Matt Wetherington

Simon R. Malko brings more than 20 years of courtroom and law firm experience to his leadership role at Morris, Manning, and Martin, LLP. Simon is implementing a strategic plan that prioritizes firm strategic growth, especially through lateral hiring, while maintaining and cultivating the firm’s distinctive culture. This strategic vision also amplifies the firm’s core values of outstanding client service and supporting and developing the talents of junior lawyers. As the third and...

James R. Paine, Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Information Technology Law, IT Outsourcing Law and Technology Law. James R., who practices law in Atlanta, Georgia, has been recognized since 2017. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which James R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Dan Diffley serves as co-chair of Alston & Bird’s Litigation & Trial Practice Group. A courtroom veteran, he focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation, including class action defense, insurance matters, products liability, professional malpractice, and other commercial disputes. As lead trial counsel, he has extensive experience representing Fortune 500 companies at trial, arbitration, and every other facet of commercial litigation. In nearly 20 years of practice, he...

John L. Gornall Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Economic Development Law. John L., who practices law in Atlanta, Georgia, has been recognized since 2014. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which John L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Kevin Gooch is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law and Commercial Finance Law. Kevin, 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 Kevin is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Kristen M. Lewis is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Kristen M., 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 Kristen M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Kara Kennedy is counsel on Alston & Bird’s Litigation & Trial Practice Team. Kara represents clients in state and federal courts across the country and has experience with a wide range of litigation matters, including complex commercial litigation, consumer class actions, antitrust, products liability, internal investigations and insurance coverage disputes. She focuses her practice on consumer fraud class actions, with a particular emphasis on strategies for organizing and mana...

Robert F. Glass is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Robert F., who practices law in Atlanta, Georgia, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Robert F. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Sarah Ernst is chair of Alston & Bird’s Health Care Group, an interdisciplinary team of health care corporate, FDA, health policy, and health care compliance lawyers. Sarah focuses her practice on corporate transactions, and she represents public and private companies and private equity clients in complex mergers and acquisitions, carve-out transactions, securities offerings, restructurings, joint ventures, and spinoffs, with an emphasis in the health care industry. Sarah also couns...

Elissa B. Haynes is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants. Elissa B., 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 Elissa B. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.