Frederick T. "Fritz" Smith

Sean Kulka is a partner in the firm's Bankruptcy & Creditors’ Rights Practice Group. He focuses on bankruptcy and commercial litigation and has extensive experience counseling debtors, creditors’ committees, secured and unsecured creditors, landlords, and fiduciaries through intricate legal matters. Sean has handled some of the most significant Chapter 11 cases across the country, including the historic Enron examination. His experience spans a multitude of industries, includi...

Duncan Douglass heads Alston & Bird’s payment systems practice and focuses on transactions, product development and regulatory issues related to retail and wholesale payment systems and products. Payment Card Services Mr. Douglass regularly counsels payment card issuers and service providers in regulatory compliance matters, in structuring card issuance programs, and in negotiating co-branding, program manager, issuer processor and sales/distribution agent agreements. He also advise...

Cristina Bouton is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. Cristina, who practices law in Atlanta, Georgia, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Cristina is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

John Nail’s practice focuses on representing clients in all levels of matters with the IRS, from examination and appeals to litigation in the United States Tax Court and Federal District Court. John has significant experience that allows him to effectively counsel clients in tax matters. He has assisted clients in matters involving disallowed deductions for charitable contributions, executive compensation, and bad business debts; employment tax compliance; state sales and use tax audits...

William M. Osterbrock is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Mergers and Acquisitions Law and Tax Law. William M., who practices law in Atlanta, Georgia, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which William M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Eric Mueller is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Labor and Employment. Eric, who practices law in Atlanta, Georgia, has been recognized since 2027. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Eric is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Bill Shaughnessy is a partner on the Construction Team. He focuses exclusively on helping clients in all stages of construction projects, including contract review and negotiation, dispute avoidance and resolution, and litigation and arbitration. Bill’s legal practice focuses on helping clients navigate complex construction projects from beginning to end, throughout the United States and internationally. He represents owners, developers, general contractors, design/build firms, and larg...

Jason S. Lichtstein serves as Office Managing Partner of Akerman LLP’s Atlanta office. A seasoned environmental attorney with more than 25 years of experience, Jason focuses his practice on the cleanup and redevelopment of Brownfields and other contaminated sites in the Southeast U.S. His practice includes a broad range of environmental transactional, environmental regulatory compliance, and state incentives matters and in emerging, cutting-edge environmental law and policy developments...

Armando Basarrate is one of the leading healthcare attorneys in the region. Throughout his 30-year career, he has helped numerous hospitals and other healthcare providers establish, grow, and expand their businesses. Armando's deep knowledge and business-focused guidance is a powerful combination that serves his clients exceedingly well. Across regulatory, commercial law, and counseling scenarios, Armando brings extensive experience to bear. He has guided numerous public and non-profit hospit...

Jeff Belkin is a partner in the firm's Atlanta and Washington, D.C. offices, and is the co-leader of the Construction & Government Contracts Group. Jeff represents contractors in False Claims Act and internal investigations, claims litigation and procurement protests, and advises on complex compliance issues. Jeff is a former Department of Justice (DOJ) trial attorney who is now principal claims and investigations counsel to some of the most successful and sophisticated contractors and ve...