georgia Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Council Meeting, November 11, 2021
• Speaker, "A Look at  the Current Civil Justice Crisis in Georgia and the Need for Premises Liability Reform," Georgia Chamber of Commerce Board of Governors Meeting, October 17, 2021
• Speaker, Georgia Bankers Association Executive Strategy Tri-Conferences, September 2020
• Speaker, "Business Litigation," Institute of Continuing Legal Education: Simulcast Series, March 2020
• "Where Do We Draw the Line?  The Law (and Politics) of Political Gerrymandering," Panel Member, Atlanta Ga., July 2017
• "Multistate Practice and the Attorney Client Privilege," In-House Legal Department, June 2017
• "Excessive Force Claims Under State and Federal Law," Lumpkin Inn of Court, Atlanta, Georgia, January 2017
• "Hot Topics For In-House Counsel: Unlicensed Practice of Law and Protecting the Attorney Client Privilege," Annual Bryan Cave Client Seminar, Atlanta, Georgia, January 2017
• "Ethical Issues in Bank Representation," Georgia Bankers Association, Bank Counsel Conference, Greensboro, Georgia, October 2016
• "Social Media Evidence," Bench and Bar Seminar, Annual Meeting of the State Bar of Georgia, June 2016
• “The Current Crisis in Civil Justice Reform,”  The Georgia Chamber of Commerce, Government Affairs Council, St. Simons Island, Georgia, June 2016
• “Hot Topics for In-House Counsel,” Client Seminar, New York, New York, May 2016
• “Trial Advocacy:  Opening Statements and Closing Arguments,” Bryan Cave In-House Seminar, Atlanta, Georgia, April 2016
• “Update on Social Media Law,” Client Seminar, Alpharetta, Georgia, April 2016
• "Cybersecurity – Threats from Nation States to Hackers in the Basement – How to Minimize Liability to Customers and Third Parties," ICLE Banking Law Seminar, Atlanta, GA, February 2016

Professional Affiliations

• Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law - Board Member
• Georgia Chamber - Board Member
• Lawyers Foundation of Georgia
• State Bar of Georgia 
• State Bar of Georgia - Trial Practice Section
• State Bar of Georgia - Products Liability Section
• Gridiron
• Lumpkin Inn of Court

Civic Involvement and Honors

• Resiliency and Recovery Task Force  (Georgia Chamber, 2020)
• Judicial Covid-19 Task Force (appointed by Georgia Supreme Court)
• Benchmark Litigation (Litigation Star, 2014-2022)
• Best Lawyers (Commercial Litigation, 2007-2023)
• Top 100 Georgia Super Lawyers (2011-2013, 2017)
• Georgia Super Lawyer (2004-2021)

Hon. Kevin Michael Farmer Related Seminars and Products

Atlanta Circuit Superior Court

Judicial Assignment

• 2018 - Present: Superior Court of Fulton County
• 2021 - 2024: Judge, Fulton County Family Court Division

Education

• Juris Doctor: Mercer University-W. George Law School, Macon, Georgia (1996)
• Bachelor of Science in Political Science: University of Wisconsin (1990)

Professional Experience / Associations

• Senior Assistant District Attorney, Clayton County Judicial Circuit, (2015-2018)
• Senior Attorney, Metro Conflict Defender’s Office (Division of the Georgia Public Defenders Council) (2011-2014)
• Private Practice (2002-2011)
• Fulton County Public Defender’s Office (1997-2001)
• Member, Atlanta Bar Association
• Member, North Fulton Bar Association

Hon. Amanda Nichole Heath Related Seminars and Products

Augusta Circuit Superior Court

The Honorable Amanda N. Heath is a Superior Court Judge in the Augusta Judicial Circuit. Her jurisdiction covers Burke and Richmond counties and she presides over civil, domestic and felony criminal cases.  Judge Heath was appointed by Governor Brian P. Kemp on October 13, 2021, and elected by her community in 2022 to continue her service on the Superior Court bench.  At the time of her election, Judge Heath was the first African American woman to be elected as a Superior Court Judge in the Augusta Circuit’s 152 year history.  Judge Heath is currently the only African American female Superior Court Judge and is the youngest judge on her bench by more than a decade. Prior to elevating to the Superior Court bench, Judge Heath served as a Juvenile Court Judge for five years and was the first African American woman to serve in that position for Burke, Columbia and Richmond counties.

Judge Heath was previously a solo practitioner with a focus on civil, criminal and family law. Prior to opening her law practice, Judge Heath prosecuted violent felonies as an Assistant District Attorney and argued successfully before the Georgia Supreme Court. She also served as the lead prosecutor for Drug Court, Mental Health Court and Veterans Court. Her family taught her “to whom much is given, much will be required” and to take every opportunity to give back to the community through service.

