It was an incredible year for Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) alumni. Each month in the alumni newsletter, top attorneys are recognized for their achievements, honors, and exciting announcements. If you or someone you know have earned a spot in our Alumni on the Move series, please submit the information here. Below are our 2023 alumni highlights. Our hometown Atlanta law school has been educating Atlanta, Georgia, regional, national and international legal professionals for 90+ years and it is our pleasure to celebrate their achievements.
If you would like to update your information to receive the alumni newsletter, please email Director of Alumni Relations, AJ Doucett, at adoucett@johnmarshall.edu.
January 2023
Lisanne Edelman (’17), Meaghan Eustice (’15), Randy Fry (’99), Jennifer Gore-Cuthbert (’12), Fernanda Hottle (’10), Shilpa Jadwani (’12), Megan McClinton (’13), Calina Plotkey (’12), Mary-Anne Uzoka (’14) — Congratulations to these nine alumni for being sworn into the Supreme Court of the United States Bar during our annual trip!
Matthew Momtahan (’09) — Congratulations to Matthew for being selected by the Newspapers of West Georgia as one of the 40 Under 40, West Georgia’s Rising Stars!
Ginger Arnold (’11) — Congratulations to Ginger as she joins the firm of Deming, Parker, Hoffman, Campbell, & Daly, LLC, as Associate Attorney where she will focus on estate planning!
Lauren Boone (’11) — Congratulations to Lauren on her appointment as a Judge to the Cobb County Magistrate Court Bench! Lauren will serve part-time on the bench while still continuing with her corporate practice.
Gulliana Goehring (’21) — Congratulations to Gulliana on being named partner at The Fry Law Firm! The firm will now be known as Fry | Goehring!
February 2023
Steven V. Bennett (’94) — Congratulations to Judge Bennett for being sworn in on January 3, 2023, as only the third ever “elected” juvenile court judge in the state of Georgia. Floyd County is unique as being the only county in the State that allows citizens to choose their juvenile court judge.
Timothy White (’98) — Congratulations to Timothy on celebrating his 25th year of private practice in Jasper, GA.
Wes McDaniel (’10) — Congratulations to Wes on his recent promotion to equity partner at The Hansford Law Firm. The firm will now be known as Hansford McDaniel, LLC, and will continue to exclusively represent injured workers throughout Georgia and Alabama.
Nick Schnyder (’11) — Congratulations to Nick and his firm, Nick Schnyder Law Firm, on opening their 4th location in Buckhead.
David Windecher (’12) — Congratulations to David for being awarded the very first NFL Inspire Change – Changemaker Award for his work with his non-profit Rehabilitation Enables Dreams (RED). David was presented the award at the annual Falcons Community Honors Dinner, surrounded by his RED staff, board members, and even a few former participants.
Raina Spencer (’16) — Congratulations to Raina and her new firm the Law Office of Raina Spencer, LLC. Her firm’s primary practice area is personal injury representing clients who are involved in car accidents, slip & falls, wrongful death, and catastrophic accidents.
Narissa Juitt-Jackson (’13) — Congratulations to Narissa and her firm, Juitt-Jackson Law Firm, for being named the 2022 Best in Georgia Family Law Firm by the Georgia Business Journal.
Alexandros Cornejo (’17) — Congratulations to Alexandros and his firm, The Cornejo Law Firm, on opening their 4th location in Newnan, GA. Alexandros is excited about this location because it is “literally home and it is an honor and a privilege to help my community in this part of town”.
Shiela Guider (’18) — Congratulations to Shiela on her promotion to Assistant Attorney General at the Georgia Department of Law, representing State Licensing Boards. She previously worked in the areas of Elections, Education, and Local Government as a paralegal for over 17 years.
March 2023
Adam Malone (’99) — Congratulations to Adam for being ranked as #1 in the 2023 Georgia Super Lawyer’s list. Additionally, Adam was recognized in The Best Lawyers in America 2023 for his work in Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs and Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs.
Alpa Amin (’10) — Congratulations to Alpa on being awarded the Unsung Devotion to Those Most in Need awarded by the Emory Public Interest Committee (EPIC) for her work as Executive Director of Georgia Asylum and Immigration Network.
