News

Swift, Currie, McGhee & Hiers, LLP, is pleased to announce partner Richie Foster has joined the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC).

Swift Currie attorneys and staff gathered Sept. 7 at John Howell Park to race for a cause at the Atlanta Bar Association (ABA) and Atlanta Police Department's 2019 Legal Runaround 5K.

On Aug. 28, 2019, Nonprofit Risk Management Center (NRMC) sat down with attorney Crystal McElrath to ask what nonprofit employers need to know about the legalization of marijuana, including the interaction between state and federal laws, and important considerations when dealing with recreational versus medical marijuana usage.

On Aug. 14, 2019, Swift Currie was featured in the Daily Report’s After Hours section, which spotlights lawyers’ activities beyond the office and courtroom, for the firm’s July 18 Sip & Soak event hosted at Nail Talk Tan & Spa Perimeter. To show the firm’s appreciation for their hard work and dedication, Swift Currie invited clients to the salon and provided 51 attendees with manicures and pedicures, along with hors d’oeuvres, dessert and beverages.

Swift Currie attorneys and summer associates joined Open Hand Atlanta, a nonprotfit seeking to eliminate disability and untimely death due to nutrition-sensitive chronic disease, for a morning of service on July 20, 2019. The group worked together to pack 1,970 meals in three hours for Open Hand, aiding in its goal to deliver 5,000 meals every day to its clients.

Swift, Currie, McGhee & Hiers, LLP, is proud to announce Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation (AVLF) named attorney Jenna Rubin as its Volunteer of the Month. 

In the May/June 2019 issue of Courier Magazine, Andrea Obston interviewed partner Cristine Huffine in an article discussing the "critical role that personnel issues play in the success of logistics providers.

Swift Currie was recognized in the 2019 Georgia Legal Awards as the top midsize firm in the Personal Injury Defense category, and managing partner Terry Brantley participated in a Q&A on successful client service in a special section of the Daily Report published on June 19, 2019.

For the full article, please click here.

Swift Currie joined the State Bar of Georgia Diversity Program, the Leadership Institute for Women of Color Attorneys (LIWOCA), John Marshall Law School and other Steering Committee members firms to hold the annual High School Pipeline Program. This year, the firm hosted 16 minority students on June 19, 2019, for an educational luncheon.

Swift, Currie, McGhee & Hiers, LLP, is pleased to announce the addition of five attorneys to its Atlanta office during May 2019. The newest arrivals to the growing firm include associates Alex A. Mikhalevsky, Jenifer F. Pfanzelt, Kathryn B. Robertson, Riley W. Snider and Kenneth C. Wilson.

Click here for the full Daily Report article. Click here for the news as published in Atlanta CityBizList. Click here for the news as published in Metro Atlanta CEO. Click here for the full press release.

A team of 23 Swift Currie volunteers gathered on June 15 to take action during the 18th annual ServiceJuris Day, a community service day in which more than 300 members of Atlanta’s legal community join together to give back.

Swift Currie hosted its annual client service event on Saturday, May 18, in partnership with Action Ministries, a nonprofit that furnishes an extensive network of community partners and volunteers with the tools and expertise to lead fellow Georgians out of poverty.

Swift, Currie, McGhee & Hiers, LLP, is pleased to announce its inclusion in the Law360 400, an annual ranking of the largest law firms in the U.S. This year, Swift Currie ranked at 275, moving up 33 spots from last year's ranking of 308. The list is comprised of U.S.-based firms and international firms with a U.S. component and determined by domestic attorney head count. As of Dec. 31, 2018, Swift Currie had 149 attorneys, of which 61 are partners.

Subscribers of Law360 may view the complete list of rankings here.

During the month of April, Swift Currie held its 2019 annual food drive for the Atlanta Community Food Bank. The firm donated a total of 4,481 pounds of food, which will provide 3,734 meals for Georgians who are food insecure.

Law360 included Swift Currie’s newest partners in its May 9, 2019, round-up of attorneys who were promoted in the first quarter of 2019. Each of the firm’s newest partners practice in the Atlanta office and include:

Jessica Phillips, who represents businesses in insurance coverage, arson and first-party property damage claims;

Rebecca Strickland, who defense clients in coverage and commercial litigation matters; and,

Calvin Yaeger, who handles litigation and insurance law matters for his clients.

The full round-up of promotions is available to Law360 subscribers here. For more information on Phillips, Strickland and Yaeger, please see Swift Currie’s press release announcing their elevation to partnership here.

Law360 highlighted partner David Atkinson in a recent article discussing his successful representation of Travelers Insurance subsidiary, St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Co.

On April 12, 2019, the Eleventh Circuit affirmed St. Paul does not need to cover a $23 million settlement in an unsolicited fax class action that St. Paul policyholder and manufacturing quote provider MFG.com negotiated to end a putative Telephone Consumer Protection class action. In the proposed class action, commercial sign manufacturer GM Sign Inc. claimed MFG frequently and without consent sent large amounts of fax advertisements to GM Sign and other companies.

