John H. Spillman

Ian R. Macdonald Co-Chairs the firm’s Labor & Employment Practice’s International Employment, Immigration & Workforce Strategies group. He has over 25 years of experience working with employers on worksite immigration compliance (criminal and civil), employment-based immigration sponsorship and global mobility transfers to 200+ countries. Ian founded the Firm’s immigration practice in Atlanta and has led the group since joining the Firm in 2013. He focuses his practi...

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.

Stephen Opler concentrates his practice on the distinctive characteristics of liquidity transactions by and with entrepreneurs. Stephen helps private equity funds, strategic acquirers and entrepreneurial buyers and sellers achieve their goals by leveraging his three decades as an M&A lawyer, entrepreneur, business founder, investment banker, in-house lawyer and CPA. Buying or selling entrepreneur-owned businesses requires a unique focus on the many ways these transactions and the post-clo...

Olivia Maria Baratta is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Intellectual Property and Trademark Law. Olivia Maria, who practices law in Atlanta, Georgia, has been recognized since 2016. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Olivia Maria is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

With a background in mechanical engineering and industry experience with aerospace systems integration projects, Chris Lightner practices in Alston & Bird’s Intellectual Property – Mechanical Patents Team. Chris focuses his practice on patent solicitation and counseling, as well as on IP-driven due diligence efforts, licensing agreements, confidentiality considerations, and patent brokerage agreements. Chris prepares and prosecutes U.S. and foreign patent applications for wide...

Gary R. Sheehan Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Environmental Law, Litigation - Environmental and Water Law. Gary R., who practices law in Atlanta, Georgia, has been recognized since 2013. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Gary R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Matt Boyer is a Partner and Office Co-Chair of Freeman Mathis & Gary’s Atlanta office, Vice-Chair of the firm’s national Insurance Coverage and Extra-Contractual Liability practice group, and Chair of the firm's Southeast Coverage practice team. Matt advises and represents insurers in a variety of third-party and first-party coverage matters arising under commercial general liability, personal auto, business auto, umbrella, and errors and omissions, professional liability, and...

David M. Atkinson is a founding partner of Marsh Atkinson & Brantley. He has been a trial lawyer since 1991, focusing on civil litigation defense, including tort claims, products liability, insurance coverage, bad faith, construction litigation, business disputes and intellectual property. He has served as lead trial counsel in federal and state courts throughout Georgia and the Southeast, as well as appellate counsel before the Supreme Court of Georgia, Court of Appeals of Georgia and Un...

Zahra focuses her practice on whistleblower cases (False Claims Act/qui tam), white collar criminal defense, corporate internal investigations, and complex civil litigation. For 8 years, Zahra served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia. As a veteran and former state Senator, she has extensive experience dealing with the government. Due to her experience and expertise, Zahra has been called upon numerous times to be a legal analyst in high profile cases. Zahra ha...

Michael J. Breslin is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Artificial Intelligence Law and Technology Law. Michael J., 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 Michael J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.