Associate Joi Siler King was featured on Lawyers of Color's 2022 Hot List, which recognizes young, promising attorneys of color. It is the organization's tenth issue since its inaugural 2013 list. Joi officially joined the firm as an associate in fall 2021 and was a summer associate in 2020. She focuses her practice on commercial disputes and employment matters and represents businesses in contractual disputes, represents and advises employers in employment-related matters, litigates real estate disputes, employing an innovative approach to solving issues that an organization may face. Lawyers of Color released our first Hot List in 2013. Since then, it has been a tremendous joy ... Continue Reading
Drew Eckl & Farnham Recognized in Daily Report Georgia Legal Awards
ATLANTA, April 28, 2022 — The Daily Report has announced its winners and finalists for the 2022 Georgia Legal Awards. Three Drew Eckl & Farnham partners have been honored with Professional Excellence awards, and Drew Eckl & Farnham has been selected as a finalist for Law Firm of the Year. Honorees Mike Bagley (Lifetime Achievers)Julie John (Lifetime Achievers)Taylor Poncz (On the Rise) The honorees and winner of the Law Firm of the Year award will be presented at a gala on June 23 at Flourish Atlanta. For more information on the awards, click the link below. ... Continue Reading
Paul Grote Wins Eleventh Circuit Affirmance of Summary Judgment in Slip and Fall Case
The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the grant of Summary Judgment in favor of the defendant represented by Paul Grote, a senior associate at Drew Eckl & Farnham. The case, for which the Summary Judgment was granted in November of 2020, centered around signage in a slip-and-fall accident at a restaurant. The plaintiff claimed she slipped on a puddle of water left after an employee had mopped the floor, which was visible from a standing position. Plaintiff claimed no caution wet floor signs were present, and that a booth obscured her view of the floor. However, plaintiff’s claims were refuted by video, which showed plaintiff walk by a caution wet floor sign mere seconds ... Continue Reading
22 Drew Eckl & Farnham Attorneys Selected as Best Lawyers® and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch
We are happy to announce that 16 of our lawyers have been listed as the 2022 Best Lawyers in America and six of our attorneys have been recognized as 2022 Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch. Current Recognized Lawyers Paul W. Burke since (2020)Insurance Law - Paul has been with Drew Eckl and Farnham since 1983. For the first 25 years of his practice, he focused exclusively on the insurance industry; litigating and lecturing around the country on insurance coverage matters. He also published over 50 articles in Insurance Industry and ABA publications. He obtained his Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) and Associate in Reinsurance designations in 2002 Barbara A. ... Continue Reading
David Rusnak and Roberto Bazzani Win Metro Atlanta Business Case Decision
On December 8, 2021, Partner David Rusnak and Senior Associate Roberto Bazzani secured a jury verdict in the Metro Atlanta Business Court, representing a small, Atlanta-based commercial bank in a complex real estate dispute with a regional convenience store/gasoline retailer. The case stemmed from the retailer’s construction in 2001, and subsequent use for nearly 20 years, of a driveway connecting the retailer’s store to a busy state highway. The driveway, which was the main access to the retailer’s store, was constructed across property originally deeded to the State Highway Board in 1927, that reverted to a customer of the bank in the late 1980s. The driveway was repeatedly transferred ... Continue Reading
Associate Joi Siler Assists in Big Win Nine Days After Passing Georgia Bar Exam
Drew Eckl & Farnham would like to congratulate first-year Associate, Joi Siler, for her outstanding work with Partner Gary Beelen on their recent Gilchrist v. Pickens case. Siler, who is a former 2020 Summer Associate, had only passed the Georgia Bar exam nine days prior. At Drew Eckl & Farnham, we take great pride in ensuring our Associates receive unique, hands-on experience at the very start of their careers. Regarding Joi's impact on their win, Beelen has written the below: "Joi was a Summer Associate last year. She did a bit of work for me and did an excellent job. All the interns we interview are smart, but I was looking for some interesting life experiences when I was ... Continue Reading
Patrick Ewing Recognized by Atlanta Legal Aid Society for Pro Bono Work
On October 28th, General Liability Senior Associate Patrick Ewing will be receiving a Pro Bono Star Award by the Atlanta Legal Aid Society for his work with a pro bono client. He will be awarded at a virtual event recognizing the organization's volunteers and their work in the metro Atlanta area. Patrick's representation included assistance and advocacy on behalf of a client and her child with respect to special education services. Prior to joining Drew Eckl & Farnham, Patrick practiced at a boutique litigation firm in Baltimore, Maryland, where he represented contractors and condominium associations involved in a wide array of legal disputes. Patrick negotiated, ... Continue Reading
Eleventh Circuit to not Revive SEW-EURODRIVE Suit
On September 24th, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit sided with SEW-EURODRIVE, represented by Drew Eckl & Farnham partner Andrew Horowitz, in a suit involving a worker's injury, determining the company did not beach any legal duty to her. The contracted worker alleged that the company's negligence led to a tool falling onto her head and injuring her. The three-judge panel affirmed a summary judgment against Tiffany Snadon, saying that while SEW-EURODRIVE provided her employer with the tool that fell on her head, if a negligent act led to her injury, it was her own employer's decision to move the structure the tool was on without removing or securing it. Under Georgia ... Continue Reading
An Inside Look at Rob Welch, Corporate Transactional Practice Group
Partner Rob Welch has been with Drew, Eckl & Farnham for over 25 years and leads its Corporate and Transactional Practice Group. He focuses on providing outside general counsel services to for-profit and nonprofit businesses in a wide range of industries, including: Healthcare Services, Software and Technology, Entertainment, Property Management, Industrial Recycling, Insurance Claims Investigation, and Construction Management. Rob works closely with corporate leadership to meet day-to-day legal challenges and accomplish long-term strategic objectives. His clients range from closely-held local businesses to mid-market national and multi-national companies. Rob also has ... Continue Reading
Drew Eckl & Farnham’s Corporate Transactional Team Represents Gibson Technical Services in Sale of Stock to Orbital Energy Group
Drew Eckl & Farnham's Corporate Transactional team represented the shareholders of our long-time client, Gibson Technical Services, Inc. in the sale of 100% of their stock to Orbital Energy Group (NASDAQ: OEG). Congratulations to the GTS shareholders and to OEG on the closing of this transaction! See below to learn more. Orbital Energy Group, Inc. Acquires Privately Held Telecommunications Company, Gibson Technical Services, Inc., for $48.0 Million April 14, 2021 HOUSTON — Orbital Energy Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: OEG) (“OEG” or “Company”) today announced the completion of its previously announced acquisition of 100% of the capital stock of Gibson Technical Services, Inc. ... Continue Reading