Jenna Fowler (’13) — Congratulations to Jenna Fowler on being named partner at Wood, Smith, Henning and Berman. Jenna works at the Atlanta office of the firm, where she focuses on complex civil litigation.
Bryan Dayton (’19) — Congratulations to Bryan Dayton on joining the firm of Wilson, Elser, Moskowitz, Edelman & Dicker, LLP on February 23, 2023, as an associate attorney. Wilson Elser is a preeminent defense litigation firm in the United States.
Maria McCoy (’19) — Congratulations to Maria for being selected as a 2023 Georgia Super Lawyer’s Rising Star and for making the Best of Georgia’s list in family law.
Renee Richardson (’21) — Congratulations to Renee for being selected as a 2023 Georgia Super Lawyer’s Rising Star. Renee works for the Manely Firm, P.C. where she focuses on family law.
April 2023
Randy Fry (’99) — Congratulations to Randy for being selected as a 2023 Georgia Super Lawyer, his fourth straight year in a row!
Jason Shepherd (’10) — Congratulations to Jason Shepherd on his appointment to the Board of the Development Authority of Cobb County by District 1 Commissioner Kelli Gambrill. He was approved by a 5-0 vote by the full County Commission on February 28, 2023, and began his four-year term on March 14, 2023.
Mariette Clardy-Davis (’13) — Congratulations to Mariette on joining the home office of Primerica as the Assistant Vice President, Assistant General Counsel where she provides strategic guidance to support their overall securities business including their broker-dealer and registered investment advisor.
Tom Kirkbride (’19) — Congratulations to Tom B. Kirkbride on his appointment as Municipal Court Judge for the City of Morrow, GA. Judge Kirkbride was sworn in during the Marrow City Council session on March 14, 2023.
May 2023
Jenna Melton Fowler (’13) — We extend a huge congratulations to Jenna for being named partner at Wood, Smith, Henning & Berman LLP.
Billy Collins (’17) — Congratulations to Billy on embarking on a new journey as an attorney at Morgan & Morgan, P.A.
Jessica Melgarejo Devins (’20) — Congratulations to Jenna on joining The Manely Firm, as a new associate attorney.
Brittany Larcart (’21) — Congratulations to Brittany for becoming the newest personal injury attorney at Schnyder Law Firm.
July 2023
Zach H. French (’12) — Congratulations to Zach for starting a new position as Vice President at SeedTrust Escrow.
Jennifer B. Gore-Cuthbert (’12) — Congratulations to Jennifer and her law firm, Atlanta Personal Injury Law Group, as they celebrate their 10-year anniversary.
Joshua H. Elbaz (’22) — Congratulations to Zach for opening the new law firm of Elbaz & Stimpson, LLC.
Nicole A. Rizza (’22) — Congratulations to Nicole on being appointed as a Board of Directors Member for the Stonewall Bar Association of Georgia as well as launching the Nicole A. Rizza, PC, law firm.
August 2023
Ashley S. Murphy (’12) — Congratulations to Ashton as she becomes the new Deputy Director of the Judicial Qualifications Commission of Georgia.
Delenia A. King (’21) — Congratulations to Delenia for starting her new position as Civil Litigation Associate Attorney at Hall Booth Smith, P.C
Jason R. Warren (’22) — Congratulations to Jason for starting his new position as Associate Attorney at The Dennis Law Firm, LLC.
Corey Washington (’22) — Congratulations to Corey as he starts his new firm The Washington Process Law Firm where he will specialize in criminal defense and personal injury.
September 2023
Kenneth J. Lewis (’11) — Congratulations to Kenneth on receiving recognition from the Supreme Court of Georgia for his noteworthy amicus curiae brief, which contributed to their deliberations in their case. (See Footnote 1: Hamon v. Connell).
La’Porscha T. Smalls (’18) — Congratulations to La’Porscha on her new position as litigation associate at State Farm.
Whitnie C. Riden (’21) — Congratulations to Whitnie on launching her new firm, The Riden Firm. Whitnie is the managing partner and specializes in Intellectual Property, Sports/Entertainment and Estate Planning.
Eddis W. Freeman (’23) — Congratulations to Eddis on joining the Georgia Public Defender’s Council as an Assistant Public Defender I in Clayton County.