Judge Heath is a graduate of Hampton University and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology, summa cum laude in 2007.  She is also a graduate of Hampton’s Freddye T. Davy Honors College and is an alumna of the Concert Choir.  In 2017, Judge Heath was inducted into Hampton’s Top Forty Under Forty Society.

Judge Heath went on to attend law school at Mercer University and received her Juris Doctor degree in 2010 with a Certificate in Advanced Legal Writing, Research and Drafting.  In addition, she received the Dean’s Award for Distinguished Service.  She participated in Mercer’s Habeas Clinic and was inducted into the Order of Barristers.  Judge Heath volunteered as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) and with the Georgia Supreme Court Committee on Access and Fairness in the Courts.  Further, she is a previous Mercer Public Interest Fellow, Georgia Legal Services Dan Bradley Fellow, Gate City Bar Scholar and Otis Redding Scholar.

Judge Heath serves on the Georgia Supreme Court Committee for Justice for Children and is a graduate of Leadership Georgia. Judge Heath was elected as the first woman and first African American to represent Augusta on the Board of Governors for the State Bar of Georgia.  In 2023, she was elected by the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges to serve on the Board of Directors in the position of Treasurer.  Also, Judge Heath serves on the National Bar Association Judicial Council Executive Committee and the National Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)/Guardian ad Litem Association for Children Judicial Leadership Council.  Judge Heath is a past recipient of the Georgia CASA Champion Award.  In 2025, Judge Heath was honored by the National Bar Association as a member of the Centennial Class of the Top Forty Under Forty Nation’s Best Advocates.

Further, Judge Heath serves on the Board of Directors for the Georgia Advocacy Office, Family YMCA of Greater Augusta, Heritage Academy, Harrisburg Family Healthcare, Golden Harvest Food Bank, Augusta Technical College Adult Education Advisory Board and Turner Theological Seminary Board of Trustees. She is an active member of the Zeta Xi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, the Augusta (GA) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated and serves at her church as a teacher in the Children’s Ministry.

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.

Hon. Joseph Wade Padgett Related Seminars and Products

Georgia Court of Appeals

Judge J. Wade Padgett is a dedicated public servant, educator, and longtime member of the judiciary.  He was appointed by Governor Brian Kemp as the 96^th judge of the Court of Appeals. He was sworn in to that position on April 3, 2024.

Judge Padgett was born in Atlanta but has spent the majority of his professional career in the Augusta area.  He obtained a BA in history from the University of Georgia in 1987.  He earned his law degree from Georgia State University in 1990.  While in law school, he received several awards and was extremely involved with the Student Trial Advocacy program led by Attorney Tom Jones.  Judge Padgett became a member of the Georgia Bar in 1990.

Following law school, Judge Padgett served as an Assistant District Attorney for the Augusta Judicial Circuit where he served as a violent crimes prosecutor and led the office’s team dealing with crimes against children.  He began his private practice of law as an associate with O. Franklin Askin, Jr. P.C. and eventually formed his own law firm.  While in private practice, Judge Padgett represented individual and corporate clients in a variety of areas including corporate operations, personal injury, criminal defense, domestic relations, probate and other areas of the law.  Judge Padgett represented clients in both Georgia state and federal courts.

In 1995, Judge Padgett was appointed as an Associate Magistrate Judge for Columbia County.  He was elected Chief Magistrate of Columbia County in 2005.  Because his duties as a Magistrate Judge were part-time, he also practiced law while serving in Magistrate Court.  During his time as a member of the Council of Magistrate Judges, he chaired the Uniform Rules Committee.  Judge Padgett served as Chief Magistrate of Columbia County until he was appointed to the Superior Court bench.

On February 3, 2009, Judge Padgett was appointed to the Superior Court bench by Governor Sonny Perdue.  He served as a Superior Court judge for the Augusta Judicial Circuit and was one of three judges appointed to the Columbia Judicial Circuit when that circuit was formed in 2021.  While on the Superior Court bench, Judge Padgett reformed and led the New Judge Orientation program for all new Superior Court judges in Georgia, beginning in 2014.  He was elected to serve as an officer of the Council of Superior Court Judges, ultimately serving as President of the Council in 2021-2022.  In 2024, Judge Padgett was the recipient of the Emory Findley award, an award honoring service to the Council of Superior Court judges.

Judge Padgett has a passion for teaching.  He has served as a presenter in educational classes for law students, lawyers, judges, and others.  He created a program known as Teenage Years 101 that was designed to provide realistic, actionable information to teens and their families on topics relating to teen decision-making and the impact of those decisions.  He has served as an advisor and presenter to the Council of Probate Judges.  He has led countless educational sessions for the Council of Superior Court judges.  He has spoken at programs presented by the Institute for Continuing Legal Education in Georgia, the Institute for Continuing Judicial Education, and several local bar associations.  The Georgia Bar Association awarded Judge Padgett the Spirit of Justice Award in 2023 which honors individuals dedicated to the “unwavering commitment to and creating a legacy of excellence in the judiciary.”