Subscribers to Law360 may read the full article here.

Swift Currie announces the addition of six attorneys to its Atlanta office during the first months of 2019. The newest arrivals to the firm's Atlanta office include senior attorney Thea Nanton-Persuad, as well as associates Christine Lee, Lauren Meadows, Molly O’Connor, Hannah Beth Reynolds and Raqketa Williams.

Click here for the news in the digital edition of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Click here for the news as published in Metro Atlanta CEO. Click here for the news as published in Atlanta CityBizList. Click here for the news as published in the Daily Report. Click here for the full press release.

Swift, Currie, McGhee & Hiers, LLP, was honored in the 2019 Georgia Legal Awards as a Litigation Department of the Year, which was included in the April 19, 2019, issue of the Daily Report. As the largest firm in Georgia focused exclusively on litigation, this recognition is a testament to Swift Currie’s roster of diversely experienced attorneys and its ability to provide effective counsel in the ever-expanding range of unique and complex legal disputes that may arise. The firm has made significant additions to its roster in recent years, including 45 new attorneys in 2018 and six additions already in 2019 to bring the overall headcount to 150.

Swift Currie will be honored at the Georgia Legal Awards ceremony on June 20. You may view the full list of honorees here. 

In an article published on April 11, 2019, managing partner Terry O. Brantley provided insight to Mid-Market Report on best practices for recruiting and retaining business development talent in a law firm.

Subscribers may click here for the full article.

Swift Currie has announced Trey Dowdey’s selection to take command of the U.S. Army Reserve’s 10th Legal Operations Detachment, which falls under the U.S. Army Reserve Legal Command out of Gaithersburg, Maryland

Click here for the news in Business Alabama. Click here for the article in the Birmingham Business Journal. Click here for the news in the Birmingham Bar Association Bulletin. Click here for the full press release.

In an article published in Fit Small Business on April 15, 2019, Richie Foster provided insight on the process of getting semi-truck insurance. With truck insurance being a major investment for motor carriers and owner-operators, it is important to seek affordable coverage that protects assets.

Please click here for the full article. 

The Georgia Bar Journal published the announcement of the elevation of Jessica M. Phillips, Rebecca E. Strickland and Calvin P. Yaeger to partnership in the Bench & Bar section of its February 2019 issue. Additionally, the firm welcomed Sara Alexandre, Rebecca M. Beane, Avery G. Carter, Clay L. Clifton, Lauren P. Kamensky, Nichole C. Novosel, Tara P. Schlairet, Kristen M. Vigilant, Ivy R. White and Robert K. Young.

Please click here for the magazine’s digital edition.

On April 9, 2019, WorkCompCentral published an article by William Rabb covering a panel partner Mark Goodman took part in at the Workers' Injury Law & Advocacy Group 2019 Southeast Regional Conference. The panel comprised of defense attorneys discussed "trade secrets" and tips "to facilitate reasonable settlements and avoid prolonged litigation." Cultivating trust with opposing counsel, being forthcoming about demands and avoiding surprises are among the most important tactics suggested by the panel.

Please click here to view the full article.

Swift, Currie, McGhee & Hiers, LLP, is pleased to announce partner Anandhi S. Rajan was elected to the board of directors of the National Retail and Restaurant Defense Association (NRRDA), an industry-centered organization focused on the defense of retail and restaurant businesses. Her position is effective as of March 8, 2019, and she will serve as a board member from 2019 to 2022.

In a roundup published in the Daily Report on Feb. 13, 2019, Swift Currie partners Bill Casey, Erica Morton and Richie Foster were included among the biggest lateral moves for Atlanta firms in 2018. The attorneys worked together for more than a decade at Hicks, Casey & Morton.

For the full article, please click here.

In a Law360 article published on Feb. 12, 2019, partner David Atkinson was mentioned for his successful representation of two Travelers Insurance entities. U.S. District Court Judge William M. Ray, II, granted summary judgment to the insurance companies, finding no duty to defend or indemnify under commercial insurance policies.

Subscribers to Law360 may read the full article here.

On Feb. 7, 2019, the Atlanta CityBizList included the news that seven of the firm’s attorneys were included in the 2019 list of Georgia Super Lawyers, and an additional seven were recognized among the publication’s 2019 Rising Stars.

For the full article, please click here.

For the full press release, please click here.

The elevation of Jessica M. Phillips, Rebecca E. Strickland and Calvin P. Yaeger was highlighted in the business section of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Jan. 13 2019, as well as in Metro Atlanta CEO on Jan. 7 and the Atlanta CityBizList on Jan. 2.

For the full article in Atlanta CityBizList, please click here. For the full article in Metro Atlanta CEO, please click here. For the full press release, please click here.

The arrival of Lauren P. Kamensky to Swift Currie’s Atlanta office was highlighted in the Sunday Newsmakers section of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Dec. 30, 2018, as well as in the Atlanta CityBizList on Dec. 12 and Metro Atlanta CEO on Dec. 20.

