Stephen M. Forte

Ken Menendez is a Partner in the firm's Atlanta office. His experience is in complex commercial litigation, with concentrations in employment, financial and construction litigation. Ken has extensive experience with mediation, arbitration and other forms of alternative dispute resolution and serves as a certified arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association. He has a Martindale-Hubbell rating of AV (highest rating), has been selected for inclusion in Georgia Super Lawyers every year si...

For Jeb Butler , practicing law is about preparation, persistence, and accountability. Successful cases are rarely built on dramatic courtroom moments alone. They are built through careful investigation, disciplined strategy, detailed preparation, and a willingness to put in the work from the beginning of a case through trial or resolution. At Butler Kahn in Atlanta, Georgia, Jeb represents individuals and families in complex litigation involving Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs, Personal...

Shelly Jacobs Ellerhorst practices environmental law with an emphasis in complex water and hazardous waste related regulatory, enforcement, and litigation issues . Shelly is counsel to the State of Georgia in what is commonly referred to as the “Water Wars,” including litigation, interstate negotiations, and regulatory matters related to the disputes among Georgia, Alabama, Florida, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Her preeminence in the environmental litigation field is reco...

Jacquelyn Clarke is a Partner in our Atlanta office and also serves as Lead Hiring Partner, overseeing the hiring of associate attorneys across all HBS offices while focusing on the Southeast. Jacque specializes in the defense of both health care providers and professional malpractice matters and focuses her practice on complex medical malpractice cases. Her experience includes a wide variety of areas including heart and spine surgeries, anesthesia claims, and birth trauma cases. Since the be...

Duane Cochenour is a litigator specializing in medical malpractice claims, negligent security cases, and insurance coverage. He has a unique perspective, with 20 years of experience as an insurance claim professional prior to becoming a lawyer. He knows exactly what it is like to be an adjuster, supervisor, regional claim manager, and major case negotiator because he has worked in each of those positions. He draws on over 30 years of experience in the insurance and legal industry to defend an...

Madison M. Pool is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Health Care Law. Madison M. practices law in Atlanta, Georgia Best Lawyers has recognized Madison M. Pool since 2026. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Madison M. Pool is held by other lawyers.

Kevan Dorsey is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Litigation - Insurance and Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants. Kevan practices law in Atlanta, Georgia Best Lawyers has recognized Kevan Dorsey since 2025. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Kevan Dorsey is held by other lawyers.

David Ware earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Georgia where he excelled in national Moot Court competition, a precursor to his work as a trial lawyer. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of West Georgia (formerly West Georgia College) and attended on academic and athletic scholarships. While there, he was elected to the Blue Key National Honor society and Phi Eta Sigma (the small school counterpart of Phi Beta Kappa), served as a student government leader, ...

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...

Michael Oliver Eckard is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Employment Law - Management. Michael Oliver practices law in Charleston, South Carolina Best Lawyers has recognized Michael Oliver Eckard since 2021. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Michael Oliver Eckard is held by other lawyers.