Jorge A. Gavilanes

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...

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...

Daniel M. Simon represents public and private companies, secured and unsecured creditors, acquirers of distressed assets, and investors in all aspects of corporate restructuring transactions. He represents a diverse range of clients spanning numerous industries in complex and contentious bankruptcy cases. Read full biography: https://www.mwe.com/people/simon-daniel-m/

Jenny Hergenrother is a partner with Alston & Bird’s Products Liability Group, where she focuses on products liability and other complex litigation. Her practice experience includes representing companies in a variety of product litigation, including allegations of false and deceptive advertising, high-value personal injury and wrongful death cases, claim substantiation, and product-related class and mass actions. She chiefly represents automotive, food and beverage, and pharmaceuti...

Michaela Mericle is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. Michaela, 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 Michaela is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Scott Laseter´s practice has included litigation, regulatory and transactional aspects of environmental law. For the last dozen years, he has devoted a substantial portion of his practice to manufactured gas plant issues ranging from investigation and remediation oversight to cost recovery, insurance coverage and common law litigation. In recent years, he has also devoted a substantial portion of his practice to representing publicly traded real estate companies, parties to CMBS transac...

Craig Smith serves as counsel to the full spectrum of healthcare and life sciences organizations with a focus on transactional and business matters including mergers and acquisitions, private equity deals and joint ventures. Craig frequently works with hospitals and health systems, physician groups, practice management companies, accountable care organizations (ACOs), ambulatory service centers (ASCs) and other providers to navigate the complex financial and regulatory issues that arise when ...

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...

Steve McNiff's background in electrical engineering, as well as his proven, cost-effective problem-solving skills make him the right counsel to aid clients in the fast-paced world of IP. His practice includes all areas of intellectual property litigation and counseling, with a particular emphasis on patent litigation and enforcement. Steve has represented clients in patent infringement lawsuits in the International Trade Commission and federal district courts across the United States, includi...

Chris Marquardt is a counselor and trial lawyer who prides himself on helping his clients solve complex problems. He has a diverse trial practice that focuses substantively on commercial litigation and a wide array of labor & employment matters. He also serves as outside General Counsel to educational institutions. Mr. Marquardt has litigated complex disputes for publicly-traded companies, privately-held corporations, small businesses, non-profits, and individuals. He has considerable exp...