Lisa N. Collins

Cari Dawson is a creative problem solver, legal strategist and committed advocate. She chairs the Class Action Practice Team and has an established track record of successfully defending Fortune 500 companies as lead counsel in high-profile litigation nationwide. Cari has defended hundreds of class actions across an array of industries and regularly assists clients in commercial litigation, strategic counseling and crisis management. In 2015, Cari was named one of the country’s “M...

Mr. Watson is chair of the Bankruptcy Group. His practice focuses on representing secured lenders in pre-bankruptcy workouts and Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases. In addition, Mr. Watson represents several national franchisors in bankruptcy cases of franchisees and is a frequent lecturer on a variety of bankruptcy related topics. He is licensed to practice in Georgia and New York and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Southeastern Bankruptcy Law Institute. Mr. Watson is listed in Chamber...

Julie Lierly is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law, Litigation - Insurance and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants. Julie, 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 Julie is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Terrell W. “Chip” Benton III is a Partner in the Atlanta office of Hall Booth Smith, and he specializes in general liability, professional malpractice and ethics, professional negligence, and medical malpractice. His primary focus is representing physicians, hospitals, and other health care workers in medical malpractice lawsuits, and he has represented physicians before the State Composite Medical Board and the State Dental Board. He also has extensive experience in handling prem...

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

Ashley Gillihan is counsel in the Atlanta office and a member of the firm’s Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation and ERISA Litigation Groups. Ashley focuses his practice exclusively on health and welfare employee benefit compliance and litigation issues for employers, health plan administrators, and other health and welfare benefit plan service providers. He also has extensive experience assisting financial institutions and insurance companies who serve as Health Savings Accou...

Since 1995, Richard “Chip” Thompson has represented energy companies in their development, acquisition and sale, and ownership and operation of energy projects. These projects include natural gas, solar, wind, biomass, transmission, battery storage, gas pipelines, and other energy projects located across the United States and abroad (including in Europe, South America, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East). Chip’s expertise includes structuring, negotiating, and drafting the va...

With over 38 years of litigation experience, Ted Eichelberger has handled a broad range of commercial and tort litigation matters for both plaintiffs and defendants. Ted is recognized by The Best Lawyers in America© . Ted currently concentrates his practice around medical malpractice, representing hospitals, medical schools, and individual health care providers. For over 21 years, Ted has served as lead counsel for the largest teaching hospital in the Atlanta area, and the area’s o...

Tyler Bryant Walker is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Insurance Law. Tyler Bryant, 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 Tyler Bryant is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

As the managing partner of the Atlanta office, Bert Brannen mentors attorneys in the Atlanta office and helps them serve the Firm’s clients. Bert advises employers on a wide variety of union-related matters and assists them with the administration, negotiation, mediation and arbitration of collective bargaining agreements. He also counsels employers who want to remain union-free with training, preventive strategies and counter-organizing educational campaigns. Bert helps employers avoid...