Richard E. Barnes

Charles Ruffin, shareholder in the Firm's Atlanta and Macon offices, has amassed over 30 years a wide array of litigation experience. He currently concentrates his practice in eminent domain and condemnation law, representing landowners and business operators of all sizes in eminent domain, condemnation and inverse condemnation matters. Mr. Ruffin's clients include a wide variety of national and international businesses from large multinational corporations to small individually owned busines...

Thomas L. Penland, Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Energy Law. Thomas L., who practices law in Atlanta, Georgia, has been recognized since 2007. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Thomas L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Erica Mason serves as regional and national employment counsel to large and medium-sized companies throughout the United States, primarily in the hospitality, retail and manufacturing sectors, as well as hospitals and physician's groups. Ms. Mason defends clients from claims of alleged racial, age, national origin, disability and religious discrimination, harassment and/or retaliation; testing and public accommodations; wage and hour disputes; and restrictive covenants disputes brought under ...

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

Sarah Wimberly spearheads FordHarrison's airline litigation and arbitration practice and is the co-leader of the airline service practice group. For 27 years she has focused her practice primarily on labor and employment matters unique to the aviation industry. She is an industry leader on absence management and leave abuse, as well as disability accommodation and compliance. Sarah frequently works with aviation clients on complicated or sensitive harassment and discrimination complaints, com...

Henry G. Garrard III is a dedicated personal injury and plaintiffs’ litigation lawyer at Blasingame, Burch, Garrard & Ashley, P.C. Throughout his extensive career, he has handled a wide variety of complex injury claims, including those involving medical malpractice and products liability, as well as qui tam litigation, tort liability, and class actions. Additionally, he has experience handling very complicated litigation, including multidistrict litigation. Before beginning his prac...

Lee Anne Sapp’s practice centers on the representation of real estate developers and investors in connection with acquisitions, dispositions, leasing matters, and joint-venture projects. Lee Anne has represented real estate development and investment companies in the acquisition and development of shopping centers and mixed-use, multi-family, industrial, and office developments, and in the negotiation of leases with prospective tenants for such properties, lenders in connection with loa...

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

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...

Janine Brown is an M&A and corporate partner who serves as partner-in-charge of the firm’s Atlanta office. She works with companies in a variety of sectors, including technology, media, telecommunications, renewable energy and manufacturing, and has been involved in a wide variety of domestic and international transactions, including capital raising transactions, corporate governance matters, mergers and acquisitions, information technology transactions, joint ventures/strategic all...