Douglas G. Smith, Jr.

Kara Gordon Silverman is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Health Care Law. Kara Gordon, who practices law in Atlanta, Georgia, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kara Gordon is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Jason Cooper is a co-coordinator of the firm’s Intellectual Property Practice Area, with emphasis in mechanical, manufacturing and medical device technologies. Mr. Cooper manages patent portfolios of various domestic and international clients and helps monetize those portfolios. He counsels clients in avoiding the infringement of patents of others and opines with regard to infringement and/or validity of individual patents, or advises on strategy for avoiding the patent portfolios of ot...

Gregory M. Gaylis is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Health Care Law. Gregory M., who practices law in Atlanta, Georgia, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Gregory M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Aaron Dixon is a partner in Alston & Bird’s Corporate & Business Transactions Group and co-leader of the M&A Practice Quality Team. Aaron represents public and private companies, private equity funds, and financial advisors in mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, capital raises, strategic and venture capital investments, and other complex business transactions. In addition, he advises businesses on general corporate, governance, and contract matters. Aaron re...

Roger Quillen is the full-time Chairman and Managing Partner of Fisher Phillips. He is effectively the CEO of an organization with 350 attorneys and an additional support staff of more than 300 people. Roger has continuously led the firm for 15 years. The firm has tripled in size under Roger’s leadership and is consistently recognized as one of the country’s elite labor and employment law firms. Fisher Phillips has been recognized by U.S. News and World Report - Best Lawyers as th...

Rick Blumen represents lead arrangers, lenders, borrowers, private equity firms and underwriters, and has served as counsel to several of the largest U.S. commercial banks and their affiliates, and Fortune 500 companies, in a variety of finance transactions. These transactions include secured and unsecured syndicated credit facilities, private placements, high-yield debt offerings, acquisition financings, recapitalizations, first- and second-lien loans, mezzanine financings and pre-petition w...

Richard Hays is the Managing Partner of Alston & Bird. Since 2008, he has led the strategic direction of the firm and played a key role in its growth and performance. Mr. Hays also chairs the firm’s Administrative Committee. The firm has offices in New York, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Atlanta, Dallas, Charlotte, Silicon Valley, Research Triangle and Brussels. Prior to his election as the Managing Partner, Mr. Hays served as the firm’s Financial Partner and also headed the ...

Rebecca Merrill is a health care regulatory and operations attorney at Hall Render who advises providers, suppliers, health systems, research institutions and life sciences organizations on complex compliance, enforcement and business matters. She partners closely with legal, compliance, and operational teams, as well as senior leadership and boards, to navigate evolving regulatory requirements, manage enterprise risk and support strategic initiatives. She brings a practical, detail-oriented ...

Ron Coleman is an accomplished trial lawyer who thrives in big, complex cases. Throughout his 30-year career, Ron has helped his clients successfully resolve all manner of legal disputes, whether via negotiation, motion practice, alternative dispute resolution, trial, or appeal. Whether representing a plaintiff or defendant, his creative, sophisticated approach to resolving disputes is designed to help his clients reach the best possible outcomes consistent with their business goals. Ron repr...

Russell A. Arouh is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. Russell A., who practices law in Atlanta, Georgia, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Russell A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.