James W. Stevens

Barry Hester leverages his prior experience as in-house counsel for a leading financial institution to provide clients with strategic advice, compliance insights, and practical guidance in addressing their financial services transactional and regulatory matters. Barry seeks to obtain results efficiently and to provide actionable, technical, market-based guidance. Barry provides transactional and compliance advice to banks and special-purpose financial institutions, as well as payment processo...

Erica Morton is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants. Erica, 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 Erica 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...

Shannon C. Baxter is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Commercial Finance Law, Commercial Transactions / UCC Law, Corporate Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law. Shannon C., who practices law in Atlanta, Georgia, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting t...

Paul L. Fields, Jr. represents domestic and international insurers, leading Fields Howell’s first-party property team as a respected attorney with over thirty years of experience. In addition to leading the first-party property team, Paul does significant work in the areas of casualty and complex litigation. Over the years, Paul has tried over thirty jury trials, handling extensive and complicated bench trials and arbitrations. In recent years, Paul has been lead counsel in three succes...

Lesli Gaither is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Communications Law. Lesli, who practices law in Atlanta, Georgia, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Lesli is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Brian M. Gordon is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law. Brian M., who practices law in Atlanta, Georgia, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Brian M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Harry Z. Rippeon III is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Construction Law and Litigation - Construction. Harry Z., 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 Harry Z. 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...

Mr. Sampson is the Managing Partner of Thomas, Kennedy, Sampson, & Tompkins LLP, Georgia’s oldest minority-owned law firm. Sampson graduated from Morehouse College and earned a Juris Doctor degree from the UNC at Chapel Hill. Throughout his distinguished career, Sampson has often been tapped to serve government, the Bar and the community. Former Governor Roy Barnes appointed him Vice Chairman on the State Judicial Nominating Commission. He has served as President of the Gate City Bar Asso...