Leah Ward Sears

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.

James A. Trigg is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Artificial Intelligence Law, Copyright Law, Entertainment Law - Music, Litigation - Intellectual Property, Media Law and Trademark Law. James A., who practices law in Atlanta, Georgia, has been recognized since 2010. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which James A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

BJay creates strategies to mitigate legal, political, and public relations risks to protect his clients’ business objectives. BJay offers more than 20 years of experience in handling government investigations and enforcement proceedings, corporate regulatory compliance, internal investigations, and resolution of civil and criminal litigation to drive results for clients. As a former Senate-confirmed U.S. attorney and legislator, BJay Pak has significant experience making high-stakes dec...

Wes Achey is a member of Alston & Bird’s Intellectual Property Litigation Team. Wes’s practice includes all areas of intellectual property litigation and counseling, with a particular emphasis on patent litigation and enforcement. He has represented clients in patent infringement lawsuits in federal district courts across the United States, including cases involving telecommunications, computer software and various mechanical devices. He is a member of the Georgia Bar and is a...

Rebecca A. Davis is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Environmental Law and Litigation - Environmental. Rebecca A., 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 Rebecca A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Shane Nichols is a partner in Alston & Bird’s Intellectual Property Litigation Group and primarily represents his clients in high-risk patent infringement and trade secret litigation. Licensed to practice in both Texas and Georgia, Mr. Nichols has represented clients in federal and state courts in the U.S., the U.S. International Trade Commission, as well as several international courts around the world. Mr. Nichols is registered to practice as a patent attorney before the U.S. Pate...

Brian C. Ross, a South Carolina native, graduated from University of South Carolina Upstate with a degree in History and then went on to attend John Marshall Law School in Atlanta. While in law school, Brian was on the mock trial team and clerked for multiple private trial attorneys before interning at the Fulton County District Attorney’s office where he prosecuted felony crimes under the Third Year Practice Act. Brian stood out amongst his peers, often times volunteering for projects ...

Scott Elder is the leader of the firm’s products liability group and represents corporations in complex litigation throughout the country. Clients call on Scott for his extensive experience in mass torts and class actions as well as in individual cases alleging personal injuries from defective products. In the class action area, he frequently litigates cases that intersect the areas of product defect and false advertising and also provides advice on advertising claim construction, produ...

Cynthia G. Burnside is a litigation attorney in Holland & Knight's Atlanta office. Ms. Burnside concentrates her practice in the areas of class actions and commercial litigation, and she has extensive experience litigating complex cases for clients in the technology, financial, insurance and healthcare industries. Ms. Burnside's experience includes defending clients in class actions, including those arising under the privacy statutes such as the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), u...

Jonathan L. Neville is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. Jonathan 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 Jonathan L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.