The best evidence of his passion for teaching, however, may be found in the podcast series that he created and continues to co-host.  Judge Padgett and Judge Tain Kell (ret.) co-host a podcast known as The Good Judge-Ment Podcast where they discuss topics on Georgia law.  They began the podcast in 2018 and it is popular with both lawyers and judges as a unique medium for legal education.

Judge Padgett is also a published author.  His book, From Court in the Woods to Court in the Metropolis, A History of the Augusta Judicial Circuit, was published in 2017.  His work as an author earned accolades.  He was nominated as Georgia Author of the Year (History category) by the Georgia Writer’s Association and the Historical Records Advisory Council presented him the 2017 Award for Excellence for Local History. Judge Padgett’s wife, Alice W. Padgett, serves as Probate Judge for Columbia County.  They have two children, Matthew and Jordan.  They also have grandchildren whom they adore.  Judge Padgett resides in Evans, Georgia.

Ms. Robin Frazer Clark Related Seminars and Products

Robin Frazer Clark PC

Robin Frazer Clark is the owner and founder of the law firm of Robin Frazer Clark, P.C., and has practiced law in Georgia for 36 years. Ms. Clark devotes her practice exclusively to plaintiff’s personal injury.  Her motto is “A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats.” Ms. Clark is the co-host of the podcast “See You In Court.”

Ms. Clark was sworn in as the Fiftieth President of the State Bar of Georgia on June 2, 2012, only the second woman ever to serve as President of the State Bar of Georgia and served as President of the (then) 45,000-member association in 2012-2013.  One of Ms. Clark’s initiatives she created while President is the State Bar of Georgia’s Suicide Prevention Campaign, “How to Save a Life.”   Ms. Clark is a Past President of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association (GTLA), also only the second woman in the organization’s history to lead GTLA.  

Ms. Clark has testified extensively before the Georgia General Assembly on issues as far ranging as the discriminatory effect of caps on damages, the detrimental impact of the proposed elimination of vicarious liability in Georgia, the Juvenile Justice Reform Legislation, signed into law in 2013 by Governor Deal, and the elimination of the assignability of legal malpractice claims.  Through her advocacy on behalf of Georgia citizens with the Georgia Legislature, she has built strong relationships with numerous Legislators and has worked to promote the cause of justice and protect the constitutional rights of all Georgia citizens.

Ms. Clark received her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Vanderbilt University in 1985 and received her Juris Doctor from Emory University School of Law in 1988. Ms. Clark has been extensively published.  As President of the State Bar of Georgia she had 162 articles published in 84 different publications, with a total circulation of 3,122,569. Ms. Clark has tried over 75 jury trials and has argued before Georgia appellate courts over 40 times. 

Ms. Clark is married to Georgia lawyer William T. Clark. They have two children. Ms. Clark is a member of Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church on the beautiful Emory University Campus.  Ms. Clark is an avid golfer.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Website: www.gatriallawyers.net

Blog: www.atlantainjurylawyerblog.com

Email: robinclark@gatriallawyers.net

Twitter: @robinfclark

Podcast: See You In Court https://seeyouincourtpodcast.org/

Ms. Anne Dodson Gower Related Seminars and Products

Gower Wooten & Darneille LLC

A graduate of the University of Georgia and Whittier Law School, Anne Gower began her career at Atlanta firm Crim & Bassler. While there, she was lead counsel on more than 500 litigated files and has tried to verdict more than 35 cases. Often, Anne was brought in to resolve cases others viewed as too challenging.

Anne remained with Crim & Bassler until forming Gower Wooten & Darneille in August 2015. Today, the majority of Anne’s practice involves assisting carriers in the resolution of time demands pursuant to O.C.G.A § 9-11-67.1. She also helps carriers determine the value of a case and try the case on its merits.

Married with two daughters, Anne enjoys tennis and spending time at the beach with her family.

EDUCATION
• University of Georgia, Cum Laude, B.S. Political Science, 1998
• Whittier Law School, Magna Cum Laude, J.D., 2002

BAR MEMBERSHIPS
• State Bar of Georgia
• Georgia Court of Appeals
• 11th Circuit Court of Appeals
• U.S. District Court, Northern Georgia
• U.S. District Court, Middle Georgia

LEADERSHIP
• Board of Directors for GDLA (Georgia
Defense Lawyers Association)
• 2023 Chair GDLA Trial Academy