Ellen W. Smith

Jordan Myers focuses on structuring and restructuring complex finance transactions. He has experience representing private credit funds, commercial banks, private equity funds, and corporate borrowers in a broad range of secured financing transactions, including cash flow loans and asset-based loans related to acquisition financings, dividend recapitalizations, corporate refinancings, and debtor-in-possession financings. He also advises clients on intercreditor and subordination issues, debt ...

Representing companies in federal courts across the country and before the ITC, Federal Circuit and PTAB, Matthew enforces and defends his clients' IP rights, particularly patents, and in the chemical, biological and pharmaceutical industries. While Matthew has litigated a wide variety of technologies, he focuses on the chemical and biological arts, especially cases related to vaccines and pharmaceutical products. Matthew is also a member of the firm’s COVID-19 Response & Relief Tea...

Kurt Peterson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Labor and Employment. Kurt, who practices law in Atlanta, Georgia, has been recognized since 2019. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kurt is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Ms. Thompson’s practice since 1996 has been focused principally in the areas of commercial real estate development, leasing, and finance with a concentration since 2009 in representing both regulated and non-regulated electric power companies in project development and finance matters. Her recent work has involved representing parties in the solar, wind, and nuclear energy industries in the acquisition, development, financing and sale of various energy projects. Overall, Ms. Thompson ha...

Ben Barkley advises public and private clients in a broad range of corporate finance transactions and securities regulatory matters, including: mergers and acquisitions public offerings and private placements of debt and equity securities venture capital and private equity investments compliance with securities disclosure obligations corporate governance corporate restructurings, recapitalizations and distressed situations joint ventures and strategic alliances special committee, board and in...

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...

Lori G. Cohen has a national litigation practice focusing on product liability litigation and specifically, medical device and pharmaceutical litigation. Lori is National Counsel for a medical device manufacturer, handling its litigation including class actions, multidistrict litigation, and trials nationally. She has served as both National Counsel and Regional Counsel for pharmaceutical and medical device companies and has expertise in mass tort, multidistrict and class action litigation. S...

Hayley Hall is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Hayley, who practices law in Atlanta, Georgia, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Hayley is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

C. Allen Garrett, Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice, Commercial Litigation and Technology Law. C. Allen, who practices law in Atlanta, Georgia, has been recognized since 2017. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which C. Allen is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

John D. Steel is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. John D., who practices law in Atlanta, Georgia, has been recognized since 2003. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which John D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.