Jeff Upshaw

Allegra Lawrence-Hardy is creative and results-oriented. She uses strategic analysis and innovative thinking to develop legal solutions that work for her clients. She has successfully defended Fortune 100 companies throughout the United States and abroad in numerous trials, arbitrations and other forms of alternative dispute resolution. Allegra is known for her skill in trying cases and working through complex settlements with tenacity and patience. Allegra also develops processes, tools and ...

Ann Margaret Pointer is a partner in the Atlanta office. She has represented management in labor and employment matters for more than 30 years with a particular emphasis on the agricultural industry. She has been listed in The Legal 500 as "one of the leaders in the country for her knowledge of H-2 agricultural workers." She counsels and defends many agricultural companies in connection with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (MSPA...

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...

Terry O. Brantley is a founding partner of Marsh Atkinson & Brantley. He is licensed to practice in Georgia and South Carolina, and his civil litigation practice focuses on defending clients facing a broad range of disputes. He serves as a valued business partner and litigation counsel for corporate entities, individuals and insurers. His clients include international auto manufacturers, Fortune 500 retailers, national insurance providers, preeminent consumer and commercial product manufa...

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...

Alex Peurach leverages her significant trial experience to help her clients navigate their most complex business disputes, providing strategic and creative advice and delivering exceptional results that achieve her clients’ business objectives. Alex is an experienced trial attorney, having won cases in state and federal courts and arbitrations throughout the country. She represents clients across multiple industries on both the plaintiff and defense sides, with a particular focus on paym...

Debra Buster is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Debra, 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 Debra is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Clay Walts concentrates his practice in employee benefits and executive compensation, which includes drafting and preparing qualified retirement plans, welfare benefit plans and executive compensation arrangements for both public and closely held companies; addressing employee benefit issues in corporate transactions; advising clients on issues relating to the investment of plan assets and exemptions from the plan asset and prohibited transaction rules; and counseling clients on issues relati...

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

Patricia Griffith concentrates her practice on employment litigation, including individual and class action discrimination and harassment cases, employment contracts, wage/hour claims, and other employment-related actions. She tries cases in federal and state courts and before administrative agencies and arbitrators. Patricia has substantial jury and class certification experience. She is adept at mediating disputes, reducing the likelihood of protracted litigation, and serves as an arbitrato...