Michael M. "Mike" Hawkins

Lavern was named FordHarrison's first Talent and Recruiting Partner in 2018. In this new role, Lavern is responsible for recruiting and developing lawyers firm-wide. She will oversee the hiring and on-boarding of new lawyers, manage utilization and workflow, and design and implement talent development initiatives to support the career growth of our lawyers. Lavern concentrates her practice on defending employers in discrimination, harassment, wage and hour, whistle-blower, retaliation, employ...

John Shannon's comprehensive knowledge of executive compensation enables him to provide efficient and practical solutions to complex tax, securities, and corporate governance issues. John counsels public and private companies on employment and severance agreements, stock plans, and deferred compensation arrangements, and has extensive experience with compensation issues in M&A and corporate transactions. He regularly advises on equity-based and other incentive arrangements, nonqualified d...

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.

Michele Madison provides general legal advice to health systems on various regulatory and business matters. Michele has significant experience in managing legal issues arising in hospitals, physician offices or integrated health systems, including employment, investigations, risk management assessment and corporation management. She provides legal education for health systems’ medical staff, management teams and employees and often facilitates and manages implementation of compliance pl...

Elizabeth ("Bess") Hinson is a privacy and cybersecurity attorney in Holland & Knight's Atlanta office. Ms. Hinson focuses her practice on cyber and data risk management and governance, breach preparedness and response, crisis management and global data privacy compliance. Ms. Hinson represents clients at all stages of incident response from investigation, notification, remediation, managing privacy class action risks, and defense of litigation and regulatory inquiry. She regularly counse...

Kevin H. Hudson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Construction Law and Litigation - Construction. Kevin H., 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 Kevin H. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Madison M. Pool is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Health Care Law. Madison M., 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 Madison M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Jason Howard is the co-chair of Alston & Bird’s Real Estate Finance & Investment Group. Jason concentrates his practice in the real estate and finance industries. His practice includes structuring joint ventures and representing developers, purchasers, and sellers in all aspects of the acquisition and disposition of mixed-use, office, multifamily residential, and industrial projects and portfolios. He also represents both lenders and borrowers in a wide range of financing transa...

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

Mr. Sampson is the Managing Partner of Thomas, Kennedy, Sampson, & Tompkins LLP, Georgia’s oldest minority-owned law firm. Sampson graduated from Morehouse College and earned a Juris Doctor degree from the UNC at Chapel Hill. Throughout his distinguished career, Sampson has often been tapped to serve government, the Bar and the community. Former Governor Roy Barnes appointed him Vice Chairman on the State Judicial Nominating Commission. He has served as President of the Gate City Bar Asso...