Christopher M. "Chris" Arena

Angela Spivey provides defense and counsel for food manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, and packaging entities in a host of legal and regulatory compliance issues. She has extensive experience defending clients in consumer class action labeling cases, implementing product recalls, and defending widespread international outbreaks and resulting civil litigation. Angela also defends corporations and individuals in FDA criminal investigations. In addition to consulting with food industry clie...

A former federal enforcement counsel with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and a former special assistant U.S. attorney, Rich Glaze provides creative, strategic, results-oriented counsel to his clients in the enforcement and defense of environmental, administrative, civil and criminal proceedings. Rich stands shoulder-to-shoulder with his clients – primarily corporations, municipalities, utilities and individuals – who need guidance regarding environmental permitting and ...

Clients across the country and world count on Christy Hull to solve their toughest cases, especially in the industrial and manufacturing sector and in high-stakes media and defamation cases. She is known for her hands-on work in trial, arbitration hearings, and settlement negotiations, and her fresh perspectives and strategic thinking bring value to clients every day. Christy represents clients in significant and high-profile complex commercial litigation matters, with experience in manufactu...

Lavern was named FordHarrison's first Talent and Recruiting Partner in 2018. In this new role, Lavern is responsible for recruiting and developing lawyers firm-wide. She will oversee the hiring and on-boarding of new lawyers, manage utilization and workflow, and design and implement talent development initiatives to support the career growth of our lawyers. Lavern concentrates her practice on defending employers in discrimination, harassment, wage and hour, whistle-blower, retaliation, employ...

Barry Hester leverages his prior experience as in-house counsel for a leading financial institution to provide clients with strategic advice, compliance insights, and practical guidance in addressing their financial services transactional and regulatory matters. Barry seeks to obtain results efficiently and to provide actionable, technical, market-based guidance. Barry provides transactional and compliance advice to banks and special-purpose financial institutions, as well as payment processo...

Jennifer Adair is a Partner in Freeman Mathis & Gary, LLP Atlanta office, Vice-Chair of the firm's Tort and Catastrophic Loss national practice section, and Chair of the firm's Southeast Tort practice team. Jennifer has extensive experience representing commercial motor carrier, their drivers, and their insurers in trucking lawsuits throughout Georgia. As a member of FMG’s construction section, Jennifer defends design professionals, owners and contractors in design and construction ...

J.P. Fougerousse is a real estate lawyer devoted to helping his clients get the most out of their property. In addition to helping clients buy, sell, and develop real property, J.P. is pioneering ways for owners to extract and monetize the ecological values of their property. His creative and business-oriented approach ensures that his client’s objectives are fully realized. In his work representing the full spectrum of real estate investors, developers and users, J.P. regularly advises...

Damian M. Hovancik is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Real Estate Law and Tax Law. Damian M. practices law in Atlanta, Georgia Best Lawyers has recognized Damian M. Hovancik since 2023. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Damian M. Hovancik is held by other lawyers.

Amie’s experience as in-house counsel for both institutional and privately held real estate fund managers enables her to provide her clients with commercially minded and practical advice on real estate fund formation, management, compliance, and joint ventures. Amie Benedetto is a partner in the Real Estate Finance & Investment Group. Amie offers counsel on a variety of investment management and securities law matters, with an emphasis on private real estate investment vehicles, sep...

Drew Phillips is a commercial litigator whose practice focuses on defending clients in class actions and multidistrict litigation. His Fortune 500 clients come to him for defense and counsel on a wide range of issues, from product recalls in the food and beverage and manufacturing industries to putative class action litigation in a variety of contexts. Drew has extensive courtroom experience, ranging from dispositive motions hearings, class certification hearings, bench trials, and lengthy pr...