Mr. Nikolai Makarenko Jr.

Groth Makarenko Kaiser & Eidex LLC

Nik was raised primarily in Germany, due to his father’s service in the United States Air Force. He completed his undergraduate studies in history at Birmingham Southern College in 1986, while on a tennis scholarship. Nik earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Georgia’s College of Law in 1989.

Nik began his legal career in Georgia in 1989 as a staff attorney to the Honorable Judge Jack M. McLaughlin of the State Court of DeKalb County, Georgia. From there, Nik practiced at a well-respected civil defense firm in the Atlanta area for a few years before taking a position as in-house counsel for one of the largest insurance companies in the country. Nik left that firm to join Cooper & Makarenko, a successful civil defense firm protecting the interests of clients, big and small.

Nik left Cooper & Makarenko in June 2007 to form Groth & Makarenko, LLC with Paul L. Groth. Nik’s experience trying hundreds of jury trials has earned him the reputation of being a seasoned and successful litigator who will utilize his knowledge of the law to obtain the best results possible for his clients, whether in the courtroom or via alternative dispute resolution.

Nik’s practice focuses on insurance coverage and defense at both the trial and appellate levels. He is admitted to practice before all state courts in Georgia, as well as the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. Nik is a member of the Georgia Defense Lawyers Association, and has lectured for both the Insurance Law Institute, sponsored by the Tort and Insurance Practice Section of the State Bar of Georgia, and for various insurance companies to train claims adjusters on how best to handle issues that arise in the claims process so they may better protect the interests of their insureds should litigation arise.  Nik and his wife Debi live in Suwanee, Georgia