October 2023
LaToya A. Hutchinson (’11) — Congratulations to LaToya on starting her new position as Assistant District Attorney at Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office. Serving Greene, Hancock, Jasper, Morgan, and Putnam Counties in Child Support Cases.
Fallon E. Brink (’17) — Congratulations to Fallon on joining the Georgia Secretary of State Securities & Charities Division as an Enforcement Attorney.
Andrienne K. McKay (’19) — Congratulations to Andrienne on her recent admission to both the Court of Appeals of Georgia and Supreme Court of Georgia.
Dallas L. Hawkins (’20) — Congratulations to Dallas on joining Garson Johnson LLC as a Civil Litigation Attorney where she is excited to join a team commitment to client success, professional excellence, and personal well-being.
Gulliana L. Goehring (’21) — Congratulations to Gulliana, on winning the 2023 Excellence Award in the Professionals category from TUMI-USA! The Tumi Awards celebrate the outstanding contributions of Peruvian immigrants in solidarity, dedication, professionalism, and community service.
November 2023
James R. Haug (’09) — Congratulations to James and his firm, Haug Barron Law Group, on winning a $30 Million verdict for a family in a wrongful death case. One of the top ten largest medical malpractice cases in Georgia history.
William “Bill” J. Black, III (’18) — Congratulations to Bill on having his op-ed published in James Magazine Georgia, where he discusses the legal needs of homeless veterans and highlights the AJMLS Homeless Veterans Clinic.
Gandara G. Gallishaw (’23) — Congratulations to Gandara on her promotion to Assistant District Attorney at Douglas County District Attorney’s Office, where she previously served as a legal intern and apprentice prosecutor.
Victor J. Gordon (’23) — Congratulations to Victor on the creation of his new firm The Law Office of Victor Gordon. We wish you and your firm all the best of luck.
Congratulations to all of our alumni who recently passed the July 2023 bar!
Katie Adams, Estibaliz Afanador, Allyssia Andrews, Lauren Briggs, Hanna Canavan, Lance Carruth, Kyra Clark, Keith Collins, Danyelle Davis, Brittany Davis, Mercedes Dickerson, James Dixon, Shane Downard, Beverly Fratto, Donsherrhea Frison, Myah Fuqua, Gandara Gallishaw, Victor Gordon, Chauncey Graham, Jacob Gregory, Sharon Hansrote, Brooke Harrison, MarQuita Jones, Raford Kelly, Bethany Keyes, Esther Ko, Sabrina Leverette, Elizabeth Marra, Daniela Martinez, Katie McClelland, Richard Mejia, Dean Moore, Amy Morris, Austin O’Neill, Russell Preston, Jessica Regalado, Grant Schrantz, Joan Smoot, Lauren Spencer, Tishana Springer, Ashley Starnes, Melanie Stepho, Michael Stewart, Samantha Taylor, Kendall Taylor, Javion Thomas, Clint Tyler, Rochelle Walker, Kya Williams, Shaugnassy Williams-Bryant, and Kris Wright.
December 2023
Dorna J. Taylor (’98) — Congratulations to Dorna on her book, Do What You Know How to Do: Lessons on Loss, Love, and Life. Through her memoir and guide, she offers a heartfelt account of resilience and triumph over adversity, inspiring readers to find strength in the face of life’s challenges.
Jennifer B. Gore-Cuthbert (’12) — Congratulations to Jennifer for her book, Tiger Tactics CEO Edition: From ZERO to Law Firm CEO a collaborative book offering readers an inside look into the minds of 13 influential law firm CEOs.
Kevin O. Fogle (’16) — Congratulations to Kevin on being named to the 2023 Lawyers of Color Hotlist and for his inclusion in the fourth edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for his expertise in Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law!
Mahham Syed (’21) — Congratulations to Mahham on joining The Law Offices of Julianne M. Holt as an Assistant Public Defender!
Sharon F. Hansrote (’23) — Congratulations to Sharon on joining the Sarah Cornejo Law, LLC as their newest criminal defense attorney!
Austin M. O’Neill (’23) — Congratulations to Austin on joining the Law Office of Tim L. Holman where he will focus on Contract Law, Intellectual Property Law, Business Law, and Estate Planning!
Tishana Springer (’23) — Congratulations to Tishana on joining Samuel Johnson and Associates as their new Personal Injury Attorney and the Head of Litigation!