J. Franklin "Frank" Burns

Kevin Gooch is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law and Commercial Finance Law. Kevin, 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 Kevin 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...

Marc H. Bardack is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Insurance, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants and Transportation Law. Marc H., 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 Marc H. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Mike Childers has a unique combination of comprehensive experience in complex energy transactional matters and in executive management roles with an international power generation company and an international heavy civil construction company. He draws on his years in executive management roles for insights into the business strategies and goals of clients. Mike supports clients on the project development and construction of utility-scale solar and wind facilities with and without battery stor...

Sarah Ernst is chair of Alston & Bird’s Health Care Group, an interdisciplinary team of health care corporate, FDA, health policy, and health care compliance lawyers. Sarah focuses her practice on corporate transactions, and she represents public and private companies and private equity clients in complex mergers and acquisitions, carve-out transactions, securities offerings, restructurings, joint ventures, and spinoffs, with an emphasis in the health care industry. Sarah also couns...

Burleigh L. Singleton is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, Litigation - Construction, Litigation - Trusts and Estates and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants. Burleigh L., who practices law in Atlanta, Georgia, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Burleigh L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal...

Nneka is a Partner in our Atlanta office, and she concentrates her practice on business litigation, general liability, professional malpractice, and ethics. She joined Hall Booth Smith after five years at another firm in Atlanta, where she was the lead associate in insurance defense litigation and developed case strategy, managed discovery, conducted dispositions, drafted dispositive motions and pleadings, and presented oral arguments at motion hearings. Earlier in her career, Nneka was a leg...

David Cole is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Labor and Employment and Technology Law. David, 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 David is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

George L. Murphy, Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Intellectual Property, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants. George L., who practices law in Atlanta, Georgia, has been recognized since 2012. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which George L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and ...

After graduating from Emory Law School, Frank worked as an Associate General Counsel for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters in Washington, DC. In 1978, Frank returned to Atlanta to become a trial attorney with the NLRB, after which he was a Partner in the law firm of Shuster, King & King, representing unions and employees. Frank joined Constangy in 1992 and became a Managing Member in 1994. Frank currently co-chairs our Litigation Section in Atlanta.