Hope Vernon

Duane Cochenour is a litigator specializing in medical malpractice claims, negligent security cases, and insurance coverage. He has a unique perspective, with 20 years of experience as an insurance claim professional prior to becoming a lawyer. He knows exactly what it is like to be an adjuster, supervisor, regional claim manager, and major case negotiator because he has worked in each of those positions. He draws on over 30 years of experience in the insurance and legal industry to defend an...

John Spangler is a former co-chair of the firm’s Construction & Government Contracts Group and has over 25 years of experience handling construction disputes and negotiating and drafting design and construction contracts. John’s practice focuses on representing owners, contractors and design professionals in construction disputes, including jury trials, arbitrations and mediations. John has defended and prosecuted all types of construction-related claims, including delay, inte...

Nick Moriatakis is a native Atlantan and has lived in Atlanta all his life. He attended public schools in DeKalb County and then worked his way through Emory College and Emory Law School. He is the first in his extended family to have graduated college. Nick was fortunate enough during college and law school to earn internships allowing him to work in the Department of Natural Resources during Jimmy Carter’s governorship and then in the United States Congress in 1975. His exposure to th...

David Krugler is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs, Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs and Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs. David, who practices law in Atlanta, Georgia, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which David is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Terrell W. “Chip” Benton III is a Partner in the Atlanta office of Hall Booth Smith, and he specializes in general liability, professional malpractice and ethics, professional negligence, and medical malpractice. His primary focus is representing physicians, hospitals, and other health care workers in medical malpractice lawsuits, and he has represented physicians before the State Composite Medical Board and the State Dental Board. He also has extensive experience in handling prem...

Carl W. McCalla is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Workers' Compensation Law - Employers. Carl W., 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 Carl W. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Jason Perilla centers his practice on intellectual property law, with an emphasis on practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Jason's practice focuses on patent application preparation and prosecution in the electrical, software, and mechanical fields. Jason’s practice also includes trademark application and prosecution, intellectual property dispute resolution and counseling, licensing, patent and trademark litigation, patentability opinions, freedom to operate opi...

Jay Farris concentrates his practice on commercial real estate investment, joint ventures, borrower financing, development and leasing involving all major property types. He represents institutional investors (including REITs and pension funds), well-capitalized developers and corporate owners. Jay has extensive experience in representing developers and owners of industrial distribution facilities and mixed use developments. Jay is featured as one of the leading Georgia lawyers for real estat...

Matthew D. Friedlander is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants. Matthew D., 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 Matthew D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

James K. Bidgood, Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Construction Law and Litigation - Construction. James K., who practices law in Atlanta, Georgia, has been recognized since 2007. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which James K. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.