Please click here to view the full article in Atlanta CityBizList and click here for the article in Metro Atlanta CEO. Subscribers to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution may read the news in the business section of the Dec. 30 print publication, available here. The full press release can be found here.

On Nov. 16, 2018, Birmingham Business Journal highlighted that two Swift Currie attorneys in Birmingham were included in the Mid-South Super Lawyers 2018 Rising Stars list. Brandon J. Clapp and Brian C. Richardson’s earned the Rising Stars designation, which honors less than 2.5 percent of lawyers across Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee who are 40 years old or younger or have been practicing for 10 years or less.

For more information, you may view the full release on the firm’s page here.

For the full article, please click here.

On Nov. 16, 2018, the news of Swift Currie’s recent addition of nine new attorneys in the firm’s Atlanta office was published in an article in the Daily Report. Sara Alexandre, Rebecca M. Beane, Tara P. Schlairet, Ivy R. White and Robert K. Young are newcomers to the firm, while Avery G. Carter, Clay L. Clifton, Nichole C. Novosel and Kristen M. Vigilant join the firm after previously serving as summer associates in 2017. 

To view the full Daily Report article, click here.

The news also previously published in the Metro Atlanta CEO and the Atlanta CityBizList.

On Nov. 9, 2018, Swift, Currie, McGhee & Hiers, LLP, was included in the Birmingham Business Journal’s round-up of firms ranked among the 2019 U.S. News – Best Lawyers’ “Best Law Firms” list in the Birmingham metropolitan area. Swift Currie earned a tier 2 national ranking for insurance law, and the growing Birmingham office earned a tier 3 ranking in its local market for insurance law.

For the full article, please click here.

Swift Currie’s own Robert R. Potter was included in a special Veteran’s Day slideshow published on Nov. 9, 2018, by the Daily Report highlighting veterans in Georgia’s legal community. Potter was a member of the United States Navy from 1970 to 1974, where he earned the rank of lieutenant junior grade (LTJG).

For the Daily Report’s full slideshow commemorating Georgia legal professionals who served our nation, please click here.

On Nov. 9, 2018, Mid-Market Report published an article highlighting Swift Currie’s recent rebranding efforts. Part of the firm’s rebranding efforts include a new logo with the firm’s names in lower-case cursive, divided by a gold slash — a significant change from its predecessor. Swift Currie’s roster has doubled since the logo was last changed in 2003, now with approximately 150 lawyers.

For the full article, please click here.

On Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018, Swift Currie sponsored Atlanta Legal Aid's Run for Justice, which benefits the organization's general operating fund. Our team of runners braved the cold temperatures with their friends, families and others in the legal community to take on the 5K beginning and ending at One Step at a Time in Decatur.

Swift Currie and the recent upgrade to the firm’s logo were highlighted by The Daily Report on Nov. 6, 2018. As a part of an ongoing effort to update the firm’s brand, which will include a revamped website launch in 2019, Swift Currie unveiled a new logo in August. 

For the full story, please click here.

On Nov. 1, 2018, Atlanta CityBizList published the news of the firm’s inclusion on the 2019 U.S. News – Best Lawyers’ “Best Law Firms” list. The firm was recognized in the Atlanta, Birmingham and national markets for the work of the following six different practice areas.

For the full article, please click here.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution highlighted new attorneys who recently joined the firm’s Atlanta and Birmingham offices in its Newsmakers section published on Oct. 14, 2018. The attorneys, who joined in September 2018, include Quinton R. Beasley, Murray S. Flint, Leah F. Parker and Jenna B. Rubin.

Subscribers to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution may see the news in the business section of the October 14 print publication, available here.

In an article posted on Oct. 2, 2018, in HR Dive, Anandhi Rajan provided insight on anti-discriminatory regulations for pregnant employees. The article addresses a settlement by a Denver-based law firm in a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and Rajan’s insight from a previous article provided key context on lessons related to this type of case.

For the full article, you may click here.

Raising money and running races, that is what a number of Swift Currie attorneys and family members did on September 29 as they participated in the 2018 Meaningful Miles 5K Race. The race benefits Back on My Feet, a national organization operating in 12 major cities coast to coast, combating homelessness through the power of running, community support and essential employment and housing resources. We are happy to say this is becoming an annual event for the firm and we continue to be excited to take part in it.

Swift Currie’s seven new attorneys were included in Atlanta CityBizList on September 24 and in Metro Atlanta CEO on September 25, as the firm continues its accelerated growth across its Atlanta and Birmingham offices. Now as the largest firm in Georgia focused exclusively on litigation, this announcement means 34 new attorneys have joined the firm in 2018 alone, bringing the total headcount to more than 140 attorneys.

For the full Atlanta CityBizList article, you may click here. For the full Metro Atlanta CEO article, you may click here. For the full article in the Georgia Bar Journal, please click here.